BMW service and MOT

As long as you have the work carried out by an authorised garage using genuine BMW parts your guarantee would not be impacted. My mrs had hers done when it needed a few service intervals and "recommended part changes" all at once and BMW wanted something like £550 for time and parts and she had it done third party approved for about £200. Why spend £350 on a brand name for the same work? You'll pay the same amount for the parts of course, but labour will be a fraction. You will get the iDrive updated to show work has been carried out correctly in exactly the same way.

She probably spent more on that car in 3 years than I spent on my Focus titanium in 11 years, just seemed a constant stream of cost. They dont seem to do amazing in the annual reliability indexes that get published.


Was the garage local to Boro?
 
I do realise there are garages/repair shops that can complete work and it be authorised for the guarantee (certainly on German cars). However If its a bit more in cost and the car is say 3 years old, I would use the franchised dealership, OK not £350 more, but if its £50 more I would use the franchised garage. They often deal in just one or 2 brands so can have more specialist equipment, training and experience. It sounds the garage than charges 175% more than a rival for the same quality of work and parts is taking the "mick".

My last service I think was £156 (inc VAT) for Oil change, Oil filter, Brake Fluid change, check over including a couple of things I specifically wanted checking. This was at a non franchised workshop, but do manufacturer guarantee work. He charges £50 plus VAT for labour per hour. The franchised dealer I think is £239 for a basic service, but they will drive you to somewhere local and pick you up later, offer free coffee, take credit cards, wash and clean the car, offer free breakdown cover, they may pick up the car and bring it bring if you are at work locally. I would guess the franchised dealer is about 30% more expensive after extras are taken into account, in my example.
 
Was the garage local to Boro?

yeah it was over darlington way

https://www.facebook.com/MrVanos/

This is the place, he gave great advice over the phone, explained everything, made a quick appointment and it was all good. Saved her a bomb. Prior to that she always went main dealer.

I do realise there are garages/repair shops that can complete work and it be authorised for the guarantee (certainly on German cars). However If its a bit more in cost and the car is say 3 years old, I would use the franchised dealership, OK not £350 more, but if its £50 more I would use the franchised garage. They often deal in just one or 2 brands so can have more specialist equipment, training and experience. It sounds the garage than charges 175% more than a rival for the same quality of work and parts is taking the "mick".

My last service I think was £156 (inc VAT) for Oil change, Oil filter, Brake Fluid change, check over including a couple of things I specifically wanted checking. This was at a non franchised workshop, but do manufacturer guarantee work. He charges £50 plus VAT for labour per hour. The franchised dealer I think is £239 for a basic service, but they will drive you to somewhere local and pick you up later, offer free coffee, take credit cards, wash and clean the car, offer free breakdown cover, they may pick up the car and bring it bring if you are at work locally. I would guess the franchised dealer is about 30% more expensive after extras are taken into account, in my example.

Thats fair enough but not really what you said - you implied it would impact warranty, which isn't the case. You can never go to a main dealer in your life and maintain your warranty as long as you used an approved dealer with genuine parts. for the sake of 30%, I'd happily drive to Darlo; there's a great cafe 3 minutes walk from the service centre, they took credit cards, we already have breakdown cover and if you're paying 30% you aren't getting free coffee, breakdown cover etc you are paying for it with the 30% premium.
 
There is a specialist in Stockton on Brunswick Street called J&S. They know beemer's inside and out. I've had 3 E39's (inc M5) plus an E92 and they looked after them all. Never felt shortchanged with them and they were always happy to tell me what was needed and what wasn't (or could wait).
 
Stirling services in Stockton, they can computerise all work done into your car, are half the price of BMW and do a better job. We have 2 1 series and we won't take our cars anywhere else.
 
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