Every oil service ive had done at my dealer as been a proper sump plug job..
As Si says, was with anything franchise you get the good and the bad, its down to the management and the tech's working at that particular location
main dealer......SUCH GREAT SERVICE!!!
Moderator: martauto
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Simon13
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SHAKEELE30- theres good mechanics in you're area who are on the zone! and some work for bmw themselves
Fuzzy you're full of sh!te 1 technician doesn't make a good workshop. my service department get me parts that people on here say are NLA, so who's talking poo again. I know you have to wade through it on here especially on this thread. I'm might shoot myself in a minute the rate some of you lot moan, put myself out of the misery.
Go to stratstone bmw in maidenhead there's alot of good mechanic's in there who can properly service you're E24 M6, their parts department are sh!t hot aswell. There's good and bad and it's about working out who's a muppet and who isn't. Same as any game. If you're into you're cars enough you should be able to work out who's full of it and who isn't. There's enough bmw dealers around the country to find a good one without driving miles. Even in the bad ones there will be good guys working in there who will help you.
Fuzzy you're full of sh!te 1 technician doesn't make a good workshop. my service department get me parts that people on here say are NLA, so who's talking poo again. I know you have to wade through it on here especially on this thread. I'm might shoot myself in a minute the rate some of you lot moan, put myself out of the misery.
Go to stratstone bmw in maidenhead there's alot of good mechanic's in there who can properly service you're E24 M6, their parts department are sh!t hot aswell. There's good and bad and it's about working out who's a muppet and who isn't. Same as any game. If you're into you're cars enough you should be able to work out who's full of it and who isn't. There's enough bmw dealers around the country to find a good one without driving miles. Even in the bad ones there will be good guys working in there who will help you.
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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not more personal insults just because someone has a different opinion than yours? 
i can only comment on the services ive received in the past and im not just talking about bmw, im also talking about my experiences with ford,audi and toyota with the latter being the worst by far although the kids at audi were responsible for forgetting to torque up my wifes wheels nuts resulting in me being called out by here after she became to scared to drive any further because of serious vibration. luckily she had stopped because the wheel nuts were on their last few threads and were about to come off completely.
i know more than most about shoddy garage services due to the cr4p ive dealt with over my engine conversions and i dont doubt not all dealers are the same but the majority of my experiences with them arent positive.
unfortunately theres lots that can talk a good game but its only after youve dealt with them that you can form a decent opinion .
my local parts departments is usually a hit and a miss as well as theres usually an old guy that knows his stuff and a young lad who doesnt and has no interest in helping you source unusual stuff.
considering the difference in labour rates i dont consider it worthwhile using a main dealer for services that can often be better and on a more personal level at a local back street garage.
just my opinion though which is just as valid as yours so no need to take it personally
i can only comment on the services ive received in the past and im not just talking about bmw, im also talking about my experiences with ford,audi and toyota with the latter being the worst by far although the kids at audi were responsible for forgetting to torque up my wifes wheels nuts resulting in me being called out by here after she became to scared to drive any further because of serious vibration. luckily she had stopped because the wheel nuts were on their last few threads and were about to come off completely.
i know more than most about shoddy garage services due to the cr4p ive dealt with over my engine conversions and i dont doubt not all dealers are the same but the majority of my experiences with them arent positive.
unfortunately theres lots that can talk a good game but its only after youve dealt with them that you can form a decent opinion .
my local parts departments is usually a hit and a miss as well as theres usually an old guy that knows his stuff and a young lad who doesnt and has no interest in helping you source unusual stuff.
considering the difference in labour rates i dont consider it worthwhile using a main dealer for services that can often be better and on a more personal level at a local back street garage.
just my opinion though which is just as valid as yours so no need to take it personally
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Fushion_Julz
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Well, Simon, funnily enough I was there today (Stratstone, Taplow, I presume you mean)Simon13 wrote:.
Go to stratstone bmw in maidenhead there's alot of good mechanic's in there who can properly service you're E24 M6, their parts department are sh!t hot aswell
I use them in preference (for parts only, mind) to Coopers in Reading who are a bunch of cnuts...
