Not all E30 owners are penniless losers! Main dealer action

[Gert_8]

Main dealers stopped washing cars years ago! I have to get that done at my local hand & thong wash

[Z3I]

Main dealers stopped washing cars years ago! I have to get that done at my local hand & thong wash

Not round here, both BMW and Mercedes have in house car washers, no complaints!

[Gert_8]

Main dealers stopped washing cars years ago! I have to get that done at my local hand & thong wash

Not round here, both BMW and Mercedes have in house car washers, no complaints!

Cheapskate Bastards up north dispensed with that service!

[Z3I]

Main dealers stopped washing cars years ago! I have to get that done at my local hand & thong wash

Not round here, both BMW and Mercedes have in house car washers, no complaints!

Cheapskate Bastards up north dispensed with that service!

They must have built it into the £160 an hour rates they charge down here...

[Gert_8]

It's got to be paid from somewhere, Z3I...

[Z3I]

Every car that comes through the door has a vehicle health check which is a visual inspection of the car to notify the customer of any issues with the car and also to get some follow up work.

Sounds like my health check on the Astra, £2000 of work coupled with the offer to scrap it for free if I decided it wasn't worth it, on my last vist to the main dealer.

Did your garage do the same? Looks to me to be an industry wide push to sell a new car/get more turnover in the workshop, under the h&s customer care banner. Would her car have failed an MOT on the points raised do you think?

Although its great she's having the work done, can't help but think most people who were just owners rather than enthusiasts would have left the car to be scrapped on seeing the quote, which would be a shame.

No the service advisor did not offer to scrap the car for here and that sort of practice is unheard of at a BMW dealer.

Of course there is a push to get more work through the door, companies need to make money!
It is down to the technician to report on any work needed and the service advisors job to sell it.
It is down to the technicians experience and discretion as to what they report, obviously some are more inclined to report as much work as possible, more so on jobs that are "cream".
That is not how I work. If the car needs it then it will get reported, no dishonesty on my part.

The car in question was just you typical E30 that had all the usual mechanical issues they suffer from plus some other items that need attention. Some of them would be MOT failures and some not as they are not testable items.

You have to remember that the reason why the quote is high is because it's all (now expensive) genuine BMW parts and a BMW dealer labour rate.

TBH, having the quote discounted by £2000 is bloody good!

Quite agree, all in all, a good deal for her. Should be a very nice car to drive post work done...

[Z3I]

Cheapskate Bastards up north dispensed with that service!

They must have built it into the £160 an hour rates they charge down here...

I know where I'd rather go and pay £160 an hour for

You're going off topic Stefan, and anyway, the Kindergarten has been closed...

[Andyboy]

Some main dealers do take the p iss. The one nearest me (no names) informed a friend of mine that his mint low mileage 330Ci needed a new PAS pump and rack because of swarf in the fluid. Oddly, the other dealer in this area couldn't find any when they drained and filtered the fluid.
They are getting an increasingly poor reputation and from what I've seen lately, it's wholly deserved. Unless I needed to keep the service stamps up to maintain resale value, I'd be using a good indy who can take the time to service the car properly. That's not a reflection on the workshop staff because I'm sure they'd rather spend an extra hour or two having all the wheels off and stripping/copper greasing the brakes, greasing brake pipes and all the other bits you do to maintain a car in proper condition.

[bss325i]

Blame the manufacturers for changing how cars are serviced now. Reduced times and operations with less and less being done with longer intervals. This is to satisfy fleet operators and make buying particular brands viable.

Old BMW's are still serviced to their original guidelines I will say though!

As for Indy's, most that I have come across are shit! Even the well known ones have produced some epic bodges!

That well known summerset outfit and a Kent based one for example!

If a BMW dealer f*cks about it only takes a complaint to BMW uk and they will get involved to sort it.

Who you gonna go to if Oooo Aaaaaaar bitz f*cks your motor?

Trading standards and the small claims courts? Long!

[kieran325]

My first MOT on the E46, took it to the MOT station that BMW Mcr uses and I know the owner Terry.

It failed on a rear broken spring, nothing major but a fail all the same and I rang BMW to see if it was covered under the 5yr service and maintenance package, it wasn't but I was told to run it around asap as it's dangerous and needs to be looked at by them and repaired, I asked how much this would be and was told £300 inc vat

I told him that I know Terry and he told me that broken springs were a common sight in the MOT stn that BMW use! He was stuck for words

Now if that was my Mrs or another vulnerable person and they wheeled it in there under the impression that it was dangerous because they said so, I would of played hell

Blatant rip off IMO.

