Garage to avoid

[A. Gammon]

Tip: Avoid Sytner Newport!

Booked the Z into Sytner's Newport for the second time today, for them to change the automatic transmission oil & filter. The first time, (last Monday) it took them four hours to discover they did not have sufficient ATF to complete the oil change. Today, it took them two & a half hours to discover they did not have the pan/filter?

Avoid this garage at all cost. They are incompetent!!!!!

 

[Redline]

Don’t expect they change the fluid in many autos as they are ‘filled for life’.
If yours is DCT then I believe it’s not a standard ATF either.

I’d choose a gearbox specialist rather than a dealer.
Poor workshop practice by the dealer I would have thought. Should be someone’s job to check what’s needed for booked jobs a day or so beforehand.
Word of warning. ATF change isn’t a totally risk free job. Worn friction plates might be exposed causing problems afterwards. Depends how the car has been used.

 

[A. Gammon]

Agreed, it is a specialist auto box fluid, which one would have expected BMW to carry.
A main dealer should have ALL the parts to complete a job, before they commence, especially as they had weeks to prepare.
Sealed for life, actually means “until out of warranty”!

 

[mrscalex]

I doubt most BMW dealerships know one end of a Z3 from another - too old now. They told me themselves recently they're not really interested in cars over 4 years old!

 

[Redline]

I doubt most BMW dealerships know one end of a Z3 from another - too old now. They told me themselves recently they're not really interested in cars over 4 years old!

Dealers are not generally interested in any car above 4 years old. They’re more interested in flogging you a new car unless you have a service receptionist you can have a good relationship with. Only ever found that with LR at Coventry tbh. The general response is to swap parts to fix problems rather than do fixes. Their extortionate labour rates don’t help.

 

[Nodzed]

Tip: Avoid Sytner Newport!

Booked the Z into Sytner's Newport for the second time today, for them to change the automatic transmission oil & filter. The first time, (last Monday) it took them four hours to discover they did not have sufficient ATF to complete the oil change. Today, it took them two & a half hours to discover they did not have the pan/filter?

Avoid this garage at all cost. They are incompetent!!!!!

Yep I'll second that. Bought my e89 off them took me 3 trips and a few words to get all the documents off them.

 

[colb]

Same could be said for some independants only ever took mine to one in Newport as it happens, got charged £90 quid for diagnostics that only told me what I knew already with no fix. Also claimed they couldn't reset the EML light, plugged it in when I got home and reset it without any problems. Eventually changed the MAF which was the cause of my running issues upsetting other sensors and causing EML to light up. Educated myself on BMW engines and systems and refined my diagnostic skills, have not used any garage since apart from MOT tests and always use the same one, same treatment used on my motorbike as well. This forum is a mine of information and help is always at hand when needed. The Zedsheds that operate around the country by members are a fantastic resource and can come to the rescue of many a problem.
Parts department at Synter will give forum discount if you ask, got that at Cardiff and Newport branches in the past.