BMW Would like your feedback..

[pgunter]

Well as you might know we have a good relationship with BMW at the Farnborough HQ. I try and visit a few times to keep abreast of information once in a while, and obviously arrange the start of 'The South Downs' run ( Nothing like a bacon rolls and a hot drink to start the day). Whilst sorting the said route and starting point / dates over a coffee ( No comments ) and a good chat with Martin at BMW HQ. One of the topics we discussed was with regard to how Main Dealers deal with ourselves for parts for the older BMW cars such as our Zeds. BMW have been asking dealers about it for a little while and we thought it might be good to get some feedback from the customer side.

So I am asking for some help that I can then feed back to BMW HQ. If you could please answer the following questions so that I can send feedback to enable BMW to better serve the enthusiast. If you could just add the number then answer the question on your response, it would be much appreciated. If you could please keep the thread on topic as this will be viewed by BMW. Thank you for your help in this and for @GazHyde for allowing the post on the forum.

regards

Paul
_____________________________________________________________________


1. Do you prefer to use BMW or a Motor Factors / Online ebay etc ?

2. If a Motor Factors / Online, what is the main reason for this ?

3. Have you used a BMW Main Dealer for ordering car parts during you ownership of you BMW Zed ?

4. How did you find, The Service ? The Cost ? The Knowledge of the staff in dealing with you parts request ?

5. Would you recommend the main dealer to anyone to get parts from ?

6. Is there anything that BMW could do to make you order your parts from the Main Dealer ?

 

[GazHyde]

Thanks for posting this up Paul, and thanks again for taking time to liaise with BMW HQ on the forums behalf

It's awesome that BMW HQ are looking to engage with enthusiast sites like this, and I hope that we can provide helpful advice back. Of course I don't expect that all feedback will be positive, but if you've had a negative experience then feel free to list that as well.

Personally I've only recently dealt with Sopers despite them being near 200 miles away from me, and having at least 4 BMW dealers in a 40 mile radius. They always make an effort on the pricing, and I've not had an issue with them once as yet. Very knowledgeable on the spare parts when I've asked them. Most parts come from GSF as Lee has a trade account

Not touched a dealer for servicing for about 8 years, so can't really feed back on that.

 

[andyglym]

I've used BMW Lloyds Cockermouth for the majority of my parts, a very proffesional, prompt and polite service on every occasion. All parts arrived in good time and to a good price.

Had the car serviced there a couple of times, good service with a good report though I use my Indy for the majority of servicing due to cost V old car.

I'd recommend a BMW Dealer for parts.

 

[billz]

Try always to source parts from BMW except the expensive items which i usually get from Germany as they tend to work out majorly cheaper. IE Water pump Germany £195 BMW around £280

 

[gookah]

I buy parts from BMW that are not available elsewhere.
Otherwise I shop around,

 

[hard top]

If you could please keep the thread on topic as this will be viewed by BMW.

Good ....

Sorry, no feedback, always used my Indy as he had poached mechanics from both BMW & Mercedes.
Most punters are not stupid and worked out long ago that you are paying for the upkeep of the Showrooms etc.
And more to the point, they do not care about your +/- 20 odd year old mass produced car.

 

[Mazza]

1. Generally I prefer to use a motor factor or eBay.
2. Mainly due to price, but occasionally because of delivery.
3. Yes. Sopers after recommendation, and Chandlers Rustington as nearest BMW Dealer to me.
4. Sopers good on all counts, Chandlers service ok, spares pricing is high, knowledge is a bit lacking, but I usually give them the BMW part numbers for the parts I need.
On one occasion they refused to confirm some wiring information regarding a relay base when I retrofitted heated seats. They didn’t want to be liable if anything went wrong !
5. Only if it was a specific BMW part not held by Motor Factors.
6. Decent discounts at all dealerships.

 

[gookah]

a little bit more feedback

I currently own 3 x BMWS, and have had BMWs of various types for many years.

I have used BMW for servicing only when it was a warranty requirement, not because I thought the servicing was the best, it was because I felt I had too.
After warranties had passed I would service myself, safe in the knowledge that it was done properly.
Not that I am disputing BMW service, but I never knew how well or how carefully it was done.

With regards to parts. When it was something that was only available from BMW, I would phone Sopers. Their parts staff are superb and they would always give me a decent discount.
However, based on parts I could get elsewhere using Febi, Mehle etc, even the discounted BMW prices never compared well, and the quality of the alternatives was equally as good in my opinion.

What I don't like is the way they are now treating parts such as heater lamps, aerial grommets, etc etc . which have now gone extortionately high, because they know there are not many left and it is a sellers market.
That in my opinion is just pure racketeering against the owners of old cars.
These parts they would have had for years, bought at very low prices, but now they want to charge a premium because people like us need them and alternatives are not available.

