used car problem

colino

You can understand a car with a larger sump capacity being more expensive to service. Put car on ramp, access sump plug, remove sump plug, drain oil. Wait for all oil to be drained, preferably staring at sump drain with arms folded, refit sump plug, replace cover, lower ramp, open bonnet, remove oil filter housing, replace filter, replace housing. Take off oil filler cap, add oil, check on level. Start car, make sure pressure comes up, stop engine, check level, add as appropriate, check level.
THEN, start car, raise hoist, check for leaks below.
Yep, that's exactly the linear process of doing each individual job on a techs list, well it is if you follow manufacturers book times.

darkmatter101

colino wrote: »

You can understand a car with a larger sump capacity being more expensive to service. Put car on ramp, access sump plug, remove sump plug, drain oil. Wait for all oil to be drained, preferably staring at sump drain with arms folded, refit sump plug, replace cover, lower ramp, open bonnet, remove oil filter housing, replace filter, replace housing. Take off oil filler cap, add oil, check on level. Start car, make sure pressure comes up, stop engine, check level, add as appropriate, check level.
THEN, start car, raise hoist, check for leaks below.
Yep, that's exactly the linear process of doing each individual job on a techs list, well it is if you follow manufacturers book times.

The biggest cost is the oil. My brothers A3 2.0 tdi only uses 3.8 litres and costs £35 for Castrol Edge FST. My last car, the 330i uses 6.5 litres AND higher grade oil totaling £80-90 depending on where you get the oil from.

JustinR1979

darkmatter101 wrote: »

I had my M serviced once by Toyota Jemca dealer in Edgware Road, London. I specifically requested the master tech to work on my car and I recorded the mileage when I dropped it off. When I came to collect, it had done 7 extra miles. I queried this with the receptionist and the master tech and was told it needed testing and he had to drive few miles before it was properly warmed up. I was quite pi**ed off initially but the master tech seemed to know his stuff.

You bang on about how special it is, then you take it to a non bmw garage for a service.
That'll look good in the service book.
Why didn't you go to Jason?

darkmatter101

JustinR1979 wrote: »

You bang on about how special it is, then you take it to a non bmw garage for a service.
That'll look good in the service book.
Why didn't you go to Jason?

That Toyota dealer is literally a 30 second walk from where I live and at the time, I had a lot of things going on so just out of convenience I it taken there. They sourced out all OEM BMW parts. It was only a simple oil change, oil filter, air filter and 2 rear tyres.

motorguy

darkmatter101 wrote: »

That Toyota dealer is literally a 30 second walk from where I live and at the time, I had a lot of things going on so just out of convenience I it taken there. They sourced out all OEM BMW parts. It was only a simple oil change, oil filter, air filter and 2 rear tyres.

You took a V8 M3 to a Toyota dealer to get serviced? :eek:

I would have thought it was essential - from a true maintenance and maintaining its residual value - to take it to BMW at that age OR at very least a well recognised specialist. Typically M3 buyers are "fussy" about history.

Also, why would a Toyota "master tech" know anything about the nuances of an M3 V8? You may as well have taken it to quick fit.

beermonsta81

Hi guys, thanks for all comments, I was hoping to get a year out of it with a bit of money spent but hey ho will put it on the long list of car problems I've had lol
If any one interested it a BMW 318ti 1998, 137337 miles none runner, near Barnsley, it just for parts now though, as needs bakes and cat as well as above mentioned.
If the suspension is same as factory fitted would that not prove its not been fixed? Or can ya fix leaks on them?
What's the scrap value? Just so I don't get ripped off with that too lol

AdrianC

beermonsta81 wrote: »

If the suspension is same as factory fitted would that not prove its not been fixed? Or can ya fix leaks on them?

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s02000701.htm
tells you how dampers are tested. If there's visible evidence of a leak, that's a fail. So you can see how a damper that was leaking last week could easily pass - legitimately - today without being changed. Just wipe it clean!

Yes, that IS an inadequately weak part of the MOT...

BeenThroughItAll

beermonsta81 wrote: »

Hi guys, thanks for all comments, I was hoping to get a year out of it with a bit of money spent but hey ho will put it on the long list of car problems I've had lol
If any one interested it a BMW 318ti 1998, 137337 miles none runner, near Barnsley, it just for parts now though, as needs bakes and cat as well as above mentioned.
If the suspension is same as factory fitted would that not prove its not been fixed? Or can ya fix leaks on them?
What's the scrap value? Just so I don't get ripped off with that too lol

150-200 quid I would expect.


Personally, I'd stick it on eBay with the MOT fail sheet/advisories listed as spares or repair, you'll get what it's actually worth that way. If it has decent wheels/tyres/leather for example, someone will have it for parts.

AdrianC

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

150-200 quid I would expect.

Personally, I'd stick it on eBay with the MOT fail sheet/advisories listed as spares or repair, you'll get what it's actually worth that way. If it has decent wheels/tyres/leather for example, someone will have it for parts.

For the few extra quid you're likely to get, versus the raving idiots that the badge is going to attract, I'd just ring around the scrappies and see who'll pay most when they collect.

BeenThroughItAll

AdrianC wrote: »

For the few extra quid you're likely to get, versus the raving idiots that the badge is going to attract, I'd just ring around the scrappies and see who'll pay most when they collect.

Well maybe; that's why I said 'personally'. I don't let the raving idiots bother me. I prefer them to the Neanderthal scrappers you get round here.