BMW not straight on charges

Photohonesty

I've owned a car for more than thirty years and am well aware of the service interval indicator.  I can only report my direct experience and this is the first time I've been told that I need an oil service to then rock up and find out it was a full service.  From what you say then this is normal and that I should not rely on a phone call but go to the garage directly and ask them to check the car and then confirm what's required. Seems like a backward step to me in this day and age of connectability and it also means the on board computer got it wrong....

neilmcl

Photohonesty said:

Just for clarity my question is.  Is what BMW told me, that they cannot tell what service is required from mileage alone and that they have to scan the key true?  I agree with CasualBagger that for every service I have had to date over 30 years the type of service has been determined by the mileage and service interval on the car. The rules appear to have changed here and at the very least BMW should make it clear that they cannot commit until they have seen the car. 

Yes. Most BMWs are on what they call Condition Based Service (CBS) intervals so they can only give you the exact details of the upcoming service by scanning the key.

CasualBagger

Grumpy_chap said:

£680 for a "full" service seems extortionate.  Are you at the age / mileage where you need a cam belt change or similar?

I just picked a random 40k mile M3 on Autotrader and ran it through BMWs website cause I was curious. 

Arrived at £695 for:
- oil and filter
- climate control filter
- air filter
- spark plugs

So yeah circa £700 is normal for BMW. I think some of the engine layouts require you to take the engine bay apart to change spark plugs. 

The moral of the story is simply this: Don't buy a BMW. 

Hasbeen

CasualBagger said:

Grumpy_chap said:

£680 for a "full" service seems extortionate.  Are you at the age / mileage where you need a cam belt change or similar?

I just picked a random 40k mile M3 on Autotrader and ran it through BMWs website cause I was curious. 

Arrived at £695 for:
- oil and filter
- climate control filter
- air filter
- spark plugs

So yeah circa £700 is normal for BMW. I think some of the engine layouts require you to take the engine bay apart to change spark plugs. 

The moral of the story is simply this: Don't buy a BMW. 

LOL. The moral of the story should be only buy a BMW if you can afford it.  

CasualBagger

Hasbeen said:

CasualBagger said:

Grumpy_chap said:

£680 for a "full" service seems extortionate.  Are you at the age / mileage where you need a cam belt change or similar?

I just picked a random 40k mile M3 on Autotrader and ran it through BMWs website cause I was curious. 

Arrived at £695 for:
- oil and filter
- climate control filter
- air filter
- spark plugs

So yeah circa £700 is normal for BMW. I think some of the engine layouts require you to take the engine bay apart to change spark plugs. 

The moral of the story is simply this: Don't buy a BMW. 

LOL. The moral of the story should be only buy a BMW if you can afford it.  

I think even then I'll take some convincing. 

I read somewhere that Bill Gates drives a Ford Fiesta. Not sure if that's true or not. 

Photohonesty

Hasbeen said:

CasualBagger said:

Grumpy_chap said:

£680 for a "full" service seems extortionate.  Are you at the age / mileage where you need a cam belt change or similar?

I just picked a random 40k mile M3 on Autotrader and ran it through BMWs website cause I was curious. 

Arrived at £695 for:
- oil and filter
- climate control filter
- air filter
- spark plugs

So yeah circa £700 is normal for BMW. I think some of the engine layouts require you to take the engine bay apart to change spark plugs. 

The moral of the story is simply this: Don't buy a BMW. 

LOL. The moral of the story should be only buy a BMW if you can afford it.  

Funny you should say that I've just reached the same conclusion.....

Scrapit

A complete non issue. They say a price that you dont like, you say  no. Its as simple as that. Same as any other vender offering any other sale.

Grumpy_chap

CasualBagger said:

Grumpy_chap said:

£680 for a "full" service seems extortionate.  Are you at the age / mileage where you need a cam belt change or similar?

I just picked a random 40k mile M3 on Autotrader and ran it through BMWs website cause I was curious. 

Arrived at £695 for:
- oil and filter
- climate control filter
- air filter
- spark plugs

So yeah circa £700 is normal for BMW. I think some of the engine layouts require you to take the engine bay apart to change spark plugs. 

The moral of the story is simply this: Don't buy a BMW. 

Although the OP did not say what BMW they drive, there is nothing 'random' or 'typical' about an M3.  Not even amongst BMWs.

fred246

I have been to a BMW showroom. All bright lights and lots of glass and people sat around in suits doing nothing. It all has to be paid for. That's why they charge so much for a few simple jobs.

CasualBagger

Grumpy_chap said:

CasualBagger said:

Grumpy_chap said:

£680 for a "full" service seems extortionate.  Are you at the age / mileage where you need a cam belt change or similar?

I just picked a random 40k mile M3 on Autotrader and ran it through BMWs website cause I was curious. 

Arrived at £695 for:
- oil and filter
- climate control filter
- air filter
- spark plugs

So yeah circa £700 is normal for BMW. I think some of the engine layouts require you to take the engine bay apart to change spark plugs. 

The moral of the story is simply this: Don't buy a BMW. 

Although the OP did not say what BMW they drive, there is nothing 'random' or 'typical' about an M3.  Not even amongst BMWs.

True enough - it's only £430 for a petrol 3-series. Bargain.