The BMW UUC Digest Volume 2 : Issue 48 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: Dealers Price Going Up Re: Dealers Price Going Up Re: Dealers Price Going Up Re: Dealers Price Going Up Re: low budget negative camber: was E36 M3 Tie rod adjustment Re: Dealers Price Going Up was Dealers Price Going Up;Now Rant NYC Car Stuff Mechanic locator Dealer Prices '86 535i fuel tank replacement Re: '86 535i fuel tank replacement Re: Dealers Price Going Up BMW show alert :-) 88 325ix ABS Module
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 10:55:27 -0800 From: Jim Bassett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Dealers Price Going Up Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 10:16 AM 2/27/04, Dennis Wynne talked about: >P.S. Am I the only one that likes the smell of that BMW windshield wiper >fluid :-) ? The blue stuff? Made by Wurth, I get it from my local BMW mechanic. Yes, I like the smell too :-) Jim Bassett ------------------------------ Date: 27 Feb 2004 11:46:23 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Dealers Price Going Up Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I seriously doubt that the dealer techs are being paid $100/hr. More likely that is the rate you would pay the dealer. It's as high as $140/hr at a certain dealer in the SF Bay Area. Dunno if it's true for your car and your dealer, but often an "Oil Change" is quite different from an "Oil Service". An Oil Change is oil and filter only, and cheap. An Oil Service includes a bunch of fluid and maintenance checks and can easily cost $100 or more. Some dealers do "Oil Changes", and some don't. An independent shop will generally do what you ask. Curt Ingraham 72 2002tii Oakland, CA Celisa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I wonder has anyone been to Moritz BMW lately for an oil change. I have had > one of the most expensive oil changes you could ever imagine. Right now, the > techs are being paid $100.00 an hour. Now I haven't joined BMWCCA, but I > will soon. I did belong to it, but let it expire, I still have the sticker > on my car, and I sure used it when told I had to pay a total of $174.00 for > oil change and windshield wipers. I said do you guys give discounts to > BMWCCA, the guy said yes, 10%, and that bought it down to $154.00. I was > then told, I would soon need brakes, and would I like for them to do it > then. I said no, I'll wait on the light to come on to alert me. I called > Autoscope, I think is the name, and I'm going there, so I don't have to pay > $400.00 dollars for front brakes and pads. If I sound cheap, and if someone > wants to call me that, than I am, but I'm tired of being a sucker for the > ones that like to drain you. > > Celisa > '99 328is ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:50:07 -0500 From: "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Dealers Price Going Up Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I'm really not trying to be a jerk here, and I'm not picking > on anybody in > particular. As much as anything, this is a rant aimed at > some co-workers > who always bitch about what it costs to maintain a car but > seem incapable > of doing some learning on their own... :-) > > Mark I do almost all of the work myself or with the help of friends, & I still bitch about what it costs to maintain a BMW!!! ;) Lee ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 15:15:09 -0500 (EST) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (bmw list) Subject: Re: Dealers Price Going Up Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From Robinson, Lee > >Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >> I'm really not trying to be a jerk here, and I'm not picking >> on anybody in >> particular. As much as anything, this is a rant aimed at >> some co-workers >> who always bitch about what it costs to maintain a car but >> seem incapable >> of doing some learning on their own... :-) >> >> Mark > >I do almost all of the work myself or with the help of friends, & I still >bitch about what it costs to maintain a BMW!!! ;) > >Lee I do most of my own work too, but am now looking for a decent independent to do my front struts/control arms. Anyone know of a good shop around Worcester MA, or want to help me tackle this one on my own? Struts are new for me, and between the springs and the retaining collar, I am not sure I am game for it in my apartment parking lot... -- Joe -- Joseph M. Krzeszewski Network Operations [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jack of All Trades, Master of None... Yet ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:15:52 -0500 From: "." