Over a grand for a service and over £200 to change the oil but I guess the coffee must be free and a 3 series is even more expensive for servicing.

[Captain Furious]

Essential companion to the eBay DIY ringing kit. Give it a new service history while you're at it.

[Timewaster]

When I worked at a main dealers you could never find the stamp on a Saturday morning.

Was always in the drawer Monday though.

[Jifflemon]

When my friend was service manager at Mercedes some 10 years ago, he used to tell me nothing left the workshop without paying a minimum of £1k.

For the first few weeks we thought he was exaggerating so he started bringing photocopies of the bills to prove his point. The labour rate was £80ph, the mechanics earned £6.20ph.

Everything got mobil 1 @ £35 a litre - A LITRE!! They even charged you for the "courtesy" 1 litre bottle to keep in your boot for top ups (regardless of whether you used the last one they'd raped you for)

[BorniteIdentity]

I don't trust a book of stamps anyway

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-BMW-AUDI-VOLVO-SAAB-RENAULT-VAUXHALL-FORD-MERCEDES-Garage-Service-Wood-Stamp-/252507659259?hash=item3acaa11bfb:g:BFcAAOSw65FXuXOG

 

"For Non Fraudulent Use Only"

 

[oldcars]

I don't trust a book of stamps anyway

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-BMW-AUDI-VOLVO-SAAB-RENAULT-VAUXHALL-FORD-MERCEDES-Garage-Service-Wood-Stamp-/252507659259?hash=item3acaa11bfb:g:BFcAAOSw65FXuXOG

That's great, might buy one and confuse the buyer that my scottish Kia has a full bmw history from down south

[JohnDeere]

I wonder if the rise of the pre-paid service plan came about because too many PCP'd motors were returned on their third birthday having never seen oil - hitting the resale?

 

In my experience of modernz, most of the service cost comes from massively inflated parts and oil prices (last Disco service, the oil was 5X the Opie cost). But you're trapped into the system in order to keep the warranty. (Now those seven-year Hyundai warranties make sense...)

[JohnK]

I wonder if the rise of the pre-paid service plan came about because too many PCP'd motors were returned on their third birthday having never seen oil - hitting the resale?

 

In my experience of modernz, most of the service cost comes from massively inflated parts and oil prices (last Disco service, the oil was 5X the Opie cost). But you're trapped into the system in order to keep the warranty. (Now those seven-year Hyundai warranties make sense...)

But a service can be completed by any VAT registered garage as long as genuine parts are used to maintain the warranty. When I've ran moderns I've always used general garages apart from when I had my Vectra in 2009 and Seat Ibiza in 2011 as the main dealer service costs weren't that different from other garages.

[sierraman]

In theory you are right, however if something goes wrong later, there's every chance the dealer will claim things have been missed. In other words if it's not been done in their system they'll be keen to find a way out of it.

 

A mate of mine paid out £2200 on a clutch and DMF replacement on a '07 Freelander at Land Rover recently. The cheeky fuckers even rang him to say it wanted a pint of oil putting in it and would it be ok to put that on the bill. It come back with the brake hose chafing as well. Charged for that as well. Wankers.

[Tamworthbay]

In theory you are right, however if something goes wrong later, there's every chance the dealer will claim things have been missed. In other words if it's not been done in their system they'll be keen to find a way out of it.

A mate of mine paid out £2200 on a clutch and DMF replacement on a '07 Freelander at Land Rover recently. The cheeky fuckers even rang him to say it wanted a pint of oil putting in it and would it be ok to put that on the bill. It come back with the brake hose chafing as well. Charged for that as well. Wankers.

My Barber had merc in Derby try that on after he had a turbo worked on due to the exhaust manifold lining breaking down. As soon as he showed them receipts for the merc parts and the ticked off check lists they paid up for the warranty work. He had to fight a little but they didn't contest it much beyond a phone call and seeing written evidence which is fair enough.

[Lord Sterling]

Because very few real people use them, when we took ours for a free recall on the airbag, we worked our way through as many free cans of coke, coffees and biscuits as we could surrounded by 'business' people who no doubt had the cars on the usual lease deals. Not a normal person in there apart from us.

