BMW 1 Series - brake pads/discs

MisChief · 19 Dec 2012 at 00:17

So the time has come for me to replace the brake pads on my 1 Series and I have been given an estimate cost of £441.25 for both front and rear pads:

Does this look right?

I was also told that I will likely need new discs as well which is fine, but they'll tell me once they take the old brake pads off to have a look. This will cost around £100 per disc apparently and they said it won't take long to do.

This is my local BMW dealer and they're usually the cheapest compared to a few other BMW dealers around the area. Now, I have no idea how much it usually costs for things like brake pads and discs to be replaced, but just wanted to see what you guys think. Does £441.25 sound about right for both front + rear brake pads done, plus a further £100 per brake disc (assuming this includes labour etc) done by a main dealer?

Thanks

Dabbles · 19 Dec 2012 at 00:24

Brake pads, from a dealer? Are you mad? My local indy would do the work for less than half that price with original BMW (or whatever BMW specced for the car) parts!

muon · 19 Dec 2012 at 00:31

http://www.berrybmw.co.uk/BMW-MINI-Servicing/Service/BMW-Value-Service/BMW-3-Series/

If they can't match the value service prices for better 3 series models then you know what to tell them.

-westy- · 19 Dec 2012 at 00:31

Dabbles said:
Brake pads, from a dealer? Are you mad? My local indy would do the work for less than half that price with original BMW (or whatever BMW specced for the car) parts!

I think she has a warranty with the car though, so servicing needs to be completed at a BMW dealer or authorised specialist.

muon said:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owners/service-and-maintenance/servicingoptions.html#valueservice

If they can't match the value service prices for better 3/5 series models then you know what to tell them.

For cars at least 6 years old? :confused:

Dabbles · 19 Dec 2012 at 00:35

-westy- said:
I think she has a warranty with the car though, so servicing needs to be completed at a BMW dealer or authorised specialist.

How would they know on a replacement set of brake pads? Or even discs? :confused:

muon · 19 Dec 2012 at 00:36

-westy- said:
For cars at least 6 years old?

They using 6 year old parts?

Everyone has fixed price servicing and I always find it funny how dealers always quote way in excess of them, but are happy to suddenly price match (at the rip off online prices).

VW - http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/fixed-price-servicing
Audi - http://www.audi.co.uk/owners-area/servicing-with-audi/affordable-servicing.html
Mercedes - http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con.../maintenance/repairs/fixed_price_repairs.html

As you can see £440 for just pads is way over the norm.

-westy- · 19 Dec 2012 at 01:07

Dabbles said:
How would they know on a replacement set of brake pads? Or even discs?

Fairly simple: "Oh, the pads look fairly new, I wonder when we changed them" *check system* "Oh, we didn't, that's your warranty voided then"

muon · 19 Dec 2012 at 01:10

-westy- said:
Fairly simple: "Oh, the pads look fairly new, I wonder when we changed them" *check system* "Oh, we didn't, that's your warranty voided then"

Actually manufacturer warranties have to stay intact if done to the correct standard elsewhere. Simple competition rule.

"andy" · 19 Dec 2012 at 01:11

-westy- said:
Fairly simple: "Oh, the pads look fairly new, I wonder when we changed them" *check system* "Oh, we didn't, that's your warranty voided then"

I'm wondering how changing brakes would effect for example a warranty claim on the engine ? Do they really swindle people that much ? It's no wonder the warrantys look like good deals at first then

MisChief · 19 Dec 2012 at 01:15

Yep, have BMW Insured Warranty

Don't know if it's worth getting prices from independent garages and see if BMW are willing to pricematch (can never match, but would be good if they can at least drop their price).. If they mention anything about warranty then I could say that my warranty ends in January anyway and I'm not thinking of renewing it so voided warranty wouldn't be an issue if I went with an indy?? Reckon that'll work?

......

muon · 19 Dec 2012 at 01:19

"andy" said:
I'm wondering how changing brakes would effect for example a warranty claim on the engine ? Do they really swindle people that much ? It's no wonder the warrantys look like good deals at first then

Simple it aint true.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2004/85-04

Spartacus · 19 Dec 2012 at 02:57

Bought the pads for my 3 series cheap here: http://www.eurocarparts.com/

Front pads and sensor (Pagid) came to £36

Cheers

rG-tom · 19 Dec 2012 at 06:28

http://www.maindealerdiscount.com/

that is usually your friend for BMW servicing

Dandle · 19 Dec 2012 at 06:52

I would be supprised if the car wont also need new discs. The discs on my E60 were well under the recommended thickness before the first set of pads had even worn out.

Matt82 · 19 Dec 2012 at 08:05

so if they add 4 discs to that, at c.£100 a piece, youre looking at almost a grand for discs and pads

What the hell do you drive?

[TW]Fox · 19 Dec 2012 at 08:13

muon said:
They using 6 year old parts?

Everyone has fixed price servicing and I always find it funny how dealers always quote way in excess of them, but are happy to suddenly price match (at the rip off online prices).

The BMW Value Service pricing is only for the E39 and E46 models. It uses parts with seperate part numbers which are sold into the dealer network at a specifically lower rate for the purposes of value servicing, hence the lower cost. This is why a dealer cannot and will not offer Value Servicing for 1 Series brakes - there is no Value part for the 1 Series.

I do not disagree that the price quoted is extortionate, but the Value Service price for other models is not relevent.

muon said:
Actually manufacturer warranties have to stay intact if done to the correct standard elsewhere. Simple competition rule.

No, this is not true. This only applies to new car warranties, not insurance backed used car warranties.

muon said:
Simple it aint true.

Yes, it is true.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2004/85-04

Your link demonstrates its true in its title. 'NEW CAR WARRANTIES'.

The only thing thats debatable is the effect not using BMW to change the brakes would have on the warranty. Its unlikely to void the whole thing, but its probably best to check with BMW Insured Warranty themselves.

Dandle · 19 Dec 2012 at 09:02

There was a thread about using third party garages with the BMW mondial aftermarket warranty and apparantly since Dec 2011 you dont have to use a main dealer for servicing. They havent updated the brochures yet to reflect that so it would be worth a call to double check. That might then be the way to go if it is true.

Django x2 · 19 Dec 2012 at 09:21

rG-tom said:
http://www.maindealerdiscount.com/

that is usually your friend for BMW servicing

Apart from in most cases, the dealers recommended are over 100 miles away

Scania · 19 Dec 2012 at 11:08

How many miles has your car done OP?

Seems interesting that they say its "likely" rather than required, I can't help feeling they may be pulling a fast one. (Female friend was advised similar thing with her Mondeo V6, I took the car elsewhere and was not.... Garages - not all, but many,often see women - sorry to say it - as something of a soft touch)

Get a second opinion imo.

Django x2 · 19 Dec 2012 at 11:14

Agree. This happened recently to my friends 1 series coupe. It's done 58k miles, mostly motorway and they wanted to replace all disks and pads.

Similarly, my 530d, which has a ship anchor at the front, has done 80k now and had one full pad change. Discs were gauged and had little or no signs of wear.