$177 for BMW's Oil Change

[retsaky]

Originally Posted By: My442
BMW = BUST MY WALLET


Amen brother. I once had a 1986 528i. Bought new. Best car I've ever owned, BUT the cost of having it serviced finally drove me to sell it and buy American. I had it serviced by the book, and every trip cost a minimum of $300 (this is in 1986-90). The most expensive service was $1500! At 120,000 miles, the car looked and drove like new, but I'd had it. We've missed the driving experience a lot, but never the service trips. Will never buy another German car because of it.

 

[globey]

Who is this "doctor" and who gave him his imaginary PhD?

 

[Lyondellic]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Junior Damato - Auto Doctor

Quote:
DEAR DOCTOR: I own a 2002 BMW 330ci with 10,000 miles. I recently went to the dealer for an oil change. I have it changed only once a year because of my low mileage. The cost was $177, which I thought was too high compared to my new Cadillac at just $34. The dealer also wanted to perform an inspection at a cost of $800, which I refused. I think the oil change charge is excessive. What are your thoughts?

Jack



DEAR JACK: The cost of servicing high line import vehicles, such as the BMW 3 Series, is much higher than for American vehicles. First of all, the BMW uses full-synthetic oil. To change the oil, an undercarriage shield needs to be removed to get at the oil drain plug. And the Cadillac oil change was with regular petroleum oil, not full synthetic.



This was in Friday's local paper.


My brother in-law drives a new Cadillac and I believe that it came with M1 as the factory fill. Where did BMW get that Cadillac uses "regular" petroleum oil? 10 quarts of Amsoil at PC cost would still only be ~$70. Gee whiz, $177 to remove a plastic cover in order to remove the drain plug. Heck, I do that kind of stuff for fun. LOL...I guess that I have no life.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
DEAR DOCTOR: I own a 2002 BMW 330ci with 10,000 miles. I recently went to the dealer for an oil change. I have it changed only once a year because of my low mileage. The cost was $177,

The mistake he made was that he went the the dealer to get something routine like this done. Once you're out of warranty (and the free maintenance schedule), you should find yourself a trusted indy mechanic that has significantly lower labor rates. Still, servicing a BMW is not going to be as cheap as a domestic unless you DIY.

 

[mechtech2]

I'm not defending the dealer, but the BMW oil change may include other services that were not mentioned.

 

[cosynthetics]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I'm not defending the dealer, but the BMW oil change may include other services that were not mentioned.


That's what I was trying to say earlier. There is an oil change and an oil service. The change is around $100 and the service is around $180.

 

[Audi Junkie]

http://www.boschservice.com/ServiceLocations/ServiceLocations.htm

 

[Stooge]

Plays on the fact that, especially this Stealership, understands most folks are ignorant and lazy - ignorant on how even to change their own oil and do basic maintenance, ignorant in not knowing that even 'BMW synthetic' oil is only $6 a quart and the filter is only about $10, ignorant in not knowing how pathetically easy the oil is changed on these engines, and just too lazy not to be ignorant (and taken on their hard earned money based on this). The biggest waste is YOUR time. How much of your time does it take to take it to the Stealership to get raped?? By choice... Lazy and Ignorant indeed.

 

[Steve S]

It is part of the prestige of owning such a vehicle.

 

[globey]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I'm not defending the dealer, but the BMW oil change may include other services that were not mentioned.


Yes, you get to sit in the waiting room and have coffee. Plus you get to schmooze with fellow Bimmer owners! That alone makes it worth it.

Sorry, 177 for an oil "service" is too much. What else can they do? Look at other parts that they think may be damaged soon? Lubricate a chassis that doesn't need to be lubricated? C'mon.

I do agree, if you own a BMW, don't complain about costs. You should know full well what you're getting into. For most, it's a status symbol and these symbols don't come cheap.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: globey
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I'm not defending the dealer, but the BMW oil change may include other services that were not mentioned.


Yes, you get to sit in the waiting room and have coffee. Plus you get to schmooze with fellow Bimmer owners! That alone makes it worth it.

Sorry, 177 for an oil "service" is too much. What else can they do? Look at other parts that they think may be damaged soon? Lubricate a chassis that doesn't need to be lubricated? C'mon.

