Main dealer or independant?

[weedavey]

Suggestions please. I was going to let an independant BMW specialist local to me take care of it. JMW Technic they are two brothers one of which held high technician staus come the end of his time at ocean bmw.

I would like to know where others have taken their cars and have been happy with service. I read that Murketts have been putting smiles on faces but what a fair trek from cornwall...

[_Nathan_]

If you have a warranty then you have no choice, BMW main dealer only for the servicing. You can still use specialists for jobs that don't need stamps though, personally I'd stick to the guys that are known for CSL work, Thorney, Simpsons, BMSport and Geoff Steel are the ones that readily spring to mind.

[glendog74]

I have only used Ocean Plymouth for an MOT so far. No knowledge of Ocean Falmouth except for the fact that their service prices rank amongst the most expensive (they obviously feel that they have the market cornered down there...). Ring around come service time - you will be amazed at how much they vary for something like an Insp I or II - we're talking £££s!

Up until now Westerly Yeovil have serviced mine and done a few warranty jobs whilst i lived there for a year or so. They were pretty good other than washing the car just after i had had it detailed and had expressly asked them not to... I only get the main dealers to do the servicing as my car is still under warranty. :whistle:

Other than that, Simpson Motorsport have done the majority of aftermarket performance tuning work on the car - top boys! :thumbs:

[weedavey]

Ok, cheers for those boys. Any more for any more?
No warranty at present, was going to save a contingency for any such works. got over 8000 miles to go til next service which by looking at the book is ins II.

[Dan_csl]

Ok, cheers for those boys. Any more for any more?
No warranty at present, was going to save a contingency for any such works. got over 8000 miles to go til next service which by looking at the book is ins II.

That's my way of thinking at the moment mate, I used Brystone BMW in Southampton the other day for a service and couple of other bits on the M3 and they were superb, good service, done very quickly, nice guys and most of all far far cheaper than anyone else and because the job didn't take them as long as they thought they charged me less at the end of it! :thumbs: :smokin:

[weedavey]

That's my way of thinking at the moment mate, I used Brystone BMW in Southampton the other day for a service and couple of other bits on the M3 and they were superb, good service, done very quickly, nice guys and most of all far far cheaper than anyone else and because the job didn't take them as long as they thought they charged me less at the end of it! :thumbs: :smokin:

Well that sounds like what you want doesnt it. I mean; cheap price, its bmw so maintains the booklet visually, you were happy with them and what they did and it was cheaper than the price that you were happy with to begin with! Looks like a traveling is the order when servicing.

Cheers.

[Dan_csl]

Well that sounds like what you want doesnt it. I mean; cheap price, its bmw so maintains the booklet visually, you were happy with them and what they did and it was cheaper than the price that you were happy with to begin with! Looks like a traveling is the order when servicing.

Cheers.

Yep, recommended from me mate, turned it around in double quick time and were about £40 cheaper than what they quoted me, can't complain really!

Oh, and they gave me a little BMW oil bottle holder with the left over oil for top ups for the boot that sticks on with velcro! :bigcry: :smokin: :hahaha:

[weedavey]

I think they are worthy of a call when it comes time. Cheers for info bud.:thumbs:

[Dan_csl]

No worries mate, I'll dig the number out and drop it over on a PM for you

[weedavey]

No worries mate, I'll dig the number out and drop it over on a PM for you

:beer:

[danp]

Well that sounds like what you want doesnt it. I mean; cheap price, its bmw so maintains the booklet visually, you were happy with them and what they did and it was cheaper than the price that you were happy with to begin with! Looks like a traveling is the order when servicing.

Cheers.

Brystone are not a BMW main dealer - so not technically keeping up a full BMW history, but yep they are good (like many indies, Richard is ex-BMW), I have been there a few times.

Tricky deciding whether to keep the full BMW history going and I'd agree that a good indy probably is likely to know more than your average main dealer, and is likely to be better value.

But:

- some people won't touch a car without full BMW history (not saying I agree with this!)
- if you have the warranty (or indeed want to start up a lapsed warranty) it is better to have it all stamped up by BMW
- BMW are more likely to give you some goodwill on any issues if it's kept going

With the 4+ and 6+ schemes the labour rates are more competitive, so I'm likely to stick with my local dealer for now, they've been fine for the routine stuff, but would tend to go elsewhere for other bits.

[weedavey]

Brystone are not a BMW main dealer - so not technically keeping up a full BMW history, but yep they are good (like many indies, Richard is ex-BMW), I have been there a few times.

Tricky deciding whether to keep the full BMW history going and I'd agree that a good indy probably is likely to know more than your average main dealer, and is likely to be better value.

But:

- some people won't touch a car without full BMW history (not saying I agree with this!)
- if you have the warranty (or indeed want to start up a lapsed warranty) it is better to have it all stamped up by BMW
- BMW are more likely to give you some goodwill on any issues if it's kept going

With the 4+ and 6+ schemes the labour rates are more competitive, so I'm likely to stick with my local dealer for now, they've been fine for the routine stuff, but would tend to go elsewhere for other bits.

Ahh.. didnt realise this. I am one of the advocates of full manufac history.

[_Nathan_]

- if you have the warranty (or indeed want to start up a lapsed warranty) it is better to have it all stamped up by BMW

Not just better, it is a requirement. To my knowledge you can't get a BMW warranty without a full dealer history.

[Dan_csl]

I hear what people are saying about main dealers but what about the inflated costs for the same job then!?

I for one won't pay over the odds for labour, my local dealer is £80 + VAT an hour which is a complete f**king rip off!! I don't really care what someone thinks of my service book, if I sell the car I'll take £1500 quid off the price and be safe in the knowledge that I've saved a fortune in the past on labour costs!

My Dad has a very reputable garage and has ran it himself for 30+years now, I don't tend to let anyone else work on my cars and whether it be a CSL, Ferrari or a Saxo that's the way it's gonne stay! lol

[Dan_csl]

With the 4+ and 6+ schemes the labour rates are more competitive, so I'm likely to stick with my local dealer for now, they've been fine for the routine stuff, but would tend to go elsewhere for other bits.

Dan, what does 4+ and 6+ schemes mean mate?