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#1. Re: [E36M3] Re: 36,000 check-up - from Joe Dyer
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Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 23:45:03 -0800 From: "Joe Dyer" <joedyer@home.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: 36,000 check-up Well, I guess I was speaking from general experience. Dinan has not done much maintenance on the car. When I bought it from their General Manager, it was "AS IS" in Feb. 98 (mfg date: 10/94). I haven't even read the original warranty. Other cars I've owned have had shoddy high cost inspections, and I was just venting! Has anybody ever had a warranty claim paid with a car that had been inspected by other than a dealership? And how many ma & pa garages can reset your oil lights? Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Bassett" <jimbassett@home.com> To: "Joe Dyer" <joedyer@home.com>; "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 11:12 PM Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: 36,000 check-up | At 10:43 PM 2/20/01, Joe Dyer wrote: | >I'm going to risk a flame war!!!!!!! I think the routine checkups | >recommended by the factory are a bunch of genuine crap! It is just a sly | >way to get you back into the dealership so they can find little things to | >scare you with if you don't have them fix it! The tech who inspects your | >car is the most junior trainee in the shop. Almost everything on their list | >are things you can do yourself with a good flashlite and a good eye! The | >price for this is outrageous. | | Actually, for someone who goes to Dinan (have you seen THEIR shop rates? | :-) Hi Joe!), he makes some good points (although I'll disagree about the | "scare you" stuff). I'll add, if you know of a good independent shop, they | can do the same work, generally for a fraction of the cost. | | >Of course they have you by the balls! If you don't have them do it, it | >voids your warranty. | | AFAIK, this is BS. Where does it say your warranty is voided if you don't | have the dealer perform the service? | | >Now, flame away. | | No flame, but let's not get carried away either. As with everything in | life, there are good dealers & bad ones, and I'm sure there's those that | will try to "scare" you. But going into ANY shop with a bit of knowledge | already will help. | | FWIW, I used to get the car serviced at the dealer, but as the car is WAY | out of warranty (81,000+ miles) and I have more demands on my disposable | income (Nikolas is doing fine, thanks for asking :-)), I choose to go to an | independent for my service (besides, my car's at Bill Arnold's about once a | month anyway for a track tech :-)). | | Cheers, | Jim Bassett | 1998 M3/4 - I doubt the dealer could have changed 2 oxy. sensors, a fuel | pump, and done a tech inspection in 1-1/2 hours and ~$330 complete! And | Bill didn't even do the work - Vince is a good mechanic too :-) | |
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#2. Re: [E36M3] Re: 36,000 check-up - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 00:26:46 -0800 From: Jim Bassett <jimbassett@home.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: 36,000 check-up At 11:53 PM 2/20/01, Joe Dyer wrote: >original warranty. Other cars I've owned have had shoddy high cost >inspections, Chances are, you didn't have a great resource like this list, then :-) >and I was just venting! Hey, venting is good (I've been known to vent once or twice :-)). >Has anybody ever had a warranty claim paid with a car that had been >inspected by other than a dealership? I had the catalytic convertors replaced just recently, after having done an Inspection Service & Oil Service *myself* (wrote it in the Service booklet, too: "Performed by owner"). The only thing I could find in my Warranty booklet was: "This warranty does not apply to the following: Damage which results from negligence...lack of or improper maintenance..." So, I guess you gotta get the car serviced, but where and by whom isn't specified (left as an exercise to the reader?). >And how many ma & pa garages can reset your oil lights? Any one with a $50 reset tool (or buy your own, or become friends with some who does own one - I don't, so don't ask :-)). But then, that's why one finds a independent BMW repair place, in theory, they'd have the tools & knowledge to do a decent job. Cheers, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4
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#3. Re bonking in the rear of the car. : - from Stan Shaw III
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 06:29:54 -0500 From: "Stan Shaw III" <Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net> Subject: Re bonking in the rear of the car. : I am trying to find the same problem, and when the car was at the dealer, they noticed the muffler was loose. I need to get the car back in for them to fix it, but it looks to me like the rear muffler support is allowing the muffler to slide sideways knocking against the car under carriage. Regards, Stan Shaw Excell.Net Phone: (413) 599-0399 Fax: (413) 599-0407 Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net http://www.excell.net/
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#4. Re: 36,000 check-up - from Jonathan Caldito
