[ef11]

Hello all,

I received a coupon in the mail from Momentum BMW West in Houston, TX and they are doing a special event for charity through the end of December.

Whatever value worth of non-perishable goods you bring in with the receipt, they will double the value and give you that credit towards service. I have called and verified that this amount is not limited, so basically you can get 50% off all service and donate to charity at the same time, win-win.

I have attached the carfax service records so you can see what has been done. Below I am outlining what I think needs to be done from the maintenance schedule that I got from and Indy, not BMW (It asks for more maintenance to be done). Please add anything I should try to get done while I can get 50% off and donate.

1. I know I need new rear pads and rotors. $370 with 50% off
2. The brake fluid flush/change was last done at 26,000 miles, so I think I should do this. Don't see price online
3. Engine air filter was last replaced at 42,000 so I'm due at 72,000 might do this. $40 with 50% off
4. Cabin air filter was last replaced at 47,000 so I'm due now. $50 with 50% off
5. Automatic Transmission Fluid & Filter should potentially be done now for the first time (BMW recommends every 100,000 though). Dont see price online
6. Engine Coolant needs to be replaced every 60,0000 miles (BMW states lifetime). $75 with 50% off

I think I should be good on everything else though, and if I take care of all of this I should be maintenance free for a while. Thanks for any thoughts!

[Myrder]

Originally Posted by ericfox11

Hello all,

I received a coupon in the mail from Momentum BMW West in Houston, TX and they are doing a special event for charity through the end of December.

Whatever value worth of non-perishable goods you bring in with the receipt, they will double the value and give you that credit towards service. I have called and verified that this amount is not limited, so basically you can get 50% off all service and donate to charity at the same time, win-win.

I have attached the carfax service records so you can see what has been done. Below I am outlining what I think needs to be done from the maintenance schedule that I got from and Indy, not BMW (It asks for more maintenance to be done). Please add anything I should try to get done while I can get 50% off and donate.

1. I know I need new rear pads and rotors. $370 with 50% off
2. The brake fluid flush/change was last done at 26,000 miles, so I think I should do this. Don't see price online
3. Engine air filter was last replaced at 42,000 so I'm due at 72,000 might do this. $40 with 50% off
4. Cabin air filter was last replaced at 47,000 so I'm due now. $50 with 50% off
5. Automatic Transmission Fluid & Filter should potentially be done now for the first time (BMW recommends every 100,000 though). Dont see price online
6. Engine Coolant needs to be replaced every 60,0000 miles (BMW states lifetime). $75 with 50% off

I think I should be good on everything else though, and if I take care of all of this I should be maintenance free for a while. Thanks for any thoughts!

The bolded are like $45 in filters total, and take maybe...3.5 min to install. I would do those yourself and spend the money else where.

[hockeyplayer]

I have to agree with the other response. You can get the air filter & the cabin filter on amazon for about $40 total & they are super easy to install.

If you are a DIY-type then you can get the rear brake stuff for about $240 from Pelican, including shipping.

good luck with whatever you decide.

[wwc310]

It's actually kind of nice to see something like this happen. I would have no problem paying the dealer premium if half of that is going to a good cause.

[ef11]

Originally Posted by wwc310

It's actually kind of nice to see something like this happen. I would have no problem paying the dealer premium if half of that is going to a good cause.

Agreed.

If I can get 1,3,4, and 6 done for around $500 I think that's a decent deal and not much hassle.

[Agentphish]

Or you could buy the filters on Amazon (get MANN FILTER) for $40 and donate the money/goods you want to give via the dealer directly to a charity of your choosing.

May be the best way to ensure your money goes where you feel it may be most needed or to a cause that matters to you.

That said I'd let them do the brakes if you're not mechanically inclined.

Engine air takes about 25 min. Cabin air about 5.

[Myrder]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

Or you could buy the filters on Amazon (get MANN FILTER) for $40 and donate the money/goods you want to give via the dealer directly to a charity of your choosing.

May be the best way to ensure your money goes where you feel it may be most needed or to a cause that matters to you.

That said I'd let them do the brakes if you're not mechanically inclined.

Engine air takes about 25 min. Cabin air about 5.

the cabin filter is 6 screws on the cowl, it can be swapped in less than 5min.

But I agree with the rest of your post. Why pay the dealer a huge market up to give to a charity when you can give the extra money you save doing it yourself to a charity of your choosing

[John 070]

What? If you bring in $250 worth of canned goods, they give you $500 off? That doesn't sound very good.

Here's an example--plugs cost $450 to $500. So I bring in $250 of canned goods and get my plugs changed. But it costs about $68 DIY. So why not DIY, and just issue a check to the charity?

[paddy335]

Jesus, there is a lot of DIY zealotry flying around today.

You must understand there are many of us out there who are happy to pay a dealer a premium for getting the work done on our cars, without the hassle of DIY researching, ordering, installing then worrying.

And if you can pay that premium and do some donating to charity, what a great promo

[Myrder]

Originally Posted by paddy335

Jesus, there is a lot of DIY zealotry flying around today.

You must understand there are many of us out there who are happy to pay a dealer a premium for getting the work done on our cars, without the hassle of DIY researching, ordering, installing then worrying.

And if you can pay that premium and do some donating to charity, what a great promo

It's 6 screws?! Its actually 1000x easier than changing a flat tire...(oh god... I now know the mindset I'm speaking too).

Never mind, pay the premium, dealers gotta feed their families too.

[vartex]

FYI, Momentum BMW is matching the coupon. They have better technicians there. I'm in the same boat and wondering what kind of non-perishable items you're going to buy. I'm just getting my brakes done.

[paddy335]

Originally Posted by Myrder

It's 6 screws?! Its actually 1000x easier than changing a flat tire...(oh god... I now know the mindset I'm speaking too).