 

[mwpe]

1. I usually use BMW (Sopers) but sometimes OEM quality parts from a motor factor.
2. When the cost is significantly better and the quality OEM.
3. Yes, in the early days I used my local dealer but when they became reluctant to offer discountm I changed to Sopers.
4. Sopers always very good, local dealer always very helpful but expensive.
5. Sopers, yes, my local dealer, no.
6. Good discounts.

 

[mwpe]

Although it was not part of the question, I have found the standrd of servicing at the local dealer very poor.

 

[Sean d]

I generally steer clear of main dealers due to the cost and use a variety of places such as Ebay and local motor factors, I find that German Ebay is one of the better places to shop for quality parts at the best price, I have used Marshall BMW in Grimsby for parts that I can't source elsewhere, Once you get through to parts they are very good however its getting through that is difficult.

 

[Pingu]

1. Do you prefer to use BMW or a Motor Factors / Online ebay etc ?

I would prefer to use BMW and I always give them first option with price and availability. They are rarely good value for money.

2. If a Motor Factors / Online, what is the main reason for this ?

Price. It's not my main car, so I can afford to wait. I always buy OEM quality (Bosch, Meyle, Lemforder, etc.) and I can ALWAYS find a better price than BMW.

3. Have you used a BMW Main Dealer for ordering car parts during you ownership of you BMW Zed ?

Yes.

4. How did you find, The Service ? The Cost ? The Knowledge of the staff in dealing with you parts request ?

Service = Excellent (Sytner of Nottingham)
Cost = Acceptable, on the few parts that have not been available elsewhere. Surprisingly, the parts that are easily available elsewhere (brake discs for example) are very expensive, but parts only available as salvage, such a plastic trim is good value at BMW.
Knowledge = Very good. I've only had them stumped once. The Service Department were unable to diagnose an instrument cluster fault. The service lights wouldn't reset.

5. Would you recommend the main dealer to anyone to get parts from ?

I'd recommend that they try BMW first.

6. Is there anything that BMW could do to make you order your parts from the Main Dealer ?

Not charge £400 for a pair of discs (34112227737 / 34112227738)* that cost £100 or less from a reputable OEM quality source (EBC).

* I know that the link is to eBay, but the prices are very similar to BMW dealerships.

 

[Mint]

1. Do you prefer to use BMW or a Motor Factors / Online ebay etc ?
Always try Dealer first then (usually) end up buying from an Online supplier.

2. If a Motor Factors / Online, what is the main reason for this ?
Price.

3. Have you used a BMW Main Dealer for ordering car parts during you ownership of you BMW Zed ?
Yes, Knights South Staffordshire BMW and BMW Soper of Lincoln Limited.

4. How did you find, The Service ? The Cost ? The Knowledge of the staff in dealing with you parts request ?
Service: OK at Knights, Excellent at Sopers.
Cost: OK but had to use a dealer as parts not available elsewhere.
The Knowledge: OK at Knights, Excellent at Sopers.

5. Would you recommend the main dealer to anyone to get parts from?
Only if the parts are not available elsewhere, the Internet is your friend.

6. Is there anything that BMW could do to make you order your parts from the Main Dealer?
Give a respectable discount to owners of older cars - say 15 years or more.

 

[DavidM]

Well as you might know we have a good relationship with BMW at the Farnborough HQ. I try and visit a few times to keep abreast of information once in a while, and obviously arrange the start of 'The South Downs' run ( Nothing like a bacon rolls and a hot drink to start the day). Whilst sorting the said route and starting point / dates over a coffee ( No comments ) and a good chat with Martin at BMW HQ. One of the topics we discussed was with regard to how Main Dealers deal with ourselves for parts for the older BMW cars such as our Zeds. BMW have been asking dealers about it for a little while and we thought it might be good to get some feedback from the customer side.

So I am asking for some help that I can then feed back to BMW HQ. If you could please answer the following questions so that I can send feedback to enable BMW to better serve the enthusiast. If you could just add the number then answer the question on your response, it would be much appreciated. If you could please keep the thread on topic as this will be viewed by BMW. Thank you for your help in this and for @GazHyde for allowing the post on the forum.

regards

Paul
_____________________________________________________________________


1. Do you prefer to use BMW or a Motor Factors / Online ebay etc ?
BMW

2. If a Motor Factors / Online, what is the main reason for this ?
N/A

3. Have you used a BMW Main Dealer for ordering car parts during you ownership of you BMW Zed ?
YES

4. How did you find, The Service ? The Cost ? The Knowledge of the staff in dealing with you parts request ?
FIRST CLASS

5. Would you recommend the main dealer to anyone to get parts from ?
YES

6. Is there anything that BMW could do to make you order your parts from the Main Dealer ?

GIVE MORE TRADE DISCOUNT

 

[Jjim]

1. Do you prefer to use BMW or a Motor Factors / Online ebay etc ?
Depends on the parts I’m after. Some parts I would only buy from BMW, others I’m not fussed about.