Well, I say "used to" cos after today's shenanigans, I'm not sure I'll bother going back there..
Phone this AM to order a centre exhaust mount parts and 4 clips for the front lip spoiler...
Was told none of the parts were in stock...they have, apparantly, just skipped (literally) £21K of "old stock" and now only keep a skeleton stock on the shelf!
Also told that I'd have to pay up-front for the parts cos they were "special order" and they don't want to get left with parts they can't sell if I don't turn up...I mean, FFS, they are piddly parts in any case and it isn't as though they aren't a BMW dealer!
Then, when I do turn up to collect them, they have now stopped (apparently) offering the 10% discount to BMWCC members and, after much haggling with a spotty, rude oik who kept me waiting for 25mins while he "looked for" my order, I got a pathetic 5%...
Every comment was along the lines of "E30s? you shouldn't be driving those, won't be able to get the bits soon, at all"
I feel like writing to BMW AG and asking what happened to the "mobile tradition" service!
Think I'll be using Robert Stern in Worcester...They like customers with older cars...They also offer 10% for CC members (probably for everyone who asks, too) and they ship next day for a nominal charge...
1987 Henna Rot M3 (was 195bhp CAT..now more and no cat)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
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Do just that! BMW AG take customer complaints about their dealers seriously.Fushion_Julz wrote:I feel like writing to BMW AG and asking what happened to the "mobile tradition" service!
Don't forget, all genuine BMW parts, delivered to your door, and at discounted prices, from our own zone tame dealer, zimmerbimmer1.
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Simon13
- The longest resto in the world !
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i am being a bit personal but you type posts which most of the time are whinging about something, i'm being sterotypical of a whinge bag zoner who's a tight arse, not just yourself. I can't help it that you've been tucked up like a kipper as they say up you're way. But i've been very wary with cars and who i have used due to the nature of the industry as i couldn't afford to get it wrong, much like now. It had to be right first time and thats it.
Example when i was 19 i bought my 318iS, i didn't know f**k all about cars like now and went into my local main dealer as before and asked about a good indepentant. I had a shot rear wheel bearing and couldn't do it myself. Gave me a number of a guy who was an ex-master tech from the said dealer and had started on his own. He was great. I'd been in my local dealer enough to half trust their opinion. You wouldn't ask someone who you think is an arsehole what they think about something! You're better of asking a random perons from the car trade! Too many gulible people and alot of blaggers out there which doesn't help!
Can i suggest you ask for the old boy next time you need parts?
Example when i was 19 i bought my 318iS, i didn't know f**k all about cars like now and went into my local main dealer as before and asked about a good indepentant. I had a shot rear wheel bearing and couldn't do it myself. Gave me a number of a guy who was an ex-master tech from the said dealer and had started on his own. He was great. I'd been in my local dealer enough to half trust their opinion. You wouldn't ask someone who you think is an arsehole what they think about something! You're better of asking a random perons from the car trade! Too many gulible people and alot of blaggers out there which doesn't help!
Can i suggest you ask for the old boy next time you need parts?
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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i dont think im one that can honestly be labled as a stereotypical whinging tight arse zoner as i dont mind spending more of my hard earned than most on my cars as thats my hobby and will pay whatever is needed to carry it on.
like i said though as theres so many that talk a good job its not until you deal with them personally that you can then form a proper opinion on them before moving on to the next 'expert' until you eventually find the decent guy that is out there somewhere.
i didnt realise that i could be considered as such a whinger. i thought that i was usually generally as helpful as i can be and cheerful with it
like i said though as theres so many that talk a good job its not until you deal with them personally that you can then form a proper opinion on them before moving on to the next 'expert' until you eventually find the decent guy that is out there somewhere.
i didnt realise that i could be considered as such a whinger. i thought that i was usually generally as helpful as i can be and cheerful with it
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Fushion_Julz
- E30 Zone Camper
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Innit...I gave them my card and told them I'd collect for free the next time they are gonna bin any parts that are just too old to stock!gooner1 wrote:£21,000 worth of parts skipped and about half the Zone gone into deep traumatic shock.