Yep, same here. Some may recall when I told of the tale of taking my BMW in for recall "work" (term used loosely) much on the way of wannabe "posh" and pretend rich people lurking about whilst I necked free can of cola and Hot Chocolate and sitting on as many of the showroom vehicles I could be bothered with.

 

My BMW needs servicing so I'll just chuck it Mahmoud when I eventually scramble some money together.

[beko1987]

I found my old thread http://autoshite.com/topic/22995-genuine-bmw-dealer-experience-i-have-had/

 

Scarys video is on page 3

 

Incidentally, we did have a look at the water leak one lunchtime, Sytner had bodged the 2 little trim bits that sit at the front of the gutters, glueing one on with some immensely strong epoxy that was a right cunt to remove, and the other side sported a broken clip. I took the front of the headlining down, and it was clear to see where the water had been.

 

I refitted the bits of trim much better than they were before, with lashings of tigerseal as Sytner had broken a clip, and then sealed around the fitted seals. It stayed watertight for about 2 months, then leaked again, but apparently nowhere near as bad, and only if parked nose down at home, so she now parks nose up, problem solved!

 

She also had an Epiphany, Sytner had made a big song and dance about how the water was coming through the aerial hole at the back of the car and running down the roof. Upon removal of the headlining, the roof skin has a cardboard sheet glued to it for sound deadening purposes I presume. At the front, watermarked to hell. From the back to nearly the front, no marks, bone dry, factory fresh. She asked me why there were no water marks if BMW were so sure it was leaking from there? I gave her 'the look' and she swore at them and has never been back I think.

 

She uses a local garage now, got the tyres changed but has done nothing else to it since, it just plods on!

 

The BMW video is still live too

 

I've always maintained though that if I ever play and win the euromillions, I'll take whatever car I have at the time to the nearest main dealer and ask for some massive work. Currently that would involve Citroen, and me asking for the LHM system to be re-piped and re-valved, new shocks, new spheres, new brakes all round, engine service etc and give them 3 weeks to do it... Then I would watch and laugh at them trying to do it (and then pay the bill, because I would be rich enough not to care about money!)

[Jifflemon]

I don't trust a book of stamps anyway

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-BMW-AUDI-VOLVO-SAAB-RENAULT-VAUXHALL-FORD-MERCEDES-Garage-Service-Wood-Stamp-/252507659259?hash=item3acaa11bfb:g:BFcAAOSw65FXuXOG

 

Just genius....

 

Perhaps we should get an Autoshite garage stamp made...

[beko1987]

Just genius....

 

Perhaps we should get an Autoshite garage stamp made...

Yes! I'd stamp the Xantia of many shiters service book up!

[andrew e]

But a service can be completed by any VAT registered garage as long as genuine parts are used to maintain the warranty. When I've ran moderns I've always used general garages apart from when I had my Vectra in 2009 and Seat Ibiza in 2011 as the main dealer service costs weren't that different from other garages.

Tread carefully... A chap at work had a PCP arangement and in amongst the T&C's it stipulated "Must be serviced by authorised franchise. Wrong or right he agreed to it.

[pilninggas]

Gosh.  I knew they were expensive but still.....I wonder what a cambelt or somesuch costs?

 

They don't have cambelts; just camchains that stretch quicker than a pearl necklace. Don't ask how much they want to sort that engineering disaster out.

[JohnDeere]

But a service can be completed by any VAT registered garage as long as genuine parts are used to maintain the warranty. When I've ran moderns I've always used general garages apart from when I had my Vectra in 2009 and Seat Ibiza in 2011 as the main dealer service costs weren't that different from other garages.

 

As others have said above, "in theory". Lots of warranty stuff is a grey area, so there needs to be a bit of goodwill going on to (a) persuade the dealer to investigate and submit the claim, and ( to persuade the manufacturer to pay out. And some marques (Ford?) the year 2/3 warranty is direct with the dealer, so they're not going to touch it if it's not been through franchised servicing.

 

And many moderns, particularly diseasals, need a very precise grade of oil - and very hard to prove that this was used if the engine grenades later.