2. If a Motor Factors / Online, what is the main reason for this ?
Usually for consumables - oil, filters, liquids, bulbs, etc.
Brakes - I use EBC and MTEC as prefer their quality.

3. Have you used a BMW Main Dealer for ordering car parts during you ownership of you BMW Zed ?
BMW Soper Lincoln - very helpful and plan to use again
BMW Sytner Nottingham - helpful and local to me.

4. How did you find, The Service ? The Cost ? The Knowledge of the staff in dealing with you parts request ?
Service - good, helpful and wanting to assist
Cost - depends on the part. Some things good, some things expensive (usually some small plastic clips or parts seemed over priced)
Knowledge - most staff not thoroughly knowledgeable able Z3 models (differences in narrow body, wide body and facelift tyre) but helpful to look into what they can do.
I mainly use realoem.com to find the part numbers I require and then contact BMW to order them. I like being able to browse the parts for my car and other cars first and then contact BMW.

5. Would you recommend the main dealer to anyone to get parts from ?
Yes, and I have.

6. Is there anything that BMW could do to make you order your parts from the Main Dealer ?
As stated earlier, bring able to browse parts online is of great benefit to me
Also discount always helps.

 

[Sean d]

GIVE MORE TRADE DISCOUNT

but I agree, trade discount is shocking at 10%, forum members get the same

 

[g8jka]

1. Do you prefer to use BMW or a Motor Factors / Online ebay etc ?

Motor factors / online unless I can only get the part I'm after from BMW

2. If a Motor Factors / Online, what is the main reason for this ?

Price and availability, normally they are cheaper and you can pick up the same day or get it delivered quickly

3. Have you used a BMW Main Dealer for ordering car parts during you ownership of you BMW Zed ?

Yes, mainly Sopers but once or twice Rybrook Shrewsbury

4. How did you find, The Service ? The Cost ? The Knowledge of the staff in dealing with you parts request ?

Service is excellent from Sopers, can't compare cost as it's normally parts that can only be provided by a dealer. Knowledge is OK, but most of the time they seem to use realoem or their own similar system to drag up part numbers, I usually find the part number first and give it to them

5. Would you recommend the main dealer to anyone to get parts from ?

Sopers yes, Rybrook no (see comments below)

6. Is there anything that BMW could do to make you order your parts from the Main Dealer ?[/QUOTE]

Make they more available and cheaper, prices only seem to be climbing as they become less and less. Offer an online catalogue somewhere so we can get an idea of a price instead of having to contact the dealer every time. Also with price and estimate of availability would be useful, similar to realoem but dealer specific

Rybrook experience last year...

Last year when I went to Rybrook in Shrewsbury for a quote for a front bumper respray they couldn't give me a straight answer. Saw a couple of different guys who said it wasn't their department and the third guy only gave me a rough price of £500. I sat down with him and asked if he could send me the quote over via email and some dates of when I could get it in. Never had a reply, all along I got the impression that they didn't want to do it as the zed is an old car and they are only interested in smart repairs on new vehicles.

I've never had a great experience there really, they only seem to want to know if your looking at buying a new car. They never seem interested when I mention my car is a Z3. I've stood around in there for ages before anyone will come to help me, maybe because I don't look as if I can afford a new BMW being younger than the average owner or by the way I dress?! I only give my business to Sopers or Cotswold BMW now unless I'm desperate and they have always been spot on.

 

[abh29]

1. Do you prefer to use BMW or a Motor Factors / Online ebay etc ?
Mainly prefer to get from BMW dealer but if not sometimes from Factor but then look for OE manufacture.
2. If a Motor Factors / Online, what is the main reason for this ?
Price
3. Have you used a BMW Main Dealer for ordering car parts during you ownership of you BMW Zed ?
Yes frequently.
4. How did you find, The Service ? The Cost ? The Knowledge of the staff in dealing with you parts request ?
Service on Parts from my local dealer's can be good , they know product, and are helpful.
Cost from local dealer always very expensive , but normally buy from Cotswold BMW and great prices along with great service.
5. Would you recommend the main dealer to anyone to get parts from ?
Yes , but unfortunately not local dealer on account of cost.
6. Is there anything that BMW could do to make you order your parts from the Main Dealer ?
Become competitive on prices for service items, I know they have reduced Brake parts but still way over the top in fact last year our local Mini dealer quoted cheaper to supply and fit pads and discs to my sons CooperS than parts wanted just for supplying the parts.

 

[Ianmc]

It is good that BMW continue to supply parts for their 20 plus year old cars.
Sometimes dealer parts are reasonable, sometimes not so.
Parts cost for "M" cars is often not warranted, especially as the "M brand" has been made almost worthless by BMW.
Like the BMWCC, it seems 95% about new cars. Our "classics" feel like an afterthought as BMW market share expands and becomes more mainstream fleet.
I admit my bias to the E36/Z3 era and (as above) am please to be able to get parts easily. Apart from occasional mail order, I keep well clear of main dealers these days.