What do dealership mechanics actually do?

[Hugo_za]

Dealership mechs really don't do any kind of eyes/hands-hands on investigating any longer. My car's last service notes show that the rear right indicator is malfunctioning. Checked it out, and sure, it was blinking very dimly. So much so that in full daylight you could not even see it.

After 5 minutes I found the solution...screw the bulb carrier in properly! I mean really, WTF!!

The bulb carrier does not have a wire that pugs into it. Instead it has a round metal base which makes contact with the electronics when screwed into the housing. It takes two "clicks" to properly seat it, yet I found that the "malfunction" was that it was only on click 1! I even swapped the indicator bulbs around to make sure the bulb was fine...which it was.

#Epicfail BMW!

 

[QikNish]

I don't think its fair to blame the mechanics - dealership orders technicians to just check & report (probably), they aren't allowed to repair anything without authorisation from the client - you need to be billed for the time. And their minimum is a certain amount of units / Rands.

Can you imagine if (for example) the techy decides to try to screw in the bulb and cracks the housing because it had a hairline crack or something. And then the entire cluster doesn't work. Would you accept any explanation from them as to why you have to pay thousands for a new light?

 

[Hugo_za]

I don't think its fair to blame the mechanics - dealership orders technicians to just check & report (probably), they aren't allowed to repair anything without authorisation from the client - you need to be billed for the time. And their minimum is a certain amount of units / Rands.

Can you imagine if (for example) the techy decides to try to screw in the bulb and cracks the housing because it had a hairline crack or something. And then the entire cluster doesn't work. Would you accept any explanation from them as to why you have to pay thousands for a new light?

I see your point, but the problem comes in when you then get told, for instance, that you need to replace the light cluster (example only). They tech should follow the guided fault finding steps which are detailed in the workshop software.

Either way, the mechanics are more computer techs than anything else nowadays. Plug in, find error, follow computer's recommendation, end of story. If the problem isn't stored in memory...what happens then?

 

[QikNish]

I see your point, but the problem comes in when you then get told, for instance, that you need to replace the light cluster (example only). Fact is that the vast majority of people out there are not as technically minded as some of us. They will take what they are told by the dealerships and act on it, forking out huge bucks, while the dealerships follow their "replace everything that looks broken" motto.

100% agree with you - thats why we need awesome independent technicians likes of which are on this forum. Or a lil bit of DIY bravery. :cartel:

 

[Hugo_za]

I see your point, but the problem comes in when you then get told, for instance, that you need to replace the light cluster (example only). Fact is that the vast majority of people out there are not as technically minded as some of us. They will take what they are told by the dealerships and act on it, forking out huge bucks, while the dealerships follow their "replace everything that looks broken" motto.

100% agree with you - thats why we need awesome independent technicians likes of which are on this forum. Or a lil bit of DIY bravery. :cartel:

Which is why I have all the relevant software

 

[ChefDJ]

I don't think its fair to blame the mechanics - dealership orders technicians to just check & report (probably), they aren't allowed to repair anything without authorisation from the client - you need to be billed for the time. And their minimum is a certain amount of units / Rands.

And this is why, again, I don't send my car to BMW for anything.

They won't repair a clearly faulty item unless specified to do so on the next booking.

 

[moranor@axis]

they probably did not bother looking at the bulb at all...

 

[Rodney///Marsh]

HUGO - that's why they are called technicians these days and not mechanics. I watched a guy plug up one of those fault finding stuff to tell my pops he needed a new battery. My pops looks at him with disbelief and says, son, I called you to bring me a battery. I knew it was buggered and this chap replies to my dad, sorry sir, I don't have that battery in stock. my father shook his head, called me, towed the car to a bosch agent, bought a new battery and all was solved.

these okes, eish. I want to see whats going to happen when the car picks up a miss or runs a bearing and then the computer doesn't say what those problems are.. LOL

 

[Nick]

Parts fitters... i see it every day.

 

[Ash777]

My private mechanic told me an interesting story.....
If there is any difficulty working on a car at a certain local BMW dealership, or anything that makes them scratch their heads...they send your car to him!
Yes, you think the dealership is the best place to go and you pay accordingly....and your car goes to my private mechanic anyway.
I was shocked to hear this.

 

[Rodney///Marsh]

My private mechanic told me an interesting story.....
If there is any difficulty working on a car at a certain local BMW dealership, or anything that makes them scratch their heads...they send your car to him!
Yes, you think the dealership is the best place to go and you pay accordingly....and your car goes to my private mechanic anyway.
I was shocked to hear this.

uhm, I have heard this too. sad, to say the least

 

[Blomhj]

They don't make them like they use to. Matter of fact in any trade these days from Fitter & Turner to Diesel Mech.

Have question..... How does the dealerships work into getting their " Technicians " qualified . Are you still require to get Trade Tested or is it in-house training with dealership certificate after each module.

Always wanted to know

 

[Nick]

Appies go through 4 levels over a max of 5 years. Training is supplied by the motor company.

 

[Doomsdaya]

I have a friend that worked for various Bmw dealerships, the fact that he rather DIY and not let the technicians at Bmw work on his car says a lot.

 

[BuFFy_ZA]

I started in the trade at VW, hated it. Changed spark plugs and oil all day.

One of my other mates went to Mercedes, absolutely excelled there as they do proper diagnostics (well they used to), now he is at Maserati and is loving it as they do not even have timing marks on some of their motors, everything is gauged and actually looked at, plugs gapped at a service, actual mechanic work.

Another example, my friends father had his turbo blow in his new Golf R, instead of opening it up and fixing, had to wait for a new motor and turbo to be flown in from germany. Parts fitters...

What is the point of the guy standing in overalls - other than to change oil and spark plugs?

Scary to think you actually pay a premium to have some under qualified person to "touch" generally your second most expensive investment?