BMW main dealer service

[floz61]

Hi All,

I’m about to book my D3 biturbo in for a service, not due for another 3k or so but am also going to get front pads replaced.
My quandary is that last time I enquired with my local dealer in Ipswich they started quoting me prices for M3s, so I’m a bit unsure about using them. Does anyone have any positive experience from a main dealer within Suffolk/Essex ?

Regards,
Mark

[Jonnywishbone]

Due to having cars under warranty, I’ve been using Sytner Harold Wood for the past 10 years. I can’t say they’re great value because they charge broadly what every other main dealer does for the same stuff. I also haven’t had to service an Alpina there. However, I’ve never had cause to complain about the work they’ve done, which has always been done well and in a timely manner. They’ve never tried to exploit me by trying to upsell services I don’t need. They’ve never washed my car when I’ve asked them not to! Being Sytner, you would also hope they have enough expertise with the cars to not balls things up. They are right on the opposite side of Essex to you though so not exactly convenient.

[jolls]

I stand to be corrected but believe your car is based on the 335D and the prices quoted for servicing should reflect this.

[Charles]

I would speak to the Service Manager and educate him about ALPINA.

The starting point is that it is NOT an M3 and costs the same to service as the donor car.

If he doesn't want to know then take your business elsewhere.

[churchie386]

I used Colchester BMW for a few cars (E91 330i and E90 D3 BT). They were alright (nothing more, nothing less).

As the cars got older I used them and other main dealers for the minimum (whatever I need to get the stamp basically). Things like brakes pads and discs I'd buy the parts from a main dealer (and ask for a BMW Club GB whatever discount, typically 10%) and fit 'em myself or get local garage to do so. I loath spending an hours worth of my money at main dealer rates for job that took 31minutes, and which did not requires specialist knowledge. Fitting pads to the front of a F30 D3 with a brembo caliper is pretty simple. While the car is in the air and the oil is draing out, the same BMW technician can do one of the two calpiers for free!

[floz61]

Thanks for the feedback, I will ask for the servicing and brake pad change price in advance.
As the car is a 2015 and I am probably going to sell it, I wanted the on screen service history to all tie up.

In the past I had a 996 Porsche and bought a new a/c pipe from the main dealer and got it fitted by a mechanic I trust. The main dealer seemed very surprised that I was taking the part away, also replaced discs and pads all round, ordered off euro car parts with pretty much bogof and boxes arrived all stamped up as original Porsche parts, you can imagine how much cheaper that was.

[Trilly-Uk]

Thanks for the feedback, I will ask for the servicing and brake pad change price in advance.
As the car is a 2015 and I am probably going to sell it, I wanted the on screen service history to all tie up.

After a poor experience dealing with Sytner Sunningdale went independent. Both places I have used have access to Alpina system for parts and service requirement AND update the online system with work done. Obviously it doesn’t say BMW on the screen just the work that’s been done. For BMW warranty work/recalls have to use main dealer otherwise I don’t and get a better service as a result and it’s a lot cheaper.