1987 Henna Rot M3 (was 195bhp CAT..now more and no cat)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
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Fushion_Julz
- E30 Zone Camper
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Well, now that you have given me that encouragement, I'll do just that! Needed something to do next weekBrianmoooore wrote:Do just that! BMW AG take customer complaints about their dealers seriously.Fushion_Julz wrote:I feel like writing to BMW AG and asking what happened to the "mobile tradition" service!
Don't forget, all genuine BMW parts, delivered to your door, and at discounted prices, from our own zone tame dealer, zimmerbimmer1.
and thanks for the tip re ZimmerBimmer...
1987 Henna Rot M3 (was 195bhp CAT..now more and no cat)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
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bigkev
- E30 Zone Regular
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I've been in the trade for 15 years and to be honest I've seen the decline of the motor mechanic take a steep dive in the last few years.To qualify you have to go to collage once a week and sit in front of a computer and answer multiple choice question and hey presto you are now a fully fledged mechanic. There is no pride in any work anymore all you here is bitching and moaning about arsehole managers paying shit wages and this does not motivate anyone to do a good job I must admit, but we all have choices in llife ,if you dont like it get the f**k out of the trade but no these guys stick around cause they cant be arsed to do anything else and your pride and joy is just and old heap of shit to them.We have just taken on two apprentices two months ago and the fist thing that comes out of there mouths on Monday morning (after a massive yawn) is "god I wish it was Friday" it f*****g really winds me up ,you have to ask them to do something three times and then they cock it up anyway.
As some of you say there are some guys out there who do a cracking job and take pride in there work but they are getting few and far between so if you find one stick with him cause they are'nt many coming up through the ranks that I can see .As for main dealers after 15 years first hand experience my C1 will NEVER EVER see a main dealer in its life.
As some of you say there are some guys out there who do a cracking job and take pride in there work but they are getting few and far between so if you find one stick with him cause they are'nt many coming up through the ranks that I can see .As for main dealers after 15 years first hand experience my C1 will NEVER EVER see a main dealer in its life.
Not all dealers are bad. Factory outlets tend to be better than franchised dealers as they have more stringent guidlines to adhear to that the manufacturers set. I work for a factory outlet (non bmw) as a service tech and you wouldn't belive the red tape and paper work we have to deal with! Each job is quality control inspected by a technical expert (senior master tech) and an independent company contacts the customer within a week of them collecting their car and carries out a customer service survey on the whole process of work they carried out from the initial booking in to the collection of the vehicle.
There are some incompetant fools out there and not just dealers, plenty of independant monkeys out there to!
There are some incompetant fools out there and not just dealers, plenty of independant monkeys out there to!
Back in the day of the E30 (aaaaaahhh....) BMW sold around 30'000 cars a year - peanuts. Dealers were small and privately owned, workshops were small and rarely overstretched. A big service included doing the tappets, changing cambelt, autobox oil and filter etc.
These days BMW is a big volume manufacturer. Small dealers have been replaced by big ones, many owned by the Pendragon Group to whom profit is everything. mechanics - good bad or indifferent - just do not have time to remove wheels, take calipers off and clean/coppergrease them. They are geared up to service as many cars in a day as possible.
An independent - many of which are run by ex BMW mechanics - have more time to do the job properly. Sorry, but a service is not about changing oil every 25'000 miles. It's about checking the entire car, cleaning up rusting brake pipes, cleaning up the calipers and preventing problems before they happen.
My favourite main dealer is Stratstone in Chesterfield. It's been in the same place for over 20 years and the guys who count (foreman, parts dept) have been there since the mid eighties. They're still expensive though but that can't be helped with money men holding the whip.
These days BMW is a big volume manufacturer. Small dealers have been replaced by big ones, many owned by the Pendragon Group to whom profit is everything. mechanics - good bad or indifferent - just do not have time to remove wheels, take calipers off and clean/coppergrease them. They are geared up to service as many cars in a day as possible.
An independent - many of which are run by ex BMW mechanics - have more time to do the job properly. Sorry, but a service is not about changing oil every 25'000 miles. It's about checking the entire car, cleaning up rusting brake pipes, cleaning up the calipers and preventing problems before they happen.
