BMW repairs without "dealer" prices

1jay1

Hi All,

Not sure I'm posting in the correct section but here goes...

I have a 06 BMW 730D, its needs a few things done to pass the NCT - a few lights turned off, parking brake and a service and maybe a few other bits. I've been quoted silly prices by BMW and I'm hoping to find someone else (recommended) to carry out the work and save a few quid - I'm based in Dublin. Can anyone point me towards someone that knows what their doing without it costing me a kidney??

Cheers,
Jay

bazz26

Valdas in Motor Confidence, D12 gets recommended over on the bmw owner's forum.

Voodoomelon

If you don't mind travelling an hour up the road, Perfect Car in Dundalk did impressive work on my 740 and can't recommend them enough.

Otherwise, Valdas - Motor Confidence in Naas is the go to guy for BMW in Dublin.

Preset No.3

Dave Lonergan
DL Motor Works over near Ballymount.

Tommyboy40

+1 for Valdas

ciarsd

Can also vouch for Valdas in Motor Confidence in Knockmitten & Dave in DL Motorworks in Ballymount.

kennyb3

I was pointed towards scully's in fairview a few years back by people on here after getting fleeced by BMW main dealer. Been a happy customer of theirs ever since.

Lucifer

Can also recommend Dave Lonergan in DL Motor Works in ballymount.

ciarsd

kennyb3 wrote: »

I was pointed towards scully's in fairview a few years back by people on here after getting fleeced by BMW main dealer. Been a happy customer of theirs ever since.

Another BMW independent Conor used to work in Scullys, he's since working for another dedicated BMW independent garage, Courtneys, North Strand Chelmsford Motors in Ranelagh. Think the owner is also ex BMW main dealer.

eddiem74

ciarsd wrote: »

Another BMW independent Conor used to work in Scullys, he's since working for another dedicated BMW independent garage, Chelmsford Motors in Ranelagh. Think the owner is also ex BMW main dealer.

Conor is now in Courtneys, North Strand. ;-)

Ardent

Another vote for Valdas from me.

Technoprisoner

byrne motor works in swords.... very good bmw specialist

Ferris

Technoprisoner wrote: »

byrne motor works in swords.... very good bmw specialist

+1 for Byrne Motor Works. Used them recently and found them to be very decent and knowlegeable. They also advised me to combine certain jobs to keep the amount of hours down and therefore the price.

Valdas has a great reputation also but Byrnes were a lot handier for me personally.

My advice would be to price match and choose which indy is handier for you.

Idbatterim

Gary Doyle in Chelmsford motors (Ranelagh) or Bloomfield BMW Specialists (SC) would be other options...

1jay1

Well lads - thanks very much for the response, its greatly appreciated!!

I contacted Valdas, Motor Confidence first thing this morning - dropped the car in at lunch time and after a quick going over he informs me that the corroded brake lines BMW said needed to be replaced were actually perfect the problem was a snapped cable - few quid saved straight away.
I only planned on getting the bare minimum done to pass the NCT but decided to get "everything" done instead as he certainly isn't a rip-off merchant and knows what hes at.

If all goes to plan the 4K BMW were looking for will be reduced to 2.5K - I can afford to tax it for the year now :-)

mickdw

A 2.5k bill is affordable these days?

That's still a stupidly big bill in my eyes.

coolisin

mickdw wrote: »

A 2.5k bill is affordable these days?

That's still a stupidly big bill in my eyes.

Really depends what needed to be done he says a few lights needed to be turned off!!

Best of luck OP

1jay1

mickdw wrote: »

A 2.5k bill is affordable these days?

That's still a stupidly big bill in my eyes.

It is a massive bill, one I could do without.
Yesterday I was trying to trade in the car but after being offered so little and having to put around 4K with it to get anything decent this actually works out to be the cheaper route.
The price includes full service, new tyres, airbag sensor, parking brake, bushings and suspension and other stuff.

mickdw

1jay1 wrote: »

It is a massive bill, one I could do without.
Yesterday I was trying to trade in the car but after being offered so little and having to put around 4K with it to get anything decent this actually works out to be the cheaper route.
The price includes full service, new tyres, airbag sensor, parking brake, bushings and suspension and other stuff.

Ah with tyres, it's not as bad.
what were you offered for it out of interest?

1jay1

mickdw wrote: »

Ah with tyres, it's not as bad.
what were you offered for it out of interest?

One dealer wouldn't take it as the NCT is out, the worst was 5.5K and the best was 9K. The 9K was off an over priced car, 8K was the "standard" offer. That was based on 1k of work needed.
Its a mint car (bodywork/interior) with 140K km

I was looking at giving 4k with it for a 2010 Mazda 6 2.2d with 70k miles, I'd come up the years alright but the mileage wasn't of much benefit - plus you could end up buying trouble...

mickdw

1jay1 wrote: »

One dealer wouldn't take it as the NCT is out, the worst was 5.5K and the best was 9K. The 9K was off an over priced car, 8K was the "standard" offer. That was based on 1k of work needed.
Its a mint car (bodywork/interior) with 140K km

I was looking at giving 4k with it for a 2010 Mazda 6 2.2d with 70k miles, I'd come up the years alright but the mileage wasn't of much benefit - plus you could end up buying trouble...

A True 8k would be reasonable but 8k against retail prices is a poor offer imo.
I think you would be very disappointed with a mazda 6 coming out of a good 7 series.

1jay1

There's a massive gap between whats offered as "trade in" and private/dearer sale prices. I know the dealers have to make a few quid but some of them just take the piss completely.

the_syco

1jay1 wrote: »

Yesterday I was trying to trade in the car but after being offered so little and having to put around 4K with it to get anything decent this actually works out to be the cheaper route.

Why are you trading it in? Not a fan of beamers myself, but after putting the cash into the car, would you not keep it rather than a new car that may have a new set of problems?

You just sick of it (fairly legit reason, imo), or were the items wrong with it the reason you were trying to get rid of it?

1jay1

the_syco wrote: »

Why are you trading it in? Not a fan of beamers myself, but after putting the cash into the car, would you not keep it rather than a new car that may have a new set of problems?

You just sick of it (fairly legit reason, imo), or were the items wrong with it the reason you were trying to get rid of it?

I was going to trade it in "as is" yesterday but due to silly offers I decided to keep it, spend the money putting it right and enjoy it for another while.

I was thinking the couple of grand it needed for repair/maintenance I'd use to upgrade but as I quickly discovered it wasn't going to be much of an upgrade.

Kintarō Hattori

Been using Valdas since this time last year when we bought our E90. Very reasonable to deal with and I like his calm no nonsense manner.

Voodoomelon

There's a lot to be said for sticking a car in with a good mechanic to get a pile of stuff sorted, even if its a big bill. I'd be tackling most jobs myself, but time is money too and you can save a lot of heartache.