Full BMWSH - How Important
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As said previously i think i depends on how old the BMW in question is and what you are after.
Personally i agree that a FBMWSH does stand for something as an owner who is willing to pay double for a service (especially on an older car) is unlikely to bodge a job that needs doing, or at least less likely than Mr Pike of ***** town.
Look at any 20 year old car on AT or PH with a full main dealer service history and compare it to one which has been serviced in some guys front garden, the difference 9/10 will be staggering.
Personally i agree that a FBMWSH does stand for something as an owner who is willing to pay double for a service (especially on an older car) is unlikely to bodge a job that needs doing, or at least less likely than Mr Pike of ***** town.
Look at any 20 year old car on AT or PH with a full main dealer service history and compare it to one which has been serviced in some guys front garden, the difference 9/10 will be staggering.
But im not defending back street Bobs mobile mechanic, im saying i wouldnt shy away from a specialist service history, because there has been no expense spared there.
It really depends. And this applies to all cars, I've known official dealers do as many bad jobs as indie garages.
The only difference is an official dealer can charge a premium for, let's face it, an oil change dressed up as a "service".
Look at the age/ mileage and think what would reasonably go wrong, pads, disks, suspension, or cam belt if relevant,etc.
And mot history/advice on the slips, if there is a cautiont for brake pads, look that The pads are pretty new. Service history is just part of The picture, and needs to match up with the current state of the car.
A dealer stamp don't mean that much verses an indie stamp, I've known a Volvo dealer that charge for 8 sparkplugs on a 4 pot car, and I've known a Ford dealer to charge for a replace air filter panel an a car that had a custom induction kit.
Had a very amusing conversation with the alleged "technician" on both occasions, best one being the Ford garage:
Me: are you sure you changed the air filter panel?"
Customer service ****: "of course we have"
Me: "then what have you done with my $200 induction manifold?"
Customer service ****: "do you want to speak to the mechanic?"
Me: "your damn right I do!"
Much back peddling and groveling ensued!
The only difference is an official dealer can charge a premium for, let's face it, an oil change dressed up as a "service".
Look at the age/ mileage and think what would reasonably go wrong, pads, disks, suspension, or cam belt if relevant,etc.
And mot history/advice on the slips, if there is a cautiont for brake pads, look that The pads are pretty new. Service history is just part of The picture, and needs to match up with the current state of the car.
A dealer stamp don't mean that much verses an indie stamp, I've known a Volvo dealer that charge for 8 sparkplugs on a 4 pot car, and I've known a Ford dealer to charge for a replace air filter panel an a car that had a custom induction kit.
Had a very amusing conversation with the alleged "technician" on both occasions, best one being the Ford garage:
Me: are you sure you changed the air filter panel?"
Customer service ****: "of course we have"
Me: "then what have you done with my $200 induction manifold?"
Customer service ****: "do you want to speak to the mechanic?"
Me: "your damn right I do!"
Much back peddling and groveling ensued!
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Aside from 40 year old cars where there may be no main dealer, or if there is one they are not the point of a "specialist" is that they are cheaper than a main dealer.
I am not saying they cannot and are not better in some circumstances, but someone who spends £300 to service a 12 year old car is someone who will get the problem fixed in most cases, regardless of cost (to a point).
The point of a "specialist" is not to save money as in im skint, its the thinking persons option.
I dont care how much money someone has why would you want to pay double for repairs?
Especially on the type of cars that require "specialists".
For example you can stick your Porsche in to an OPC and wave goodbye to 2k for brakes all round. Or you can put it in Jazz Porsche (who i GUARANTEE have equal if not better technicians to OPC) and get it done for 1200 quid.
Thats not a cost cutter because im skint, thats saving 800 quid that id rather throw at me kids, or chocolate bars or in fact anything other than give it to Porsche OPC in exchange for a receptionist with big **** and a Dowe Egberts buscuit.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I think you have missed the point.
I'm not saying specialists are not/cannot be good, i am saying if you buy a car with a full main dealer history you can take a pretty good stab in the dark and assume the car has not been bodged.
If someone is willing to throw money at services, they are usually willing to throw money at everything else. I wouldn't do it, but i am happy to reap the rewards of someone elses financial success/stupidity.