My favourite main dealer is Stratstone in Chesterfield. It's been in the same place for over 20 years and the guys who count (foreman, parts dept) have been there since the mid eighties. They're still expensive though but that can't be helped with money men holding the whip.
I wouldn't fret - that place hasn't been a main dealer for very long (4-5 years) and before that was Maidenhead Autos, a Ford dealer. I used to sort at SGT which is just up the road by the train station.Fushion_Julz wrote:Innit...I gave them my card and told them I'd collect for free the next time they are gonna bin any parts that are just too old to stock!gooner1 wrote:£21,000 worth of parts skipped and about half the Zone gone into deep traumatic shock.
To be honest you're better off going to Altwoods who have been around forever.
Other good main dealer parts guys include Derek at North Oxford Garage. He's been there for around 30 years and can reel off part numbers - a very knowledgeable guy.
EDIT: Altwoods no longer exist. Bloody hell!
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Simon13
- The longest resto in the world !
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Fushion_Julz - the guys i deal with are on the workshop floor including the parts guys so i can't comment but buying 2 front wings and sunroof panle brand new with staff 40% discount isn't half bad. Just ask for someone else to serve you!
Andy Altwood bmw were bought out by stratstone in the past year or so, so it's still the same good dealer with some very good guys in the workshop there, just a different name as the same folks are working there. If i decide to keep a bm history of some sort on my alpina it will be a guy who works here doing it, on the zone also.
Same for my local dealer in Farnborough (Barons) Parts guys have been working there since the E30 was new and i'm not the only oldskool nut in there buying nuts and bolts all the time. The workshop is the same here.
A dealer i don't like is Sytner sunnigdale which used to be part of another group i can't remember but when i went in there for some M20 oil filters and to see if they could help with my alpina they were tossers so i haven't been in there since. Easy go else where.
Andy Altwood bmw were bought out by stratstone in the past year or so, so it's still the same good dealer with some very good guys in the workshop there, just a different name as the same folks are working there. If i decide to keep a bm history of some sort on my alpina it will be a guy who works here doing it, on the zone also.
Same for my local dealer in Farnborough (Barons) Parts guys have been working there since the E30 was new and i'm not the only oldskool nut in there buying nuts and bolts all the time. The workshop is the same here.
A dealer i don't like is Sytner sunnigdale which used to be part of another group i can't remember but when i went in there for some M20 oil filters and to see if they could help with my alpina they were tossers so i haven't been in there since. Easy go else where.
I think it's safe to say that main dealers are generally not the best to use for a couple of reasons.
1) They won't add any value to an E30 via service history stamps etc - which surely is the only reason to use them.
2) They just are not interested nor have the time nor expertise to work on E30's properly.
The evidence is overwhelming against BMW dealers or any main dealer for any brand. I personally have had appalling service from 3 London BMW dealers.
So I for agree with Fuzzy and totally refute Simon13's defense of main dealers - we can literally generalize here and say they suck.
1) They won't add any value to an E30 via service history stamps etc - which surely is the only reason to use them.
2) They just are not interested nor have the time nor expertise to work on E30's properly.
The evidence is overwhelming against BMW dealers or any main dealer for any brand. I personally have had appalling service from 3 London BMW dealers.
So I for agree with Fuzzy and totally refute Simon13's defense of main dealers - we can literally generalize here and say they suck.
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Fushion_Julz
- E30 Zone Camper
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I DID ask for someone else...BUT, I'd already been kept waiting 25mins (even the bodyshop guy asked what was going on), and I had to get away (my elderly mother has just got out of hospital and I had to get to see her/cook for her)...Simon13 wrote:Fushion_Julz - the guys i deal with are on the workshop floor including the parts guys so i can't comment but buying 2 front wings and sunroof panle brand new with staff 40% discount isn't half bad. Just ask for someone else to serve you!
So I couldn't wait another 25 mins for the other dumkoff to deign to make an appearance...
Apparantly the parts bloke (older chap) who knew his beans and had been in the place since it opened, has left...
Can't get to Farnborough easily and North Oxford is just too far...
I suspect I'll be ordering more stuff from either Sterns or via ZimmerBimmer1, as recommended.
It will be Stratstone's loss....
