is there any point to service a BMW in main dealer?

jackie.du

Hi need you guys advise.

I have my BMW for four years and just serviced in the main dealer once back to three years ago. but that costed me 700 euros just to do a inspection and oil change. and after that I always service my car myself, change oil, air filter and plugs ect...

but the on board computer indicating I need to get inspection 1, inspection 2, and oil service done now.

i am just wonding do i really need to go to a dealer in this stage? or just a normal car service garage will do the job? it's a 01 bmw 316, and 130K on the meter by the way.

milltown

Definitely not!
Big waste of money on a car of that age and milage. Most garages/mechanics should be able to reset the service indicator. If you want a BMW specialist then AC Car Sales come highly recommended by most BMW enthusiasts.

EPM

if the service indicator annoys you a decent independent should be able to sort that. If there aren't any faults showing it should be fine. Seriously, was there brake pads in that 700 euro service? Thats ridiculous!

dutchcat

if you are competent enough to have serviced it, then just buy yourself a code reader on ebay £25 and put your own lights out simple as save yourself a few quid;)

Captain Slow IRL

Or go here and do it for free - http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reset_the_oil_service_light_manually_on_a_2003_BMW_325i_E46

jackie.du

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Or go here and do it for free - http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reset_the_oil_service_light_manually_on_a_2003_BMW_325i_E46

thank you all. your advise are all very helpful. I am going to do this myself again now. but my break lights comes on, i have changed my break pads one one month ago. and nothing wrong with the sensor. any advise on how to knock it off???

minetop

Could be a sensor gone same thing happened to me, the part is quite cheap and easy to fit,

turnsoutIwas

My brake wear sensor light went off when I replaced the sensor. Only way to fix it is to replace it afaik. It was under a tenner and really easy to replace.

Resetting the Service Indicater light is a complete doddle. Google it and you will find loads of tutorials.

Drummerboy08

Its kind of scary that someone comes on here because their brake light is on, and people advise them to fix it themselves.

Brakes are a safety issue - if the warning light is on, bring it to a qualified mechanic.

Stevie Dakota

BMW dealers do great coffee, biccies and if you are lucky a Kit Kat or two, other than that there is no good reason to use them over a good independent.

Seth Brundle

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

BMW dealers do great coffee, biccies and if you are lucky a Kit Kat or two, other than that there is no good reason to use them over a good independent.

Thats a bit narrow minded. Some parts are only available from BMW.
Now there's no other reason!

Seweryn

jackie.du wrote: »

I have my BMW for four years and just serviced in the main dealer once back to three years ago. but that costed me 700 euros just to do a inspection and oil change.

Was there nothing more than the oil and filters changed? That would be no more than €100 for parts and €600 for 1 (max 2) hour of labour. That's what you call a value for money :rolleyes:.

Captain Slow IRL

It depends if it was an oil service, inspection 1 or 2 service.
An oil service would only cover the oil and pollen filter's being changed.
An inspection service would be a "full service" that would include all filters along with spark plug (or oil seperator for a diesel)

Boskowski

Have a look on ebay for inspection 2 kits. I got mine (E39) for under 100 Euro. It included all filters (oil, air, fuel, pollen) and spark plugs and it was all proper German brand name stuff (Bosch/Mahle), no China sh1t. You can also get the inspection 2 check list easily.
Then I got a 'normal' service done by my 'normal' garage and he replaced all the stuff while he was doing what he would have done anyway. Got more or less an inspection 2 for 180 Euro plus the 100 Euro for the kit. Would have been roughly 1000 Euro in BMW I guess.

The only thing I find problematic is when you have an actual problem and that problem requires OBD diagnostics. The BMW diagnostics computers seem to be doing more than what you can do with one of those generic OBD readers that the 'normal' guys usually have.

mickdw

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Its kind of scary that someone comes on here because their brake light is on, and people advise them to fix it themselves.

Brakes are a safety issue - if the warning light is on, bring it to a qualified mechanic.

I agree if its a anything other than the wear indicator light. In this case though, it is the wear indicator and also its common for the sensor to be changed with the pads on these cars due to damage from wear etc. This wasnt done with the recent pad change here so its a pretty good diagnosis. (providing it is the wear indicator light that is on)

Darragh29

jackie.du wrote: »

thank you all. your advise are all very helpful. I am going to do this myself again now. but my break lights comes on, i have changed my break pads one one month ago. and nothing wrong with the sensor. any advise on how to knock it off???

If the light is still on after replacing the pads, then there is most likely a problem with the sensor. I'd usually replace the sensor with the pads.