Am I being Scammed by BMW?

[Nidsatsu]

Whats up with these prices. I Thought spark plugs was like $600, this service advisor quoted me for $1,200 wtf? And how in the world is air filters a almost $500 job? This person has to be playing me. Or are these normal pricing? Last time these things were changed the car was under warranty, and I left my service paperwork inside my cars trunk so I can’t take a look and compare. I’m about to just take the car back and do filters and oil myself and find someone esle for spark plugs. If anyone know a spot in NY or around NY area.

[mapster37]

All prices are going up. Keep in mind you drive a "luxury brand" car, not a honda....

[icegrill]

Is this Canadian!? Is what I’d respond with. $500 for filter service give me a fn’ break!??

[Nidsatsu]

Originally Posted by mapster37

All prices are going up. Keep in mind you drive a "luxury brand" car, not a honda....

So is $1,200 USD the regular price for spark plugs, thats what I want to know. If it is Ill tell them to go ahead, but if it isn’t Ill take my car elsewhere.

[Sephrr]

Originally Posted by Nidsatsu

So is $1,200 USD the regular price for spark plugs, thats what I want to know. If it is Ill tell them to go ahead, but if it isn’t Ill take my car elsewhere.

I have not price checked myself. But I do know most labor guides at shops pay 4.3 hours for spark plugs. MithcellPro is 4.3 and I would imagine AllData is close to that too. So depending on labor rate most actual shops should be $500-$700 in labor
This forum will probably tell you it's an easy diy, but some people just genuinely are not interested in the diy and would rather pay someone to do it

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

That's a lot. Perhaps post on the regional forum asking for a few Indy shop recommendations. I imagine there are tons of good shops in NNJ It should be half the cost of Park Ave BMW.

Use it as an opportunity to establish a relationship with the Indy if you plan to own the car long term.

[Conissah]

Cabin air filter is $30 and takes 10 minutes, $208 is hilarious.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-hengst-p...19237555bf~he/

Engine air filters are $50 and take 20 minutes, $461 is a slap in the face.
Left: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...lx2074#fitment
Right: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...lx2075#fitment

Spark plugs AND new coils are $210 plus an additional $8 for the BMW specific socket, took me roughly 3 hours, and that's having never done it before. $1208 is a kick in the nuts. I'd go elsewhere, probably an indy shop if you don't want to DIY.
Plugs: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...silzkbr8d8skt1
Plugs + Coils: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...12138616153kt6
Socket: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/12-...ug-socket-14mm

[Jbrown7403]

The engine air filter service for $461 is what gets me the most..that is absolute robbery!

[AlmondJayRoM3]

Originally Posted by Jbrown7403

The engine air filter service for $461 is what gets me the most..that is absolute robbery!

What’s more annoying is that the air filter replacement looks like it is being charged full book even though the majority of the labor of removing the brace is performed with the spark plug change.

I can’t really see how the air filter service could be 461 even by itself. It’s like half an hour of actual labor maximum. Maybe 45 minutes if you include plugging in ISTA. Even at one hour I can’t see how they could reasonably charge 461 parts and labor.

Then again I’ve seen Toyota dealerships charge $100 for an air filter change and is literally a 2 minute job and requires no tools.

[spidy512]

Heya,

I paid $280 at my indy to change my plugs, no parts. I bought OEM parts that came to, like $400 (6 coils, 6 plugs). Maybe less. $1200 isnt bad, but far from what you should pay. Plus its the dealer. They love to ef stuff up.

"LEFT POLK CHOP" ? What is that about?

take care!

josh

[ecf34]

Prior quotes I received from BMW of Manhattan:
Spark plugs $2027.20
Air filters x2 $634.10
Microfilter $307.38

Ended going to Autocouture Motoring for spark plugs for $887.65

[MJBO]

FYI OP your details are still visible in those screenshots.

[MineralWhiteF80]

OP, all of the prices in your first post are not scams and are considered within the range of "normal" if not slightly cheaper than the average prices for an authorized BMW service department.

The things that contribute to these higher prices:

1. "BMW branded" parts are always more expensive through a dealership than through an online company selling at close to wholesale.

2. The procedures designed by BMW to perform repair work are typically always more extensive than other "common person" methods. I won't go into all of the reasons, but there are many reasons. If you want to see what the true time is for a repair, look at the dealer warranty labor rate and then ADD a half hour or an hour lol.

3. BMW service department labor rates are INSANE now. When I used to work for a BMW dealership (13 years ago), our standard hourly rate was $119- it is now over $250 an hour!

4. BMW repair procedures typically replace more parts like one-time-use bolts and other things that almost no other independent repair shop would replace.

[Sneekypete]

Paid $607 for plugs at dealership here in Texas in July 2022. 2018 M3 Comp

[mapster37]

Originally Posted by MineralWhiteF80

OP, all of the prices in your first post are not scams and are considered within the range of "normal" if not slightly cheaper than the average prices for an authorized BMW service department.

The things that contribute to these higher prices:

1. "BMW branded" parts are always more expensive through a dealership than through an online company selling at close to wholesale.

2. The procedures designed by BMW to perform repair work are typically always more extensive than other "common person" methods. I won't go into all of the reasons, but there are many reasons. If you want to see what the true time is for a repair, look at the dealer warranty labor rate and then ADD a half hour or an hour lol.