Perhaps they haven't (yet) realised that a customer that is treated well for the little things, may one day invest in the big new-car purchase that makes them the money they so crave....
Perhaps Audi dealers are learning that and that is why they are taking sales from BMW...
1987 Henna Rot M3 (was 195bhp CAT..now more and no cat)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
2001 E46 330i SE Touring (manual)
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nickso
- E30 Zone Addict
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my local audi dealers certainly havent.Fushion_Julz wrote:Perhaps Audi dealers are learning that and that is why they are taking sales from BMW...
joe carbuyer doesnt really give a stuff about dealer competency until he has the keys in his hand.
it may influence his next purchase though.
'88 e30 328i M52 track bint.
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Simon13
- The longest resto in the world !
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penis, a classic post by yourself RoyalRatsh!tHugoGoGo wrote:I think it's safe to say that main dealers are generally not the best to use for a couple of reasons.
1) They won't add any value to an E30 via service history stamps etc - which surely is the only reason to use them.
2) They just are not interested nor have the time nor expertise to work on E30's properly.
The evidence is overwhelming against BMW dealers or any main dealer for any brand. I personally have had appalling service from 3 London BMW dealers.
So I for agree with Fuzzy and totally refute Simon13's defense of main dealers - we can literally generalize here and say they suck.
so people went back to ask what i would be charged for the gearbox seal and first was told would be charged whatever tha price was.....
so i got stuck in.....explained the fact i asked to do the job while the prop was out and wasnt gona pay to take it out again.......got a hhhmmmmmmmm!!!.
then asked why the leak wasnt noted on the bmw visual inspection sheet.
was told it prob wasnt visual.
i insisted it was........got well thats your opinion.
so hit back with why they had left a nut off my airbox. and the fact that i used to work for one of croydons largest bodyshops as paintshop foreman...
got oh really........we will get a tech to have a look..
then i got we will do another bmw visual inspection with me present......
mmmm am i getting some where???
so now the cars on a ramp and i am introduced to a master tech. who i must say IMO knew his onions.
went round the whole car and ..........found more things wrong that were missed on the first inspec !!!!!!! ie:
required new belts (fan/power st pump)
perished front rubber brake pipes
slight split in diff mount.
and he agreed with me regarding the totally obvious leaky box seal.....
bmw said they would charge me an associated price for the gearboxseal..ie no charge to remove prop.
the master tech replaced the nut on the airbox....(which by the way i could have done, but not the point)
got an aplogy for the incon and the fact bits were left off and missed out..
THE POINT????....to be honest you get to a point where you cant be bothered anymore..i got an apology, they probably wont forget me next time i go back(if of couse i do) and i have another quote for £695 for futher works..
I give up. i feel that prob will speak directly to the master tech next time if poss insist he works on my car.
Im pissed off but what can i do??...cant be bothered.....
in my time in the trade i have met some great people that are very good at what they do be it paint or mech.
i think the prob is sometimes for whatever reason you could find yourself listening to someone "talking" a good job under main dealer banners.
sadly sometimes the person who they are talking to can actualy"DO" a better job and they have no idea...
oh well a least its only an oil service next time!!
so i got stuck in.....explained the fact i asked to do the job while the prop was out and wasnt gona pay to take it out again.......got a hhhmmmmmmmm!!!.
then asked why the leak wasnt noted on the bmw visual inspection sheet.
was told it prob wasnt visual.
i insisted it was........got well thats your opinion.
so hit back with why they had left a nut off my airbox. and the fact that i used to work for one of croydons largest bodyshops as paintshop foreman...
got oh really........we will get a tech to have a look..
then i got we will do another bmw visual inspection with me present......
mmmm am i getting some where???
so now the cars on a ramp and i am introduced to a master tech. who i must say IMO knew his onions.
went round the whole car and ..........found more things wrong that were missed on the first inspec !!!!!!! ie:
required new belts (fan/power st pump)
perished front rubber brake pipes
slight split in diff mount.
and he agreed with me regarding the totally obvious leaky box seal.....
bmw said they would charge me an associated price for the gearboxseal..ie no charge to remove prop.
the master tech replaced the nut on the airbox....(which by the way i could have done, but not the point)
got an aplogy for the incon and the fact bits were left off and missed out..
