The cars off to the Dealer for a full suspension and stearin

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thomas v8
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The cars off to the Dealer for a full suspension and stearin

Post by thomas v8 » Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:56 pm

My Beast's in tomorrow for a suspension and stearing check up :lol: .

As the cars heading on for 66,000 mls i thought it was time to give the old girl a health check. I have to say everything feels fine with the car but its good to keep on top of these things. Also I will have the stearing checked over as well as the brakes as they are due to be replaced if not over due. I will be very interested with the news on the check up but not the COST :lol: But I suppose owning these amazing machines we have to dip into our pockets now and then :cry: .

Will keep you posted on the cost and the fault's that they may find.
current cars:
E39 528i touring Auto
Come on you GUNNERS

previous Beemers:
E39 Alpina B10 V8 THE BEAST: :auto
Mods. GRuppe M CAI.

E34 520i Touring: Manual.
E39 530i sport:Auto.
E39 M5:Manual.
E39 Alpina B10 V8:Auto.
E46 320i coupe:Auto.
E36 318i se saloon:Manual.
E30 320i coupe:Manual.
E53 4.8is exclusive addition.
E46 325i Manual Touring

thomas v8
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Post by thomas v8 » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:24 pm

I picked the car up today,so here goes.

suspension check ! sailed through :D

stearing, brakes check! sailed through :D

The new mass air flow meter was replaced, but at a cost of 3 hours labour time to work through test modules and unit checks. They gave me a reduction on the parts and labour costs of 15% on both, which was fair i thought.

All in all happy with the suspension and brakes check as there were know fault's found, but unhappy with the overall labour costs :x
current cars:
E39 528i touring Auto
Come on you GUNNERS

previous Beemers:
E39 Alpina B10 V8 THE BEAST: :auto
Mods. GRuppe M CAI.

E34 520i Touring: Manual.
E39 530i sport:Auto.
E39 M5:Manual.
E39 Alpina B10 V8:Auto.
E46 320i coupe:Auto.
E36 318i se saloon:Manual.
E30 320i coupe:Manual.
E53 4.8is exclusive addition.
E46 325i Manual Touring

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KevinB10
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Location: Essex
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Post by KevinB10 » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:59 pm

Which dealer did you use Thomas?
I switched to an Independant BMW specialist in Essex [who charges £55 an hour], when the local BMW dealership put their hourly rate up to £120!
Kevin

thomas v8
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Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:19 pm

Post by thomas v8 » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:23 pm

I used my local Bmw sytner/Alpina dealers Harold wood. As you say the normal hour rate which is £120 but got it down to £90.00 which is still bloody high. I do intend to keep the car for as long as i can, which will be forever if possible, but I have always kept to a main dealers for the service history side of things. I will start looking else where as the main dealer prices are becomming to expensive. The specialist you have found kevin, seems very reasonable. saying this Harold wood is yery handy to where i live.
current cars:
E39 528i touring Auto
Come on you GUNNERS

previous Beemers:
E39 Alpina B10 V8 THE BEAST: :auto
Mods. GRuppe M CAI.

E34 520i Touring: Manual.
E39 530i sport:Auto.
E39 M5:Manual.
E39 Alpina B10 V8:Auto.
E46 320i coupe:Auto.
E36 318i se saloon:Manual.
E30 320i coupe:Manual.
E53 4.8is exclusive addition.
E46 325i Manual Touring

Dunk
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Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:50 pm
Location: Hove, East Sussex

Post by Dunk » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:48 pm

My dealer charges me £75ph + VAT, chucks in loan cars for free (usually infernal 1ers), and does 10% on parts!

It's a relative concept though - I've had to spend a fortune to get that treatment :wink: :lol:
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KevinB10
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Post by KevinB10 » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:44 pm

Thomas I can certainly recommend the Independant and I do not think Chelmsford is not too far from you.

http://www.pmwltd.co.uk/
Kevin

thomas v8
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Posts: 1833
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:19 pm

Post by thomas v8 » Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:24 pm

I will keep them inmind for the future kevin Thanks.

The thing is I would have a fair commute home from Chelms, as at Harold Wood they call me a taxi and I'm in the free radious range of the fair. Does PMW supply curtesy cars Kevin?
current cars:
E39 528i touring Auto
Come on you GUNNERS

previous Beemers:
E39 Alpina B10 V8 THE BEAST: :auto
Mods. GRuppe M CAI.

E34 520i Touring: Manual.
E39 530i sport:Auto.
E39 M5:Manual.
E39 Alpina B10 V8:Auto.
E46 320i coupe:Auto.
E36 318i se saloon:Manual.
E30 320i coupe:Manual.
E53 4.8is exclusive addition.
E46 325i Manual Touring

Jack
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Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:47 pm

Re: The cars off to the Dealer for a full suspension and stearin

Post by Jack » Sat Jan 14, 2023 7:15 am

I realise this is only what....14 years later...however simple comment is 'how long they take'...you can pay $50/hr and they want your car all day and charge for 6 hours-8 hours or pay $100 and get hit for 3...or 6 ..or 8. I am always iffy about leaving a car all day and being charged for a day...we KNOW they are doing othr cars as well so an 8 hour day for 3 cars may bring in 24 hours x say $140.00.One tries to fin a competent mechanic. Recently with my 330i in for total suspension...I'd jus boughht it and alwasy have suspensio steering and brakes done immediately but a friend's workshop. Prices too fix leaks were high. He found me abloke who knew BMW's and was an enthusiast...and I think that's the key....who did all the leaks and a full service for $1000.00. "now long will the job take" is a reasonable 'upfront' question....and so is having your old past given back (presuming they are yours not just somethng out of the skip-bin.

