Sorry bud, not directed at the man on the shop floor, more at the profit margins. The oil change charge is something, I suppose.

Would need my tools to fix your car azz!
I actually do mobile diagnostics you know!!! Haha.
Don't even get near £15 ph with bmw :( Think VW get about £13ph

Sales: Trust me on this, there isn't much profit in car sales, maybe 500 per car. Most of the money is made in financing, offering extras such as paint protection (supaguard) rear windows tinted, performance styling (Alpina :luvlove:)

Aftersales:
Now this is the money maker, 17 techs @ our place. Plus a massive bodyshop, parts dept, and rental dept. Don't forget all these people (plus the background staff like accounts, valeters, managers "b4stards", maintanance) need paying. Plus ground rent, rates, company investment (repairing/buying equipment and specialist tools). It all adds up.

Granted the price is high, maybe even too high even for all of the mentioned above. You do get a good service with a years guarantee on labour, and two years on parts.
You'd be amazed how many indipendants can't keep up with the technology on these new cars these days. Alot of our customers are actually indys needing help on fixing cars they have fudged! :cuckoo:


To be honest i really want to open my own place, but knowing all of the problems a main dealer has to cover in London, it scares the crap out of me that i'd bankrupt myself trying to get started. :cry:

Only blowing smoke up your bum buddy, no offence taken :). The dealer charge is high but see above for a break down.

I'll pay for your tools to come too, it would still be cheaper:lol1:

:lol: hahaha. If you ever need a hand mate, just let me know and how much beer you'll be plying me with. :thumb:

:thumb:

no worries, there is a guy opposite me with a very nice 535d so i'll see if he needs anything too:lol1:

Haha, shame you guys aren't near london. As i have a good friend who works for auto logic, and they do remaps! and yes i get mates rates there too!!!

nice one -- not heard it called that before

:lol: You filthy begger! :thumb:

So Matt - headlight (non xenon) bulb went yesterday (the main one in the NS light) - warned me very kindly then I checked it. Rang Ocean and they said it's just a bulb change (thought I'd need a whole new headlight unit so quite a relief). Any ideas on costs? I'm expecting £100ish.
Would get it done elsewhere but they have the diagnostic key at BMW dealers in case something else is wrong.

Camped over the weekend (and surfed) and left a very wet field this morning - 335d was NOT happy and slid all over the place - had to find another slope to go up. Just made it by disabling all traction control - made a right mess of the field.

335d are the WORST offroaders ever made! Brilliant on the road, tragically poor off it!!!

In London, during the icey times! I watched with great hilarity at the bmws sliding all over the shop (ALL BMW'S ARE POO IN SLIPPERY SITUATIONS) with regards to the bulb. It's a h7 bulb mate, fit it yourself. the computer will stop warning you the moment the circuit is ok again. Don't waste £100 on a dealer to replace it, when it will only cost you the value of a bulb!

Matt - how easy is it for a bit of a mechanic spazzer like me?

More than happy to give it a go if I can!

It's slightly fiddly. I can do a step by step with pictures for you tonight if you want?? I accept credit cards, and cash only btw. ;)

Matt - how about if I get a local (friendly!) mechanic to do it just to be sure? Ocean BMW is a bit of a drive as well as being pricey.

Osrams seem to be well regarded - might be best to upgrade both bulbs TBH.

If that sounds like a bad idea, I love to see a guide but realise I might be pushing my luck a bit!

Anyone can do it mate honestly. Yes osrams are good, just keep to the legal wattage as to make sure you don't overstress the circuit to the bulb. Use a torch--All you have to do is turn the front wheel of the offending bulb away from the wing. You'll see a cover with two flat headed locks on it, turn them and remove the locks with the cover together. Then you'll see a cover held onto the back of the headlight with two sping type metal arms (these just pop off) behind there you'll see the bulb being held in with a spring clip. Unplug the bulb before you unhook the clip. Then unhook the clip, remove the bulb and repeat my insttructions in reverse. Or do you think a pic guide will help you more?? as i can't sort that out till tonight.

Matt - will have a look - thanks and don't worry about pics!

Awesome cars.
I work for BMW and if I had the money I'd seriously look at one of these.
Looks the part (in M-sport pec only)
Fast enough, 285+ bhp (get it mapped and you're lookin at a genuine M3 rival due to the USABLE power)
Good MPG should see 40+ easy
Comfort is good
Handles well
Hold there value very well, every one wants a fast tractor, sorry diesel.

Get one, you wont be disapointed.

335d's are absoluately cracking motors! Test drove one when I was looking for a 330d/335d and the massive wave of torque is really addictive!

In the end I purchased a 330d which is the best car I've ever owned - great performance and excellent handling, with very solid build quality (amazing that the interior doesnt rattle at all despite the rock solid M-Sport suspension!) Servicing costs at BMW dealers arent too bad IMO, but servicing is more frequent than with Audi (previously I was a bit of an Audi devotee with A3, A4's) but overall I would say it works out at a similar cost.

IMO Audi's have better styling than BMW, and the interior switchgear quality is better, but in every other aspect BM's win hands down. You won't regret getting a 335d, trust me! My car is coming up to 4years old, so I'll be having to change to a newer one due to company car allowance rules, but BMW will be the only option from now!!

Pete - good to hear!

Mine is on M Sport suspension (but is an SE) and non RFTs - a perfect (IMO) balance of performance and comfort.

I went from a Spec.D w/PPP to a 335d last year - and haven't regretted it, amazingly. I say that because i've had a few Scoobs, and left the marque once, and then came back the year after. I can honestly say there's no chance of that with the 335d.

Great car for 'normal' driving, then put it in sport and smile!

MPG is good, on the motorway driving steadily I get around 48 mpg. Last time i checked my average over 3500 miles was around 42-43 mpg. For that type of performance thats really rather nice!

....oh and its Evolve mapped with 350bhp and 700Nm (512 lb/ft). Sweet!

Nick

Great engines, no doubt great cars.

335d as with the 335i have no presence, they both look boring and bland in my opinion.

It's only when you get to the M3 where the aggressive nature of the 3 series shines.

To some of us, that's hard to find but absolutely perfect.

Rather that than some tarted up sub 180bhp car trying to look like an RS4 or similar.

I wished you lot would all stop rating these cars. Its really holding up second hand prices, and I have my eyes set on one, but prices just don't seem to be dropping on them and if anything they are going up. :D

Rob - what shape/spec do you want?

E91s - very hard to find, E90s - a fair few about, E92s - less around but still a fair few.

I've eaten a pair of rears (still legal but need replacing soon) in 8k miles - YIKES! Worth it though.

To a point i'd agree that they don't stick out the same as some other cars, however i'd also say that is a strength to some of us (hence I had the spec.d rather than another blue one etc).

Also, i find it nice as it reminds me of all those years ago back in the nineties when I got my first scoob, when no-one knew what they were, or what they could do.......