Ask yourself the question, why do we not see many 20+ year old cars on the road?
The ones you do see are on their last legs or in good knick, generally not in the middle.
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Well, no you cant.
That's why the law was changed regarding warranties and service history.
Official dealers can be justs as useless as a dodgy backstreet garage, they just charge more.
But the point I keep making is what is an indie? It's so blurred these days isnt it? I noticed in another thread somebody asked about a totally generic problem with a car without even mentioning the make of car. The first response was that he should it 'to an indy'. It might even have been a 99 Focus for all we know - yet 'an indy' was suggested.
Many people seem to think 'an indy' is any old garage.
There are a small number of reputable, highly trusted independant specialists dotted around the country. These are the exception, not the norm. The vast majority of garages are just that - garages. Just because they stick 'BMW and Audi specialist' on the door doens't guarantee the workmanship is any better than bob under the arches. I've had conversations with BMW 'specialists' who told me it was 'very rare for the radiator to go on one of these' about my 530i. I have had funny looks from 'independant BMW specialists' when I've asked if they can do retrofit coding via Autologic. One argued with me about the engine fitted to a 2007 525i. All things a proper, decent specialist who is WORTH the effort of going to over a BMW dealer should know. But they didnt..
If you are lucky enough to live near somebody like DMWorx then great but don't go assuming that every indy is amazing just because they are an indy. I could set up tommorrow as a BMW specialist and I'd probably completely break the first car I attemped to work on
This is why when buying a high value car its far easier to just not gamble and stick with the Full BMW SH cars.
Does that mean I'd turn down a 5 year old M3 with 3 stamps in the book from somebody like DMWorx? Of course not. But generally speaking I'd want full BMW SH simply to give myself the best chance of the car having led a money no object life.
Many people seem to think 'an indy' is any old garage.
There are a small number of reputable, highly trusted independant specialists dotted around the country. These are the exception, not the norm. The vast majority of garages are just that - garages. Just because they stick 'BMW and Audi specialist' on the door doens't guarantee the workmanship is any better than bob under the arches. I've had conversations with BMW 'specialists' who told me it was 'very rare for the radiator to go on one of these' about my 530i. I have had funny looks from 'independant BMW specialists' when I've asked if they can do retrofit coding via Autologic. One argued with me about the engine fitted to a 2007 525i. All things a proper, decent specialist who is WORTH the effort of going to over a BMW dealer should know. But they didnt..
If you are lucky enough to live near somebody like DMWorx then great but don't go assuming that every indy is amazing just because they are an indy. I could set up tommorrow as a BMW specialist and I'd probably completely break the first car I attemped to work on
This is why when buying a high value car its far easier to just not gamble and stick with the Full BMW SH cars.
Does that mean I'd turn down a 5 year old M3 with 3 stamps in the book from somebody like DMWorx? Of course not. But generally speaking I'd want full BMW SH simply to give myself the best chance of the car having led a money no object life.
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Again, a very good point, for me personaly, I know a few garages very well, and they know me, the point im getting at is that a service is generally just an oil change and a tyre kick, so stamp A or stamp B is the same thing, but an official dealer will tick the psychological boxes and charge a 200% premium.
you spends your money and takes your choice I guess.
you spends your money and takes your choice I guess.
But we are not talking about running a car, we are talking about BUYING a car. So your local garage is irrelevent.
The question posted is how important is BMWSH when BUYING the car in the first place, not when subsequently maintaining it
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@Fox. Would I be correct, or even close to correct, in thinking that if something went wrong with the car, that would be part of a recent BMW dealer stamped service, you'd have more chance of some comeback than with a local garage? Even if you weren't the owner of the car at the time of the service?
Apologies if I've not managed to word that properly but I think you'll grasp what I'm getting at.
Apologies if I've not managed to word that properly but I think you'll grasp what I'm getting at.
Start that again with a coffee, depends on the garage, anywhere decent guarantees parts and labour for a year though.
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You managed to decipher my ramble
That was exactly what I was getting at. Service history for me is all about buying with confidence, especially so when the car in question would have the potential expenses associated with a beemer rather than the expected ones.
It's one thing buying one with enough cash to splash for potential bills when you know it's been looked after but quite another if it hasn't had any tlc on the important bits.