Ask the Car People.SM


BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

5349 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:31 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

    
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 367 of 535

#3660 of 5349 Re: schedule maintenance COST for 330i MY 2003 at 57K Miles [lphantom8] by roadburner

Jan 02, 2008 (9:35 pm)

Replying to: lphantom8 (Jan 02, 2008 8:53 pm)
I spoke with a dealer and they said I need the INSPECTION II schedule maintenance and was quoted $850.
 
Yes, a 2003 E46 will call for an Inspection II at 60K miles. I think the quoted price is extremely high. My local independent BMW shop recently performed an Insp. II, a coolant service, a tire rotation, and a front end alignment on my 1995 318ti, and the cost was $592. Keep in mind that an E36 Insp. II is much more labor intensive, as it calls for changing the transmission and final drive oils, the spark plugs, and the fuel filter. In contrast, the only items replaced on your car are the engine oil, oil filter, cabin filter, and air filter. That said, if you plan to keep the car, I would change the 'lifetime" drivetrain fluids at 60K.

#3661 of 5349 Re: schedule maintenance COST for 330i MY 2003 at 57K Miles [lphantom8] by sunilb

Jan 03, 2008 (12:25 am)

Replying to: lphantom8 (Jan 02, 2008 8:53 pm)
As roadburner mentioned, Insp II is only an oil change, new air filter and new microfilter... you can order these parts online and do them yourself (oil~ $50, air filter ~ $40 and microfilter ~ $20, IIRC). All are pretty easy to do.
 
I did these myself and then brought the car to my local indy BMW mechanic and had the differential fluid changed, new thermostat, new water pump, new serpentine belts and new fuel filter put in. The cost for these items was ~ $600 (parts and labor).

#3662 of 5349 First Post in the forum and introduction by ultimgrocgettr

Jan 05, 2008 (4:41 pm)

I have been rreading these forums for awhile and I would like to introduce myself. I have an alpine white 2003 BMW 325xiT that I purchased two years ago at 24,000 miles. It is my first BMW and I have really enjoyed the car. I now am at 52,000 miles and am about 2400 miles away from inspection II. So far I have only had to replace brakes, and tires. The only out of ordinary repairs have been a new thermostat, O2 sensor and a fuel sender wire that was gnawed by a mouse.
 
My service plan for the car calls for oil changes every 7,500 miles (our half way through what the car recommends for an oil change via the OBC. I have the 3 month 3000 miles routine so ingrained with me I struggle waiting the 7,500 mile mark. I'll replace the inspection II items i.e. airfilter, cabin filter etc. myself and have a BMW indy mechanic look it over. My local dealer charges about $540.00 for inspection II which seems to be a glorified oil change.
 
I plan on changing the waterpump after 60,000 miles as per Mike Miller's recommendations in the Roundel.
 
On oil changes, how do you base your intervals on time or mileage? I've heard the 3 month 3000 miles for years and I drive this car about 14 K a year. Do you think half of the interval is sufficient? I had the oil changed last summer when the OBC was reading 7,500 to inspection II. Now I am about 2,400.
 
Thanks,
 
Mark

#3663 of 5349 Insp II by megrdh1

Jan 05, 2008 (7:01 pm)

the quote $850 is cheap. I had the insp II last year on my 2001 325i for 1111.41 plus they told me to replace thermostat, water pump... and I walked out with the bill of $3040.76.
I think my car is a lemon. I just had it fixed the passsenger front door due to rain water leaking in and the rear passenger window has broken regulator ( to roll the window up and down) and today I found there is a pool of water near the driver door too after a long day and nite rain from the storm. Anybody has similar problem? I like the car but I am getting tired of leaving it at shop too often.
M.

#3664 of 5349 Re: Insp II [megrdh1] by roadburner

Jan 05, 2008 (10:34 pm)

Replying to: megrdh1 (Jan 05, 2008 7:01 pm)
the quote $850 is cheap. I had the insp II last year on my 2001 325i for 1111.41 plus they told me to replace thermostat, water pump... and I walked out with the bill of $3040.76.
 
