[The_Bear_Yid]

I have an Oil Service due and after seeing threads on here decided to ask for costs of the service if I provided my own oil. It was £227 for the service or £106 if I provided the oil.

Brilliant, I thought, so I looked around for oils. I then noticed that Opie oils were doing oil and filter kits, the Mobil 1 kit being £63 odd.

So I called the bookings line back and asked how much the service would be if I provided the oil and oil filter, £45. Excellent, I'll do that.

Total cost (with del.) being about £113, a saving of £114, or half price, for no difference in product in theory.

I then remembered reading (again on here) that i needed to check that the dealer would accept the brand of oil even if it was approved and LL04. So I did and the service manager said that it would have to be Castrol Professional or they would not use it.

BMW customer services were no help and said it's the dealer's 'prerogative'.

Apparently I can go to any dealer (doesn't have to be BMW) to carry out the service, they just have to use BMW parts.

The dealer is Stephen James Ruxley btw, who, up until now, I had mainly good things to say about.

Any thoughts or ideas?

My cars oil level is above the minimum but I want to get the service done sooner rather than later.

[moar]

Print and show them.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=478344

[The_Bear_Yid]

Thanks for the great link, but I'm not sure it will make any difference with them and with BMW CS saying it's their choice, there's not much I can do apart from go else where or bend over.

[moar]

How many dealerships near you ?

[The_Bear_Yid]

7 within 15 miles. 3 are Stephen James though (the closest 3 to me).

On the phone to the others now. Interesting how different they all are to deal with.

[moar]

Jesus, I wouldn't entertain any crap, get all the quotes and then play each dealer.

[parapaul]

Any independents near you that would do it?

[xenon]

DIY.

[ALF_E90]

If your car needs LL04 and the oil you are supplying is marked as such, I would just tell them you are going elsewhere if they don't use it.

I supply my own (Millers - CFS, not the cheaper stuff they do, a true multi-ester synthetic not a hydro-cracked mineral oil of the sort allowed to be labelled "synthetic" when it isn't). If a dealer said no I would just go to another, or look into the legalities of this if there were no others close by. They are talking nonsense - they must buy the oil for peanuts and make good money on it, but they also profit on the other work so they would be daft to turn it down.

Some of the dealers need to remember servicing is a profitable part of their business, they act like they are doing us a favour sometimes!

[The_Bear_Yid]

Originally Posted by moar

Jesus, I wouldn't entertain any crap, get all the quotes and then play each dealer.

Yeah it's what I'm trying to do but finding out what oil they'll accept is a frigging nightmare. I'm working so much atm, I don't really have the time to mess about and just want to get it sorted.

Originally Posted by parapaul

Any independents near you that would do it?

I'm not sure tbh, I haven't looked yet. I'd prefer a dealer stamp for the service book tough.

Originally Posted by xenon

DIY.

I don't really have the time and have never enjoyed working on cars. Plus wouldn't that affect my warranty?

Originally Posted by ALF_E90

If your car needs LL04 and the oil you are supplying is marked as such, I would just tell them you are going elsewhere if they don't use it.

I supply my own (Millers - CFS, not the cheaper stuff they do, a true multi-ester synthetic not a hydro-cracked mineral oil of the sort allowed to be labelled "synthetic" when it isn't). If a dealer said no I would just go to another, or look into the legalities of this if there were no others close by. They are talking nonsense - they must buy the oil for peanuts and make good money on it, but they also profit on the other work so they would be daft to turn it down.

Some of the dealers need to remember servicing is a profitable part of their business, they act like they are doing us a favour sometimes!

Exactly, spot on.

[xenon]

At the end of the day there are no legalities here - you cannot force the dealer to use the oil you've supplied, it's entirely up to him.

Re. warranty - it will not affect the 3 year new car warranty but WILL affect "insured" warranties after the 3 year warranty has expired.

[The_Bear_Yid]

I never said there were any legalities or that I could force the dealer to use the oil that provided.

I do object to how they have acted (manner of service guy on the phone) and trying to almost claim that there is only one oil approved by BMW. I find it very petty tbh and poor business as I now hold that dealer in a bad light and probably won't use them again.

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by xenon

Re. warranty - it will not affect the 3 year new car warranty but WILL affect "insured" warranties after the 3 year warranty has expired.

Also future trade in value, in particular on a newer car.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by The_Bear_Yid

I never said there were any legalities or that I could force the dealer to use the oil that provided.

I do object to how they have acted (manner of service guy on the phone) and trying to almost claim that there is only one oil approved by BMW. I find it very petty tbh and poor business as I now hold that dealer in a bad light and probably won't use them again.

No, ALF_E90 suggested that there might be a legal issue.

I fully agree with you; the dealer is being an arse, but it's up to them

[ALF_E90]

I just said it would be interesting to know the legal side of things. Ultimately you are paying them to do work on your car, if you want them to use your oil, it is hard to see how they can say no. Especially as I have seen plenty of examples of garages (mostly Alfa ones) using oil that was not the required spec for the car concerned! My 156 GTA needed 10W60 fully synth and many garages used 5W50 mineral, or any old 5W40 semi synth they used for other models. Which is what started me always providing my own oil.

I had a "while you wait" oil change and some other bits done on the 330 today. I supplied two cartons of Millers CFS clearly marked BMW LL04. They never quibble, and indeed I felt like I was a customer all along, not a charity being done a favour.

In the end they forgot to use my oil so didn't charge me for it and I still have mine! Not the first time this has happened to me, a Ford and ISTR an Alfa garage have done the same in the past.

[The_Bear_Yid]

I'm waiting for another dealer to call me back for the second day running. The original dealer has reduced their price a bit. I'll call another one if I ever get a day off!

[BGM]

just take it to another dealer.

[Cyprio]

Originally Posted by ALF_E90

I just said it would be interesting to know the legal side of things. Ultimately you are paying them to do work on your car, if you want them to use your oil, it is hard to see how they can say no. Especially as I have seen plenty of examples of garages (mostly Alfa ones) using oil that was not the required spec for the car concerned! My 156 GTA needed 10W60 fully synth and many garages used 5W50 mineral, or any old 5W40 semi synth they used for other models. Which is what started me always providing my own oil.

I had a "while you wait" oil change and some other bits done on the 330 today. I supplied two cartons of Millers CFS clearly marked BMW LL04. They never quibble, and indeed I felt like I was a customer all along, not a charity being done a favour.

In the end they forgot to use my oil so didn't charge me for it and I still have mine! Not the first time this has happened to me, a Ford and ISTR an Alfa garage have done the same in the past.

ALF_E90, How much oil did you need to purchase for an oil change? I have the same car as you and will be trying Millers CFS.

Cheers

[ALF_E90]

I think it is 6.5 litres - I always take a full 5l can and another at least half full...