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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

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Beedub
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Re: Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by Beedub » Sat Dec 12, 2015 2:37 pm

srhutch wrote:
Beedub wrote:
Detroit wrote:Thanks for that.
What are the book mileage/time intervals ?
Wonder if I can find a Service Book and/or Owners Manual on line somewhere so i can get upto speed on maintenance requirements etc ?

irrespective of mileage a properly serviced car should hit the schedule you've posted... don't just keep doing oil services until the mileage marker is reached for the inspections.
Sorry but that is not true, even the service book says so. If you want to over service your car that is up to you but having two oil services between inspections does not mean it's under serviced.
we don't have to agree thats fine. imo can't you just oil service oil service until the mileage marker... what about the gearbox/ diff oil?? just because its sitting in the box not being used its still going off. just because a low mile car isn't wearing the shims down like a higher mile car they still need to be checked , the cold start process can still cause changes, albeit slower. Stick to inspection every other year imo... This is a highly strung engine and sticking to the schedule regardless of the mileage may not be cheaper but may also pick up things before they cause issues which on this engine at a decade old is something none of use want, checking the valve lash every 2 years is MORE than a reasonable expectation imo, even if you do that bit yourself and stick to the mileage marker.
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Re: Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by srhutch » Sat Dec 12, 2015 5:19 pm

We will have to disagree. Shims do not wear if they are not being used. There is no way my car needs it's shims checked every 8k. If it did, those doing 26k between inspections would be on a knife edge after 8k which just isn't going to be the case. Yes I know you had issues, but you car is far from standard, and it's the first time it's been seen so we can only put two and two together.

Also the diff and gearbox oil isn't going to hurt for another couple of years, if it did BMW would tell you to change it, like they do the oil and brake fluid. They are more or less sealed units unlike the engine so no air is getting to them.
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Re: Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by Beedub » Sat Dec 12, 2015 6:54 pm

srhutch wrote:We will have to disagree. Shims do not wear if they are not being used. There is no way my car needs it's shims checked every 8k. If it did, those doing 26k between inspections would be on a knife edge after 8k which just isn't going to be the case. Yes I know you had issues, but you car is far from standard, and it's the first time it's been seen so we can only put two and two together.

Also the diff and gearbox oil isn't going to hurt for another couple of years, if it did BMW would tell you to change it, like they do the oil and brake fluid. They are more or less sealed units unlike the engine so no air is getting to them.

Agree to disagree :D
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Re: Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by abar121 » Sun Dec 13, 2015 3:54 pm

I'm with Beedub on this one.

The gearchange on mine was transformed after an oil change and that was after only 20k miles, but also 8 years. Oils and brake fluids degrade over time. I certainly wouldn't want to chance oil gearbox, LSD or brake fluid on an M.
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Re: Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by Detroit » Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:55 am

Thanks for all your input - now I know what to expect in service requirements ....

...£500 Road Tax wasn't even considered - so thanks for throwing that into the mix

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Re: Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by Beedub » Mon Dec 14, 2015 4:18 pm

abar121 wrote:I'm with Beedub on this one.

The gearchange on mine was transformed after an oil change and that was after only 20k miles, but also 8 years. Oils and brake fluids degrade over time. I certainly wouldn't want to chance oil gearbox, LSD or brake fluid on an M.

yup, now if you come across a lower mile example and its been serviced in my way, time based rather than mileage, chances are you've got qa car that has really been looked after well.
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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by BMW_User » Thu Jun 15, 2017 10:11 pm

All,

I found this interesting thread which I see is a little old, but I hope in some comments from you.

I am looking to have my Z4 serviced in a reputable garage / BMW car dealer.
So far, I have been servicing it at a BMW car dealer around London and for one reason or another I never had to pay anything, apart from the MOT.

I am now looking at doing the oil service or, better still, an inspection as it's been 2 years from the last one and I would like a good service and an honest price.
I think my current car dealer would ask around £400 for the inspection 1 and slightly less than £300 for an oil change, the latter price being absurd.
For some reason, I don't fully trust the car dealer because they always tend to pump prices to a ridiculous level and this isn't professional.

Do you know any good, reputable, experienced garage where I could take my Z4 around London?

Cheers.

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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by mmm-five » Fri Jun 16, 2017 8:33 am

BMW_User wrote: Thu Jun 15, 2017 10:11 pm All,

I found this interesting thread which I see is a little old, but I hope in some comments from you.

I am looking to have my Z4 serviced in a reputable garage / BMW car dealer.
So far, I have been servicing it at a BMW car dealer around London and for one reason or another I never had to pay anything, apart from the MOT.

I am now looking at doing the oil service or, better still, an inspection as it's been 2 years from the last one and I would like a good service and an honest price.
I think my current car dealer would ask around £400 for the inspection 1 and slightly less than £300 for an oil change, the latter price being absurd.
For some reason, I don't fully trust the car dealer because they always tend to pump prices to a ridiculous level and this isn't professional.

