Main Agent or others for Service

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   Hi all
I was wondering what everyones opinion would be on wether or not I should get my 1998 S reg 523i SE with 47k miles serviced at a BMW main agent/main $tealer or a BMW Specialist or an Independant garage.
My E39 has full dealer service history from one of the BMW dealers around Glasgow, she just had an Inspection II (appears to be the only Inspection II when you read the service book and the paperwork) in May at 44k miles.
Should I take her to main agent for servicing or should I find an Independant or do I take her to the local guy who has been servicing my cars for years and is fairly good and charges about �30 per hour labour?
I am a bit put off my reading my cars service history,  at the last service the previous owner was charged 86p per 100 ml of engine oil.  Yes that works out at about �55 for a sump full of oil!  Castrol GTX 10w40 or whatever is the right one can't remember the exact numbers is about �20-25 for the right quantity out of Halfords.
I have asked the Scottish forum for the better Glasgow main $tealers and got a response but I would like to know what fellow owners of similar age E39's do when it comes to what type of garge you take it to.
Andrew

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Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Topic: Main Agent or others for Service Posted: 09-September-2004 at 03:46
	Hi all I was wondering what everyones opinion would be on wether or not I should get my 1998 S reg 523i SE with 47k miles serviced at a BMW main agent/main $tealer or a BMW Specialist or an Independant garage. My E39 has full dealer service history from one of the BMW dealers around Glasgow, she just had an Inspection II (appears to be the only Inspection II when you read the service book and the paperwork) in May at 44k miles. Should I take her to main agent for servicing or should I find an Independant or do I take her to the local guy who has been servicing my cars for years and is fairly good and charges about �30 per hour labour? I am a bit put off my reading my cars service history, at the last service the previous owner was charged 86p per 100 ml of engine oil. Yes that works out at about �55 for a sump full of oil! Castrol GTX 10w40 or whatever is the right one can't remember the exact numbers is about �20-25 for the right quantity out of Halfords. I have asked the Scottish forum for the better Glasgow main $tealers and got a response but I would like to know what fellow owners of similar age E39's do when it comes to what type of garge you take it to. Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

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520ian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 06-August-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 36	Posted: 09-September-2004 at 19:52
	Dont own an E39 so maybe my comments dont count but, I work in a BMW specialist garage. We have an awful lot of customers come to us due to the extortionate prices charged by the dealers/agents. All customers are bothered about is the fact that the service book is filled in and stamped by us to show the car has been serviced and inspected at the recommended intervals, this has no detrimental effect on the resale price of the car because the vehicle HAS been looked after and HAS been serviced regularly. Our customers are always asked if they want genuine BMW parts fitted or just suitable replacement parts, with the exception of one old gent who runs a 1970 1602 (absolutely like new with 56000 on the clock!), every one of them opts for replacement parts. Most of them are on their 2nd 3rd or even 4th cars and they still come to us and not the dealers. Moral of this story is - find a good reliable garage who will look after your car and fill in your service book and stamp it.

dave 328 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 21-October-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 835	Posted: 10-September-2004 at 11:11
	As above, dealer stamps are now becoming a less of a priority in service history, esp. when dodgy sellers can hold of stamps. Specialists are becoming more popular as most are owned usually by ex-manufacturer employees. Or as I do, DIY. I service mine myself using the parts from dealers, keeping all the receipts for proof of service history and mark it in the service booklet. There is also a guide to what is done on each type of service so you can check what needs doing. The prices of parts from BMW are good they are about the same as the auto factors and sometimes cheaper. Fuel filter for a 328 is �15 from BMW, from Halfords it is �20!! Its mainly labour costs at dealers. I changed the rear trailing arm bush on mine for �8, BMW wanted �180 per side!! A good specialist will be about �100 per side. Its always going to be cheaper doing the DIY route, but a specialist will be cheaper (in most cases, so check) than the dealer and I should think will have no detrimental effect when selling on. Edited by dave 328
	328 Coupe Sport, Digital climate, full leather, OBD computer, De-restricted with M50 manifold, big bore throttle, chippeduk remap, custom cold cone intake and X-brace