Parts: OEM versus genuine versus aftermarket

[professor]

anyone heard of amsoil?! i have been told that it's the bee's knees.

[Alpine*]

Well, as I said in an earlier post, I would investigate an interim Oil/Filter change with my local dealer.

Here's the go!

Me:
I am a BMW EPP member and want to know if it includes interim services for oil and the like?

Dealer Service Person:
No sorry only the scheduled services at ~25k intervals.

Me:
Great, so what is the cost for a oil and oil filter replacement on my car.

Dealer Service Person:
That's not a problem we do it for between $450 and $500.

Me:
You are kidding right?

Dealer Service Person:
No, that is what we charge.

Me:
Hmmm so what are we talking here,,,, $25/litre for oil, say $125 PLUS what $40 for a filter... lets be unrealistic and round that up to say $200. So you are quoting like 5 hours labour then for this?

Dealer Service Person:
No, our labour is $130/hour. (said without any hesitation at all!)

Me:
That's more than I earn an hour, you are kidding. So the best plan, cost wise, is to let it go, it breaks and you fix it under warranty!

Dealer Service Person:
Well we plug the ECU in and check it all out to make sure everything else is good and that there are no errors. Our Technician is a certified M person and he knows all there is to know about them.

Me:
Great, Thanks, I'll leave it then, Bye.

What a load of Bull Sh1t! So drive it, it breaks, the dealer fixes it, then they charge BM Australia for a warranty repair. Who wins here? only the dealer, this sucks!

[Zuzu]

Well Alpine after your post I called up my dealer and they quoted me $240 for oil and filter.

Either you have been misquoted or I have been..

I called back and double checked and they stand correct at $240..

So my car goes in tomorrow for the ECU upgrade and I will have the oil and replaced aswell.

[Breville]

+1, I was quoted the same last week.

[Zuzu]

What Duncan?? $240 or $450 ?

[WAY]

I think Alpine is talking about his M3 not his 135i. Yes, it always cost more to do the same thing on a more expensive car. Wanna know how much a mnor service is on an Aston or Ferrari?

[Zuzu]

You could be correct Wayne...:biggrin:

Just read the post over again and he mentions M tech at the end..

My bad..

[hummel]

Originally Posted by WAY

Wanna know how much a mnor service is on an Aston or Ferrari?

Please do tell, I might have to hold off on my ultimate cafe cruiser, the scud spider!

[WAY]

Bwahaha. A Scud Spyder will cost even more to service! The Aston cost over $3k for the yearly service (minor one that is, don't know what the major service cost is), and the Ferrari cost about $5k...as does Lambo.

[Alpine*]

But it is just oil and a filter

On the same hoist, parked next to a mini for crying out loud :bs:

I am off to the Canberra BM Dealers launch of their new show room tonight, I WILL make a point of having a "chat" with the DP.

Sorry yeh I was refering to the M (no I am not a c0ck by the way, thanks to Jerremy, Audi drivers are now c0cks hehehe) but I will ask about our 1 as well.

Stay tuned.

[WAY]

Alpine, use an independent for this work! I have done mine three times with Andrew in 4500km!

[jksgoh]

I once got quoted $190/hour for labour at bib stillwell when i had to get some work done on my mini, friggin ridiculous... i double checked with the guy who told me and he said thats the way it is now...

[amk2912]

Umm..forgive my ignorance but does the sump plug have some strange fitting that requires a special socket? Doesn't the oil filter just screw off like lost other oil filters??

What I'm getting at is.....how hard can it be to do yourself - assuming you haven't got 10 thumbs?

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by Zuzu

Well Alpine after your post I called up my dealer and they quoted me $240 for oil and filter

$190 here in Perth - still crazy IMHO.

[AussieRacer]

+1 for DIY oil changes.....not much to stuff much apart from either putting in too little or too much oil.

That said getting the filter off its holder is a b!tch

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by amk2912

$190 here in Perth - still crazy IMHO.

Geez, our high paid consultants are lucky to get that (well, a few have)... I'll have to confirm what the EPP benefits are again!

[Wraith]

Originally Posted by professor

anyone heard of amsoil?! i have been told that it's the bee's knees.

Yep, being using this stuff for over 10 years - yes it's the bees knees but it ain't cheap...

Sold at specialist suppliers only, if your in Melb. there's one in Dandenong :wink:

As for the main topic of this thread on engine oil change intervals, I thought it was common knowledge amongst car enthusiasts that to run the same oil/oil filter for distances of 15,000km or beyond is simply ludicrous regardless of oil/oil filter type/quality...

I change mine every 5,000km in my performance cars and max. 10,000km in all other vehicles...

[IBSC]

Hi All,

Now when you ring up the dealer to ask pricing they pretty well have three services, $500, $750 or $1000.

Best use an independent for interim services. Make sure they use a good oil preferably the Castrol LL01 5W-30 that BMW use.
They dont have to stamp your book either. Just keep copies of the reciepts
for the interim oil change to prove to any prospective private buyer or car yard that they have been done. That way book is only full of dealer stamps in case you want to trade your car at the dealer and get top dollar.

If you do it yourself the only pain is the tool you need for the oil filter cover.
Anyone in Perth is welcome to borrow the tool from me if they need it anytime.


M3 V8 is different.
Filter is not that expensive (I think about $35.00), easy to access and change, sump plug is easy to access and unscrew.
You should use Castrol Edge Sport 10W-60 in this.
This is the same oil that BMW use and sell branded as their own TWS Motorsport product.

The engine holds 8.8 litres (but they only charge for full litres) so 9 @ I think $26.00 a litre = $234.00 inc. plus filter makes $270.00 plus labour say 1 hour @ (Auto Classic) $165.00 inc. total $435.00.
Adds up quick at their prices.

Do it yourself:
10 litres Castrol 10W-60 roughly $130.00 + filter @ $35.00 = $165.00.

Independent should be as above plus say (we would charge 1/2 hour $45.00) plus old oil disposal $3.20 total $213.20.


Little tip, the sump has baffles and these can make it hard to get the level correct on the readout.
While the oil filter is out pour 3.0 litres of fresh oil into the oil filter housing.
Then screw the new filter and cover in and fill the engine as usual with the required balance of fresh oil.
This will fill the front of the sump and makes it easier to get your level right.

Best regards to all