inspection 1 service

[Muzz]

can anyone tell me how much roughly it would cost for inspection 1 service at the dealers.Just so I can compare prices really.
Thanks.
Dave

[Robert T]

My last one cost me £194.78 inc VAT in July this year as Bateman BMW, Grange-over-Sands - same car as yours. That is for everything - service, oil, filter, screenwash and spark plugs.

Dealer prices vary, so don't be surprised if some quote a lot more than this. Bateman have always been very reasonable and there are indies that charge more than that!

Cheers R.

[Muzz]

That's a good price. I spoke with sytner BMW Coventry today and just about fell over when they told me how much lol £427.92 !!!!!! How much, I asked if this was for an inspection 2 ,, no sir she replied defo inspection 1.Considering the age of the car don't know if it's worth buying a reset tool and do the job myself....

[DC]

Maybe I'd better run and hide but I would question the need for Inspections 1/2 on all except maybe the M models.
When you read carefully what is done to the car it just sounds like an expensive oil service with a (hopefully) thorough look over the car to see if anything obvious is wrong.
I would think that most of us enthusiasts check the car on an ongoing basis anyway and an oil change is so easy, especially with a vacuum pump down the dipstick hole which is the method a dealer would use.
A peake diagnostic tool is around £100 which would also safely reset service lights and would resell on ebay for almost that should you ever change from a Z.
A vacuum pump is around £50 and it does get all the oil out, I checked first time I used it.
Oil change then every 12 months is simple, oil and air filters are easily accessible from the top.
If you aren't inclined to do it yourself, any reputable garage should be able to do a service, particularly for the 1.9.
As for specialist knowledge of the car, I would bet that the combined experience of zroadster members result in far more knowledge of Z3's than most dealerships and are happy to share that when asked for advice or to diagnose a problem.
As to service history when selling the car, I don't think its as important for a car which will likely only be bought by an enthusiast anyway, keep all receipts and record oil changes mot's and any repair invoices and If the car is kept in good condition it will sell when the time comes.
Dave.

[T48 TRE]

Hi Muzz I just enquired from Sytner Coventry the cost of the Inspection ! and Inspection 2, as I use them for my Z. I did not tell them who I was just an enquiry. I was quoted £215 for the ins 1 and 339 for the ins 2.
That is for a 2.2i sport if they quoted you more you must have a bigger engine.

[DC]

Maybe Black cars cost more to service than Silver.......

[GazHyde]

Just looked on Dick Lovett Swindon website and they say from £199 for a 4cyl Zed...

[Zed Carer]

Maybe I'd better run and hide but I would question the need for Inspections 1/2 on all except maybe the M models.
When you read carefully what is done to the car it just sounds like an expensive oil service with a (hopefully) thorough look over the car to see if anything obvious is wrong.

A vacuum pump is around £50 and it does get all the oil out, I checked first time I used it.

As to service history when selling the car, I don't think its as important for a car which will likely only be bought by an enthusiast anyway, keep all receipts and record oil changes mot's and any repair invoices and If the car is kept in good condition it will sell when the time comes.
Dave.

I generally agree with the above comments - expecially after the Z4 had an oil service and brake fluid change at a main dealer. There were extenuating circumstances as at the time the dealer was fighting BMW to get the boot welds on the Z3 repaired FOC.

My own "servicing" inlcudes:
Regular checks on oil, water and tyres.
Wheels removed early in the year for cleaning and I also clean the brake calipers, check the pads, handbrake adjusment, etc on both Zeds.
For an oil change I usually drive the car around 20 miles or so, remove the offside front wheel to get access to the sump plug and use 2 x 10" extension bars to keep my hands well away from the hot oil. I leave the Z3 draining for 30 to 40 mins to let all the oil flow down whilst I do the filter, bit of engine cleaning, etc.

I have been doubtful in the past about a vacum pump getting everything out if there were any "bits" in the oil but I am prepared to accept that newer ones have got better. When transferring the old oil from the drain pan to the disposal can I run it through a funnel with a filter and so far there have been no signs of anything untoward.

I've done 15k in the Z3 in 2.5 years and have never had to top anything up other than the washer bottle and me at Costa '

I do keep all the receipts and photographs as evidence of the work that hopefully will be accepted if I ever come round to selling the car.

[DC]

A vacuum pump is around £50 and it does get all the oil out, I checked first time I used it.

Maybe I should have qualified that bit by saying mines an M44 1.9, it may depend on the type of engine as to whether it all comes out.
Vacuum pumps will always be an emotive subject, I wonder if it's so bad to not quite get all the oil out if it's changed every year on a low mileage car and refilled with the same brand and quality.
I'm sure that some servicing garages wouldn't take the care you do yourself, warming the oil and leaving time to drain etc.
Maybe they do and that's reflected in the cost.
Dave.

[Zed Carer]

A vacuum pump is around £50 and it does get all the oil out, I checked first time I used it.

Maybe I should have qualified that bit by saying mines an M44 1.9, it may depend on the type of engine as to whether it all comes out.
Vacuum pumps will always be an emotive subject, I wonder if it's so bad to not quite get all the oil out if it's changed every year on a low mileage car and refilled with the same brand and quality.

Dave.

Apologies if my previous post appeared to be a bit critical of using a vacum pump - it wasn't meant to be. There appear to be more and more dealers using vacum pumps and my last experience with one was a long time ago. I agree that it shouldn't cause any problems on a low mileage car that has annual oil changes. I tend to change the oil at 10,000 miles so its in for around 2 years and on the 2.8 M52 the dipstick is on the nearside towards the back of the engine whilst the drain plug is on the more central on the offside. But there again I'm assuming that BMW actually put the drain plug at the lowest point!

[gookah]

inspection services are generally oil services, plus most of the checks from an MOT,

A MOT will cost about £40... call it an inspection, and multiply by 5...

[Mike Fishwick]

Yes - but to lots of people, the price of five MoTs is justified by having another BMW Dealer rubber stamp in the service book!

I prefer to buy stamps at a post office - they are cheaper, and more useful . . .

[Muzz]

Well carnt believe you were quoted nearly half the price from sytner Coventry. I also called leicester they wanted £419. They took my chassis number as did Cov and were absolutey positive it was an inspection 1 for my 1.9 m44 BLACK Z3 lol. Neadless to say I am buying reset tool and all the stuff to do it myself. After owning mr2's for 10 years before owning a Z I did all my repairs And servicing myself. As it goes my 3 series bm needs a service as well so see what price they give for that if it's less I will have it out with them.

[Muzz]

Been on phone to sytner Leicester £199 for insp 1 on my 3 series. E46 has a promotion on at the moment,I then questioned about the £419 insp 1 for my Z and basically age of car and no promotions on that vehicle so it is what it is.
Happy new year to all !!!!