Jack
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:47 pm

Re: The cars off to the Dealer for a full suspension and stearin

Post by Jack » Sat Feb 11, 2023 3:03 pm

Hi it's steering btw. not stearing...and I made a heap of errors myself as my hands are crippled and I didn't edit my contribution...mea culpa.
I wrote and will now repair!!:

I realise this is only what....14 years later...however simple comment is 'how long they take'...you can pay $50/hr and they want your car all day and charge for 6 hours-8 hours or pay $100 and get hit for 3...or 6 ..or 8. I am always 'iffy' about leaving a car all day and being charged for a day...we KNOW they are doing other cars as well so an 8 hour day for 3 cars may bring in 24 hours x say $2400.00 instead of say $1000.00 real costs..or less.

Amongst other trades and professional qualifications I am an auto electrician and have a pretty good idea of labour costs. I never ripped-off anyone...but was ripped off by some customers, a local awine auto electrical in Woy Woy NSW and my manager...he was a class A grub as it
turned out...I was set up to fail by my manager who came from a local 'competitor but I did good work especially in aircond and modified Jaga...outboards and so on. I was naiive...paid well to a bloke who was ripping me off but when I found he was doing so much to bring down my business...including cheating customers...I sacked him. He went mental began damaging the shop and could not take him on voluntarily as my training could take me down in assault chages...but he came very close. When in a trade I helped people not tried to destroy them. I worked 7 days a week 18 hours a day . The manager was paid nearly twic the rate entitlement and was to work every second weekend...he did...for the NRMA as well as selling same brand of batteries as did I 'on the side' and took all NRMA breakdown repairs to his old boss.I didn't realise that such vermin existed as at Woy Woy but they were there...loathesome people including those most helped. I could tell stories of dishonesty that would shock you.

So...I know ..one tries to find a competent mechanic but most feed off 'the going rate'.. Recently with my 330i in for total suspension...I'd just bought it and always have suspension steering and brakes done immediately but at a friend's workshop in Sydenham NSW..

They don't do general work, are just the top steering and suspension place in Australia I rang around for prices other work including the leaks. Prices to to fix leaks and Vanos work were high.The owner of the business found me a bloke who knew BMW's and was an enthusiast...and I think that's the key....who did all the leaks and a full service for $1000.00. "How long will the job take" is a reasonable 'upfront' question....and so is having your old part/s returned and that gives you a check and balance (presuming they are yours not just something out of the skip-bin).

By the time it was all over and with parts I bought myself at "trade"....lower control arms, ball joints bushes, silver battery (not that calcium crap) 3 Michelin Sp5's B8 Bilsteins all around with inch lowered H and R springs...I normally use Bilstein_Eibach but a good deal was offered....and I like a inch and an half rake on my cars.

I spent over $7500 with labour but I could not buy ball joints...had to buy complete L-C arms...$1500...bushes (M series) $480....NON Calcium battery $460...Tyres...can't recall about $1800...front and rear shocks and springs bargain at $1200.00..rear brakes $70,00...

Recently I bought an E39 Alpina 3.2 B10 in immaculate order ..in Europe. It is being stored for me as my barn has no more room. I have a Cosworth Sierra Sapphire and an XR 4x4 which I dearly love which have been stored for about 12 years but will sell when I find some enthusiasts. They are (RHD) in France and I am in Australia. I have twice (3rd time was tonight) written to add to the Alpina Register but received no reply. That's disapointing as I thought every new car would be 'enervating'...a lost sheep found on the sabbath. Mine is Alpin 130....there is a 131 and a 132 from memory. My 130 would make a nice comparison....if it ever get listed. I have photos etc and it is certified (I didn't bother with the 'papers'/certificate of authenticity...that's a bit ostentatious butI was given 'written' assurance.

My regards to all

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Charles
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Re: The cars off to the Dealer for a full suspension and stearin

Post by Charles » Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:14 pm

Jack wrote:
Sat Feb 11, 2023 3:03 pm
I have twice (3rd time was tonight) written to add to the Alpina Register but received no reply. That's disapointing ...
Hi Jack,

I am looking at my inbox as I reply to check whether I might have missed something, but the only email I have received from you was last September when you were enquiring about the authenticity of #130. I replied within a week and offered various suggestions and thoughts about the car. Since then, I have not received any other emails from you

Additionally, I have looked at the list of cars that have been submitted for addition/updating on the Register and yours is not on the list.

If you use this link then you can add your car and there is an email addresses for you to use for submitting photos.

Hopefully we can correct this for you once we have the required information.

Cheers

Charles
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

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