Never mind, pay the premium, dealers gotta feed their families too.

There you go, nice bit of charity right there

[hockeyplayer]

Originally Posted by vartex

FYI, Momentum BMW is matching the coupon. They have better technicians there. I'm in the same boat and wondering what kind of non-perishable items you're going to buy. I'm just getting my brakes done.

Just because someone works at the dealer definitely doesn't make them a "better technician". Indy shops are quite good but you have to find the right one.

[135Pats]

PS many BMW techs are not particularly good at all. There are indy techs who are orders of magnitude more qualified for serious work than techs at the dealer. Then again, a cabin air filter doesn't require much qualifications. Then again, why are you going to the dealer for air filters?

[kaybat]

at 60-70k, water pump replacement may be something to start thinking about....good luck with purchase.

[ken1137]

I dont see spark plugs on the list or CarFax. Get these done...says only 'gap adjusted'. They are due for replacement at 45K miles. 25K miles if you use a tune. You may want to invest in the Bentley service manual.

[ef11]

Originally Posted by ken1137

I dont see spark plugs on the list or CarFax. Get these done...says only 'gap adjusted'. They are due for replacement at 45K miles. 25K miles if you use a tune. You may want to invest in the Bentley service manual.

Yes it is weird that it says "gap adjusted", but I believe I verified that they did actually change the plugs after purchasing the car. I will check into this again.

I agree that Indy shops probably do have better techs than the dealership, but there are many issues at hand here. I have the BMW Platinum extended warranty, and I've got some weird squeaking coming from the rear of the car. They told me it wasn't the brakes and I needed an alignment. Now, after an alignment, they are telling me I need brakes. Of course the SA I had before was fired so there are no records of this really.

Bottom line, I want to get as much of my work as possible done at the dealership so they have no reason not to honor the warranty I purchased through them. I could easily see them saying "well we did not install the brakes and they are not genuine BMW replacement parts so you will have to take it back to that shop".

It is just not worth the hassle at all in my opinion. I'd much rather pay a (in this case) small premium after working a 60 hour week to take my car in and have them do all of these things.

[vartex]

So I just came back from Costco and purchased $480 worth of non-perishable foods (almost everything is Salmon). I stopped at the dealership last week to figure out what I need done (I'm not the OP, but I'm in a similar situation and have 63,000 miles on my 328i)

I'm getting:

Brake Fluid @ $180 / 2 = $90
Scope @ $79 / 2 = $39.50
Brake Pads & Sensors @ $239 (Value Package so discount does not apply)
Rotors @ $450 / 2 = $225
Microfilters @ $250 / 2 = $125 (What exactly is this microfilter and why does it cost so much?)

So $480+$239 = $719 + Tax. Not bad considering Brakes alone cost almost $690.

Now I hope these guys don't tell me there's a limit on how much discount I can get.

Also, the SA was telling me that I may not need new rotors and they won't be able to determine this until they install the new brakes. Should I just get new rotors even if I don't need them?

[Myrder]

Originally Posted by vartex

So I just came back from Costco and purchased $480 worth of non-perishable foods (almost everything is Salmon). I stopped at the dealership last week to figure out what I need done (I'm not the OP, but I'm in a similar situation and have 63,000 miles on my 328i)

I'm getting:

Brake Fluid @ $180 / 2 = $90
Scope @ $79 / 2 = $39.50
Brake Pads & Sensors @ $239 (Value Package so discount does not apply)
Rotors @ $450 / 2 = $225
Microfilters @ $250 / 2 = $125 (What exactly is this microfilter and why does it cost so much?)

So $480+$239 = $719 + Tax. Not bad considering Brakes alone cost almost $690.

Now I hope these guys don't tell me there's a limit on how much discount I can get.

Also, the SA was telling me that I may not need new rotors and they won't be able to determine this until they install the new brakes. Should I just get new rotors even if I don't need them?

Sounds like a great deal.

Except here is a link to your Microfilter http://goo.gl/XHE5AA for $25.

And it takes 6 screws and about 5mins to change.

[vartex]

Originally Posted by Myrder

Sounds like a great deal.

Except here is a link to your Microfilter http://goo.gl/XHE5AA for $25.

And it takes 6 screws and about 5mins to change.

Thanks. I just ordered one and watched the video. I'm not really a hands-on guy, but that I should be able to handle.

Any suggestions on what I do with that extra $125?

[DJtoad]

Originally Posted by ericfox11

2. The brake fluid flush/change was last done at 26,000 miles, so I think I should do this.

Actually, your brake fluid was flushed at 47K miles and isn't due to be replaced again for another year (supposed to be done every two years)

[DJtoad]

Originally Posted by vartex

Scope @ $79 / 2 = $39.50
Brake Pads & Sensors @ $239 (Value Package so discount does not apply)
Rotors @ $450 / 2 = $225
Microfilters @ $250 / 2 = $125 (What exactly is this microfilter and why does it cost so much?)

So $480+$239 = $719 + Tax. Not bad considering Brakes alone cost almost $690.

Now I hope these guys don't tell me there's a limit on how much discount I can get.

Also, the SA was telling me that I may not need new rotors and they won't be able to determine this until they install the new brakes. Should I just get new rotors even if I don't need them?

A "Scope" is nothing more than plugging their system into the OBD-II port and reading any stored codes. It takes less than 5 minutes to do, besides, they're already going to plug their system in to reset the service interval for the brakes once the pads are replaced. I'd question that one or see if they'd do it for free since you're already having work done. Also, they should be able to tell if you need new rotors prior to doing any brake work by simply checking the thickness with a micrometer. But if it were me, I always replace rotors when I replace pads. The two things I never go cheap on are tires and brakes.