DIY servicing out of Motorplan

Hellas

///Member
What is your opinion on DIY servicing your BMW after the Motorplan expired? It's a lot cheaper for one, but you won't be able to sell it as: 'fully serviced by BMW'.
What is your experience as far as resale value loss because you didn't stick to the stealership service?
 

calypso

///Member
In my car an independent BMW specialist works better for me. My my neck of the woods a service by Gunter is worth alot more then a service from the dealer.
 

double-n

Active member
To tell you the truth, I don't think it's worth it. I have had my car serviced at BMW Hatfield every time since the Motorplan expired, and the servicing costs have been reasonable. Around R800 for the oil services, R1800 for inspection. Plus the customer service from BMW Hatfield is fricken brilliant, the best service I have received from ANY South African company.

Also, it will be hard enough to eventually try and sell my 320d even with the dealer services (people are scared of these diesels failing). I wouldn't want to make it any more difficult.
 

nawtiboy

///Member
i also used to think it helped you when you decided to sell :nono:-but since it is out of m/p you going to loose anyway.:cursin:

i send my one in just for an oil service -they quote on other repairs and i sort it my self or send it else where depending on the work involved.

is this better ?:mmm:
 

Hellas

///Member
nawtiboy said:
i also used to think it helped you when you decided to sell :nono:-but since it is out of m/p you going to loose anyway.:cursin:

i send my one in just for an oil service -they quote on other repairs and i sort it my self or send it else where depending on the work involved.

is this better ?:mmm:

I hear you on the repairs. Last time I had the car in for an oil service, they quoted me R9500 extra cause the cat box on the exhaust needed to be replaced. (There was a rattle somewhere on the exhaust). I had the 'rattle' fixed for R50 by adding an additional bracket to the exhaust system... Go figure...
 

freerider

Honorary ///Member
BMW dealerships do not fix, they replace. And when I say that, I mean that if your sparkplug is faulty, they will replace the engine because it might have been that. :rofl:

HELLAS NC said:
nawtiboy said:
i also used to think it helped you when you decided to sell :nono:-but since it is out of m/p you going to loose anyway.:cursin:

i send my one in just for an oil service -they quote on other repairs and i sort it my self or send it else where depending on the work involved.

is this better ?:mmm:

I hear you on the repairs. Last time I had the car in for an oil service, they quoted me R9500 extra cause the cat box on the exhaust needed to be replaced. (There was a rattle somewhere on the exhaust). I had the 'rattle' fixed for R50 by adding an additional bracket to the exhaust system... Go figure...
 

Hellas

///Member
double-n said:
To tell you the truth, I don't think it's worth it. I have had my car serviced at BMW Hatfield every time since the Motorplan expired, and the servicing costs have been reasonable. Around R800 for the oil services, R1800 for inspection. Plus the customer service from BMW Hatfield is fricken brilliant, the best service I have received from ANY South African company.

Also, it will be hard enough to eventually try and sell my 320d even with the dealer services (people are scared of these diesels failing). I wouldn't want to make it any more difficult.

OK. I'm not taking into account that I need to drive 1200km (return included) every time I need to have my car serviced, cause I'm making a weekend of it, but an inspection service is between R2500 and R2800 anywhere in Cape Town. Parts and oil would be R1500 plus R600 labour at the indy shop (or free if I do the service).
But here's a twist: Upington BMW charges R1600 straight for an oil service. How come?
 

Fuzzy

///Member
HELLAS NC said:
double-n said:
To tell you the truth, I don't think it's worth it. I have had my car serviced at BMW Hatfield every time since the Motorplan expired, and the servicing costs have been reasonable. Around R800 for the oil services, R1800 for inspection. Plus the customer service from BMW Hatfield is fricken brilliant, the best service I have received from ANY South African company.

Also, it will be hard enough to eventually try and sell my 320d even with the dealer services (people are scared of these diesels failing). I wouldn't want to make it any more difficult.

OK. I'm not taking into account that I need to drive 1200km (return included) every time I need to have my car serviced, cause I'm making a weekend of it, but an inspection service is between R2500 and R2800 anywhere in Cape Town. Parts and oil would be R1500 plus R600 labour at the indy shop (or free if I do the service).
But here's a twist: Upington BMW charges R1600 straight for an oil service. How come?

Actually your diesel BMW engine could easily give you 800 000kms! Yes you heard me right. The only unfortunate thing is that here in South Africa our grade of diesel isnt the good quality as elsewhere! Ensure that your vehicle is serviced regularly (Diesel engines needs servicing more often that their petrol counterparts) and use top quality diesel, and you have a die hard vehicle!:wave:

HELLAS NC said:
What is your opinion on DIY servicing your BMW after the Motorplan expired? It's a lot cheaper for one, but you won't be able to sell it as: 'fully serviced by BMW'.
What is your experience as far as resale value loss because you didn't stick to the stealership service?

I dont think I am in the same league as you guys. I drive an old car! When I bought my car I bought it with money that I saved and by hoek or croek I managed to treat myself! Maybe she had a motorplan years prior but not when I purchased her, so from day one moet ek crap en betaal.

In my personal opinion though, servicing your own vehicle isnt a problem, but for the newer vehicles it just might be. Full Service history seems to be highly regarded, even if the chopping mackie at bmw had a little dop in and doesnt differ much from another service provider!

What I do however insist on which is not negotiable if at all possible, I try as far as the pocket allows buy original BMW parts and try and keep "pirates" of the carribean out of the equation!

