BMW M3 EVO SMG - AM I BEING RIPPED OFF ??

[tricky69]

Afternoon fellas, I have a 1998 BMW M3 EVO SMG and it has just failed it's MOT at my local BMW garage. They have listed the following work that needs to be done in order to get it back on the road and really i just want to know if the cost really reflects what needs to be done and any where i can save money :-

-2 front tyres ( can get from black circle so save some money on that )
-Number plate Light
-SMG Empty and leaking
-Replace both front track rods
-KDS Leaser wheel alignment
-Accelerator Sticking
-Vibration in steering ( possible engine mount problem )
-Engine sheild repair
-Exhaust sheild replace
-Rear pads and disk replacement
-engine oil leak

BMW have quoted me £2300 to get that all done, there must be a cheaper way so can anyone please help ?

Thanks vm guys

[Dunk76]

-2 front tyres ( can get from black circle so save some money on that ) = home fix

-Number plate Light = home fix

-SMG Empty and leaking = since when did interrogation of gearbox fluid levels become part of the MOT? If the SMG was empty, how would it be leaking!?! Worth noting that the notoriously fragile SMG 1 box wouldn't be working at all if it had no fluid in it.

-Replace both front track rods = common problem. Fairly cheap.

-KDS Leaser wheel alignment = again, wasn't aware alignment was part of the MOT? Anyhow, I suspect your local quality/independant tyre shop will do it cheaper

-Accelerator Sticking = Spray grease at either end, and around the butterflies

-Vibration in steering ( possible engine mount problem ) = again, MOT!?! Likely to be the Trackrods - replace them first before getting the engine mounts done

-Engine sheild repair = common BMW fault

-Exhaust sheild replace = if it's the CAT sheilds, then most people just pull them off as they crack (they're only spot welded to the CAT body)

-Rear pads and disk replacement = home job again I reckon

-engine oil leak = not specific enough. Is it weeping from the Cam cover, or pouring out of a crack in the block?



I'd get a second opinion.

[tricky69]

Dunk76 said:

-2 front tyres ( can get from black circle so save some money on that ) = home fix

-Number plate Light = home fix

-SMG Empty and leaking = since when did interrogation of gearbox fluid levels become part of the MOT? If the SMG was empty, how would it be leaking!?! Worth noting that the notoriously fragile SMG 1 box wouldn't be working at all if it had no fluid in it.

-Replace both front track rods = common problem. Fairly cheap.

-KDS Leaser wheel alignment = again, wasn't aware alignment was part of the MOT? Anyhow, I suspect your local quality/independant tyre shop will do it cheaper

-Accelerator Sticking = Spray grease at either end, and around the butterflies

-Vibration in steering ( possible engine mount problem ) = again, MOT!?! Likely to be the Trackrods - replace them first before getting the engine mounts done

-Engine sheild repair = common BMW fault

-Exhaust sheild replace = if it's the CAT sheilds, then most people just pull them off as they crack (they're only spot welded to the CAT body)

-Rear pads and disk replacement = home job again I reckon

-engine oil leak = not specific enough. Is it weeping from the Cam cover, or pouring out of a crack in the block?



I'd get a second opinion.

Think rear brakes would be too much for me to do myself, but thanks very much for that mate will getr a second opinion.

I am going to speak to munich legends and see what they say but are they going to be any diffferent from BMW ??

[Dunk76]

tricky69 said:

I am going to speak to munich legends and see what they say but are they going to be any diffferent from BMW ??

I've used ML for years, and trust them.

Barney will see you right in terms of what is and isn't broken.

Be aware that they tend to adopt an 'aircraft maintenance' approach - i.e. anything more than 40% wear and it needs replacing.

If nothing else, the £50 labour charge will save you a fair few quid.

[Talkwrench]

I would concur with all Dunk76 has said. Depending on the nature of the steering vibration, it could be front wheel balance (that would accelerate track rod end wear too) or it could be engine mounts, causing vibration through the column. Is the vibration present when the car is stationary? If so, it won't be wheel balance!

Munich Legends will be fairly pricey but hopefully not as bad as BMW. Do you know of any other local decent Indies?

[tricky69]

Why how much do BMW noramlly charge then ?

BMW say that they don't know where the engine is leaking from so will have to be investigated and then repaired... They say the SMG box is empty but is still working cause their is fluid in the pipes to keep it going. So they will have to investigate and fix that too...

I just don't trust them to be fair, she had no idea how muich the car was worth but does know the details and cause of all the engine problems so sounds rather scripted !

[tricky69]

Talkwrench said:

I would concur with all Dunk76 has said. Depending on the nature of the steering vibration, it could be front wheel balance (that would accelerate track rod end wear too) or it could be engine mounts, causing vibration through the column. Is the vibration present when the car is stationary? If so, it won't be wheel balance!

Munich Legends will be fairly pricey but hopefully not as bad as BMW. Do you know of any other local decent Indies?

They are the only ones i know of locally ( i live in surrey ) and as for the vibration i never noticed a thing ! Thats why i think it is odd... there is also no oil on the floor where the car has been parked for the past 4 months, so don't understand where the oil has leaked to !?

[Dunk76]

Look at it this way.

BMW have said your engine is leaking, yet they don't know where from, and they'll need to pull it apart to investigate - at your expense.

Or

If a roofer turned up at your house and said; "mate, I reckon your roof is leaking, I don't know where from, and I want to pull apart your whole house, at £105 per hour, to find the leak, then charge you to fix the leak - even though you've got no obvious damp patches on your ceilings" What would you say?

I suspect you have a low pressure leak - weaping gasket somewhere such as the cam box, or the O-ring behind one of the Vanos units is weaping. Never enough to notice on the dipstick or on the driveway, but enough to leave a cruddy smear all over your engine.

Edit: SMG has fluid only in the pipes but not in the box? ing scamming criminals!! The SMG has a fluid level sensor, if fluid gets too low, it chucks a warning light up, and, I believe, disables the box or puts it into Default mode. If you hadn't noticed the transmission warning light, you'd noticed it only working in 2nd, 4th and 6th

Edited by Dunk76 on Friday 1st June 14:52