 

As soon as the warranty is up, it's off to a good indie - ideally a specialist in the marque who's seen enough of them to know what goes wrong and has invested in access to the manufacturer's data, etc.

[Tamworthbay]

I believe it was yes. The same with the radio and fuel line.

On a positive note though, you can get pretty much anything for any bmw through dealers. I'm not sure how far back they provide support but both my e34 and later my e39 had very good dealer support (if not a little expensive)

If only all dealers were as good in that respect, it seems to be a German thing as Merc and VW are also good. By comparison by 8 year old Mondeo wasn't supported at all it seemed by the spotty yoof masquerading as the spares dept in the Ford dealers a few years back.

[DSdriver]

My Barber had merc in Derby try that on after he had a turbo worked on due to the exhaust manifold lining breaking down. As soon as he showed them receipts for the merc parts and the ticked off check lists they paid up for the warranty work. He had to fight a little but they didn't contest it much beyond a phone call and seeing written evidence which is fair enough.

Blimey, your barber has a merc, how much do you pay for a haircut then?

[pilninggas]

I found my old thread http://autoshite.com/topic/22995-genuine-bmw-dealer-experience-i-have-had/

 

Scarys video is on page 3

 

Incidentally, we did have a look at the water leak one lunchtime, Sytner had bodged the 2 little trim bits that sit at the front of the gutters, glueing one on with some immensely strong epoxy that was a right cunt to remove, and the other side sported a broken clip. I took the front of the headlining down, and it was clear to see where the water had been.

 

I refitted the bits of trim much better than they were before, with lashings of tigerseal as Sytner had broken a clip, and then sealed around the fitted seals. It stayed watertight for about 2 months, then leaked again, but apparently nowhere near as bad, and only if parked nose down at home, so she now parks nose up, problem solved!

 

She also had an Epiphany, Sytner had made a big song and dance about how the water was coming through the aerial hole at the back of the car and running down the roof. Upon removal of the headlining, the roof skin has a cardboard sheet glued to it for sound deadening purposes I presume. At the front, watermarked to hell. From the back to nearly the front, no marks, bone dry, factory fresh. She asked me why there were no water marks if BMW were so sure it was leaking from there? I gave her 'the look' and she swore at them and has never been back I think.

 

She uses a local garage now, got the tyres changed but has done nothing else to it since, it just plods on!

 

The BMW video is still live too

 

I've always maintained though that if I ever play and win the euromillions, I'll take whatever car I have at the time to the nearest main dealer and ask for some massive work. Currently that would involve Citroen, and me asking for the LHM system to be re-piped and re-valved, new shocks, new spheres, new brakes all round, engine service etc and give them 3 weeks to do it... Then I would watch and laugh at them trying to do it (and then pay the bill, because I would be rich enough not to care about money!)

 

Sheesh, all I want if I win the jackpot is whores and coke.

[Tamworthbay]

Blimey, your barber has a merc, how much do you pay for a haircut then?

Posh one too, no idea how he affords it as I would think it was £17-20k. Haircuts are a reasonable tenner.

[17-Coffees]

Cocking Hell! 

 

I put the Lexus into the Local Toyota dealer (serve as a Lexus Service center) and was only £169 for a service! Oil, filters, plugs...Around £30 more than it would have cost me if I did it myself. 

That said, I was offered the 'Lexus Service Package', which would have came in at £450 or so.

 

I'm starting to think how much money the last owner splurged on the BMW 'Shed' me & Supernaut have, as it's 50% dealer history for everything! 

[nacho man]

I don't trust a book of stamps anyway

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-BMW-AUDI-VOLVO-SAAB-RENAULT-VAUXHALL-FORD-MERCEDES-Garage-Service-Wood-Stamp-/252507659259?hash=item3acaa11bfb:g:BFcAAOSw65FXuXOG

For non fraudulent use only.

 

 

 

Ok mate.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

My own experiences of BMW dealers near to me is that they have all been abysmal. The latest example is this: the E91 3 series we have recently suffered a failed DSC hydro unit - a very common fault on them. I tried Halliwell Jones Wilmslow who had been servicing the car of late, but astonishingly they insisted on me paying them to pick the car up on a trailer so they could do the diagnostic. This is ridiculous - BMW say the car should be driven with more care, not that it is undrivable!

