[JNW1]

Dropped my car off at the local BMW dealer for service this morning and, going through what needed looking at, I mentioned that the handbrake has to be pulled-up a fair way to engage properly and feels like it could do with adjusting. The chap on the service reception says no problem they can look at it but there'll be a charge if it actually needs adjusting! I haven't got my service book to hand that lists what a service covers (because it's in the car!) but surely checking the handbrake and adjusting if necessary ought to form part of a standard service? The car has the 5 year/60k mile service package so the cynic in me thinks they're trying to generate some cash any which way they can to make-up for the fact that they can't present me with a huge bill for the service!

Anyway, am I being unreasonable in thinking adjusting a handbrake should be part of a service?!

[Phil325i]

Don't get me started on BMW servicing! It's all down to marketing and keeping costs as low as possible...hence some very sensible things are omitted, or chargeable as 'extras'. Having said that, as the 3-series parking brake is completely separate drum/shoe system (i.e. only operates when the car is stationary) it really shouldn't need much adjustment.

To help you know if an adjustment is needed, there should be approximately 7 or 8 clicks before the handbrake is fully applied. More than 10 clicks usually means adjustment is needed.

Hope that helps.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

To help you know if an adjustment is needed, there should be approximately 7 or 8 clicks before the handbrake is fully applied. More than 10 clicks usually means adjustment is needed.

Hope that helps.

In the 'good old days' yes a general walk round and check would be included in the charge, but not now with £170/hr rates at many dealers, they want to keep costs down, so any work other than the oil/filter etc is not included.

Handbrake is not a service item.


Other than the laughable 36k £100 'vehicle check' service, which doens't include actually fixing anything.

7 or 8 clicks??? Never had more than 3.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by doughboy

In the 'good old days' yes a general walk round and check would be included in the charge, but not now with £170/hr rates at many dealers, they want to keep costs down, so any work other than the oil/filter etc is not included.

Handbrake is not a service item.


Other than the laughable 36k £100 'vehicle check' service, which doens't include actually fixing anything.

7 or 8 clicks??? Never had more than 3.

I'm sure that on at least one previous BMW I've had the handbrake adjusted as part of a routine service and not been charged for it separately so perhaps their policy has changed? I would also agree that 7 or 8 clicks seems a lot; mine's probably getting towards that but I think it shouldn't need more than 3 or possibly 4 before the handbrake's applied fully!

[AlwynMike]

Even checking the washer level isn't part of each service!!

As you have the 5 year service package, I would have thought that it would be part of that - it is a service item, not a breakdown. If it failed the MOT, they would pay for it!?!?!?

Mike

[RagingKileak]

I have a 5 year service pack and I'm not expecting anything other than exactly what the idrive says is due to get done.

I have had my car in for 3 services now. Every time the dealer has been keen to add chargeable work as the result of their free vehicle health check. So far, each time, I have simply taken the free info away to another garage to have tyres, brakes or whatever else done.

You have to play the game mate.

Matt

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by AlwynMike

Even checking the washer level isn't part of each service!!

As you have the 5 year service package, I would have thought that it would be part of that - it is a service item, not a breakdown. If it failed the MOT, they would pay for it!?!?!?

Mike

Kicking myself for not checking the scope of a service before I took it in this morning but it never occurred to me that an item like that wouldn't be covered; I would have thought something along the lines of "check the operation of the handbrake and adjust if necessary" should form part of even a relatively basic service (and mine's in for more than that this time). Just had a call to say the car's ready so will be having a discussion in an hour or so.......

[AlanQS]

I had this too at my 2nd service. Adjusting the handbrake is an extra charge because the "BMW handbrake is auto adjust" sir.

I bitched about it explaining that it had been loose since the day I bought the car new, from them.

Surprisingly, when I returned for the car, they had adjusted it and for once in four years I had a decent handbrake.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by JNW1

Kicking myself for not checking the scope of a service before I took it in this morning but it never occurred to me that an item like that wouldn't be covered; I would have thought something along the lines of "check the operation of the handbrake and adjust if necessary" should form part of even a relatively basic service (and mine's in for more than that this time). Just had a call to say the car's ready so will be having a discussion in an hour or so.......

But when they are cutting the time to the bone, there's no money to 'check and adjust if necessary'.

Who pays? Does everyone pay more, say 15 mins, £40, just in case it needs adjusting?

Then those who's handbrakes are fine will be moaning they got charged for work they didn't need.

There is a vehicle check service, but everyone moans about that as its £100. Imagine if they did that every time?

With franchise rates so high, it's best to stick with easy-jet style servicing.

No good with a service pack, but IMO if you want it serviced properly, use an Indy, mine checks the whole car each time while the oil is draining for no extra.

Even the full vehicle inspection service is only 1/2 hour, 25 quid.

Unless its some sort of future classic, ditch the dealer.

And they fill the washers for free

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by doughboy

But when they are cutting the time to the bone, there's no money to 'check and adjust if necessary'.

Who pays? Does everyone pay more, say 15 mins, £40, just in case it needs adjusting?

Then those who's handbrakes are fine will be moaning they got charged for work they didn't need.

For reasons I won't bore you with I ended-up collecting the car this morning instead of last night and the dealer has apparently sent the service invoice in the post to my home address. Therefore, as it stands I've got the car back without paying anything so when the invoice arrives it will be interesting to see what they've charged for adjusting the handbrake (if anything!). Having read the handbook it says that checking the handbrake function is part of a service but replacing any parts that are needed is a chargeable extra; however, it doesn't mention adjustment where no parts are required so that's a bit of a grey area!

