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Post by Tim on May 23, 2017 12:20:48 GMT
The 320 informed me recently that it required a service. Not only a service but an oil change too. Silly me thinking they were one and the same.
Anyway I would've liked to book it into the dealer in Perth as everyone agrees they have a great reputation and provide excellent customer service, when my brother in law bought his used X5, upon hearing his partner was pregnant they gave them a small ride-on BMW.
Sadly I could only use them if they provided a courtesy car and they don't. A lift into Perth town centre wouldn't really be any use as I'd need to get the bus to Dundee.
That left me with the unenticing option of the Dundee dealer, one of many such emporiums (emporia?) owned by a man with the same surname as a recently deceased bloke called Arnold. I'm not saying they're bad but when they did the airbag recall on my 2002 320 they returned the car just as filthy as when it went in (the smallish independent I used to work for washed every car that came in), didn't call to let us know it was ready, didn't offer a lift anywhere, etc.
Well this time a lift was provided (Mrs Tim had the pleasure, her work is only 5 minutes from said garage) and the work was done, the car washed and a phone call made. Brilliant.
However, why the fuck does it cost nearly £500 for a drop of oil, a few filters and a quick clean? There was nearly £250+VAT of labour! I could've done it quicker myself.
Fortunately that's it for dealer servicing for this car. It won't need another for 20k miles/2 years by which time it will be worth significantly less and I'll happily take it to my normal Dundee-based independent Fiat/Alfa specialist, a garage that DOES offer courtesy cars (even though they keep giving me 150k Alfa 156s) and provides a bit of banter as well as an interest in you and your car.
That's assuming I don't get 'the fever' in the meantime. |
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Post by grampa on May 23, 2017 13:28:00 GMT
Wow - generally a service on the Scirocco has somewhere between £60 and £70 of labour.
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Post by Tim on May 23, 2017 13:53:18 GMT
I wish this had included something like brake fluid or aircon but it didn't  |
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Post by johnc on May 24, 2017 6:57:19 GMT
I thought there were fixed prices for servicing which whilst not exactly cheap, I didn't feel quite reached the shafting proportions of £500 for an oil change. My current car has the 5 year service pack but I seem to remember that it was about £500 for the major service on the old car which included a bit more than an oil change. The spanner monkeys , sorry technicians, get charged out at over £100 an hour in BMW and Mercedes!
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 24, 2017 7:23:23 GMT
The last service on the DS4 was £420 which smarted - it did include an A/C service and brake fluid change but yes, you do wonder where they get the numbers from some time. Thankfully once 3 years old (after next service) it qualifies for a reduced cost which is something like £145 for a minor and £220 for full. I had this with my Lexus - I took it in for a 80K service and they quoted £450. When I queried it they said as the car was just over 4 years old they could do it for £275. Same mechanic, same parts. It seems if your car is less than 3 or 4 years old they feel the need to take the piss. |
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Servicing
May 24, 2017 7:23:45 GMT
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Post by Martin on May 24, 2017 7:23:45 GMT
I had the 5yr / 50k service pack, but that ran out after 18 months and I had to pay for the last oil change service which was £457. I think it included a filter, but still a lot for very little. The last service on the Boxster was £396, so cheaper than BMW.
Like the above examples, as a model is replaced they reduce the fixed cost service pricing, it would be just over £600 for the 981.
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Post by alf on May 24, 2017 15:15:06 GMT
That's a lot more than my BMW servicing was - but mine was always suspiciously cheap after I caught them driving it at 101mph and had a friendly chat with the MD, the service was so good since then I was sure there was a note on my file.
BMW do catch you out with the servicing, oil changes, brake fluid changes and so on all being out of sync, perhaps each visit is a sensible amount but together the total is high. Also for all marques I'd love to know how much labour goes on the service and how much they are charging you for the "free" inspection... But these days I just bend over and take it, with the dealer warranty and servicing, rather than fanny about supplying my own oil and so on, I lack the time!
My 60k service on the XFR was £491, the one before that was £350, the intervals are 15k rather than the 20k of the BMW but the costs - for the type of car and the unicornity of the oil (very hard to buy privately) that strikes me as OK.
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Post by Big Blue on May 24, 2017 15:25:14 GMT
I'm sure like Martin my car tells me it needs this or that serviced at varying times so servicing over a year can be three or four visits as opposed to one. I had brakes last time: pads and fluid. About £450 incl. VAT. I did the R1 brakes for £20 and about 30 minutes of swearing at an r-clip on the r/h calliper.
It says I'll need an oil change by what looks like being September based on current use. The R1 will have a filter and oil change in June - for about £180, £40 of which will be some very specialised spark plugs.
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Post by Tim on May 24, 2017 16:08:30 GMT
I'm happy that it had brand new brakes all round when I bought it.
As the mileage is around 75k maybe there was a bit more to the service than normal, I do remember there being mention of a fuel filter amongst the multitude of those things.
As I said its next service will be at a trusted independent.
