[shrink]

Hi chaps... It's that dreaded time!!

This is my first "modern" BMW with condition based servicing, and also the first car I've had with warranty and full main dealer service history on it.

It's coming up for a potentially expensive time as it need in the next month

- oil service
- micro filter
- brake fluid service
- MOT

It's a 2005 E90 325i SE

What do you think I should expect to pay for the above? Is it worth sacrificing my full dealer history to go to an independent or should I just dig into my pockets and pay the dealer?

Or perhaps mix and match? Get an independent to do the brake fluid and MOT and just get the oil and filter replaced by BMW

I would value anyone's thoughts on this topic, as I've got about 3-4 weeks to pull the trigger and get this all done.

Even worse, the car likely needs new drop links and a new battery. So it's gonna be an expensive few months!

[lemonukas]

Oil bmw can do.
Micro filter your self. 5 min job
MOT bmw will charge you £54 is Ridiculous and go to independent
Brake fluid independent.

[texasjohn]

Recommendation is as above.

Microfilter is a DIY job. Easy.

I'd do the airfilter as well if I were you. 5 minute DIY job too.

BOSCH airfilter is the same as OEM, available from EuroCarParts for £17-18.

If you buy a pattern Microfilter from ECP or GSF make sure it is an activated charcoal version, they do filter out the worst of diesel/cigarette smells from the vehicles in front of you. If you scrimp you will end up buying twice!

[lemonukas]

If you got more time then you can buy filters from http://www.123spareparts.co.uk/cgi-bin/atm_shop.pl?dsco=10&language=en&ansicht=autoteile& suche=autoteile100597&FZGNR=18450.
Mann+Hummel filter I think is oem

[Kerr]

Play the dealers off one another and prepare to haggle.

You will knock off a good margin doing so.

My 3rd service, the big one, cost £430 on my 335i and I've heard similar prices from private garages.

[The_Bear_Yid]

Wouldn't be surprised if you get a quote for around the £400 mark or that list.

Try maindealerdiscout.com and see if they have any dealers on board near you. That'll save you a couple of hundred quid.

[parapaul]

For a car that's 8 years old? Go to an independent. They'll be half the price and will probably do a better job.

[AdamC]

Originally Posted by parapaul

For a car that's 8 years old? Go to an independent. They'll be half the price and will probably do a better job.

Agreed.
Also an MOT is an MOT, go to the cheapest place you can find.

[AWBimmer]

My big 3rd service cost me about £400 ish all in... I bought all the required parts off cotswold BMW (OEM parts discount rate), then called up few dealers / Sytners etc and decided to go for Sunningdale. Excellent service and yeah it's 20 miles but not bad at all! My car has FBMWSH and I'm keeping it that way until I decided whether I stick with this car for a good number of years or I sell off next year! At this rate.... the former... which means I may start to use Indy but let's see!

[shrink]

Thanks guys

I'd normally always do independent but I'm wary of the resale value on my car and how it may be at least slightly improved by full main dealer history.

I'm also wary of warranty company shirking out of claims because servicing wasn't done by bmw.

Lastly I can replace micro filter no problem, but I lack the tools to reset the computer to turn off the alert.

My thinking at this stage is get drop links, brake fluid and mot done by independent and just get bmw to do oil and filter.

The battery? Well I still can't decide what to do with that!

[parapaul]

Do you have any tools yourself?

Drop links are about £15 each, and need 2 spanners and a jack to change them.
Micro filter needs one spanner.
Resetting service lights needs no tools - watch this video

[Ajerthan]

Originally Posted by AdamC

Agreed.
Also an MOT is an MOT, go to the cheapest place you can find.

Book online at Kwik Fit for £30. Cheapest while you wait service.

[DanTheManc]

Halfords are doing MOTs for £27.42 at the moment. I wouldn't let them do any servicing on my car bit as stated above, mot can be done anywhere.

http://www.halfordsautocentres.com/mot1

[shrink]

Found a local place that do £29 MOTs. They also do brake fluid replacement for 40 and will do free battery checks and check the charging system. Think I will get them to do the bulk of it.

May even just bite the bullet and have them do the oil. They are cheap and use mobil1 as standard

[ian_m]

could you not got a service pack for the oil from opie oils and take it to the independent and ask them to do everything

[lemonukas]

you can get castrol edge 2x4L (you need 6.5L) at cosco if you have trade card.

[shrink]

Originally Posted by ian_m

could you not got a service pack for the oil from opie oils and take it to the independent and ask them to do everything

Ys I could, but my car has had full main dealer service stamps since it was brand new. Not a single gap or missed item. My car is a pretty high spec, and rather nice example and I'm keen to protect its future value by keeping the stamps in the book from BMW.

But as with many here, I'm not keen on being ripped off, when an independent will do an oil change for £60 and BMW will charge £160

But, that's an extra £300 over the lifetime i will have the car, and feel that I may see that value back come sale time. Where I can distance myself from less obviously well maintained cars

[shrink]

So bmw say £245.12 for oil and micro filter

That's absolutely nonsensical

[Sheepy]

I doubt you will see any increase in resale value by having a few extra dealer stamps over BMW specialists, maybe on a 3 year old car but not on anything older. Mines a 57 plate & will be going to my local trusted specialist for everything other than warranty work, the hourly rate saving over the dealers will be very much worth it plus in my experience far better service as well as they will want your continued custom. Also it won't affect your warranty as any Vat approved garage can do your servicing as long as genuine parts are used & it's carried out to BMW service spec.

[shrink]

It's not like this is even a service. It's just an oil change. Which is what makes bmw.s figure of £242 all the more insulting

The big inspection and spark plugs were done Before I bought the car

[Ajerthan]

You might want to see this thread, has some prices.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=810311&page=3

[shrink]

Bought a Mann carbon pollen filter off ebay for £15 and will fit myself and reset the indicator

I will get my local place to do brake fluid and oil change, and ill do my air filter.