BMW Service options

wannabecraig

My Car details are below.
I recently got one of the coils replaced (I don't exactly know what that means, it was a green Bosh thing that looked like a long spark plug) in the engine but a macanic around the corner,
I don't know why I went there, think out of convienance, as he's a grumpy **** and my car always comes out worse.

Anyway, I was driving about a week ago and, took off fastish and the engine light below came on(not my car but same light). It says in the book that the engine was at half power
and I can continue but need to get it looked at. It happened a few time over the following days before I could make it to a decent mechanic. The car stutters when I take off or
try to accelerate below 2k revs. THe mechanic I brought it to saw about 5 faults and said he didn't know which one this might be and the best thing to do is bring it to BMW.

I do't mind doing this but I don't really know where. The bmw service centre seems to be in Santry, I live/work nowhere near there. Is there any alternatives around the Sandyford Area?



Year: 2008
Model:320
Engine:1995
Transmission:MANUAL
Fuel Type:Petrol

bazz26

Maybe bring it to Valdas in Motor Confidence, based on the Naas Road. He is a BMW specialist and gets recommended on the BMW owner forums.

Foxhole Norman

Valdas would be your best bet alright, people come from all over to go to him.

wannabecraig

ok, I'm nowhere near him either. But if they're good I'll make the trip.

George Dalton

Sounds like another coilpack has given up.

MAJJ

Julian "Jules" Chambers (sandyford motorworks/ chambers performance)(087) 413 0652. He is excellent and has all the diagnostic tools. I know him a very long time and he does all ranges of cars.

67E, Heather Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Sandyford

https://www.here.com/directions/drive//Chambers-Performance:53.271202,-6.212956?map=53.2712,-6.21296,17,traffic&x=ep

traprunner

Don't BMW coils have to be replaced in pairs? It happened in my wifes old car. The mechanic (not BMW expert) changed one gone coil and another started acting up within a week or two.

Foxhole Norman

traprunner wrote: »

Don't BMW coils have to be replaced in pairs? It happened in my wifes old car. The mechanic (not BMW expert) changed one gone coil and another started acting up within a week or two.

Nope, I replaced one of mine a few months ago and the rest have been perfect since.

kdevitt

Coil pack as said above. It can be an intermittent issue with them - so potentially the troublesome one wasn't replaced. Could just as easily be another one which has failed - they're pretty cheap (think EUR30 each)

Chelmsford Motors in Ranelagh are very good if you're trying to stay southside. Valdas as mentioned above would fix you up quickly too. You do need the faults scanned and cleared - so steer clear of anyone who doesn't have the diagnostic equipment.

wannabecraig

I don't need them cleared before I go to these guys though right?

kdevitt

wannabecraig wrote: »

I don't need them cleared before I go to these guys though right?

No, they should clear the codes themselves first up. Once cleared, they scan again for fresh codes - the old coilpack error could potentially still be stored if not cleared in advance. The scan for fresh codes will pick up any current issues.

visual

A cheap code reader will read and reset the fault codes
had a coil pack go faulty in mine just before xmas
code reader read fault telling me which cylinder was faulty changed that one coil and all fine.

naughtysmurf

If it's another coil pack gone, if it were me I'd just replace all the remaining ones, my experience is they all tend to start giving trouble after the first one goes, one trip to the mechanic is better than four

wannabecraig

I've left it in to Paddy Holingswotrh Autosales in Sandyford industrial estate on the recommendation of a friend who's had his BMWs serviced there for years.
Guy who looks after is wasn't there but they're going to call me later with the info.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Do not want to buy a cheap reader and do it myself, I did this with the last car & it caused untold problems.

The Engine light went on this morning and stayed on, this is similar to what happened when the other coil went.
As an engineer it's very frustrating not knowing about the workings of all this stuff!

Foxhole Norman

wannabecraig wrote: »

I've left it in to Paddy Holingswotrh Autosales in Sandyford industrial estate on the recommendation of a friend who's had his BMWs serviced there for years.
Guy who looks after is wasn't there but they're going to call me later with the info.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Do not want to buy a cheap reader and do it myself, I did this with the last car & it caused untold problems.

The Engine light went on this morning and stayed on, this is similar to what happened when the other coil went.
As an engineer it's very frustrating not knowing about the workings of all this stuff!

Coils are some of the simplest things to change, on mine it was as straightforward as taking off the cover and then un bolting the coil and replacing it. Done.

wannabecraig

Just back from the garage, bunch of stuff wrong it seems.
Needs 4 new coils (guy said you're supposed to replace all), new O2 sensor, new spark plugs.
Has to clean out engine too, drive it for an hour or something with a computer hooked up!
I'd say it's gonna be a grand at least. He's going to mail me the list!

wannabecraig

This is what the guy says I need. Do I need to get all done at once?