If I'd got it done there this time it might've knocked more than the £500 service cost off its value, at present that's a factor (as well as the fact its apparently still under warranty?) but at 90k miles in 18 months or so the car will be worth a chunk less.
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Post by Alex on May 24, 2017 18:23:40 GMT
The Golf has two figures for servicing and oil changes. Apparently it can go up to 36k between oil changes. Doesn't sound healthy to me!
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Post by Martin on May 24, 2017 20:45:19 GMT
I've only had to take mine in once outside the 20k interval (actually 19k) in nearly 80k miles and that was for brake pads, so it's not an issue at all. Might be different if you don't do so many miles and things need doing based on time rather than mileage, but I'm not sure.
The worst car for servicing I've had was my Peugeot 406, it had 6k service intervals, which meant it was in the garage every 2 months.
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Post by PG on May 25, 2017 12:29:35 GMT
The worst car for servicing I've had was my Peugeot 406, it had 6k service intervals, which meant it was in the garage every 2 months. Back in my younger days, 6k miles was a pretty standard servicing interval. Like you, I was in there every two months at one point. The cynic in me says that a lot of the increased price now is that they don't see you so often and so have to charge more! |
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2017 14:33:54 GMT
I think I'm due a debagging next time.
Both cars go in together.
Service an MOT.
Full set of plugs this time.
Tyres might be getting a bit thin, though I think I've probably got 2-2.5mm. Hope so.
The pump which pushes heat to the cats to get them up to temperature quickly also seems to be on the way out.
Less than £2k and I guess I'll view it with equanimity...
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Post by Tim on May 25, 2017 14:36:29 GMT
It's still cheap on the ALF scale plus £2k is only what you'd pay for 2 or 3 months finance on a new one
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2017 14:43:19 GMT
Hence 'equanimity'!
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Post by Blarno on May 25, 2017 15:11:48 GMT
I need to go properly into the servicing business, it seems.
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Servicing
May 25, 2017 15:13:48 GMT
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Post by Martin on May 25, 2017 15:13:48 GMT
If the tyres are down to 2.5mm, then I would change them now.
As you've got 8 plugs to change, I hope they're not made from the same rare material that the Porsche ones must be made from.....
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 25, 2017 16:04:12 GMT
My Xantia was on 6k intervals so every 3 months I had to leave it with Citroen and venture forth in a 1 litre metallic pink AX, their courtesy car.
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Servicing
May 25, 2017 16:51:10 GMT
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Post by Martin on May 25, 2017 16:51:10 GMT
I used to get a 106, so always planned a working from home day when the car was booked in. The later ones had aircon which was good, but switching it on made you think the throttle cable had snapped.
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Post by Martin on May 25, 2017 18:36:38 GMT
You couldn't get a 106 in the UK with A/C - are you sure it wasn't a 206? It could well have been, the A/C is the only bit I remember clearly...... |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2017 7:35:58 GMT
If the tyres are down to 2.5mm, then I would change them now. As you've got 8 plugs to change, I hope they're not made from the same rare material that the Porsche ones must be made from..... I think that they probably are.
I only do about 5k p.a., so there's not necessarily any rush. And one of my reasons for sticking with the Goodyears is that they remain excellent in the wet even when noticeably worn.
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Post by Tim on May 26, 2017 9:23:16 GMT
The plugs might not be too bad.
I did all 8 on the M5 last summer and I'm sure it was under £60 for the bits (my best mate is a mechanic so the fitting simply cost me some beer and a sandwich).
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Post by Big Blue on May 26, 2017 14:46:47 GMT
The R1 needs new plugs. Looked at it myself: the faff with the panels off and the tank off is not too bad but the amount of paraphenalia that needs to be moved as well (radiator should really come off!) has put me right off. It's a fucking Pandora's box inside the frame of a 1000cc sports bike that's the size of a BMX so it'll be off to Mac's in Tooting. Last year we left the plugs for this year so they'll be done this year.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2017 13:57:11 GMT
I think I'm due a debagging next time. Both cars go in together. Service an MOT. Full set of plugs this time. Tyres might be getting a bit thin, though I think I've probably got 2-2.5mm. Hope so. The pump which pushes heat to the cats to get them up to temperature quickly also seems to be on the way out. Less than £2k and I guess I'll view it with equanimity... Rear nearside door central locking actuator seems to be acquiring a mind of its own, too... |
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Post by Tim on Jun 1, 2017 15:11:41 GMT
Oh dear. That won't be cheap.
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Post by alf on Jun 2, 2017 12:51:49 GMT
If the tyres are down to 2.5mm, then I would change them now. As you've got 8 plugs to change, I hope they're not made from the same rare material that the Porsche ones must be made from..... I think that they probably are.
I only do about 5k p.a., so there's not necessarily any rush. And one of my reasons for sticking with the Goodyears is that they remain excellent in the wet even when noticeably worn.
When mine get to 2-3mm across the tread, they go in the bin. At this time of year, and with your low mileage, there is an argument for keeping them until the autumn, but as soon as we get sustained wet weather I would swap them out!! Standing water (even the low sort you get right across flat carriageways) is no fun on low tread. |
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