• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Hour number 3 at the dealer (oil change)

I

Insomniator

Diamond Member
Been here since 9:30... for an oil change and 30 point inspection/check. They don't recommend driving the car in its current condition. Its got 90k miles on it and has been mostly serviced AT MINI DEALERS. Are they not embarrassed telling me this about their own car? 90k miles not 900k!

Apparently the thing can't hold oil any more because the oil plug is stripped? Car has had what, 12 oil changes tops? Motor mounts leaking, power steering leaking, coolant leaking etc... I swear this car was looked over a year ago with 10k miles less and most of these issues were 'fixed' at the time.

Kill me plz
 
Stripped oil plug is the fault of whoever did the last oil change. I change mine myself for this reason, or take it to the dealer if I'm in a rush.
 
I just added their prices of the amount of work they say the car needs -- $5362!! And that doesn't include 'possible cooling system replacement' which i'm sure is another 1500.

How do they hand out these invoices with a straight face? That is equal to what the car is worth at this point. Maybe insurance will just total it for me 🙄
 
monkeydelmagico said:
That sucks, feel your pain. Might be a good time to trade it in?
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about that anyway and I still owe 5k on it, but if the car actually needs this kind of work (bringing it to my usual mechanic soon) I certainly won't get 5k trade or sale.

Hopefully I can put a grand into it, keep it the two years until its paid and then start over. I only drive like a hundred miles a month so the car would have to be pretttty shot for it not to last that long.
 
AznAnarchy99 said:
Why didn't you request a loaner?
Click to expand...

Planned on just an oil change, and I had my work laptop with me anyway. Didn't realize it would take so long... like an hour to 'retrofit' a special plug that would fit in my stripped oil pan.

I wish so bad I could work on cars myself and not deal with what I really have assume are crooks or moron teenagers working on my car.
 
Insomniator said:
Planned on just an oil change, and I had my work laptop with me anyway. Didn't realize it would take so long... like an hour to 'retrofit' a special plug that would fit in my stripped oil pan.

I wish so bad I could work on cars myself and not deal with what I really have assume are crooks or moron teenagers working on my car.
Click to expand...

Yeah I never expect the dealer to be punctual. Next time just tell them you have a business meeting to go to and request a loaner ahead of time, even if it should only take like 30 minutes.
 
At least they don't say you need to replace your timing chain tensioner, that is another $3k

As for the oil plug, maybe cheaper to replace the pan.
 
The car is an 04 so its not like its crazy that things be wrong with it. Just... to quote 1500 for a set of tires and alignment is comical. Ball joints have been done at least 3 times since I got the car 60k miles ago. Power steering and coolant is leaking EVERY time I have them take a look at it. They recommend ridiculous things like 'replace entire X system' constantly. They said the ball joint is so bad that the tire might fall off.

With 76k miles they did an oil change and 'looked over the suspension' because I asked them too (car was floating a bit), and no mention of a stripped plug or major issues.

With ~80k miles the ball joints and oil gaskets were done in March of this year. So in 9 months and 10k miles they are so bad that the wheel is going to fall off?
 
Insomniator said:
The car is an 04 so its not like its crazy that things be wrong with it. Just... to quote 1500 for a set of tires and alignment is comical. Ball joints have been done at least 3 times since I got the car 60k miles ago. Power steering and coolant is leaking EVERY time I have them take a look at it. They recommend ridiculous things like 'replace entire X system' constantly. They said the ball joint is so bad that the tire might fall off.

With 76k miles they did an oil change and 'looked over the suspension' because I asked them too (car was floating a bit), and no mention of a stripped plug or major issues.

With ~80k miles the ball joints and oil gaskets were done in March of this year. So in 9 months and 10k miles they are so bad that the wheel is going to fall off?
Click to expand...

They should warranty their work for at least a year or like 12k miles.

I would refuse to pay for the stripped oil plug. If they did the last oil change and this one, it is 100% their fault. Oil plugs only get stripped if they mess up. It isn't like a exhaust bolt that will seize over its normal life.

If they won't offer a warranty and cover the stripped plug, I'd never take my car back to them.
 
I hit 103K on my forester. It got new belts at like 96K, and I had a pressure value problem once, and I had 2 wheel bearings replaced under warranty, but otherwise, it drives and feels close to new.
 
Insomniator said:
The car is an 04 so its not like its crazy that things be wrong with it. Just... to quote 1500 for a set of tires and alignment is comical. Ball joints have been done at least 3 times since I got the car 60k miles ago. Power steering and coolant is leaking EVERY time I have them take a look at it. They recommend ridiculous things like 'replace entire X system' constantly. They said the ball joint is so bad that the tire might fall off.

With 76k miles they did an oil change and 'looked over the suspension' because I asked them too (car was floating a bit), and no mention of a stripped plug or major issues.

With ~80k miles the ball joints and oil gaskets were done in March of this year. So in 9 months and 10k miles they are so bad that the wheel is going to fall off?
Click to expand...

You need to find a reasonable mechanic in your area. Stop going to the dealer.
 
Insomniator said:
I wish so bad I could work on cars myself and not deal with what I really have assume are crooks or moron teenagers working on my car.
Click to expand...

BMWs, particularly from that time period, have really informative and helpful online communities / DIY guides .. if you want to learn to work on cars, you can. Just buy all the right tools as you need them. The power steering leak is at most a couple $15 hoses, $25 fluid reservoir, and a few bucks worth of ATF (I had the same leak 🙄 .. )

That said, dealers are pretty dumb and will tell you to replace way more than you need to avoid the work to actually diagnose problems. I've brought my car to good indie shops in the Boston area once or twice when I didn't have time to deal with something and it's always been very reasonable. Check out bimmershops.com to find them in your area
 
My 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue needed almost 3 grand worth of maintenance at the 100K mark (original brakes replaced, wheel bearings, EGR Valve, Alignment, Oil changed, Coolant change, ATF change, spark plugs and wires change, so on and so forth).

Regardless of miles, cars start tiring out once they're >10 years old. So it's not surprising to me that even though you have few miles for its age, there's a lot to replace 🙂
 
Cross-posting from the hybrid thread, but my cousin is at 280k in her (gen1) Insight and has only needed a new rear engine mount, spark plugs, and oil/CVT fluid changes. Do BMWs really typically need that kind of maintenance?
 
Yuriman said:
Cross-posting from the hybrid thread, but my cousin is at 280k in her (gen1) Insight and has only needed a new rear engine mount, spark plugs, and oil/CVT fluid changes. Do BMWs really typically need that kind of maintenance?
Click to expand...


European cars on average need more maintaince and it also cost more on top of that. Also many times there are fewer aftermarket parts so its not as easy or cheap to find.
 
Yuriman said:
Cross-posting from the hybrid thread, but my cousin is at 280k in her (gen1) Insight and has only needed a new rear engine mount, spark plugs, and oil/CVT fluid changes. Do BMWs really typically need that kind of maintenance?
Click to expand...

If you get a lemon like mine, yes.

But my model mini (r53) is known as one of the most expensive cars to maintain with plenty of common expensive issues.
 
I think you need to run away from that dealer as fast as you can.

If you take it to a few independent shops and they all tell you the same thing, then I think you need to dump the POS and buy a car built with more quality.
 
What is 'Motor mounts leaking' ? (thats a new one to me)

If you had it fixed previously, they should have it on record it was done, date/mileage/vin.
First get the list of fixes, then ask them to print out the previous fixes, nothing should match, if it does, then Id say its either wasnt done, or the parts were defect
 
I think the dealer is and has been taking you for a sucker. If it's out of warranty, it should never be at a dealer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top