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 06:46:00 -0500 From: "Jonathan Caldito" <jonnym3@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: 36,000 check-up ***I'm going to risk a flame war!!!!!!! I think the routine checkups recommended by the factory are a bunch of genuine crap! It is just a sly way to get you back into the dealership so they can find little things to scare you with if you don't have them fix it! The tech who inspects your car is the most junior trainee in the shop. Almost everything on their list are things you can do yourself with a good flashlite and a good eye! The price for this is outrageous.*** I think you did start a war. I am a Level 1 BMW Tech and I am really offended by what you said. Every vehicle that I get, E36, E38, E39, E53, and E46 I check on every part of the vehicle that needs attention. I RECOMMEND parts or fluids that need to be changed or anything that is driver saftely related. I already got my balls busted a few times for not checking belts, coolent, brake fluid whatever. And you know what? I do this for free (Non inspection services, or whenever the vehicle is in) If a customer goes to the service dept. for an inspection 2 or 36,000 mile check up (which I have never heard) then he will get one... a DAMN GOOD ONE! True that there are butcher mechanics out there and I am not one of them. I have morals. You don't know what its like in the field so you can't say stuff like that. I think its better off if I see power steering fluid leaking, cords showing on tires, or crack belts and not say a single thing to the customer so he can come back with the vehicle towed back to shop and him busting my ass for not telling him. I make a RECOMMENDED list of things that requires attention. If the customer doesn't want to buy it or will come back later.. fine. Thats his/her decision and nothing I can do about it. I can't take another insult like this. If more come, then I'm out. Jonathan Caldito BMW Level 1 Technician _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#5. Big Brakes - from Steve D'Gerolamo
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 07:23:42 -0500 From: "Steve D'Gerolamo" <steved3@idt.net> Subject: Big Brakes Stoptech is making a big push into the Audi/BMW big brake market. Their kit appears decent but I'm not fond of their marketing approach which attacks others. Their calipers are cast in Taiwan which I presume helps keep the costs down. They don't offer a rear kit but claim their front only kit will outbrake their competitors with front & rear upgrades. The upcoming track season should be interesting. SD ================================== Steve D'Gerolamo - The Ultimate Garage - Tel 201-262-0412
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#6. ] Re: 36,000 check-up - from Paul Elliott
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 07:45:25 -0500 From: "Paul Elliott" <pelliott@rcn.com> Subject: ] Re: 36,000 check-up Joe, >>!!!!!!! I think the routine checkups recommended by the factory are a bunch of genuine crap! It is just a sly way to get you back into the dealership so they can find little things to scare you with if you don't have them fix it! << I'm going to take it easy on you cause your a fellow Dinan traveler...HOWEVER, what you say is only partially true...During my last service, the tech noticed a leaking power steering pump....They ordered a new one, gave me a loaner car, and installed it, all completely free of charge...Do I consider the srvc a waste of time? I think not. There are things which are easier to catch when the car is up on the lift. During the 36K mile srvc warranty, what you say certainly doesnt apply, so you must be referring to those services which come either after that, or after the new car warranty....BUT, many people routinely part with their cars shortly after these periods, so that BMW dealers would never get the benefit of what you suggest... Of course for those who keep their cars for longer duration, what you say does have some truth...But, I dont think its quite so black and white. _____________________ Paul Elliott '99 Alpine White M3 <25000 mi Forged M dbl-spokes; Rotex pads; Dinan Stage II Supercharger; Stygar Short Shift kit and Clutch Stop; Skaggs Pedals; X-brace; Sound by Kenwood Excelon, Polk, JL Audio
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#7. [E36M3] Changing Accessory Belts - from Robert Liu
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 05:04:07 -0800 (PST) From: Robert Liu <bob_a_liu@yahoo.com> Subject: [E36M3] Changing Accessory Belts Hi All, I am armed with new accessory belts and a Bentley service manual. Any tips or suggestions on changing the accessory belts? TIA. Bob ===== ------------------------------------------------------------ Robert Liu bob_a_liu@yahoo.com ICQ# 22765210 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices! http://auctions.yahoo.com/
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#8. Re: GC Shifter Reinforcement (was G-forces) - from Neil Maller
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 09:17:36 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: GC Shifter Reinforcement (was G-forces) on 2/20/01 Kit Wetzler <kitwetzler@mindspring.com> wrote: > Installed the Ground Control shifter reinforcement... best $29 mod for > the M3! (and for other similar level equipped cars) Shifts feel much > more positive, with less moosh and more *snick* What is this? Neil 96 M3
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Insurance question (pertaining to State Farm) - from John Stoj
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 06:29:17 -0800 (PST) From: John Stoj <John_Stoj@excite.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Insurance question (pertaining to State Farm) On Tue, 20 Feb 2001 23:13:32 -0600, Chester Wong wrote: I think it quite ridiculous to pay the higher rate for the 4 months that I'm already 25 Chester, I don't know if your agent is thick or trying to make some extra money, but I have State Farm as my provider and I got a refund check for the difference between what I had paid for the year and my new rate (along with a birthday card from my agent) a week after my birthday when I turned 30. And you're lucky in a way, I thought they'd done away with the big 25 year old discount and moved it to 30. - John _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/
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#10. Warranty voiding (was: 36,000 check-up) - from John Stoj
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 06:50:56 -0800 (PST) From: John Stoj <John_Stoj@excite.com> Subject: Warranty voiding (was: 36,000 check-up) With all this talk of voiding the warranty by not having a dealer do the 36k mile checkup, I wonder, what does it matter? Doesn't the warranty expire at 36k? - John - '97 M3 warranty expired due to time, not mileage _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/