4 new plugs 4 x 15.00 60.00

needs lambda sensor number 2 220.00

3 new coils 3 x 44.50 133.50

regen p/f

labour 1x 150.00 150.00

Foxhole Norman

wannabecraig wrote: »

This is what the guy says I need. Do I need to get all done at once?

4 new plugs 4 x 15.00 60.00

needs lambda sensor number 2 220.00

3 new coils 3 x 44.50 133.50

regen p/f

labour 1x 150.00 150.00

That's not a bad price for all of that to be fair. I'd recommend you do it all at once.

wannabecraig

Yeah, this is total plus vat:L
Description Amount

Vatable Items 563.50

VAT @ 13.50% 76.07

Zero Rated Items 0.00

Total Estimate Value 639.57

He said it was a nightmare engine be prepared for more expense, which was lovely of him.

Tea 1000

Yep, post September 2007 BMW petrols... they like to ensure people have more expense than income!
Fix it, drive it a couple of months to get some value for your few hundred quid, then trade it the hell away from yourself and get something else!! I learned the hard way, although mine had 6 cylinders to sort problems on!

Foxhole Norman

wannabecraig wrote: »

He said it was a nightmare engine be prepared for more expense, which was lovely of him.

Is yours an Efficient Dynamics engine? I know there's some problems with those alright. They really should've stuck with what they knew, straight sixes.

cletus

wannabecraig wrote: »

Do not want to buy a cheap reader and do it myself, I did this with the last car & it caused untold problems.

Out of curiosity, what issues did the reader cause

wannabecraig

cletus wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what issues did the reader cause

Well, I cleared the faults and the mechanic told me that he now didn't know what the issue was and he was just taking shots, if he got the wrong thing it was my fault. In fairness he was the asshole I referred to above.

wannabecraig

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Is yours an Efficient Dynamics engine? I know there's some problems with those alright. They really should've stuck with what they knew, straight sixes.

Yes, it's the ED one. I was told it was going to cost me lots but nobody gave me a decent alternative of something that looks that good for that price.

Tea 1000

wannabecraig wrote: »

Yes, it's the ED one. I was told it was going to cost me lots but nobody gave me a decent alternative of something that looks that good for that price.

A 2005 BMW 325i would look the same, cost less, and should have a better chance of avoiding a mechanic.

cletus

wannabecraig wrote: »

Well, I cleared the faults and the mechanic told me that he now didn't know what the issue was and he was just taking shots, if he got the wrong thing it was my fault. In fairness he was the asshole I referred to above.

Bit off topic here maybe, but that's not really the fault of the reader. Clearing a code doesn't fix the problem, at minimum, if you weren't doing the work yourself, I would have written down what the codes were so somebody could check what they refer to

landmarkjohn

naughtysmurf wrote: »

If it's another coil pack gone, if it were me I'd just replace all the remaining ones, my experience is they all tend to start giving trouble after the first one goes, one trip to the mechanic is better than four

I'm inclined to agree. Our 2006 318i has had 3 coil failures over 2 years and you get no warning whatsoever. It blights an otherwise really nice car.

wannabecraig

Yeah, they replaced the coils adn coil pack and it's in good shape now. He had charged me for the o2 sensor but refunded me when he found out that
they didn't need to fit it. The whole experience was a little odd tbh. Details:

So work gets done, I get a call do say car is ready. I head over, and there is a scratch on the back bumper, I know it wasn't there when I dropped it in.
Guy I was dealing with, seems to be the owner, wasn't there so I pointed it out to one of the workshop guys. He called the boss. Puts me on the phone to the boss
then who says he doesn't think it happened in his shop, I say it's fairly clear, ask the shop guy he'll tell you it's recent. Workshop guy goes crazy at this...
snaps the phone from my hand, says he never said it was done in here, has a big row with the boss on the phone about how he's talking to me (boss told him to cool it).
This went on for at least 5 mins with the workshop guy going crazy a lot, really aggressive. Anyway, I paid for the work, brought the car in the next day, they
fixed the bumper and apologized for the aggravation. Workshop guy is still strutting around the place staring me out of it too, so that's odd.

Apart from that the car is fine and the owner is a nice guy. In two minds if I should use in the future.

wannabecraig

landmarkjohn wrote: »

I'm inclined to agree. Our 2006 318i has had 3 coil failures over 2 years and you get no warning whatsoever. It blights an otherwise really nice car.

Yeah, I really like the car, tbh I'm willing to put up with this.