[vblanche]

Hello,

I've just been quoted £124 for a diagnosis hour at my BMW local dealership (BMW bristol).

Does it sound ok to you?

cheers
vincent

[davyk31]

Sounds a bit pricey to me, at the end of the day they plug the machine into the car and then walk off and do something else. They always seem to make it sound like the process is long and complicated but guess that is just to justify the cost.

I would bargain a bit with them.

[G82Dude]

Tell them you're not seeking legal representation for murder, just need a gromit to plug in a diagnostic device and read the output to you...!

[Singhness]

it normally costs me £49.99 for a full diagnosis when i get it done

[flyfs6]

We don't actually know what they need to diagnose on his car.

Singhness - £49.99 at a main dealer for a diagnostic, could you elaborate please?

Vincent - the labour rate you've been quoted seems to be normal franchise rate. Certainly far from the highest BMW dealer network rate I've seen.

I would recommend you try to negotiate some discount and perhaps work out an arrangement for the initial diagnostic cost to be absorbed by the dealer if you have the fault rectified (it's certainly possible if the repair itself is a big job, not so much for small jobs).

Hope this helps.

[raf555]

sheff sytner chagre £87 for a full diagnostic check but i heard sandall in huddersfield charge a flat £78 regardless how long it takes.

[catdog1121]

Let me guess dick lovett? Try styner in newport, will cost you £6 to get over the bridge but could save you more than that, or there is one in bridgewater or cotswold BMW in gloucester, any have to be better than dick lovett

[Archer-s]

Originally Posted by catdog1121

Let me guess dick lovett? Try styner in newport, will cost you £6 to get over the bridge but could save you more than that, or there is one in bridgewater or cotswold BMW in gloucester, any have to be better than dick lovett

Have only been there twice so far, and have to agree from my experience so far, I would rather travel further and have real mechanics working on my car, service appears ok (as in front of house), just the workmanship appears to be poor (still have ongoing issues at the mo), anyone else had experience with them?

I might try swindon? or anyone else recommend a good dealer between bristol and newbury (my daily commute).

[Singhness]

Hi flyfs6

Since I've had my BMW 320, I've needed 2 diagnosis's done because...

1. the engine warning light appeared on the dash board and needed that fixed

and

2. the locks of my car did not work (which took the piss to drive there and get out the car lol)

I live in east london and on my main road is a BMW garage where i went to sort out these problems

[flyfs6]

Which garage please?

Edit - Thanks. Considering BMW dealer network workshops, not general garage chains.

[SteveF1]

It all depends on the dealer who all seem to charge their own rates. I think the difference is mainly if the car needs a full diagnostic in that it gets taken into the workshop and a techie plugs it in and diagnoses a fault. Generally a dealer would quote you an hours labour which as a general rule is around £120. If it's just a key read that the service assistant can do then they do charge around £75 for this 'service' but the key doesn't store all details I'm told so an in depth check would need workshop time.

Ring round and play dealers off each other, most will price match other dealers nearby.

[Sportplus]

Is it Dick Lovett in Swindon your talking about catdog1121?

Was going to use them if and when i needed to as it's just down the road from me.

[catdog1121]

Ive not had any dealings with them direct apart from going in there to get a quote on a car which they seem pretty uninterested in. But some colleagues have experience of both.

I get the feeling dick lovett thinks they have and to an extent are correct a monopoly in bristol and swindon and so they make their own charges. Just didnt get a good feeling at all in the bristol dick lovett will not be taking my car their, think will head down to bridgewater.

[NFS]

I think this is all a load of balls.

If my door locks didn't work I would not be happy to pay anything to 'diagnose' the problem.

I expect a FREE quote to fix something.

[vblanche]

Originally Posted by catdog1121

Let me guess dick lovett? Try styner in newport, will cost you £6 to get over the bridge but could save you more than that, or there is one in bridgewater or cotswold BMW in gloucester, any have to be better than dick lovett

indeed, dick lovett bristol...

from all what I can read/hear, I just want to avoid all dick lovett dealers...

I've just contact an indy in Nailsea, diagnosis is free . will go there.

[lemans 330d]

sandal huddersfield is £78 for a diagnostic and they reprogramme the car with all the latest updates which generally takes upto 4 hours.
i have also negociated my cd changer coding and the new angel eyes to come on when i unlock the car in with the price.

i will report back when all this has been done and what changes if any have been made.

[mistry]

I've used DL in bristol a few times, they were shockingly bad when I first used them, had to ring the dealer principle to get things sorted (which he did, and very promptly) but after that they have been pretty good.

That said I hear lots of negative reviews of them, but still use them as they are local.

[urfankhaliq]

Originally Posted by lemans320d

sandal huddersfield is £78 for a diagnostic and they reprogramme the car with all the latest updates which generally takes upto 4 hours.
i have also negociated my cd changer coding and the new angel eyes to come on when i unlock the car in with the price.

i will report back when all this has been done and what changes if any have been made.

Sandal hudds seem to be top trumps with prices for everything it seems!! looking forward to getting my oil service on sat from them and see what the service is like

btw do dealers always wash/vac the car when they do an oil change/service etc?

[davyk31]

Do you want the dealer to wash your car ??? I certainly don't , scratches and swirls is the only thing you get for free from the dealer.

[urfankhaliq]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Do you want the dealer to wash your car ??? I certainly don't , scratches and swirls is the only thing you get for free from the dealer.

that was exactly why i was asking the question. wanted to know if they try to wash it so i can tell them not to bother

[SteveF1]

Originally Posted by lemans320d

sandal huddersfield is £78 for a diagnostic and they reprogramme the car with all the latest updates which generally takes upto 4 hours.
i have also negociated my cd changer coding and the new angel eyes to come on when i unlock the car in with the price.

i will report back when all this has been done and what changes if any have been made.

Lemans I know you have a pre-lci car with the lci halo rings headlights retro fitted, I'm having the same mod done next week at an Indy. I didn't know you could code the rings to come on when you unlocked the car but would like that on mine. Is it purely an electronic reprogramme and is it only a dealer that can do it?

[MB London]

My car is booked in at Sytner Chigwell tomorrow as the sodding washer jets have gone again. They have advised that they will charge me £90 for the initial diagnostic check....................strange as I already know that they dont work