[Andyboy]

Yes, the two you mention are pretty grim. But I know plenty of Indys who are very good. The other day I saw a 2003 Compact with full BMW SH. The alloys had just about welded themselves on with corrosion and the pads were rusted into the carriers requiring a hammer and screwdriver to get them out. The wheels hadn't been off for at least 2-3 years. It also needed new rear brake pipes although the calipers were saveable. So much for the 'visual inspection' of the brakes.
Sorry, that's not servicing a car. That's doing the bare minimum whilst the car turns into a shed. The whole idea of a service is to spend however much time is required going through the car from one end to the other, looking at everything, spotting future problems and doing a bit of preventative maintenance. Think about how Pete services cars - that's how you do it.
It's not just BMW though. The same friend also has a 307 HDi and was told it needed a new cylinder head, £1800. He took it to another garage - £30 and a new cam cover gasket later..........

[Andyboy]

My first MOT on the E46, took it to the MOT station that BMW Mcr uses and I know the owner Terry.

It failed on a rear broken spring, nothing major but a fail all the same and I rang BMW to see if it was covered under the 5yr service and maintenance package, it wasn't but I was told to run it around asap as it's dangerous and needs to be looked at by them and repaired, I asked how much this would be and was told £300 inc vat

I told him that I know Terry and he told me that broken springs were a common sight in the MOT stn that BMW use! He was stuck for words

Now if that was my Mrs or another vulnerable person and they wheeled it in there under the impression that it was dangerous because they said so, I would of played hell

Blatant rip off IMO.

This is becoming more and more common. Because of the longer service intervals and the general reliability of modern cars, dealers need to make the money somehow and the workshop is a real money maker. Most BMW dealers will be seeing 40 plus cars a day.

[kieran325]

My Indy garage are both ex Benham techs, they even say themselves that there were told to exaggerate a bit and add on extra bits to boost sales/service etc.

[bss325i]

My first MOT on the E46, took it to the MOT station that BMW Mcr uses and I know the owner Terry.

It failed on a rear broken spring, nothing major but a fail all the same and I rang BMW to see if it was covered under the 5yr service and maintenance package, it wasn't but I was told to run it around asap as it's dangerous and needs to be looked at by them and repaired, I asked how much this would be and was told £300 inc vat

I told him that I know Terry and he told me that broken springs were a common sight in the MOT stn that BMW use! He was stuck for words

Now if that was my Mrs or another vulnerable person and they wheeled it in there under the impression that it was dangerous because they said so, I would of played hell

Blatant rip off IMO.

Yes, broken rear springs on E36's and E46's are very common.

What's your point?

Also, £300 to for a pair of rear springs. How is that a rip off? It's about 45 min book time to fit them which about £100 give or take and a pair of genuine BMW springs is about £180.

How is that a rip off?

[bss325i]

Yes, the two you mention are pretty grim. But I know plenty of Indys who are very good. The other day I saw a 2003 Compact with full BMW SH. The alloys had just about welded themselves on with corrosion and the pads were rusted into the carriers requiring a hammer and screwdriver to get them out. The wheels hadn't been off for at least 2-3 years. It also needed new rear brake pipes although the calipers were saveable. So much for the 'visual inspection' of the brakes.
Sorry, that's not servicing a car. That's doing the bare minimum whilst the car turns into a shed. The whole idea of a service is to spend however much time is required going through the car from one end to the other, looking at everything, spotting future problems and doing a bit of preventative maintenance. Think about how Pete services cars - that's how you do it.
It's not just BMW though. The same friend also has a 307 HDi and was told it needed a new cylinder head, £1800. He took it to another garage - £30 and a new cam cover gasket later..........

Andrew, i don't need a bloody lesson on how to service and maintain a car.

As i said, blame the manufacturer for changing the guidelines on servicing.

ANY garage/bodyshop though is only as good as the people that work there.

Lucky for Hexagon i now work there!

[kieran325]

That was 5 yrs ago, I bought the same springs the spanner monkey was going to fit for £110 and the labour plus vat was going to be £190 ??

Doesn't add up does it and it's hardly rocket science labour.

The point I'm trying to make is that they were concerned for my safety and wanted to relieve me of 300 sheets, hardly life threatening issues but if my Mrs was going through the same scenario or any other person that believes the dealer is telling the truth then some folk cough up because they've been told to!

[ANY garage/bodyshop though is only as good as the people that work there.

Lucky for Hexagon i now work there!

Am I reading that right ^^

[gareth]

Barry, remove your BMW staff hat for a second and resume that of an enthusiast... On these newer models, would you personally do fluid/filter changes more regularly than the recommended intervals? I sure as hell do and always have done on my cars You're well placed to see the degrading state of new cars under the recommended long service intervals, do you reckon they're too long?

Even if i never lifted a finger on my car (lets pretend I'm rich and it's something new and valuable for a second!) and needed to keep the BMW S/H fully stamped up, I'd find it hard to leave oil in there for around 20k and would make sneaky changes at an independent garage in the meantime. Is my faith in BMW too low?!!!

