BMW and M Power Owners

[TW]Fox said:
So £45 less than BMW. Which is fine, but fits my view that the saving probably isn't worth it if you're paying for the warranty etc.
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True, but then it all adds up when you’re doing brakes as well.

So not only are you paying the £500+ a year for warranty, you’re forced to pay the inflated prices for BMW parts at your local garage.
 
I have never fully understood why people are more than happy to drop @£50k on a BMW (for example an M340i) but then scramble around trying to find 'cheaper' specialists to entrust their £50k car to for servicing, rather than take it into a BMW dealership so they can save perhaps a couple of hundred quid (or less) here and there. Maybe its just me, but I'd much prefer to entrust my M340i Touring (still under the original warranty) to my local main BMW dealer than a third party 'specialist'.

However.........the flipside to that is I do get the rationale from another approach - my E85 Z4 is 16 years old. I take it to a local BMW specialist to service it, as I personally feel that putting it into a main BMW dealer would be overkill.

I've probably just completely contradicted my first comment/answered my own question, with my second comment :D
 
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BMW are not that strict when it comes to maintenance against warranty. They will not flat out refuse warranty work if the car has been elsewhere - unless there is evidence that work was done incorrectly and/or has contributed to the problem.

A caveat they always give is that things will not be covered if it's been caused by third party interference, such as damage from potholes, etc.

As people have pointed out though, there are 3 different warranty products - new car warranty, AUC warranty, and extended warranty. I have had work done under the new car warranty and AUC warranty, but never the extended warranty, yet.

BMW dealers are regularly selling vehicles which have had things done late/elsewhere these days, and they will stick an AUC warranty on those vehicles - so must deem it to be OK.

I can say the AUC warranty is brilliant in my experience, but obviously the individual BMW dealership will play a part in that too. This is probably the biggest factor, as your local dealer have to present the warranty claim to BMW UK, who then decide whether to approve it. It's normally in their best interests to get the work though, so they should present it favourably...
 
-Ad- said:
Came back to the fold a few weeks ago and we're enjoying having the inbuilt CTEK :p

Bit of a bargain as it appeared on the AUC page overnight without pics and at an aggressive price (£6-10k less that similar ones across the AUC). My other half called the dealer after they opened and the Sales Rep was just starting a walkaround video for another person, so she asked him to take a £1k deposit then to do the video for her instead :D

Although we missed out on a trade priced one a month ago (dealership pricing error and only paid £100 removal off site fee rather than the £1k), this one was way below the expected price for this spec/mileage and it would have sold that day if we hadn't have snagged it.

It's working incredibly well on Octopus Go Intelligent, with the charging set at 6A we had the 7.5p/kWh period given out from 4.45pm yesterday until 11am today. Circa £1.60 for 38miles of electric in winter or it should get 44-48miles in the spring/summer. For longer journeys the adaptive control using Sat Nav and GPS manages the battery assist/regen perfectly.

Main specs:
2020 45e with 30k miles and brand new PZ4 tyres.
Tanzanite Blue with Individual Merino Leather (2 tone).
Frinkin' Laser beams with adaptive high beam.
Comfort access with front comfort seats and heating comfort package.
HUD, HK Stereo, Heat/cool cupholder, piano black internal trim.
Sky Lounge Pano & factory electric towbar.
M-Sport with the usual shadowline stuff & sun protection glass.

No Drive Assist Pro or vented seats but I can live without those.

mZC6wQT.jpg


jDge8bY.jpg
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Very nice, still loving mine. You got a decent spec there as well and in the best colour (I'm biased). I reckon that would have been a £75-£80k car when new. Out of interest how much had it lost approx when you bought it please?
 
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Draeger said:
I have never fully understood why people are more than happy to drop @£50k on a BMW (for example an M340i) but then scramble around trying to find 'cheaper' specialists to entrust their £50k car to for servicing, rather than take it into a BMW dealership so they can save perhaps a couple of hundred quid (or less) here and there. Maybe its just me, but I'd much prefer to entrust my M340i Touring (still under the original warranty) to my local main BMW dealer than a third party 'specialist'.