Do you know any good, reputable, experienced garage where I could take my Z4 around London?

Cheers.
Are we talking 'BMW main dealer' (Sytner, Berry, Stephen James, etc.) prices, or 'BMW specialist' (Autobahn, Phil Crouch, etc.) or 'general car dealer'?

£400 is reasonable for an Inspection1...assuming they do the valve clearances...at a specialist, but relatively cheap for a main dealer (normally closer to £600).

£300 for the oil service is a rip-off though...it should be about half that at a specialist.

Watch out for Inspection2 prices at BMW Dealers though, as it's about double that of an Inspection1 - yet the ONLY difference between the two is diff/gearbox oil, air filter and spark plugs (about 1 hour's work, and £200 of genuine parts).
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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by SonnyA85 » Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:44 am

Doh wrote: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:20 am
fridaypassion wrote:
There's nothing wrong with getting the facts together on costs. Those of us who work very hard to pay for our cars won't be throwing money at the car needlessly.
agreed, theres always people with that attitude on interweb forums though... i was looking at an MPG thread on another forum about a 335i, about 2 posts in someone was spouting the... "you don't by them for that reason" rubbish.. does my head in!
i'd say that is right tbh. you don't buy a 3 litre petrol for mpg. the same way you don't buy a 1.4 tdi for it's 0-60 time.

i have absolutely no idea how many mpg i get out my zed, it's not even something i bother to ever look at either. all i know is i get about 270 miles out a full tank using premium fuel. if i use cheap fuel i get about 250 miles.

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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by Mangozac » Fri Jun 16, 2017 11:10 am

So it has had an inspection service 2 years ago and hasn't done enough kms to require it's next service? If so then you're wasting money getting another inspection service - there's no need to do the valve clearances that soon.
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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by srhutch » Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:12 pm

BMW Main dealer will do you an oil service for £199 under the value service scheme.
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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by SonnyA85 » Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:31 pm

you can take your own oils and fluids into BMW and get it done for even cheaper

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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by BMW_User » Fri Jun 16, 2017 3:32 pm

It was serviced 2 years ago with an inspection 2 and the car is now telling me to do an oil service.
The point is that some maintenance is needed also depending on time, not just miles.
Filters for instance would need changing every 2 years, especially the one for the air con, so I agree if the main BMW car dealer where I usually take my Z4 has offered an inspection 1 instead of just the oil change.
I also think that £400 is honest for an inspection, what I don't like is when I hear the lady saying that an oil change would cost almost £300 as if I was coming from another planet.

I could probably stick to a normal oil service + request change filters.

Do you guys know a good alternative to these main BMW dealers?

Thanks.

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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by mmm-five » Fri Jun 16, 2017 4:02 pm

BMW_User wrote: Fri Jun 16, 2017 3:32 pm It was serviced 2 years ago with an inspection 2 and the car is now telling me to do an oil service.
The point is that some maintenance is needed also depending on time, not just miles.
Filters for instance would need changing every 2 years, especially the one for the air con, so I agree if the main BMW car dealer where I usually take my Z4 has offered an inspection 1 instead of just the oil change.
I also think that £400 is honest for an inspection, what I don't like is when I hear the lady saying that an oil change would cost almost £300 as if I was coming from another planet.
Oil services are time or miles based (2 years or approx 15,000 miles - whichever comes first)
Brake fluid is every 2 years (oil, oil filter, cabin microfilter)
Inspection 1 every 30000 miles (adds valve clearances, fluid level checks, mobility system age check)
Inspection 2 every 60000 miles (adds air filter, diff oil, gearbox oil, spark plugs)

Inspection 1 is really just an oil service, plus shims & lots of 'visual checks' (including mobility fluid age, brake/washer/ fluid top-ups).

A lot of places will quote a lower amount for the Insp1 than you expect because they only do the shims 'if it sounds rattly'. If they're not doing the shims, then there's no need for it to be £100 more expensive. If they claim to be doing the shims, then ask for the before & after shim measurements - they shouldn't complain as there is (was) a BMW form specifically for noting these down.

I also don't believe the dealers carry out most of these visual checks anyway, as the mobility fluid in my Z4MC went through 3 inspections with the same, out of date bottle (I didn't realise they went out of date, but I've since bought a new one - still never needed it), and they've yet to spot/mention the failing handbrake.
BMW_User wrote: Fri Jun 16, 2017 3:32 pmDo you guys know a good alternative to these main BMW dealers?
Where in London are you?

There's a dealer section on here, or you can try the 'Recommended Garages' wiki on Pistonheads.
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Z4M Roadster Servicing Costs

Post by GuidoK » Fri Jun 16, 2017 5:57 pm

T3Jn wrote: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:02 pm We're looking at a Feb 08 car with 8300 miles,
An 08 car with 8300 miles?
Last edited by GuidoK on Fri Jun 16, 2017 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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