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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

    
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Messages Page 405 of 536

#4038 of 5349 Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by roadburner

Dec 08, 2008 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: backy (Dec 08, 2008 11:11 am)
Sorry, I wasn't trying to pile on- but you really need to do a little research before an emergency arises. Are you a member of the BMW Car Club? You'll find many dealers and independent shops offer significant discounts on parts and/or labor. You'll also be able to contact local members aand get the scoop on which shops to patronize or avoid. Dealer service cost vary to a huge extent. For example, the ignorant souls running Inside Line's long term E46 M3 get reamed on a regular basis by Santa Monica BMW. It just so happened that my local dealer(Swope BMW in Louisville KY) had recently charged me $374 for an Inspection II and a brake fluid flush. Just for giggles I called Santa Monica BMW and asked how much they would charge for the same service. Care to guess how much Santa Monica wanted?
 
Inspection II: $929.95- and the service advisor said that they were currently running a "Special"(!)
Brake fluid flush: $175.00
Total : $1104.95
Only $730.95(295%) more than my dealer...

#4039 of 5349 Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [roadburner] by backy

Dec 08, 2008 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Dec 08, 2008 5:40 pm)
Actually, I did do some research before the emergency. When I bought the car, I got the name of a mechanic recommended by a friend who has an E46 wagon, said he is honest and does good work at reasonable prices. So I was going to check them out when my first major inspection is due--which won't be for about a year. The problem is, this place is way, way across town from where I was. The dealer was less than five miles away. As I said, I was stuck in the middle of the airport parking ramp and had to be towed, and had to get home ASAP. I had no time (or money for that matter) to get towed another 20+ miles from where I was, during rush hour on a Friday.
 
I did talk with the service advisor and he took $115 off. So it was "only" $825. That included $341 for the pump (he expressed surprise when I told him I had been told the price was around $200), $450 for 3.5 hours of labor to replace the pump, $125 diagnosis fee (yes, they had to figure out it was actually the fuel pump, but I know some places that will waive that fee if they actually do the repair), taxes etc. I told the guy I am in the wrong line of work and need to become a BMW mechanic.
 
I am not sure why you would ask for a service quote from a dealer in Santa Monica when you live in Louisvile (wasting the time of the dealer in Santa Monica, unless you intended to drive to Santa Monica for the service), but maybe you have lots of time to kill. Maybe you could have called a dealer in Beijing, they might offer a good price on Inspection II, that would be interesting to know, wouldn't it? BTW, Louisville is a whole 'nuther world from Santa Monica, CA. In many ways.

#4040 of 5349 Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [roadburner] by cdnpinhead

Dec 08, 2008 (8:06 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Dec 08, 2008 10:52 am)
"I agree with Shipo; you got hosed."
 
Yup. Independent mechanics rule, and due diligence is repaid. Once done, things get much less expensive.
 
I've found a great shop; they've saved me thousands, and I don't even drive a BMW.

#4041 of 5349 Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [backy] by shipo

Dec 09, 2008 (5:35 am)

Replying to: backy (Dec 08, 2008 7:54 pm)
(he expressed surprise when I told him I had been told the price was around $200)
 
Fuel Pump Electric In Tank Type - Actual MFG OEM ($199.00):
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=BSH&Par- tNumber=N69497&Description=Fuel+Pump+-+Electric+In-Tank+Type+-+Actual+MFG+OEM
 
I hope this helps.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

#4042 of 5349 Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [shipo] by roadburner

Dec 09, 2008 (9:30 am)

Replying to: shipo (Dec 09, 2008 5:35 am)
I checked the ETK and the pump is part number 16146766942 and goes for $231.01. Pelican Parts sells the same Siemans VDO pump for $153.50. Throw in $10-$20 bucks for a new seal or two. So the dealer is increasing his profit by over 100% AND tacking on a ludicrous $125 "diagnostic fee". Come on, how hard is it to determine that the fuel pump is DOA? And 3.5 hours to R&R the pump? Let's see... that involves disconnectiong the battery, pulling the bottom cushion of the rear seat, unplugging the pump harness, and unscrewing the retaining ring- and installation is simply the reverse of the removal procedure. My 14 year old son could do it in one hour(at O'fest '99 a friend of mine and I needed 20 minutes to change the pump in his E30 while it was sitting in the motel parking lot. Maybe backy's dealer kisses their customers and sends them flowers the next morning, but still....

#4043 of 5349 Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [roadburner] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 09, 2008 (10:03 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Dec 09, 2008 9:30 am)
I'd scream bloody murder over the "diagnostic fee" if they did the job anyway.
 
1. Examine toilet
2. Found plunger stuck
3. Replaced plunger
 
BILL:
 
Toilet diagnostic fee $80
Parts and Labor to replace plunger $100

#4044 of 5349 Re: 2000 328 Ci sudden death [Mr_Shiftright] by backy

Dec 09, 2008 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 09, 2008 10:03 am)
Must be why the service writer didn't waste too much time taking $115 off the quoted price when I complained. Figure $10-15 for the car wash (a very good one btw), and there goes the diagnostic fee. The parts and labor are still ridiculous, though. Oh well, that's the last they'll see of me for anything other than maybe the annual oil change (they are fairly competitive on those from what I've seen).

#4045 of 5349 seat jammed by incognito1

Dec 12, 2008 (8:22 pm)

I was having trouble with my car and the seat wont slide back. I took in to the bmw service center and they told me that it has something to do with the mechanism and will be covered by the warranty. The next day I get a call saying that they fixed the seat. There was something wedged under the seat but it took them almost 3 hours to fix it!!! and would have cost me 400 bucks but the service agent claimed that as a favour he would only charge me 150.
 
For one it sounds like a lot of time to figure out such a minor issue. At the same time, this is something that they should have been able to establish without even taking the seat out(I guess I got suckered by expecting too much out of a warranty and not looking far enough under the seat) and should have sought my approval before working on the car, since I was led to believe that the issue will be covered under the warranty. Although I ended up making good on the charge but to me this is really unprofessional(to claim that the issue is covered under the warranty and then to be told later that its not). Does it really take 3 hours to take the seat out. To me that sounds a bit over the top.
 
Any comments. Do I have an option of taking this up with perhaps BMW of North America?

#4046 of 5349 Re: seat jammed [incognito1] by roadburner

Dec 12, 2008 (9:19 pm)

Replying to: incognito1 (Dec 12, 2008 8:22 pm)
Well, if you caused the problem you really can't expect it to be covered under the factory warranty. If it was your fault and it only cost $150 to fix I would file it under "Lessons Learned" and move on down the road...

#4047 of 5349 Re: My Problem [hpowders] by Ithaca_NY

Dec 13, 2008 (7:11 am)

Replying to: hpowders (Nov 04, 2008 8:17 pm)
I took delivery of my 2009 328 xi wagon on Dec. 11 and noticed a high pitched electrical sound (very faint) when I got into my garage and shut off the engine. It goes away after 15-30 seconds, but reappears if you unlock the door before restarting the engine. The sound is so faint that I can't hear it if I'm parked outdoors, only in the silence of my garage.
 
hpowders, did you learn anything more about this? I would appreciate any insight before I take it to the dealer. Thanks.
 
-Ithaca, NY

Messages Page 405 of 536

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