I do agree, if you own a BMW, don't complain about costs. You should know full well what you're getting into. For most, it's a status symbol and these symbols don't come cheap.

Again, BMW service costs for scheduled maintenance are actually less than a Toyota, Honda, Lexus, etc in this area. $177 may be hard to swallow, but it's only once every 15k instead of $100-$140 every 5-7.5k as it is for most other makes.

In fact, service costs for BMWs have decreased yet again recently with the introduction of the Condition Based Service (CBS) system. Oil Service, Inspection I, Inspection II, etc have all been eliminated in favor of individual service items.

 

[Dave Hess]

If he's got the $$$ for a BMW, then he shouldn't complain about a $177 oil change.

 

[cosynthetics]

I have a BMW but that doesn't mean I like a $177 oil service. I do as much myself as I can. It's all about the DIY...

 

[Dyoel182]

For some people it is and for others they take it in.

 

[BullyT]

Originally Posted By: globey
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I'm not defending the dealer, but the BMW oil change may include other services that were not mentioned.


Yes, you get to sit in the waiting room and have coffee. Plus you get to schmooze with fellow Bimmer owners! That alone makes it worth it.

Sorry, 177 for an oil "service" is too much. What else can they do? Look at other parts that they think may be damaged soon? Lubricate a chassis that doesn't need to be lubricated? C'mon.

I do agree, if you own a BMW, don't complain about costs. You should know full well what you're getting into. For most, it's a status symbol and these symbols don't come cheap.


I own a BMW 740iL and I definitely didn't buy it as a status symbol. I bought it used from a dealer for about 1/3 of original MSRP.

I bought the car because it's one of the safest cars on the road (big, heavy, 8 airbags) and the driving experience is outstanding. Put simply, the car is a [censored] of a lot of fun to drive.

BMWs can definitely be expensive to maintain, but they are easy to work on and I do all basic maintenance myself. In terms of long-term durability, at least in my limited experience, BMWs are very good. The paint on my '99 still looks terrific, no rust, doesn't burn oil...and still gets a lot of compliments.

 

[02zx9r]

Originally Posted By: Big Jim

But hey, it's an expensive German import. If you can afford the yacht, don't complain about the mooring fees.


Bingo!

 

[BennyL]

pretty simple... be ignorant and lazy and go to the deal, or use your head a little bit and get it done for MUCH less. better yet, do it yourself.

but if your ignorant and lazy, you can probably afford to be.

 

[Kestas]

I don't like the attitude of some, that "if you can afford the luxury brand, then you can afford all to waste money on the car". I own a Mercedes. Bought used, I paid no more for it than most pay for a modest vanilla sedan. Yet my car will probably outlast most other sedans. Just because someone owns a luxury brand doesn't mean they're foolish with their money.

 

[Johnny]

Nothing to do with BMW, but since Honda was brought up I will give you my experience with them. Was going to take my son's Honda Element in for it's 30K service. Money is a little tight right now so I called them to find out what they do at the 30K service and what it would cost. They know I always bring my own oil. For the service they change the oil and filter, change the air and cabin filters, rotate the tires, check all fluid levels, check hoses and belts, and take it for a test drive. All for $199.00, what a deal. I went to the local parts store and bought a WIX air and cabin filter. I had my own oil and filter at home, and I had the Firestone store do my FREE rotation. I changed the oil and filter, replaced the air and cabin filter, checked the fluid levels, hoses, and belt, and I even took it for a test drive. Total cost, $34.00

 

[BennyL]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
Nothing to do with BMW, but since Honda was brought up I will give you my experience with them. Was going to take my son's Honda Element in for it's 30K service. Money is a little tight right now so I called them to find out what they do at the 30K service and what it would cost. They know I always bring my own oil. For the service they change the oil and filter, change the air and cabin filters, rotate the tires, check all fluid levels, check hoses and belts, and take it for a test drive. All for $199.00, what a deal. I went to the local parts store and bought a WIX air and cabin filter. I had my own oil and filter at home, and I had the Firestone store do my FREE rotation. I changed the oil and filter, replaced the air and cabin filter, checked the fluid levels, hoses, and belt, and I even took it for a test drive. Total cost, $34.00


wow, even threw in the test drive. thats impressive