When is it time to stop going to a main dealer for a service

Goose81

Hi all,

Just wondering at what stage is it not worth going to a main dealer, i.e at what age of the car.

I have a 182 530e, when I bought it last year it had full BMW service history and obviously this gets stored in the computer.

It's due a service now and I'm torn between going to BMW to continue the logs in the on board computer as there is no manual to even stamp I don't think ( I think it's just a manual book)

There is no mileage on it, not even 45k km , for resale do you think I should stick with the BMW service or just go to my local guy who is great.

I will probably only hold on to the car for another year if that makes a difference.

Thanks

User1998

I believe there are independent mechanics who can upload the service history to the onboard computer.

On a car with such low mileage tho I wouldn’t be afraid to just ignore the time limit and service it when the mileage limit is reached? Like every 15k km’s or whatever it is.

Atlantic Dawn

I'd be inclined to stick to main dealer if changing next year so you can maintain the full history as a selling point. If I was going to hold on to it for say 4 or 5 more years I'd go independent as at that stage the additional cost in full history will outweigh the extra you will get for it.

goochy

I wouldn't be keen on buying a new enough car where someone had tried to save money on servicing

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688043#Comment_121688043

The independent garages in quite a few cases have better mechanics and will source the same BMw parts as the main garages.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121687662#Comment_121687662

Yes a number of them have access to the system, from recollection it cost 30 euro or something to upload. My own garage used to keep a record and then upload all at once if you wanted to make sure system was updated but save you the fee each time.

goochy

It doesn't matter. Why cut costs on a prestige car . Its a bad sign

tomhammer..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688073#Comment_121688073

Cos it's cheaper ?

Not advocating it he should stick with MD as he's selling soon

Green Peter

Main dealers are a rip off, they'll screw you on the trade in either way. If you have a good mechanic get them to do it and keep the receipts with what has been done to show potential buyers especially when selling private, if selling to a garage as I said they will screw you anyway.

goochy

Car will be worth less without full bmw fsh so false economy

tomhammer..

Would be pointless switching service at the last minute to save a few euro

goochy

Take no notice of green Peter. Put it this way a bmw main dealer won't retail.a used bmw with full bmw service history so you get less of a trade-in as Its sold in the trade

Whocare

Personally I would think about moving away from main dealer went car is 5/6 years old

djan

Once main warranty is up I'd switch to independent garages, ideally those that specialise in BMW and can update the iDrive.

If selling private it makes little to no difference and personally, I would prefer seeing a BMW specialist over a dealer. The main thing is what was serviced and how often, the actual parts often make little difference unless you really go budget or full on wrong.

JVince

Low mileage - so probably once a year or less for service. In that case stick with main dealer but be very careful about their "recommendations" especially around tyres and brake pads where they will "recommend" when there's at least 10k km safe use left (get them done independently if required)

Titzon Toast

One it's serviced in a good garage and you have a receipt you be good to go imho.

History is history.

hoodie6029

Once the warranty is up, go to an independent. Plenty of them can update idrive so just find one that can.

tomhammer..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688501#Comment_121688501

Is that alway true though

Isn't there sometimes goodwill after warranty expires if you've main dealer service

Also selling soon you'd better stick with MD to have it as USP

Wanderer78

know a couple of lads that trained in my local bmw dealer, both said run!

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688515#Comment_121688515

In this case, the OP has it a year and is planning on selling. Doubt there’d be much good will from the dealer here.

As long as it has stamps from a reputable garage, that should be enough for anyone except the most ardent anorak!

bazz26

I've a 2017 430d that I have maintained a full main dealer service history on too. The main reason being that local independent specialists to me are not that much cheap than what the main dealer is charging these days. Some of them have invested in equipment that they want to make back. I do tend to get basic things like brake pads, discs etc changed outside the dealer network as they are a rip off but for fluids, etc I stick with the main dealer for the service history stamp. Goodwill becomes less of a reason too as the car gets older because it's less likely that any manufacturer will offer it as the car ages.

As for making it more valuable when selling on, it may or may not. While a BMW dealer may retail it on their forecourt and ask more for it, that doesn't mean they will give you more for it when trading it. Many indy dealers won't ask or care either about a full service history in my experience, they will just look at the age, condition and mileage. Having a full main dealer service history might be a bonus for them when selling to the next owner but not to you when buying it off you.

In saying all that, with low mileage and you selling it next year, I'd tend to stick with the main dealer this time to keep it.

mickdw

I'd go main dealer with a 530e to avoid any questions relating to battery warranty that goes to 100k km .... if I recall correctly.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688094#Comment_121688094

The vast majority of the car buying public won't be focused on a comprehensive dealer service history and the dealer will buy the car on the likleihood of it being sold on.

rob316

If you are going selling it in a year I'd go the main dealer service, if not I'd go to a good independent. There is a BMW specialist in our industrial estate and he is landed over cars from the main dealer constantly to sort. Main Dealer isn't all that cracked up to be, it'll be an apprentice servicing the car still. You can insist on your independent to use OEM parts if you want too.

tomhammer..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688769#Comment_121688769

Agree but it's the paperwork sometimes that counts

colm_mcm

I’d stick with BMW for now as you might need goodwill on battery etc.

Casati

I know somebody who got goodwill from BMW on a ten year old 3 series (for timing chain) as the car had BMW service history from day one. He if he had serviced it with the local Indy, the main dealer wouldn’t even have applied for goodwill. The goodwill was worth thousands to him.

Penny wise, pound foolish

Green Peter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121689688#Comment_121689688

Sorry, but I find that very hard to swallow.

djan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121689688#Comment_121689688

That's a big risk to take especially as unlikely for full cost of changing timing chain being covered. 10 years worth savings on independent servicing would cover a timing chain service and have plenty left over.

CalamariFritti

I dont know if its the same everywhere, but where I live the main BMW dealer charged €120 per hour last time I used, I believe its gone up since to €135. My local indy has all the electronics gear and also worked in BMW for many years and he charges €70 an hour. So on that front it's a no brainer.

What also needs to be said is that I didnt always get quality service from the main dealer. I had a couple of repairs where they must have let an apprentice do the job or something and it had to go back for fixing up. On one occasion a tracking job ruined all 4 tyres within a month. New quality brand tyres, Contis. To be fair they gave me new tyres (same brand/type), but still, shouldn't have happened in the first place and made me wonder.

I understand I may be lucky with my indy and not every indy may know BMWs the way he does, but with all things being equal I think you can stop going to BMW when all warranties have run out. Thats what I did. I bought mine 3 years old from BMW and had 12 months warranty on it. So from year 4 onward I went to the indy.

You have to weigh up a number of factors I think. One of those factors is when is it that you're planning to move the car on? My one is 10 years old now and I'm likely to drive it another 10. At which point it wont matter whether it has full BMW history or not. But if your car is 3 years old and you're planning to move on after another 2 or 3 it may be more important.

Casati

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121690129#Comment_121690129

I felt the same but it was an amazing how well BMW looked him. Certainly his experience made me consider a used BMW myself.

He got the standard Inspection services with the main dealer but went elsewhere for other stuff - eg like the above poster he wouldn’t go near the main dealer for tracking, or stuff like brakes, suspension or air con recharging. BMW dealers charge a lot per for that sort of stuff as they charge they cost per hour, but the standard inspections might work out 100 quid a year more than an Indy. In the past they have offered special deals for older cars too

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121690400#Comment_121690400

I heard, no idea if true Joe Duffy was looking at 190 an hour