Upcoming work and decisions, decisions...

[gchristofi]

Hello All

My 2004 facelift 4.4 is on its last service light, with the next scheduled item being an oil service. So far I have a full BMW history and car is approaching 70k miles. I don't plan to change the car for a while yet. In addition to the oil service there are a few other niggles that need addressing. I'm trying to decide which work to do via BMW / Specialist / Myself!. For the following jobs, what would you guys recommend and what are the likely costs for BMW / Specialist / DIY approach? (and how difficult?)

1) Oil Service

2) Replace a non functioning central locking solenoid on the OSF door (been using the key for months now!)

3) Sort out an intermittent problem with my rear PDC sensors (occasionally, usually when it is warmer outside, my rear sensors act as though I'm up against something even though they're not. i.e. i get the continuous tone all the time. I've tried identifying the faulty sensor via the 'clicking method' but cant tell any difference between them all!)

4) Slight rumble from front suspension and mild wobble under light braking - any ideas which bush / link this is likely to be?

Thanks
G

[dirtymonkey29]

Personally for me I, I do most stuff myself keep all reciepts and make a note of the date and mileage of when I do the jobs. I've been ripped of by garages previously who say they have done stuff when they haven't, a stamp in the book to me means nothing.

[thedweeb]

Oil change can be done easly ...But do you want the stamp and the service lights resetting, I would say yes, so perhaps dealer or good indy.
Door soleniod I would do myself, but keep the paperwork for the bits.
Parking sensors, well I had a similar problem, you have to get real close to hear the"click" but you can hear it, so again do it yourself. You could on the other hand get an indy to plug it into a scanner to find the sensor at fault. Buy your sensor from ebay as I did for £20, they are at least twice that at the dealer.
As for the suspension, Could be anything really from knackered discs, seised caliper to any of the bushes. Get the truck off the ground and have a look at the bushes for splits and perhaps have a ply around with a bar to see if you can see any movement. No joy take it to a good indy.
Thats my 2 pence worth anyway!!
Hope this helps..
Dweeb

[dirtymonkey29]

BMW scanner can reset service lights and isn't a bad investment for £35 if you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks for one from china

[thedweeb]

Very true you can get a scanner to reset the light.I supose you need to think who is likely to buy the X once you have finished with it. Would they like to see a good service book or your word and a pile of paperwork. With your X still having lowish milage I would of thought you could still ask a good price for it. You could ask Who would be in a positon to pay that money ?
Dweeb

[dirtymonkey29]

I used to think that too but I get my parts usually from eurocarparts and they have my reg number on and my name. Pointless paying a few hundred in parts and not fit them just to make out you have done the work you say you have. I'd rather buy from an enthusiast who has a stack of paperwork and clearly looks after the car than have an extra stamp in the book and no real guarantee that the work has been done that the garage say they have done. Just my preference and experience but ultimately it is down to the individual who owns the car or who is buying,

[brewer]

HI,
everyone's perspective on this will be different as it varies according to your wallet, DIY skills, time, trust/availability of a local Indy, age of vehicle, how long you plan to keep the vehicle, etc.

Personally, I use my local indy for virtually everything. My trust has been won after many years of good service. He has all the official diag kit, only uses OEM parts and everytime I mention something to him he has seen it before and goes on to explain what it could be and how to resolve. Pretty reassuring.

His labour is £45/hour. Local BMW franchise is £135. So, even if he does take a little longer on a job it is usually still significantly undercutting the dealer quote. There are cheaper options available to me for some of the more rudimentary stuff (filters, oil, plugs, etc.), but its relatively negligible to make me want to "shop around".

I can speak with him and personally get him to explain and show me issues and diags. The best you get [IMHO] with most franchise dealers is speaking with a suit/dress who have most of the time never picked up a wrench and simply act as a go-between to the tech.

I had some work done very recently along the lines of the type you mention. Oil service [3rd], which also included changing air filter, pollen filter, fuel filter [incl fitting new breather]. He also showed me the diags connected highlighting 3 glow plugs needing replacing, a front cv boot needing replacing and the transfer box oil needing replacing. Again, I will entrust him to do this job in the coming fortnight.

So, I guess what I am saying is;
a) I find the dealer simply both too expensive, with little access to the workshop tech directly. Plus the fact I don't believe they necessarily use the most experienced or capable individuals (this varies by dealer i guess).
b) DIY - I am not capable of anything much beyond the basics, have little inclination to attempt too much and [most importantly] simply dont have the time to devote to such matters.
c) Hence, I have found a trusted indy whom while certainly not as cheap as DIY, offers a great middle ground between me and the franchise dealer, whilst assuring me on the quality and honesty front. I think of it as decent value, with a high level of QA.

I have rambled on a bit there. Hope it gives another perspective.
Brewer

[gchristofi]

Hi All. Thanks for all your opinions and information. I realise that much of this is pretty subjective stuff. For me, cost effective is paramount at the moment. I probably have time to tackle some of this but my skills are intermediate at best! I'm fairly comfortable that I could do the Oil service as I have done this on other cars. Can probably tackle the door solenoid and pdc issue given the correct information. Suspension, I suspect is a different matter, especially without the benefit of a ramp.

Think I'll get a few quotes and prices for parts and labour from BMW / Indy and make an informed decision based on costs. Might even be tempted to get one final BMW stamp for the oil service and get them to list the other work required (BUT NOT DO IT!). About time the stealers did something for their "inspection" money

@thedweeb, I presume your ebay sensors were 2nd hand? Is there a good way to test they're good before fitting? I.e. resistance test or something? Don't want to buy someone else's duffers and waste time fitting them too!

@everyone, Does the service light reset procedure using the key, mentioned elsewhere on this forum work for facelift models or is it only pre-facelift? (@dirtymonkey) If not, then BMW scanner from China might be a good investment!

@brewer, Thanks for your thoughts, I think I will end up much like yourself. I have used a local Indy recently for CV gaitors and got good service. The only difference is I have a bit more time available and fancy getting dirty hands if I can save enough money .

Cheers everyone
Happy Christmas & New Year

[thedweeb]

No my sensors were brand new. I think the company I got them from strip new cars to sell as parts.I will look for the link.

[thedweeb]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320763538110

Try this

[gchristofi]

muchos gracias senor. much appreciated.

[thedweeb]

[quote=""gchristofi""]muchos gracias senor. much appreciated. [/quote]
No problem
Dweeb