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5-Series (E12,E28, E34, E39, E60)Chat relating to the BMW 5-Series of all generations. Specific models include: BMW 518, BMW 520, BMW 520i, BMW 530i, BMW 528i, BMW 530i, BMW 518i, BMW 524d, BMW 525i, BMW 525e, BMW 528e, BMW 540i, BMW 535i, BMW 520d, BMW 525td, BMW 525d, BMW 530d, BMW 525i/xi, BMW 530i/xi. (BMW 5-Series Forum)
Well I have been experiencing some road noise for the past month or so. I took the car into my local BMW speciality shop (they service BMW, MB and Porsche). I figured that my wheel bearing was causing an issue and since I have the extended warranty, no big deal. Well they call me today. Of course both bearings are bad and they are being replaced under warranty minus the deductible and bench parts. ($135 total) Then they tell me that the brake fluid needs to be changed as well as the coolant. And my accessory belts...same fate. So he quotes me a price of 355.00 for these listed services. I told him to go ahead since I figured it was preventative maintenance. Did I make a mistake?
Whether it is a mistake or not depends on two things A.If you can do the work and B. If you have the time to do it. Knowing the belt costs roughly $50 coolant about the same, brake fluid is not a biggy so you could've saved some $$ here and there. But look; at the end of the day spending more time with the loved ones/kids (if you have any) instead of fixing it over the weekends is not a mistake in my opinion. As you said preventive maintenance especially when winter is knocking hard on your Bimmer's door.
E39, owners have a lot of plastic to deal with. If it was me & i had the money &/or had to drive long distances at a time I would change the water pump=$75.00,radiator=$182.00+?-$10.00, expansion tank$60-70, level sensor=$28.00, cap=$12.00, thermostat & housing==(aluminum==only, if they don't know this don't let them work on your car!!) another $60-$70 in parts. add $35 in shop cost for bmw coolant & distilled water==recommend.. drive belts a/c $18.89, w/p,alt,p/s=$28.00
labor should be 5.0-6.0 is fare.....these are the things that I have to fix every day when they get towed in. what i listed as a pice is dealer list, you can find them cheeper if you look, but I recommend using only the bmw parts when possible or better. FLUSH your brake fluid every two years, more so if you drive hard, recommend ate super blue, (blue) then ate type 200,(gold) next service, lets the tec/you know all the fluid has been changed. PS have them check you cat.converter, & you do as well(rattle) fed warranty 8ry/80k miles after that $1500.00+labor...
Well I picked up my baby from the shop. I must say, this is not the car I bought 2 months ago. This car is so much more. I use to feel like the car was sluggish or didn't want to go. Not anymore. I wonder how bad those wheels bearings really were and how they went without being replaced before. Well anyhow, after all the repairs, came out about 50 dollars less than the dealer estimated and he even threw in a stereo volume knob :-D
Congrats on your success. I have to agree with BillB that, if you're like me, time spent working on the car is time not necessarily spent with family. It sounds like you did OK in my opinion, provided they did everything correctly and you don't have to take it back to get them to do something over again.
I need to flush my brake fluid as well as my coolant. The brake fluid thing will actually be some time spent with my dear wife after the kids are in bed because she is my official brake pedal pusher... :P
__________________ <span style='colorurple'>Eric S.</span>
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL-RES
2006 Honda Accord V6 EX-L Sedan
1999 BMW 540i 6-Speed (Sold to M3UOND on 9/21/06)
1991 Honda Civic Si - Occasional Beater
After years of repairing/maintaininig/servicing my own and friends and familys cars I have finally laid down the old spanners and conceded that I cannot be arsed any more - from now on it's the garage all the way - shame after all I've learnt over the years buit I just can't be bothered any more - apart from all the mods I want to make.
BeelZ
The problem with all this is you cannot ask/make any money even if you have to pull a whole engine out for a friend or a relative. Without going in details I did fix many many PCs and cars for free. Our baby sitter's included!!
Originally posted by BeelZibub@Nov 7 2004, 02:08 AM After years of repairing/maintaininig/servicing my own and friends and familys cars I have finally laid down the old spanners and conceded that I cannot be arsed any more - from now on it's the garage all the way - shame after all I've learnt over the years buit I just can't be bothered any more - apart from all the mods I want to make.
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Beelz......I'm in Coventry, do you used a stealership or a specialist? Godfrey Hall in Cov is my closest stealer.......an opinion/dealings?
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urple'>Eric S.</span>
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