Got an email saying brake fluid needed doing (plus the car is nagging me), thought I share my customised price.

Vehicle Inspection £81.00 down from £123.00

Engine Oil service with microfilter £234.38 down from £310.00

Engine Oil service with microfilter, air filter & fuel filter £391.88 down from £510.30

Replace Air filter (every 2nd oil service) £45.25 down from £52.25

Replace Diesel fuel filter (every 2nd oil service) £112.25 down from £147.25

Brake fluid service £61.45 down from £147.25

I'll get the brake fluid done as it seems a bargin compared to the oil services.  I just changed the oil and oil filter myself after 10,000 miles for around £25 paying retail prices, so it makes theirs a bit steep. 

Morning Richard

Just shows what the effect of Dealer hourly rates does to service costs, my local BMW Dealer hourly rates are north of £200 p/hr. Everything on your list is within the scope of a logical home mechanic.

I use Mann oil and fuel filters (OEM) and the best quality Castrol oil and do the full service every year Micro filter every 2 years Brake fluid just changed 1/2 liter £9, I have a Vacuum Brake bleeding kit so simple to do and my diagnostics activate the ABS to complete, the job takes a about 30 mins. The onlt jobs which need some special tools are the Brake fluid change to activate the ABS and serviceing theTransfer Case resetting the adaptions

Well done matey

Dave

On 10/13/2024 at 7:04 AM, Greydog said:

Morning Richard

Just shows what the effect of Dealer hourly rates does to service costs, my local BMW Dealer hourly rates are north of £200 p/hr. Everything on your list is within the scope of a logical home mechanic.

I use Mann oil and fuel filters (OEM) and the best quality Castrol oil and do the full service every year Micro filter every 2 years Brake fluid just changed 1/2 liter £9, I have a Vacuum Brake bleeding kit so simple to do and my diagnostics activate the ABS to complete, the job takes a about 30 mins. The onlt jobs which need some special tools are the Brake fluid change to activate the ABS and serviceing theTransfer Case resetting the adaptions

Well done matey

Dave

What's the brake bleed kit you use?  I have Autel diagnostic, so I may attempt brake fluid further down the line.  With this weather though I'll get BMW to do this one. 

Morning Richard

I use INPA/ISTA which can activate the ABS pump to finalise the bleeding process, I recently tried my neighbours iCarsoft which also can activate the ABS. If your Autel unit will activate the ABS your in business.

I brought my Vacuum Bleeding Kit about 20 years ago from Ebay can't remember the cost but it was cheap and works really well, even doing jobs for family, neighbours and friends if it gets used once a year it is busy. I always start at the brake furthest from the master cylinder and work my way in. My kit has a 1 ltr collector I have never needed more than 1/2ltr even when brake pipes have been replaced. You should see the fluid colour change from amber to very light as it pulls fluid through, as soon as you see the change and no bubbles (shouldn't be any in a fluid change anyway) lock off the nipple and check the master cylinder, top up and move to the next brake. Final action activate the ABS Job Done. My sons Toyota Pickup I couldn't activate the ABS but it appears to have made no difference for what it's worth

Tip: Dont keep opened Brake Fluid it starts absorbing water once opened so buy 1/2ltr at a time 

Good Luck

Dave

Hope this helps

 

On 10/12/2024 at 7:00 PM, Astonred said:

Got an email saying brake fluid needed doing (plus the car is nagging me), thought I share my customised price.

Brake fluid service £61.45 down from £147.25

I'll get the brake fluid done as it seems a bargin compared to the oil services.  I just changed the oil and oil filter myself after 10,000 miles for around £25 paying retail prices, so it makes theirs a bit steep. 

Not quite as it seems, had I clicked all the way to the end an extra £15 for safe and environmentally friendly disposal.  A whopping £27.50 to reset the service light!!!😕 Not overly impressed with the last one.  I declined.

Morning Richard

Well they had to spoil it for you but at least you hadn't commited. Thhe service reset is a really cheeky charge as it doesn't even require plugging in the diagnostics

Dave

On 10/20/2024 at 10:12 AM, Greydog said:

Morning Richard

Well they had to spoil it for you but at least you hadn't commited. Thhe service reset is a really cheeky charge as it doesn't even require plugging in the diagnostics

Dave

They ended up phoning me back to ask why I hadn't take out the service with them.  After explaining I didn't agree with the reset fee, she said would you use us if we can do something.., anyway long story short she offered £73 all in.  So had it done.  Service agent at Synter was less than happy with the price, but thats another story.