Haven't been here for a while - I hope this isn't an old topic!
I have a BMW 318ti Compact, 1999. I bought it 2 and a half years ago (not from a main dealer) with a full BMW service history.
I've maintained this history with BMW. My last service cost £257 (inspection 1) which included the 10% discount they give for 4 year old+ vehicles.
This was quite a blow to the wallet but I convince myself it's best for the resale value and the continued reliability of the car.
Am I wasting my money using BMW? Is the dealer stamp *that* valuable on a nearly 6 year old car? Should I just use a decent independant garage in future? Would this be much cheaper?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
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Moving to discussion later today
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If you change your car in less than 4 years, a manin delaer SH - on a BMW - makes selling so much easier.
If you keep for longer, go for independents..
madf
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I keep my cars for a long time, so I am biased. Search on "main dealer" and my name, and you will find plenty of commentary from me and others. In summary, I wouldn't go near main dealers for servicing and repairs after the initial warranty period; some (all?) after-market warranties allow you to use independents, provided that proper OEM parts are used. With older cars, you're much better off selling privately anyway, as any trade-in value is going to be very low. If your buyer is knowledgeable about cars, they will not view independent servicing negatively.
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this is Going to Discussion later today.
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Only worth it if you swap young cars a lot perhaps?
If you're bored here's my opinion.
I bought an old 405 GTX TD (1996) with full main dealer servicing a couple of years ago, it only had 71k on the clock and was in good shape. The first service I had done was a major service and MOT, the cost of service was only £160 because it's older than 3 years and the MOT was £10 because of having it serviced. However it failed on the front discs. These cost me another £90 fitted. I thought they were fine at the time I fitted new pads. I also had the coolant system flushed (notoriously bad for head problems if you don't get it right). So for my £250 I got another stamp on the book and squeaky front brakes (they had been fine before they worked on them). I think that considering the cars worth even less now, it was a waste of money. I could have bought all the parts for about £50 from GSF and done it myself. Which is exactly what I do now. Recently changed rear shoes, cylinders and all fluid for £50 using genuine Lucas parts, I doubt I could have afforded for the dealer to do it. It now needs a steering rack gaitor, officially it's a rack out job at the dealers, but I'll be using a universal gaiter and a spoon to do it in situ as suggested by Duggie so it'll cost about £10. All money saved helps pay for the insurance and tax. I see cars as a means to an end, I like them to be nice, clean and comfortable but in the end they cost a lot to run.
Bet you're bored now eh?
Steve.
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I agree that best to have dealer service for warranty purposes. However, in all the times I have changed cars, including my last Scenic at 3 years old, I have never been asked if there was a dealer service history when agreeing trade in price.
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If you're going to P/X your car (invariably with a franchised dealer) then they wont care what S/H your car has, they will always value it less. However if you sell your car privately, then having FSH by a main dealer will make it easier to sell, not sure you could get 'more' for it but I would wager that you could attract a slight premium with such a meticulous S/H.
It all comes down to how and when you are going to dispose of your car.
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Im not plain stupid, just a special kind of stoopid.
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Interesting replies, thanks.
I'll probably be holding on to the car for the next couple of years. It's been incredibly reliable so far and with my low mileage I do, the servicing intervals are very far apart!
So it sounds like I probably *have* just wasted my money on that Inspection 1 with BMW!
(I have some solice in the fact that they wanted £150 incl. vat to sup&fit new front pads - I went to my local brake shop and they did the job for £50)
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Find out who is strongly recommended as the local independent outlet by owners of similar models and you are unlikely to go wrong.
I can't imagine that the (possible) extra PX allowance or sale value for a vehicle would come anywhere near matching the savings made by using an independent and the work will almost certainly be far more thorough and trustworthy.
I've used a local VW independent specialist for nearly 15 years and he's still to let me down in any way.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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