[quote="Jinja"]
Out of interest, who do you use? I used to use Pete Wheeler, but for a couple of reasons, stopped using him.
I'm actually in Waterlooville, not Portsmouth

[/quote]
For last 18 months or so I have used Barkers Motor Works Haslemere. All staff ex BMW and proprietor named Rich is a qualified BMW Master Technician who owns an E53 4.4i Sport prefacelift. They have decent diagnostic equipment & camera wheel alignment kit. No courtesy cars albeit I can get around that with use of our other car &/or train, (he's next to the station). Richard is a straight talking but decent guy............I have not had cause to question the integrity of him &/or his team.
Due to age of my X5 I have kept with main dealer for (car age related) discount inspections. This works well & the main dealer, (Chandlers), does not get work on back of things found. I get MOT's done somewhere else - the tester knowing I wont take car to him if issues found.
So a 3 way approach for me without MOT tester or main dealer profiting from work recommendations.