inspection1 cost in London

[ju6121]

I have just phoned my local dealer to book my e46 m3 in for an inspection 1 service and was quoted around 1200 pounds. Is this a good price or are they ripping me off? Just trying to get an idea as this would be the first time i'd service the car.

[john_p]

£1200! What a joke. Ask exactly what you get for that money.. get them to break it down. Sometimes they include tappets (do not always need adjusting), brake fluid change (replaced every 2 yrs) etc. The service is a total joke price though as it is mostly an "inspection.."

I think I paid £600 a few years back, and that was home counties prices.

Ring around some other dealers, especially out of London. Maybe worth taking a trip to somewhere up north and stay overnight in a travelodge

[MANSFA]

I dont get it, it's an oil & filter change, new spark plugs and an airfilter. Throw in any fliuds that need doing? How is this £1200?

Madness.

I had an inspection 1 on my S50 ZM Coupe, which included having the clutch hose changed, new rear topmounts, a few fiddling odds and sods sorted all for £800?

[ju6121]

Just had a quote from another dealer towards Portsmouth who want 870 pounds. They need the car for 2 days though so I enquired about a loan car thinking this would be a nice oportunity to try the new m3 maybe or the 335 coupe, they offered me..............a 1 series! cheeky bds!

[john_p]

It can be done in a day but IIRC the engine has to be cold to check the valves so they keep it overnight.


I found this on the net, quite interesting

1.0050 Handbrake travel Check/adjust
1.0080 Seatbelts/mountings Check/report
1.0090 ABS warning system Check/report
1.0110 Instruments Check/report
1.0140 Switches/controls Check/report
1.0150 Heater blower Check/report
1.0160 Horn Check/report
1.0170 Interior/exterior mirrors Check/report
1.0180 Interior lamps Check/report
1.0190 Front wiper blades Check/report
1.0220 Front screen wash Check/adjust
1.0250 Headlight wash/wipe Check/adjust
1.0260 Instrument illumination Check/report
1.0270 Direction indicators/hazards Check/report
1.0280 Lighting system Check/report
1.0300 Headlights Check/report
VEHICLE FULLY RAISED
2.0010 Engine oil leaks Check/report
2.0020 Engine oil Drain/refill
2.0030 Engine oil filter Renew
2.0080 Clutch hydraulic system Check/report
2.0100 Gearbox oil leaks Check/report
2.0120 Gearbox oil Drain/refill
2.0410 Steering joints Check/report
2.0430 Steering rack/box Check/report
2.0450 PAS hoses Check
2.0470 Steering column couplings Check/report
2.0500 Suspension joints/seals/gaiters Check/report
2.0540 Propshaft joints Check/report
2.0560 Drive shaft joints/seals/gaiters Check/report
2.0580 Rear differential oil leaks Check/report
2.0600 Rear differential oil Drain/refill Insp II only?
2.0650 Shock absorbers/mountings Check/report
2.0670 Exhaust system/mountings Check/report
2.0700 Brake pipe corrosion Check/report
2.0720 Fuel system leakage Check/report
[b]2.0730 Petrol fuel filter
Every second inspection II, at additional charge
Renew[/b]
VEHICLE HALF RAISED
3.0070 Road wheels Remove/refit
3.0100 Front brake pads Check/report
3.0110 Front brake discs Check/report
3.0120 Front brake calipers/cylinders Check/report
3.0140 Front brake calipers/pads Clean
3.0190 Rear brake pads Check/report
3.0200 Rear brake discs Check/report
3.0210 Rear brake calipers/cylinders Check/report
3.0230 Rear brake calipers/pads Clean
3.0250 Rear brake drums/linings Check/report
3.0260 Handbrake cables/linkages Check/report
3.0280 Drum brakes Adjust
3.0290 Handbrake Adjust
3.0310 Brake hydraulic system Check/report
3.0380 Tyre condition Check/report
3.0410 Tyre pressures Check/adjust
UNDER BONNET OPERATIONS
4.0040 Battery electrolyte level Check/top-up
4.0050 Battery condition/specific gravity
If required at additional charge
Check/report
4.0070 Washer bottle(s) Check/top-up
4.0080 Brake fluid reservoir Check/top-up
4.0090 Clutch fluid reservoir Check/top-up
4.0110 Power steering fluid Check/top-up
4.0140 Coolant level/anti-freeze strength Check/adjust
4.0160 Coolant hoses Check/report
4.0240 Air filter Renew
4.0370 Throttle linkage Check/lubricate
4.0550 Valve clearances Check/adjust
4.0830 Spark plugs Renew Insp II only
4.1090 Air conditioning Check/report
[b]4.1110 Air conditioning ventilation filter
Every second inspection II
Renew[/b]
4.1260 Oxygen sensor Check/report
4.1300 Self-levelling suspension fluid Check/top-up
FINAL ITEMS CHECK
5.0040 Engine fault diagnosis trouble codes Check/report
5.0050 Service interval indicator Reset
5.0090 Vehicle locks/hinges Check/lubricate
5.0110 Headlamp alignment Check/adjust
5.0170 Road wheel nuts/bolts Check tightness
ROAD TEST VEHICLE
6.0010 Steering free-play Check/report
6.0020 Clutch operation Check/report
6.0030 Vehicle suspension operation Check/report
6.0040 Engine performance Check/report
6.0050 Transmission Check/report
6.0060 Brakes Check/report
6.0070 ABS function Check/report
6.0080 Instruments Check/report
AFTER ROAD TEST
7.0010 Engine Check for leaks
7.0020 Vehicle condition Check cleanliness

