Full BMW Service History...how important?

[Warrior]

My 3.0is has just 38,000 on the clock, is in damned good nick and continues to be well looked after.

Whilst i've got no plans sell her I got to wondering how important Main Dealer servicing is, if at all?

Current history is nearly if not all main dealer (I don't have the service book to hand right now) or prestige marque independent.

I am however fortunate enough to have a relative who owns a garage and has 50 years experience on everything from trucks to rally cars (worked with the Ford team for a while) has always owned something with a couple of litres under the bonnet and services all of our families cars.

Cost wise i'll be paying the going rate but know I won't get ripped off, can have the book stamped, get an invoice etc., but will the saving be reflected in reduced values for being non main dealer? Should I even care?

 

[board]

For the first time last year my M went to a specialist for an oil change rather than the dealer. My main concern was that the last few times it went to a dealer was that they did not seem to have a clue about the car which i found very scary. I have had problems with the dealers over the last few years with them not knowing how to look after the car so personally i wouldn't see it as a problem. If you are intending to keep the car then it's obviously no issue. if you do want to sell the car at some point then explaining why you took it to a certain service centre should be ok but that's just my thoughts. i'll let everyone else chip in

 

[Titan]

The stamp is only as good as the person who actually did the work. I have had good and bad experiences at both main dealer and independent garages. The big difference is that the main dealer will charge you around twice as much. There is no such thing as "free coffee" etc.
The important thing is that the car has had the required or scheduled maintenance, not who did the work.
IMHO too much emphasis is put on what is usually a very expensive but almost worthless rubber stamp.


Z3nt from m'iPhone on Tapatalk

 

[z3cade]

If the book is stamped at the correct service intervals then that's good enough for me.. As said I think some specialist garages are better than main dealers anyway..
I think the cars condition speaks wonders rather than where the service book was stamped..

 

[GazHyde]

I think it's a 'nice' thing to have, but I have never been put off a car which doesn't have it.

My Z3 had a mixture of mainly BMW, an AUDI specialist and then a local garage to the dealer. Similar with my 2002 525d. Both good cars, and reasonably priced.

You will of course get potential buyers who won't touch a car without it, but that is their call. First aim as a buyer is to try and knock the sellers price down, and I think lack of FBMWSH is an easy target.

The BMW indy near me are happy to discuss things, and give an opinion. They aren't pushy either, and gave me some useful guidance over poly bushes. My experience of any main dealer service is 'just leave the car with us, we know what is best for you sir' - they then wheel it in the back and do a standard service irrespective of what you wanted.

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

Its nice to have the book fully stamped ,but i also like to see any other paperwok/receipts for any work done on the car.

 

[Tricky]

The stamp is only as good as the person who actually did the work. I have had good and bad experiences at both main dealer and independent garages. The big difference is that the main dealer will charge you around twice as much. There is no such thing as "free coffee" etc.
The important thing is that the car has had the required or scheduled maintenance, not who did the work.
IMHO too much emphasis is put on what is usually a very expensive but almost worthless rubber stamp.

+1

 

[peteslag]

Having a full BMW service history is meaningless to me. Most main dealers do bugger all on most servicings and charge the earth. A fully stamped up book with authentic stamps from a reputable garage and some receipts to back it up is more than good enough for me. I sold my Jag with hardly any stamps, most of the work was done by me. I kept a close record of all the service items I bought and wrote on the receipts the mileage of the car at the time. I had all sorts of people come and look at the car, all were more than happy.

Pay a main dealer £200 to change the oil and put a stamp in your book or pay a specialist £200 to carry out a comprehensive service and give you a stamp. I think more and more people are starting to realise this so I would say FBMWSH is not important.

 

[GazHyde]

A fully stamped up book with authentic stamps from a reputable garage and some receipts to back it up is more than good enough for me.

That reminds of when you could buy BMW service books of ebay fully stamped, but with everything else blank.

Apparently to replace your lost one according to the seller :evil:

 

[gookah]

Current history is nearly if not all main dealer .......
will the saving be reflected in reduced values for being non main dealer? Should I even care?

Too late now, you can no longer say 'full BMW service history', so you may as well get best value servicing.

I don't think it matters that much when a car is more than 4 or 5 years old.

 

[NeRo]

The youngest cars will be coming up for 10 years old, so very doubtful they would be sold in a dealer showroom - exceptions being S54 Roadsters and Coupes?

Also all warranties will now be long expired.

There is an EU law that providing your car has been serviced by a recognized garage, using recommended parts, that dealers can't void warranties because it wasn't serviced by a dealership.

 

[DangerousDave]

If you are selling privately it doesn't matter that much as long as you can prove servicing has been done (receipts, etc.). If you are planning to use it as a PX you can expect a kick in the pocket as they will have trouble selling it on. All their books (CAP, etc) assume FSH. Without it, they can't judge the price to sell and so can't judge the price to buy.

 

[TWO]

One of my main criteria which I also consider is the state of the car when I pick it up.

It shows a pride in their workmanship if the car is clean, rather than some of my previous experiences from main dealers : -

Oily rag wrapped around fan belt :-o
A couple of nuts & washers left on top of air filter.....were the ?>*&$ did they come from!! :-o
More oil & grime on the steering wheel than under the wheel arch! :-o

I'd would normally rather go to to a recommended independent, rather than a main dealer who can just treats you like a 'cash cow'

I'm due to get my Zed servived & MOT'd by a recommended independent at the end of February; and will feed back my findings when complete.

I was hoping to use this forum as a reference for other recommended independent garages..........similar to Trip Advisor B-)

 

[bessieblue]

hi two , i will be trying pmw in chelmsford next , they seem good ?

 

[Warrior]

I'd talk to Two about his experience first..... :-o

 

[TWO]

hi two , i will be trying pmw in chelmsford next , they seem good ?

Hi bessieblue

Please see my posting in viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1008

You will see comments from other members about MOT and repair centres under the same roof...........and I feel that *MW, Chelmsford independent, definitely fit into the catergory of making merry out the MOT's...............especially over non existing brake server problems.

In addition, I also asked for the suspension/tracking/bushes etc to be checked to alleviate the tram lining issues. Despite this being on their job sheet; it was never carried out, with the job sheet being marked up 'N/A'. When I mentioned it, all I got was "are yes ehhhmmm.......its always good to get the wishbone bushes done....that'll cost you £200 for the rear pair".............without even checking the bushes!!!!

While I waited for over 2 hours for the MOT to be completed; I witnessed two other vehicles (BMW & Mercedes) failing.............worse than the atmoshere in a dentists waiting room. :-ss

Lesson learnt. I will be taking the Zed to an independent MOT centre in future, and not returning to *MW [-(

Good luck in which ever decision you come to.

 

[Boysie]

I have had Bmw's for longer than I can remember,
the service i got in the early days was very good,
Unfortunately most of the good bmw trained mechanics now work
for independents, or are independants.
Years ago I felt working for a Bmw garage carried a lot
of pride, those days have long gone.
Last year I experienced a bloke in the parts shop who was
down right rude