[Z3I]

Barry, remove your BMW staff hat for a second and resume that of an enthusiast... On these newer models, would you personally do fluid/filter changes more regularly than the recommended intervals? I sure as hell do and always have done on my cars You're well placed to see the degrading state of new cars under the recommended long service intervals, do you reckon they're too long?

Even if i never lifted a finger on my car (lets pretend I'm rich and it's something new and valuable for a second!) and needed to keep the BMW S/H fully stamped up, I'd find it hard to leave oil in there for around 20k and would make sneaky changes at an independent garage in the meantime. Is my faith in BMW too low?!!!

Barry, dont answer that. Its obvious that service intervals are stretched as far as possible so that BMW can compete on new car sales. Life of a car is 3 years under those cicumstances, and 7 years including its second life. Our cars, at 20 years need far more servicing to prolong their life rather than the planned life at new. Its the same for all manufacturers. thats how it is. Ford is your best example here...

[Andyboy]

Andrew, i don't need a bloody lesson on how to service and maintain a car.

As i said, blame the manufacturer for changing the guidelines on

. Having been doing it for 27 years, neither do I. And I know that not removing the wheels during a service is unacceptable at any price. However, I can't fault the guys who work at my old place, the great work they did on sales cars and the warranty work they did on my cars. A very talented set of mechanics.

[TouringTash]

Your all sick puppies

If I won the lottery I'd buy a new M5.

If I want something to break down and leave a pool of liquid everywhere I'l go to work

........

...... in comfort, looking like a nob who won the lottery.


@Pete I was kidding fella, hence the poking out of tounge.
Whens good to grab that door? I'm seeing rot and bare metal every time I get in.

[Idol]

the title implies u judge most e30 owners as penniless losers ( would like a hand down from ur high horse )

It's a long running thing that was started years ago by Geoff Heyward, the BMWCC chairman at the Annual BMWCC show when he made a comment that E30 owners are penniless losers as a load of Zone scrap was let in the gates, 2006 iirc.

He had a point to a degree.

As a load of zone scrap was let in the gates?? What do you mean by this? I'm confused

[Idol]

Dont worry, I got it! lol

[bss325i]

That was 5 yrs ago, I bought the same springs the spanner monkey was going to fit for £110 and the labour plus vat was going to be £190 ??

Doesn't add up does it and it's hardly rocket science labour.

The point I'm trying to make is that they were concerned for my safety and wanted to relieve me of 300 sheets, hardly life threatening issues but if my Mrs was going through the same scenario or any other person that believes the dealer is telling the truth then some folk cough up because they've been told to!

Firstly, Genuine BMW E46 rear springs have never been that cheap.

Secondly, it may not be "rocket science" labour to fit them but repair labour is not costed on how difficult something is to do, its done on time which is set out by the manufacturer.

Also, did they actually use the words "life threatening" or are you just exaggerating?

I don't see your point other than you moaning about the price! The car needed a pair of springs, BMW quoted a price, you went else where and had the work done.

That's not trying to con you into something that isn't needed!
The service advisers don't hold guns to peoples heads, everyone has a choice and it's quite common for a customer upon receiving their VHC print out with all the prices on it to go to another garage with said print out to see how much they will do the same work for.

[ANY garage/bodyshop though is only as good as the people that work there.

Lucky for Hexagon i now work there!

Am I reading that right ^^

Yes you are reading that right!

It was said tongue in cheek hence the smiley but to a degree they are lucky to have someone like me, ie a technician who actually has an interest in cars (you would be surprised at the amount of people in the trade for whom its just a job and have little or no interest in cars!), take care in what they do and and does a dam good job in the first place!

All three of the BMW dealers i have worked for have had customers specifically asking for me to work on their car, that stems from taking a diligent approach to my working practices and forming a good relationship with customers.

[bss325i]

Andrew, i don't need a bloody lesson on how to service and maintain a car.

As i said, blame the manufacturer for changing the guidelines on

Having been doing it for 27 years, neither do I. And I know that not removing the wheels during a service is unacceptable at any price.

I haven't at one point on this thread attempted to preach on working practices to anyone but you have to me.

27 years but not in a professional capacity though right?

[rhubarb]

Chandlers Hailsham back in 2000 told a customer that she needed a new engine in her E30 318i, which they had looked after from new..At the time it was 12 years old..

They took it in part ex against a brand new car..

It ended up on a local car lot, and all that was wrong with it was a split vacuum hose

Back in the day, they cared about service, but nowadays like all the rest, they just want to sell new ones

[Andyboy]

27 years but not in a professional capacity though right?[/quote]. A great number of them were, yes. Not that that matters - you can either repair cars or you can't. I should add though that I have a lot of respect for the dealer techs I know. E90? Apart from basic servicing, I wouldn't know where to begin.