Sorry, but you got hosed, plain and simple. I hope the service manager kissed you and sent flowers the next morning. My local dealer doesn't charge that much more for an Insp. II on an E46 M3- which includes changing all drivetrain fluids as well as a time-consuming valve adjustment. As a matter of fact, a few years ago I put off changing a noisy idler pulley on my wife's 128K 1997 528i, and in late fall of 2004 my procrastination was rewarded by the pulley bearing disintegrating and taking out both belts and the fan shroud. I decided to let my independent BMW tech handle the repairs. While he had the car we decided to replace the radiator, the water pump, and the remaining idler pulley as a precaution. My tech also found and replaced a bad tie rod and had the car aligned. The total cost of repair? $1161.
And one more data point: I had my dealer change the thermostat in my E36 3er just last month- $160

#3665 of 5349 Re: First Post in the forum and introduction [ultimgrocgettr] by roadburner

Jan 05, 2008 (10:44 pm)

Replying to: ultimgrocgettr (Jan 05, 2008 4:41 pm)
I have been rreading these forums for awhile and I would like to introduce myself. I have an alpine white 2003 BMW 325xiT that I purchased two years ago at 24,000 miles.
 
Welcome! That's a great car; I almost picked up a five speed Touring on ebay, but I snoozed and lost...
 
On oil changes, how do you base your intervals on time or mileage? I've heard the 3 month 3000 miles for years and I drive this car about 14 K a year. Do you think half of the interval is sufficient? I had the oil changed last summer when the OBC was reading 7,500 to inspection II. Now I am about 2,400.
 
I'm a bit more conservative than some of the other members on this board, so I also perform a 7500 mile oil change. Just be sure to use a BMW filter as well as a BMW Longlife 01 rated oil. Some commonly available oils that meet that spec are:
 
BMW Synthetic 5W-30
Castrol Syntec 0W-30
Mobil 1 0W-40

#3666 of 5349 Re: Insp II [roadburner] by megrdh1

Jan 05, 2008 (10:55 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Jan 05, 2008 10:34 pm)
Roadburner,
You are right. My local dealer ripped me off. I guessed because I am a gal and know nothing about car so they easily scared me. Anyway, if you follow this forum you may remember a while back I asked for a referral to an independent shop in SF BayArea not only because of the high cost of maintenance at my local dealer, but I also feel they no longer treat me well.

#3667 of 5349 The Ultimate Grocery Getter in Action by ultimgrocgettr

Jan 06, 2008 (5:02 am)

Here is an action shot of my E46 Touring at a local autocross event. I get some good natured ribbing about having a wagon and some of the local club members call it a grocery getter. I remind them since it is a BMW, it is the Ultimate Grocery Getter.
 

 
I was autocrossing it using the stock 16" Michelins. Next season, I plan on using Bridgestone RE070 mounted on 17" E36 Style 24 rims. It should be interesting to see if the change in tires will improve my track times. This is a very fun car to drive and I am looking forward to the next season. I am participating in a BMW Winter Driving School in a couple of weeks. That should tide me over for awhile.

#3668 of 5349 Re: Insp II [megrdh1] by kyfdx HOST

Jan 06, 2008 (10:01 am)

Replying to: megrdh1 (Jan 05, 2008 10:55 pm)
Don't feel bad.. and don't blame it on being female..
 
Actually, your experience is more the rule, than the exception.. There is a reason that BMWs got their reputation for being expensive to maintain.. It's a dealer network that charges astronomical prices for dubious repairs..
 
You shouldn't have to have an intimate knowledge of the mechanical workings of your car, to avoid being ripped off by the service department.. But, in many cases, that's exactly what you need..
 
Good job seeking out an independent..
 
regards,
kyfdx
visiting host

#3669 of 5349 Re: Insp II [kyfdx] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 06, 2008 (10:37 am)

Replying to: kyfdx (Jan 06, 2008 10:01 am)
Even good indy shops aren't that easy to find for BMW. They can be just as treacherous.
 
After years of searching, I've only found two really great BMW shops in the Bay Area, one in San Rafael and one in Santa Cruz. I'm sure there are more. Some have good "reputations" but they are very ego-driven and snooty, another trait I don't care for in an BMW indy shop.
 
One of my favorite indy BMW shops is run by a lunatic. If you catch him on a good day, he is BRILLIANT with these cars, but if he's on a bender, don't go near the place. LOL!

Messages Page 367 of 535

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement