[shortie]

BMW 320i M sport auto, currently on 32k. Have 12 month network q warranty and its been serviced at 20 months by BMW and 40 months by a BMW specialist. So where would you go for servicing.

I want to get away from the LL Oil and go back to yearly services.

Would not going to BMW / specialist really affect value if its being serviced yearly, planning on keeping it for about 5 years. I trust my local garage where i have taken all my cars, but they are not a BMW specialist, does it really matter?

Any advice?

[mistryn]

Personally if I knew a good specialist I would take my car there as most of the times they are ex BMW trained who have been in the industry for years and know what they are talking about. Let me give you an example, you take it to a specialist with a problem, he/she either knows what the solution is or gives the car a quick once over before telling you roughly what it could be in most cases. None of this "sir we need to plug your car into a diagnostic machine before we can say anything and that will be £90 plus vat even before you handed the keys over"

However in my case I have BMW extended warranty which specifically says service items must be carried out by BMW authorised workshop (i.e. main dealer imo) so will take mine to a dealer whilst grumbling under my breath. Because I want to keep the warranty (as its pretty good from the reviews compared to other 3rd party warranty) just in case something big goes on my car i.e. turbo/auto trans etc

[makkan00]

Read the terms and conditions of network q warranty.
If it states, that you should have bmw dealer service, then you are left with no option.
However if there is no clause like that, use the bmw parts / recommended oil and go for indi.

[shortie]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Read the terms and conditions of network q warranty.
If it states, that you should have bmw dealer service, then you are left with no option.
However if there is no clause like that, use the bmw parts / recommended oil and go for indi.

Read the small print and there are no restrictions are where to get it serviced etc.

Think i will supply parts and use my trusted mechanic, if i keep it 5 years, it will then be 9 years old so i cannot see it making that much difference to resale value now i think about it.

Any opinions on OEM parts or after market for things like spark plugs and filters?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by shortie

Read the small print and there are no restrictions are where to get it serviced etc.

Think i will supply parts and use my trusted mechanic, if i keep it 5 years, it will then be 9 years old so i cannot see it making that much difference to resale value now i think about it.

Any opinions on OEM parts or after market for things like spark plugs and filters?

All filters original except pollen filter (as it has nothing to do with car performance.).
Oil: try Mobile ESP1 0W-30 or 0W-40.
Spark plugs: cost about 16-17 per unit from bmw dealer, and if you go for after market, you will get 10-14 per unit, so not a major difference. Again, stick with BMW plugs.
Wipers: BMW
Disc and Breaks: BMW one are expensive, so mintex or pagid would do.

All the best.

[shortie]

Cheers Makkan00

[mistryn]

Some of the items above try euro car parts, they sometimes have 25% discount codes floating about. If you want genuine parts, give Anneka off here a pm as we get a discount.

[shortie]

Cheers mistryn

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by shortie

Think i will supply parts and use my trusted mechanic, if i keep it 5 years, it will then be 9 years old so i cannot see it making that much difference to resale value now i think about it.

Unfortunately there are a LOT of anal twats who know nothing about either mechanics or people, and who insist on FBMWSH or whatever before they will part with cash.

And that alone limits the pool of buyers (still)

[parapaul]

I've voted specialist, but only because I have one locally. If my nearest one was an hour's drive away I'd use a local mechanic for the basic stuff, and if I ever have a problem, suck it up and go to BMW.