THE POINT????....to be honest you get to a point where you cant be bothered anymore..i got an apology, they probably wont forget me next time i go back(if of couse i do) and i have another quote for £695 for futher works..
I give up. i feel that prob will speak directly to the master tech next time if poss insist he works on my car.
Im pissed off but what can i do??...cant be bothered.....
in my time in the trade i have met some great people that are very good at what they do be it paint or mech.
i think the prob is sometimes for whatever reason you could find yourself listening to someone "talking" a good job under main dealer banners.
sadly sometimes the person who they are talking to can actualy"DO" a better job and they have no idea...
oh well a least its only an oil service next time!!
I know someone who got raped by a BMW dealer (no names). Cambelt, rear beam bushes and MOT test on a J plate E30 318i.
The bill was £750...........with knackered PAS and fan belts refitted. No mention of the growly water pump which failed the next day.
Sorry Simon but I don't agree with you. Whatever a BMW dealer can do(even the best ones), a good specialist can do a more thorough job with more time spent for less money. A BMW dealer stamp doesn't add a bean to the car's value at this stage in its life.
Look at how much time and work Pacerpete puts into a car for a service. That's how it SHOULD be done, and sadly it never is.
The bill was £750...........with knackered PAS and fan belts refitted. No mention of the growly water pump which failed the next day.
Sorry Simon but I don't agree with you. Whatever a BMW dealer can do(even the best ones), a good specialist can do a more thorough job with more time spent for less money. A BMW dealer stamp doesn't add a bean to the car's value at this stage in its life.
Look at how much time and work Pacerpete puts into a car for a service. That's how it SHOULD be done, and sadly it never is.
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Simon13
- The longest resto in the world !
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i understand what you're saying Andy my point is there are still some very good people working in the main dealer network. Saying that i've known older cars getting 2 days spent on them for inspection 2's plus other work and getting a decent bill due to the 4plus scheme and getting good discount on parts and labour. E30's and E24's
Agreed a good specialist will have more time to look over the car, providing it's a good specialist of course.
Pete is about the most thorough mechanic i know, but there aren't many like him about even his sidekick Dickheadcrew has his work picked up on by Pete
Agreed a good specialist will have more time to look over the car, providing it's a good specialist of course.
Pete is about the most thorough mechanic i know, but there aren't many like him about even his sidekick Dickheadcrew has his work picked up on by Pete
Jotz - £700 is not cheap and personally think BMW are taking the piss here. Inspection 1 should include the hand-brake adjustment as part of the service. I'm disappointed that they didn't check or fix certain issues on your car and then have the cheek to charge such an ridiculous amount on your final bill.
My car goes to a local mechanic 90% of the time now as before it went to BMW. He uses genuine parts where necessary. and at £25 hour opposed to £100 hour there's no contest.
The service book is currently stamped part BMW / part Independent.
Don't get me wrong. When it went to BMW they did a good job and I still have a very good rapport with the mechanics there. They knew my car years before I even bought it. They're a good set of lads, but I can't justify in paying the huge labour costs anymore.
As for the other comments I'm split. I agree with Simon and Fuzzy. I've had my fair share of 'Fresh fish' Mechanics who don't know their heads from there arses and experienced ones who know what they're doing.
My car goes to a local mechanic 90% of the time now as before it went to BMW. He uses genuine parts where necessary. and at £25 hour opposed to £100 hour there's no contest.
The service book is currently stamped part BMW / part Independent.
Don't get me wrong. When it went to BMW they did a good job and I still have a very good rapport with the mechanics there. They knew my car years before I even bought it. They're a good set of lads, but I can't justify in paying the huge labour costs anymore.
As for the other comments I'm split. I agree with Simon and Fuzzy. I've had my fair share of 'Fresh fish' Mechanics who don't know their heads from there arses and experienced ones who know what they're doing.
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B7
- E30 Zone Team Member
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- Location: Surrey / West Sussex
I've had both good and bad service from my main dealer. However, when I did get bad service and was completely ripped off to the tune of £550 on my e36......I did exactly what jotz did and challenged them. HARD!!!!!