However.........the flipside to that is I do get the rationale from another approach - my E85 Z4 is 16 years old. I take it to a local BMW specialist to service it, as I personally feel that putting it into a main BMW dealer would be overkill.

I've probably just completely contradicted my first comment/answered my own question, with my second comment :D
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If:

Same parts
Same training
Same experience


Why pay more if you can get it cheaper? The value of the car is irrelevant to me. I want it serviced by someone who knows what they’re doing and has good work ethic.


So if that’s my local specialist, who also happens to be cheaper then great.


My local BMW garages have proven time and time again that they’re blissfully incompetent and have near 0 customer service skills.



I recently called a chap in Hook about an issue with a car that BMW haven’t even been able to resolve, and he sounded genuinely excited to try and figure out what’s wrong with it, asking me all the right questions about symptoms etc.



Because I don’t have the skills, knowledge or time to do my own work on my cars, I have to build a trusting relationship with someone who can, and does so at my own quality standards.


As above, my local BMW garages can’t do that.
 
MrRockliffe said:
My local BMW garages have proven time and time again that they’re blissfully incompetent and have near 0 customer service skills.
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Since buying my first BMW, I've tried both local main dealers. I was amazed at how much they did not care at all about providing a not **** service to someone who has bought a top end BMW and is visiting the dealership for the first time. You would expect that to be the point they pull out all the stops to start building a good relationship and future servicing and car sales business. Not even close - they couldn't give a toss.

I took it to one of the local specialists for an end of AUC warranty inspection and the experience couldn't have been more different - they loved the car, built up a rapport and made me feel confident they would do a good job. I wish I could use them for servicing.
 
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EvilRob said:
Since buying my first BMW, I've tried both local main dealers. I was amazed at how much they did not care at all about providing a not **** service to someone who has bought a top end BMW and is visiting the dealership for the first time. You would expect that to be the point they pull out all the stops to start building a good relationship and future servicing and car sales business. Not even close - they couldn't give a toss.

I took it to one of the local specialists for an end of AUC warranty inspection and the experience couldn't have been more different - they loved the car, built up a rapport and made me feel confident they would do a good job. I wish I could use them for servicing.
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Yeah it's a shame.

A family friend used to be senior at Sytner - of the MDs, and so we would always use Sytner garages knowing if anything went wrong, we could quickly get it sorted. Since they left, their service teams have just treated us as any other customer AKA terribly.


Was the last straw for my dad, and so when he sold his M5 he was confident he wouldn't buy another BMW. Proven again recently when I looked at an i4 and was treated like he was an idiot.



Porsche Mid Sussex, on the other hand, have been great on the whole. They've sorted an out of warranty issue on his Cayenne, since it was a known fault, and have been super helpful at organising a few things.


Though Porsche are even more stringent when it comes to warranty T&Cs, requiring even N rated tyres in case those normal Michelin tyres shatter the suspension, or something... :rolleyes:
 
Going to look at two 330is same mileage one has HUD not sure if it’s a pack? 2019 and the other is 2020 no HUD.
Which would be more favourable to the masses a year newer or the tech.
Both £25k 30k ish mileage bmw approved
 
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So if I go via the PCP route and take my car to a local BMW specialist would this be frowned upon by a main dealer?

I've read all of the above but still a little confused?!?! :confused:
 
EvilRob said:
Since buying my first BMW, I've tried both local main dealers. I was amazed at how much they did not care at all about providing a not **** service to someone who has bought a top end BMW and is visiting the dealership for the first time. You would expect that to be the point they pull out all the stops to start building a good relationship and future servicing and car sales business. Not even close - they couldn't give a toss.

I took it to one of the local specialists for an end of AUC warranty inspection and the experience couldn't have been more different - they loved the car, built up a rapport and made me feel confident they would do a good job. I wish I could use them for servicing.
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My experience, as a first time BMW owner, was vastly different and despite buying a new less than 'top end BMW' I received exemplary service from them and even had my new car presented in their booth, which Audi never did despite myself requesting it. I've noticed no difference at any of their dealerships.
Perhaps you just found a rogue dealership which has tainted your opinion as I once visited a Mercedes dealership in Eastbourne and they were appalling.
 