My husband services my vehicle, thats if I dont climb into it myself, and the only thing we save on is the labour, other than that besides the 20% discount from Auto Atlantic saving on parts isnt too much!

Question you should ask yourself. When you intend purchasing a BMW or any other vehicle for that matter, what is the criteria of your search? Does a statement like "FSH" top the list?

I stand corrected but as long as your vehicle is serviced whether at BMW or not (suitable service provider) this should not affect your resale value.:)
 

double-n

Active member
HELLAS NC said:
double-n said:
To tell you the truth, I don't think it's worth it. I have had my car serviced at BMW Hatfield every time since the Motorplan expired, and the servicing costs have been reasonable. Around R800 for the oil services, R1800 for inspection. Plus the customer service from BMW Hatfield is fricken brilliant, the best service I have received from ANY South African company.

Also, it will be hard enough to eventually try and sell my 320d even with the dealer services (people are scared of these diesels failing). I wouldn't want to make it any more difficult.

OK. I'm not taking into account that I need to drive 1200km (return included) every time I need to have my car serviced, cause I'm making a weekend of it, but an inspection service is between R2500 and R2800 anywhere in Cape Town. Parts and oil would be R1500 plus R600 labour at the indy shop (or free if I do the service).
But here's a twist: Upington BMW charges R1600 straight for an oil service. How come?

Wow OK, I did not know that it was such a mission for you to have your car serviced! I now understand why you want to do it yourself.

Fuzzy said:
HELLAS NC said:
double-n said:
To tell you the truth, I don't think it's worth it. I have had my car serviced at BMW Hatfield every time since the Motorplan expired, and the servicing costs have been reasonable. Around R800 for the oil services, R1800 for inspection. Plus the customer service from BMW Hatfield is fricken brilliant, the best service I have received from ANY South African company.

Also, it will be hard enough to eventually try and sell my 320d even with the dealer services (people are scared of these diesels failing). I wouldn't want to make it any more difficult.

OK. I'm not taking into account that I need to drive 1200km (return included) every time I need to have my car serviced, cause I'm making a weekend of it, but an inspection service is between R2500 and R2800 anywhere in Cape Town. Parts and oil would be R1500 plus R600 labour at the indy shop (or free if I do the service).
But here's a twist: Upington BMW charges R1600 straight for an oil service. How come?

Actually your diesel BMW engine could easily give you 800 000kms! Yes you heard me right. The only unfortunate thing is that here in South Africa our grade of diesel isnt the good quality as elsewhere! Ensure that your vehicle is serviced regularly (Diesel engines needs servicing more often that their petrol counterparts) and use top quality diesel, and you have a die hard vehicle!:wave:

Cool, that's good to know! I know the engine itself is solid, it's just the things attached to it (injectors and turbo) which is a potential problem. And I am meticulous to have my BMW serviced when ever it asks me. :)

Interestingly, our cars aren't that expensive to service compared to other makes. I mate of mine recently had his Polo TDI serviced at a dealer in Joburg, it cost him almost R6000 for a NORMAL 60,000km service. :dropjaw:
 

Hellas

///Member
Fuzzy, I really hope the diesel give me 800k! But there's a couple of other things that will go way before that (like window regulators and suspension bushings...) Either way, I'll never go pirate, even with my 1400 polo that's got 238k on it...

The best I heard thus far on a 320d is 220k with 'relative' little faults (No mayor engine trouble)
 

double-n

Active member
I spoke to the guy in charge of the service department of BMW Bloemfontein about a year ago, and I asked him what his experience with the E46 320d was. He said in the 7 years he had been there, he had only ever seen two engine rebuilds of the 320d's engine, and in both cases the engine had sucked up water. He said he had seen a 2001 320d with more than 500,000km on it, and it was still working fine. It even had its original turbo. He even joked that the service guys weren't sure what they had to do at a 500k service, besides the normal service. With a bit of luck these engines can last a long time.
 

freerider

Honorary ///Member
Fuzzy said:
I dont think I am in the same league as you guys. I drive an old car! When I bought my car I bought it with money that I saved and by hoek or croek I managed to treat myself! Maybe she had a motorplan years prior but not when I purchased her, so from day one moet ek crap en betaal.

In my personal opinion though, servicing your own vehicle isnt a problem, but for the newer vehicles it just might be. Full Service history seems to be highly regarded, even if the chopping mackie at bmw had a little dop in and doesnt differ much from another service provider!

What I do however insist on which is not negotiable if at all possible, I try as far as the pocket allows buy original BMW parts and try and keep "pirates" of the carribean out of the equation!

My husband services my vehicle, thats if I dont climb into it myself, and the only thing we save on is the labour, other than that besides the 20% discount from Auto Atlantic saving on parts isnt too much!

Question you should ask yourself. When you intend purchasing a BMW or any other vehicle for that matter, what is the criteria of your search? Does a statement like "FSH" top the list?

I stand corrected but as long as your vehicle is serviced whether at BMW or not (suitable service provider) this should not affect your resale value.:)

Stop the bus.... is Fuzzy a wimmin? ......when I look at the custom title you gave yourself "drag-queen"

I immediately think of literal drag racing.....

_42302456_drag_ap220.jpg
 

freerider

Honorary ///Member
well my 540i is on 270k now and still pulls very hard.... there is a guy on gumtree trying to sell a 540i with 364k on the clock and he wants 34k for it
 
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