 

Because of that, I took the car to Williams in Manchester. They charged £98.28 to read the codes, which I expected - then refused to divulge the codes to me, which I though was very poor form.  I tried to insist - they were aggressive about it and said it was their policy never to divulge fault codes to customers.

 

They diagnosed the car needed a new DSC hydro unit (surprise, surprise - it is a common fault, there is loads on it written on the internet) - and quoted £2107.31+VAT to replace it - including a 10% 'loyalty discount' because the car has a full Main dealer service history.

 

I decided to look around for a few quotes, despite not actually having the fault codes - even though I had paid for them. Already disgruntled, I was then absolutely amazed to be charged a further £11 by Williams to have the car's battery topped up in the ten minutes they were checking the codes. When I queried it, I was told it was 'very low'. The car lives on a CTEK charger when it isn't being used. It was fully charged, but what can you do but stump up and not go back? One bonus I suppose is that I had to wait there so long to be served I managed two cups of their coffee.

 

Receiving a recommendation from Piston Heads to try Darren Wood -  a BMW specialist in Stockport - I took the car along. They checked the fault codes for nothing - and gave them to me to Google them if I wanted to find out more about the fault. The same fault was diagnosed - a failed DSC Hydro unit. The bill from them was a little smaller though. All done for £495 including VAT. I was impressed with them and will use them again.

[Vince70]

Cocking Hell!

 

I put the Lexus into the Local Toyota dealer (serve as a Lexus Service center) and was only £169 for a service! Oil, filters, plugs...Around £30 more than it would have cost me if I did it myself.

That said, I was offered the 'Lexus Service Package', which would have came in at £450 or so.

 

I'm starting to think how much money the last owner splurged on the BMW 'Shed' me & Supernaut have, as it's 50% dealer history for everything!

 

You can check on here

https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/#/%23your-vehicle%23your-vehicle

But I don't know if every car comes up but it's a good way of finding out the spec of your motor as it tells you what model it is and you only have to put the reg number in.

But your obviously quite a well too do type with your upmarket SE spec motor lol.

[tooSavvy]

I wonder if merriment might be had by parking the the 'Toyyo of much Mintyness'* prominently, at the local Toyyo shop...

 

Then wandering in and asking if anyone might have a gander at the CARB ?

 

I'd deffo hit the bikkies & coffee whilst the Service Mgr was summoned

 

* ask about availability of a n/s door seal, too

 

TS

[17-Coffees]

You can check on here

https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/#/%23your-vehicle%23your-vehicle

But I don't know if every car comes up but it's a good way of finding out the spec of your motor as it tells you what model it is and you only have to put the reg number in.

But your obviously quite a well too do type with your upmarket SE spec motor lol.

image.png

 

Guessing it'd been too long since it's been at a dealership, was around 2006 or 7 it went to a BMW specialist till 2015.   

 

Still tempted to take it to BMW Aberdeen and see what they say & quote for a service, just to see how close the price is to the price we paid for the car!

[Vince70]

Its even more expensive if you own a 3 series..

I've just put my other car in and it's £1200 to service apparently yet it's exactly the same car to work on and has the same engine as my Z3

But at least it's competitive lol.

So anyone want to try and better my service cost on the BMW site, I would hate to think what an old M3 would come in at.

https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/#/%23your-vehicle%23your-vehicle

[Rusty_Rocket]

Holy shit.

[Supernaut]

Engine oil service = more than we paid for the 316.

 

EPIC WIN.

 

It's currently got 4 litres of ECP's finest* in there. All £15 worth.

[sutty2006]

Im glad I do all my own servicing. I recently bought a 2005 Discovery 3.... it was due a service. So I used oil from work (5/30 mitsubishi canter oil) and bought the parts genuine from Land Rover. Cost me £90 for all the filters etc... So thats a dirt cheep service. I cant find how much it would cost online but I can garuntee its a damn site more than 90 quid!