Servicing - BMW vs Indy
Discussion
Questions for the collective..
My 2000W 330i sport with 82k miles has had BM main dealer services up to now. The question is, when should I stop using BM and go to good Indy (considering Munich Motors in Wokingham, or Chris Plummer in Aldershot, for those in the area who know them..) for servicing? I can't believe that the value of my car, age and mileage considered, would drop as a result of going to an indy garage from now on, would it?
My 2000W 330i sport with 82k miles has had BM main dealer services up to now. The question is, when should I stop using BM and go to good Indy (considering Munich Motors in Wokingham, or Chris Plummer in Aldershot, for those in the area who know them..) for servicing? I can't believe that the value of my car, age and mileage considered, would drop as a result of going to an indy garage from now on, would it?
jimjob said:
My 2000W 330i sport with 82k miles has had BM main dealer services up to now. The question is, when should I stop using BM and go to good Indy (considering Munich Motors in Wokingham, or Chris Plummer in Aldershot, for those in the area who know them..) for servicing? I can't believe that the value of my car, age and mileage considered, would drop as a result of going to an indy garage from now on, would it?
It *will* drop in value as a result of avoiding the BMW dealers.
The question is how much, versus how much you save on services.
Let's say you save 100 quid a service and you get one every year or so.
If you plan to hang onto the car for a long time ( say five more years) then you just saved 500 quid on servicing.
Stack that up against how much it might lose in value,
being a ten year old car by that time.
Your sums.
It's worth checking costs at indies against main dealers. I'm no fan of maindealers but the indies are not always significantly cheaper. Your car will soon be eligeble for the 4plus discount at the maindealers. The decision becomes even less clear cut then.
Sorry, I'm not helping am I.
pp
Sorry, I'm not helping am I.
pp
surely its only worth payaing the main dealer for warranty purposes? I would imagine an indy will do a better job and offer a more personal service.
When you also include the cost of a warranty renewal in your calculations then an indy is significantly cheaper.
ie our M3, main dealer, Ins 2 £700, oil service £150 and warranty renewal £710 - so £1560 per year (ish)
Indy - ins 2 £450, oil service £80 - big saving! (though I appreciate no warranty and potential costs elsewhere)
When you also include the cost of a warranty renewal in your calculations then an indy is significantly cheaper.
ie our M3, main dealer, Ins 2 £700, oil service £150 and warranty renewal £710 - so £1560 per year (ish)
Indy - ins 2 £450, oil service £80 - big saving! (though I appreciate no warranty and potential costs elsewhere)
jimbob,
this is an area of which i have extensive knowledge due to my day job.as your car has 82k it is only eligble for a dealer/bmw approved extended warranty, to keep either you have to have a main dealer service record. however the more miles your car has on it the more the warranty will cost.in terms of residuals or trade ins, assuming you were to purchase another bmw from a dealer, your car is too old/too many miles for a dealer to put on its forecourt, so therefore you will be offered a lesser amount, you would be better off to sell it privately.in which case a main dealer service history is nice to have but not essential, however a fully stamped book is essential.
as for independents, you need to ask how much a service or inspection will cost before you book in, and also compare that to a main dealer. the end price charged might be closer than you think, as it is not unknown for an indy to charge £35 per hour ( compared to £80 for a dealer) but take twice as long to do the job - as they don't have to meet bmw' service standards.there are some good indy's out there, but they do 'find' work that doesn't need to be done,a nd they trade on a personal service as if to say ' aren't i looking after you sir' by doing loads of unecessary work.indy's also tend to use non genuine parts, but will retail them to you at near genuine money, so you are paying over the odds for a potentially sub standard part.your car is now eligble for 4+ servicing which gives 10% off parts and labour in a dealer, it is also easier to get some compensation from a dealer if they do the job wrongly in the first place than from an indy
hth
this is an area of which i have extensive knowledge due to my day job.as your car has 82k it is only eligble for a dealer/bmw approved extended warranty, to keep either you have to have a main dealer service record. however the more miles your car has on it the more the warranty will cost.in terms of residuals or trade ins, assuming you were to purchase another bmw from a dealer, your car is too old/too many miles for a dealer to put on its forecourt, so therefore you will be offered a lesser amount, you would be better off to sell it privately.in which case a main dealer service history is nice to have but not essential, however a fully stamped book is essential.
as for independents, you need to ask how much a service or inspection will cost before you book in, and also compare that to a main dealer. the end price charged might be closer than you think, as it is not unknown for an indy to charge £35 per hour ( compared to £80 for a dealer) but take twice as long to do the job - as they don't have to meet bmw' service standards.there are some good indy's out there, but they do 'find' work that doesn't need to be done,a nd they trade on a personal service as if to say ' aren't i looking after you sir' by doing loads of unecessary work.indy's also tend to use non genuine parts, but will retail them to you at near genuine money, so you are paying over the odds for a potentially sub standard part.your car is now eligble for 4+ servicing which gives 10% off parts and labour in a dealer, it is also easier to get some compensation from a dealer if they do the job wrongly in the first place than from an indy
hth
Cheers for all the info folks, was starting to feel a little unloved.. 
The previous owners of my car let the warranty lapse, so that's not an issue. I plan to keep the car for 3+ years, and it probably won't stay entirely standard either (not that it is anyway!)..
I'm thinking a good compromise might be to keep taking it to BM at least for the next two or three services, but then take it to a reputable 'indy' for any non-service work that needs doing.
>> Edited by jimjob on Sunday 30th October 15:51
The previous owners of my car let the warranty lapse, so that's not an issue. I plan to keep the car for 3+ years, and it probably won't stay entirely standard either (not that it is anyway!)..
I'm thinking a good compromise might be to keep taking it to BM at least for the next two or three services, but then take it to a reputable 'indy' for any non-service work that needs doing.
>> Edited by jimjob on Sunday 30th October 15:51
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