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Quinnaay said:
Going to look at two 330is same mileage one has HUD not sure if it’s a pack? 2019 and the other is 2020 no HUD.
Which would be more favourable to the masses a year newer or the tech.
Both £25k 30k ish mileage bmw approved
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Do you want to post the links, just in case we spot any other spec which is different? :-)



iMacMart said:
So if I go via the PCP route and take my car to a local BMW specialist would this be frowned upon by a main dealer?

I've read all of the above but still a little confused?!?! :confused:
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It might be. I would want it in writing from the garage you buy it from that you're able to get it serviced and maintained by a non-BMW garage. The terms for AUC are as below:


An Authorised BMW Centre or BMW Service Authorised Workshop using only genuine BMW Parts must carry out all service and warranty work.
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cuke2u said:
My experience, as a first time BMW owner, was vastly different and despite buying a new less than 'top end BMW' I received exemplary service from them and even had my new car presented in their booth, which Audi never did despite myself requesting it. I've noticed no difference at any of their dealerships.
Perhaps you just found a rogue dealership which has tainted your opinion as I once visited a Mercedes dealership in Eastbourne and they were appalling.
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My purchasing experience at a different BMW dealer was really good. It's the service experience in my two local dealerships that has been appalling. I'm sure there is an element of luck on dealership standards, unfortunately I'm stuck with both the local ones.
 
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Quinnaay said:
https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202311063702779?quoteref=24cc37a4-cd7d-4fe4-849b-9825132df650
the one I think I prefer on photos

BMW 3 Series 330i M Sport Saloon 2.0 4dr

12 months warranty, 12 months MOT, MOT insurance included, Full dealership history, Excellent bodywork, Black with Grey Contrast Stitching Verna interior - Excellent Condition, Tyre condition Excellent, Metallic Mineral Grey, 3 owners, £24,999
usedcars.bmw.co.uk usedcars.bmw.co.uk
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Looks like it's had £1,000 knocked off the asking price since it first went on Autotrader in early November - probably doesn't help that they're advertising it as having a 3.0 engine on AT, got to love a branded dealer that really knows their cars
 
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Quinnaay said:
Going to look at two 330is same mileage one has HUD not sure if it’s a pack? 2019 and the other is 2020 no HUD.
Which would be more favourable to the masses a year newer or the tech.
Both £25k 30k ish mileage bmw approved
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The one with the head up display probably has the Technology Pack, which will also give you an upgraded stereo and wireless charging.

Personally I'd buy neither and would look at a 320i instead, you'll get a much newer car for the money and it's the same engine just with a bit less power.
 
Quinnaay said:
https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202311063702779?quoteref=24cc37a4-cd7d-4fe4-849b-9825132df650
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This is a much better specification than the grey one - it has the visibility package which gives you the excellent upgraded headlights. I have these on mine and would not want a car without them. It also has the technology pack, so head up display with upgraded audio system and it has the adaptive suspension. It is a much better specification car than the other one which has no options of value at all in my view.

It is also in the best colour for these cars.

It is, however, a 2019 car, which is the downside. You'd get a 2021/2022 320i for this sort of money and as I said above, the engine is the same but with less power.
 
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Thought as much I much preferred the blue anyway. I’ll have a look as I need to know if it’s adequate for boot space and size. I’ll have a nosey and see if there’s any 320is about too. Yeah the premium car tax is a joke too :)
 
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Quinnaay said:
https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202311063702779?quoteref=24cc37a4-cd7d-4fe4-849b-9825132df650
the one I think I prefer on photos

BMW 3 Series 330i M Sport Saloon 2.0 4dr

12 months warranty, 12 months MOT, MOT insurance included, Full dealership history, Excellent bodywork, Black with Grey Contrast Stitching Verna interior - Excellent Condition, Tyre condition Excellent, Metallic Mineral Grey, 3 owners, £24,999
usedcars.bmw.co.uk usedcars.bmw.co.uk
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Blue one every time for the reasons Fox mentioned.


Would personally want the extra power of the 30i, but actually I think I’d still go for the 30d engine.
 
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