3. BMW service department labor rates are INSANE now. When I used to work for a BMW dealership (13 years ago), our standard hourly rate was $119- it is now over $250 an hour!

4. BMW repair procedures typically replace more parts like one-time-use bolts and other things that almost no other independent repair shop would replace.

+1

[rustyrotors]

What the heck is "Left polk chop"? Are they serving you dinner

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

im dead at the people saying you drive a bmw not a honda....yall def drowning in debt because you have zero concept of finances....typical american


all that service will be well done under 1k at an indy. prolly under 800 if you find an honest one.


the people who accept egregious pricing for their luxury items (servicing) have an inferiority complex which can only be satisfied by driving said BMW and paying out the ass to fix it and sitting in a nice lounge sipping piss coffee and having your ego massaged.

whereas a gas station mechanic can do the plugs and filter.

anways I know that was extreme, but its true and constantly seen on this fourm, it irks the fuck out me.

[Nidsatsu]

Left Polk chop is a plastic covering under the bumper and suspension of the car.

Anyway the bmw prices to me are bad because the service they do is not great. I had to pay $220 for a diagnostic because my heater wasn’t heating properly for them to tell me the water coolent wasn’t topped off the last time they serviced it. Like how the hell do you even charge me for that. Very shitty customer service.

I’ve also read horror stories of bmw servicing cars and leaving bolts loose. Paying them definitely aint worth it especially since you don’t know what kind of a job you gonna be getting.

[White340]

I had my plugs changed by bmw at the 3y service mark. It was free under the maintenance plan. The car had 22k miles on it at the time. Ever since then I felt a slight kick from the engine during cold start. You’d here it more than feel it since the exhaust is loud.

My warranty was up this past Dec and I now have 25k miles on the car so before it expired I decided to use BimmerLink to investigate and saw that cylinders 5 and 6 were misfiring at cold start according to their live misfire counters for each cylinder. I would feel the kick in the engine and then the misfire count would increase. 5 had only a few misfires but 6 had 15-30. Anyway it only happened on 5 and 6. The others were fine after checking multiple times - not a single misfire. No CEL came on so I didn’t know if this was normal this entire time.

Dealer visit 1: they said they did a smoke test and saw the valve cover gasket was leaking. I know this is a big job and had doubts that this was it but since it was under warranty I didn’t care. I got home after the service was performed, opened the hood and didn’t see any fingerprints or signs that any work was performed. Everything still had fresh dust on it which if you did the job would have had fingerprints from removing things. The valve cover gasket was dry all around with dust over it as well so clearly it wasn’t replaced (otherwise would have seen even a slight hint of oil or it would have been dust free from them cleaning it).

Two weeks later after a 60 mile trip, I started the car and immediately got the CEL.

dealer visit 2: now they have a CEL and the paperwork says they swapped 3-4 with 5-6 and determined 5-6 were bad. They replaced 5-6 coils and plugs. Great! The next day cold start I’m reading misfires on 3-4 mainly but also the other 4. Didn’t get a CEL this time either.

Dealer visit 3: told them I am seeing misfires on 3-4 now and occasionally 1, 2, 5 and 6. Now they replace plugs and coils 3 and 4.

After this my warranty expires. My cold starts are better now but while driving I occasionally get misfires on all cylinders but usually just 1 randomly.

I don’t know what it could be but the car was fine before they changed the plugs the first time. If I paid 1200 for it then I would have been pissed off. I’m still pissed but point is to show that just because the work is being done at the dealer it doesnt mean it’s being done right. Idk if they mishandled the coils, didn’t gap the plugs, didn’t torque them down properly or something else but I’m planning on replacing all plugs and coils myself this summer.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

Originally Posted by MineralWhiteF80

OP, all of the prices in your first post are not scams and are considered within the range of "normal" if not slightly cheaper than the average prices for an authorized BMW service department.

The things that contribute to these higher prices:

1. "BMW branded" parts are always more expensive through a dealership than through an online company selling at close to wholesale.

2. The procedures designed by BMW to perform repair work are typically always more extensive than other "common person" methods. I won't go into all of the reasons, but there are many reasons. If you want to see what the true time is for a repair, look at the dealer warranty labor rate and then ADD a half hour or an hour lol.

3. BMW service department labor rates are INSANE now. When I used to work for a BMW dealership (13 years ago), our standard hourly rate was $119- it is now over $250 an hour!

4. BMW repair procedures typically replace more parts like one-time-use bolts and other things that almost no other independent repair shop would replace.

most reputable indys will replace one time use parts. just saying, now they are not jiffy lubes are rando car shops. they are reputable indys and not always the cheapest. BMW always charges book time, whereas any compentant mechanic will change ur plugs in less than an hour. god knows what book time is...the smart indy charges two hours and makes money and business. BMW service is warranty work, loaners, and people who DGAF

[kcha]

Originally Posted by Sneekypete

Paid $607 for plugs at dealership here in Texas in July 2022. 2018 M3 Comp

Which dealership did you go to?

I checked mygarage.bmwusa.com and saw very similar offer from the dealership where I purchased my 18 m3 in TX

[Sneekypete]

Originally Posted by kcha

Which dealership did you go to?

I checked mygarage.bmwusa.com and saw very similar offer from the dealership where I purchased my 18 m3 in TX

BMW of West Houston