Emphasis mine, for the bits that actually require parts to be checked or changed. Even £6-700 is a ripoff really.

[Windymiller]

I just paid £550, although that was up in Manchester (Blue Bell Altrincham) and included the aux-in retrofit kit I asked for!

Nice tip they told me was that if a dealer says they can do it same day, be concerned... they reckon the engine can't cool down enough for the valve clearances to be checked accurately within a same-day turnaround. They always ask for the car to be left overnight. Could be bks, but was nice to hear anyway...

[E30M3SE]

Windymiller said:

I just paid £550, although that was up in Manchester (Blue Bell Altrincham) and included the aux-in retrofit kit I asked for!

Nice tip they told me was that if a dealer says they can do it same day, be concerned... they reckon the engine can't cool down enough for the valve clearances to be checked accurately within a same-day turnaround. They always ask for the car to be left overnight. Could be bks, but was nice to hear anyway...

It's not bks, valve clearences should always be done with the engine stone cold, usually first thing in the morning car having been left overnight, so any one day turnaround should be questioned.

[< FORZA WEST]

I charge £400 as a specialist

If you go main dealer give cotswold bmw gloucester 01452872600 a call-they were doing them at £650 all in...im sure thats still the case

[LittleBro]

I paid £892 for mine in December last year, and nearly choked! It didnt help that they didnt even wash the car for that! Gits. Plus, charged me something like £15 for a litre of oil, not one drop of which has it used since!

They do need the car overnight if possible - something to do with the oil change and the engine needing to be 100% cold. £1200 sounds silly to me so definately shop around.

[belleair302]

I would seek out a decent specialist and pay under £600. You will get greater detail about what has been done, a more personal service and spend less.

Service history ie a book stamped by a BMW main dealer does not sell a car....bills showing what has been replaced, who did the work and when does.

[Rags]

......if you have a warranty though, you have no choice.

if I was you, if you need to use a maindealer, use Park Lane Battersea and ask for Matt Grigg to do your servicing. He is a fellow enthusiast and is very knowledgable.

Rags

[Neil.D]

Rags said:

......if you have a warranty though, you have no choice.


Rags

You can go to a BMW specialist, no bother.

[matmoxon]

An E46 M3 is on my list of cars as a replacement for my Focus ST later this year, early next. I got these prices from AutoLogic (BMW and Mini Independant Specialist) In Hessle nr Hull [phone]

Oil Service £123.38
Inspection 1 £411.25
Inspection 2 £646.25
Brake Fluid £40.30
Brakes (Front) £528.75 (Disks and pads)
Brakes (Rear) £470.00 (Disks and pads)
Clutch £528.75
Lower Arms (Pair) £705.00

All these prices are VAT inclusive (i.e. I added it on)
The local BMW/Mini main stealer (Stratstone) was double in most cases.

Matt

Edited by matmoxon on Thursday 2nd October 13:44

[ju6121]

Rags said:

......if you have a warranty though, you have no choice.

if I was you, if you need to use a maindealer, use Park Lane Battersea and ask for Matt Grigg to do your servicing. He is a fellow enthusiast and is very knowledgable.

Rags

How much do they charge? is Matt at Nine Elms or Stewarts Road site?

[ju6121]

just got a quote of 800 pounds from another BMW dealer but they told me they only need the car for around 7 hours and not overnight contrary to what other people have mentioned. Should I be wary of this or is 7 hours enough for the car to cool down?