Agents prices

[Bavarian1]

Dealers are crazy, for the E36 motorsport II rims i was quoted R4K per mag and yet i managed to pick up a set of 4 with tyres for R4K, i was also quoted R64K for a new E36 320i motor, thats more than the value of the entire car!!!!

I wanted the hardtop for my 328i and was quoted R36K...LOL!!!

My uncle lost the locknut key for his motorsport and BMW quoted him R4200...WTF

Certain things are not bad though, like certain service parts for my car, other than that, they rip us off :fishwack:

How did your uncle sort out the locknut issue? Im just wondering what if mine gets lost...

 

[Chucky]

Dealers are crazy when it comes to prices.

Never saw it the way mike explained it, they make maintaining your older BMW so expensive buying a new newer one seems like a better option.

Stealers can still go jump in a lake though :yuck:

 

[Yuvan]

@bavarian1

He didnt sort it out yet, his going to buy a locknut set from Midas, for now his trying to make a plan to get the original 1s removed!

My advice, KEEP IT SAFE! if you keep it in the tool box attached to the boot lid of your car make sure its kept securely in there and make sure that if you leave your car a mechanic or anything you make him/her aware that the locknut is in the boot toolbox and be sure to check if its there once your car is collected!! I have also heard of them getting stolen, not sure what is to be done with it but be careful!!!

 

[Speirie]

@bavarian1

BMW sells replacement locknut keys, they got a case of them indexed and numbered, cost me R120 for the key.

Even if you loose the lock key, take the car to dealership and ask them nicely to loosen the bolts, worked for me when my dad misplaced mine

 

[Yuvan]

@bavarian1

BMW sells replacement locknut keys, they got a case of them indexed and numbered, cost me R120 for the key.

Even if you loose the lock key, take the car to dealership and ask them nicely to loosen the bolts, worked for me when my dad misplaced mine

YOH, thats not what the told my uncle, thanks, i will ask him to try a different dealer!!! Why would the do that???? Surely he is not going to buy a new BMW for a lost locknut key!!!!:roflol:

 

[netercol]

not much point in locknuts anymore, saw a special socket the other day, made to grip the outside of a lock-nut.. one tap of a hammer to seat it and goodbye locknut..

i suppose it would still stop opportunistic thiefs though..

 

[Yuvan]

not much point in locknuts anymore, saw a special socket the other day, made to grip the outside of a lock-nut.. one tap of a hammer to seat it and goodbye locknut..

i suppose it would still stop opportunistic thiefs though..

If they want it, they will make a plan to get it!

 

[Sankekur]

My problem with the dealer prices is that I can import the stuff from the US for half or a third of the price, and then it is place that goes to BMW buys it for you there, adds there profit, then you pay for shipping and duty and yet it is still cheaper that getting at BMW here, you would swear that don't have a massive import network into the country :nonono:
But I guess someone has to pay for motorplan etc.....

Some examples:
e46 318 roof liner (cardboard+glue+foam rubber+cloth) R12k (custom made roof liner will set you back around R900 and up to around R2000)
e34 530i manual, piece of rubber hydraulic hose for the clutch (about 20mm long) R1300 - having the piece of hydraulic hose made up R140
e46 330i bosch starter R3500, same bosch one minus the BMW badge R1600

 

[ballistic]

"The number one goal of a dealership is to sell cars. Every day of every month this is the focus. When you go to BMW, for the parts price for your E36 and they say R10 000 what they are actually doing is saying "oi mate, put R10 000 into a new 320i and walk out here sophisticated etc etc".


So is this what a dealer is reduced to. Absolutely no thought for the average Joe and his family.

BMW and every other dealer, U SUCK!

Pathetic!

 

[Spoiler]

Agree, the older the car the more expensive the parts - E46 used to be reasonable but are slowly creeping up in price. All makes do this though - try pricing Mazda spares form Ford/Mazda - I import all parts for my 02 MX5 from the UK - from shocks to exhausts - far cheaper and you can at least get the parts in a week. To be fair to BMW they carry most spares and can get them to you quickly. Go get a Polo serviced and see how VW rip you off - even worse than BMW and it takes a week to get the car back!

Are there any internet spares shops for BMW parts?

 

[AdiS]

I think the overarching point here is that the expectation that a dealer will service your car and supply you with parts at reasonable prices is misplaced.

My view is that if you plan to own an older BMW, you need to do your homework and research the maintenance requirements of your car, and then find an appropriate BMW specialist or third party mechanic who you trust to do the work. Alternatively you could also try some of the work yourself, as labour charges are normally where you lose out most.

At the end of the day, these cars were expensive when new, made from expensive parts, and the latter hasn't changed. I do however think that research into the specific needs of your car, and into alternatives to the dealer can result in an affordable ownership experience.

Please note, however, that the above opinion is based on research and the opinions of others, and is not the product of personal experience.

 

[Spy007]

My experience.

In the last 20 months it has been cheaper to maintain my BMW than it was to maintain my Getz.