In terms of there being no money to "check and adjust if necessary", my only comment would be that things like checking and correcting tyre pressures are included as part of a service - not sure how long it takes a decent mechanic to adjust a handbrake when the car's up on a ramp but is it really that much longer than going round all four wheels with an air line?!

[doughboy]

IIRC our handbrakes are not really 'adjustable', there are wear cam/pivots in the rear drums, but to fix a slipping one of those is a rear wheel and hub removal job. Sometime the handbrake jumps from 3 to 6 clicks, this is the adjusters in the drum slipping, lump it or pay to get if fixed unfortunately - No easy external cable adjusters.

Sorry I wasn't getting at you, just lamenting the loss of 'general checks' on regular servicing due to cost constraints at pricey franchise dealers.

Tyre Pressures at a service?? They're not in any service AFAIK? - i've certainly never had pressures checked at a service, nor would I expect to have!

BMW can't even give you a new car with the right tyre pressures - both my new E90 and new E91 were delivered to me - by different dealers - still with 50psi+ transport pressures in.

I guarantee if you set your pressures uneven, after the service they'd be the same.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Sorry I wasn't getting at you, just lamenting the loss of 'general checks' on regular servicing due to cost constraints at pricey franchise dealers.

Tyre Pressures at a service?? They're not in any service AFAIK? - i've certainly never had pressures checked at a service, nor would I expect to have!

No offence taken! According to page 280 in my handbook part of the service routine under Tyres is to "check tread depth, running pattern, external condition and inflation pressures; correct inflation pressure if necessary". Whether that all gets done is obviously another matter entirely but in theory it should (as should things like topping-up washer fluid and coolant). However, I agree completely with your earlier sentiment about a good independent; more often than not you get a better quality job at a lower price but, on the basis my local dealer is generally ok and the car's got the service pack, I think I'd be daft not to make use of it!

On much more interesting and important things, I see your car's had the Birds treatment in terms of B3 suspension and LSD. With the wisdom of hindsight would you still have all the modifications done and if so which would you do first?!

[rjkc600]

Surely they only check tyres in the 'vehicle check' part of CBS servicing?

If i drop my car off for oil/filter and they dont check my tyre pressures then thats fine as i didnt expect this.

[doughboy]

+1 The 'vehicle check' service item is the once every 36k / 2 years all over check, this should pick up things like worn shocks and dodgy handbrakes etc.

If the CBS says 'oil change' then I expect only that to be done by a dealer, nothing else at all.


Re tyre pressures, I'm not quite sure how they would know the correct pressures to use, i.e. heavy load etc.

I'd be mighty pissed off if I'd set the pressures to heavy load for a holiday trip for example, and they let them all down to regular load without telling me.

Originally Posted by JNW1

....I see your car's had the Birds treatment in terms of B3 suspension and LSD. With the wisdom of hindsight would you still have all the modifications done and if so which would you do first?!

off topic.... They make the car into a great car, but probably with hindsight I wouldn't do any of them and I'd spend the money getting a decent used M3 in the first place But that's because my circumstances have changed since I bought the 335i.

A 335i needs to be tuned, else IMO there is not much point in having one, when it's an easy 400 (reliable) bhp then the diff and suspension come into their own and are essential really.

If you like having a fast 3 litre petrol 6 (which you must do if you have a 335i), then you'll love it even more with an extra 100bhp, but its a slippery slope.

Budget 4k for diff, suspension, downpipes, tune (jb4 etc), brake upgrade etc and you'll have a killer car for cheap, stay away from the bling and it'll be a great Q car too.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by rjkc600

Surely they only check tyres in the 'vehicle check' part of CBS servicing?

If i drop my car off for oil/filter and they dont check my tyre pressures then thats fine as i didnt expect this.

Only communicating what it says in the handbook for my car! Actually I couldn't care less whether they check things like tyre pressures, screenwash or coolant as I look at all those items on a regular basis anyway (usually each week when I wash the car). Personally what I want from a garage when I take my car in is for them to address the things that either I can't access easily or don't have the specialist knowledge/equipment to do; therefore, I'd far rather a service cost included for adjusting a handbrake and left me to check my own tyre pressures and top-up my own screenwash!

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by doughboy

off topic.... They make the car into a great car, but probably with hindsight I wouldn't do any of them and I'd spend the money getting a decent used M3 in the first place But that's because my circumstances have changed since I bought the 335i.

A 335i needs to be tuned, else IMO there is not much point in having one, when it's an easy 400 (reliable) bhp then the diff and suspension come into their own and are essential really.

If you like having a fast 3 litre petrol 6 (which you must do if you have a 335i), then you'll love it even more with an extra 100bhp, but its a slippery slope.

Budget 4k for diff, suspension, downpipes, tune (jb4 etc), brake upgrade etc and you'll have a killer car for cheap, stay away from the bling and it'll be a great Q car too.

Having owned an M3 CS I understand completely the sentiment about the M3! However, my annual mileage (16-18k) would make the running costs on an E92 M3 slightly painful so I decided the 335i was probably a better bet for my circumstances; less than 12k miles/annum and I'd certainly have an M3!

My 335 has the later N55 engine so 400bhp is probably not as easily achievable as it is from the N54. However, while accepting that more straight line performance is always nice to have, the main criticism I have of my car is more the chassis and in particular it's inability to tackle bumpy, undulating, roads without losing composure and becoming over-fidgety. The aforementioned CS handled and steered better whilst also offering a better ride over most surfaces and I'm wondering whether the B3 suspension would address some of the niggles I have? In truth I'm not a particularly hard driver and therefore I'm not sure I'd really get the benefit from a LSD; however, I think I'd notice better springs and dampers every time I drove the car!