Basically I'd been going there for over 10 years with my 5's and 1 service guy in particular, knows me well (waves on his way past my house in the morning) and is well aware that I know my stuff. He knows only too well that any work, over an above getting the stamp in the book, i will do myself. He lists all the advisories that if it were a 3 year old car, BMW would expect to have to put right. Most of it is bullsh1t and he knows that but he also knows that the service histories on my cars are second to none and therefore knows what I expect. However, on this particular occasion he was off sick and I book the e36 (99 V 323 Convertible) in for some investigation work. I ain't going into details as I know a couple of guys on the Zone are technicians there and I don't want to cause them any greif but the new guy on the service desk tries it on. Rings me half way through the job telling me it needs this and that and I question his reasoning. Give him his due, he never even broke a sweat so I authorised the work. Got the car home to find they'd replaced f*ck all and charged me £550 for the privilage.
I took the car back the next day with the parts diagrams printed out with the part numbers and parts highlighted that I'd been charged for. I asked (a different advisor again) if my understanding was correct and that these were the parts that had been fitted. When it was confirmed as correct I invite her out to the car park where I hold the her smug head under the bonnet and asked why a part I'd been charged for still had the May 99 warranty sticker on it! I then advised her of exactly how they'd got the system working again (which I could not do without the reletive equipment) and to not treat me like a mug! She coloured up a treat and i thought she was gonna cry to be honest. She immediatly refunded the entire amount including the cost of the parts I did need.
When the Service guy i know well found out he was embarrased beyond belief and personally rang me to apologise. Truth is, next time I go in there, they will think twice. This is the one and only time I've had my pants pulled down by them in 10 years. Every other time they have been superb but you cannot afford to cut them any slack. The second you know they've had you, take them to task.
Service department is totally outstanding at this particular dealer. The 2 guys I deal with ALWAYS have the time to even look up the smallest nut. They know me well and know that I want my cars to be spot on. They always have time for a chat and ask how the progress on the e30 is going. Personally, like Si, I would'nt go anywhere else for my parts.
Basically I'd been going there for over 10 years with my 5's and 1 service guy in particular, knows me well (waves on his way past my house in the morning) and is well aware that I know my stuff. He knows only too well that any work, over an above getting the stamp in the book, i will do myself. He lists all the advisories that if it were a 3 year old car, BMW would expect to have to put right. Most of it is bullsh1t and he knows that but he also knows that the service histories on my cars are second to none and therefore knows what I expect. However, on this particular occasion he was off sick and I book the e36 (99 V 323 Convertible) in for some investigation work. I ain't going into details as I know a couple of guys on the Zone are technicians there and I don't want to cause them any greif but the new guy on the service desk tries it on. Rings me half way through the job telling me it needs this and that and I question his reasoning. Give him his due, he never even broke a sweat so I authorised the work. Got the car home to find they'd replaced f*ck all and charged me £550 for the privilage.
I took the car back the next day with the parts diagrams printed out with the part numbers and parts highlighted that I'd been charged for. I asked (a different advisor again) if my understanding was correct and that these were the parts that had been fitted. When it was confirmed as correct I invite her out to the car park where I hold the her smug head under the bonnet and asked why a part I'd been charged for still had the May 99 warranty sticker on it! I then advised her of exactly how they'd got the system working again (which I could not do without the reletive equipment) and to not treat me like a mug! She coloured up a treat and i thought she was gonna cry to be honest. She immediatly refunded the entire amount including the cost of the parts I did need.
When the Service guy i know well found out he was embarrased beyond belief and personally rang me to apologise. Truth is, next time I go in there, they will think twice. This is the one and only time I've had my pants pulled down by them in 10 years. Every other time they have been superb but you cannot afford to cut them any slack. The second you know they've had you, take them to task.
Service department is totally outstanding at this particular dealer. The 2 guys I deal with ALWAYS have the time to even look up the smallest nut. They know me well and know that I want my cars to be spot on. They always have time for a chat and ask how the progress on the e30 is going. Personally, like Si, I would'nt go anywhere else for my parts.
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"