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Steve Stoner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: low budget negative camber: was E36 M3 Tie rod adjustment Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Re: low budget negative camber: was E36 M3 Tie rod adjustment Beside futzing with the factory crash bolt, you can increase negative camber by placing a washer between the axle assembly and the bolt holes on the bottom of the strut where the lower two bolts go through. Cheater tricks for stock classes include welding more material on that bottom bolt hole tab to make it thicker, and to drill out the upper strut mount stud holes. Keep the outermost edge of the original hole where it is and drill inward. The larger holes aren't visible because the nut covers them. This plus crash bolts can get yield over 3 degrees neg. camber, but to a visual inspection it will be obvious your front suspension isn't stock anymore if your negative camber is too great. Of these offenses I plead innocent. If you're a scrutineer and are sure an entrant with stock upper mounts has too much neg. camber but you can't find what else was done, these are things to check for. Btw, great pseudonym :-) , serious apologies if Steve Stoner is your real name O:-) . Barry Steve Stoner wrote: > camber correction crash bolts from the dealer ($5) you can get your neg camber > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:25:19 -0500 (EST) From: Mark Andy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Dealers Price Going Up Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Howdy, On Fri, 27 Feb 2004, Robinson, Lee wrote: > I would say that place is a bonafide rip-off shop. You can tell them I > said so. $100 for an oil change. That's preposterous. I felt creepy > inside when a buddy was charged $50 locally for an oil change. Now, I > can see $50 being reasonable. Techs have to be paid, there's about $5 > in parts & $15 worth of oil. But even so, I'd think a local shop who > wants your business would be pretty reasonable. I do them myself, but > know where I could get it done for around $30 here at a local indy--not > only that, it's the indy shop I respect the most. The wipers are only > $20 on top of that. The wipers are something you can do yourself, as > there are no tools required. You will save yourself a lot of trouble by > learning little things like replacing wipers & light bulbs. If the $100 includes a car to drive while they're doing the oil change, I'd say the price is about right. If it includes synthetic oil, it might even be cheap. I do all my own maintenance, and when I run into something I can't do I typically know someone who can and we do it together. Its a hobby of mine as much as anything else. I've also probably got around $10k in various tools (not all for auto mechanics of course). My (cheap, by mechanic standards) toolbox cost me $800... Well more than most people pay for all the tools they own. And when you compare my tool stuff to what a real mechanic has (and they typically are responsible for their own tools, even at a dealership), I'm low man out. It kinda burns me a little when people that _haven't_ spent any time learning to do stuff, researching things, buying tools, busting their knuckles figuring out how to change a strut, etc. etc. bitch about what some shop charges them. You have a very simple option here. Do the research and figure out how much things should cost or shut the heck up and pay for the convience you're getting. > About the brakes, I bet they're suckering you. I recently got the same > thing about by 01 Saab. Guy called me up & told me the brakes were less > than 5%, which I knew was crap as I had just rotated the tires. These guys > should know better as I'm kinda a wrench-head. Anyway, he quoted me $490 > for front brakes. I told him I'd do them myself & he gave me the whole > sleazy, "well, I don't know if I can let the car leave the shop like this > because of safety." I told him I was coming right over to have a look & all > of a sudden, he backed down. When I picked up the car, the other writer > gave me the same crap. I marched out onto the shop floor where the car was > sitting & indicated that the pads were a finger thick (about 1/2). If they > were really at 5% that would mean that the wheels would have to be about 3 > feet wide to accomodate them...... Right. Just like with anything else, some folks will try to take advantage of you. If you think that's happening, then do the research and learn enough to figure out if you're getting had. And then _don't go back to that shop again_. If you don't want to bother doing the research, then just suck it up and quit whining. In particular, ask them up front what's going to happen and that they call you if something doesn't match up one they get into it. If they call to tell you a part's bad, decide if you want them to do the work and ask them to keep the old parts so that you can see them to see what failed in case it happens in the future. If they aren't willing to do that, well then you've got your answer, don't you? I'm really not trying to be a jerk here, and I'm not picking on anybody in particular. As much as anything, this is a rant aimed at some co-workers who always bitch about what it costs to maintain a car but seem incapable of doing some learning on their own... :-) Mark ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:39:10 -0500 From: "Steve Stoner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: was Dealers Price Going Up;Now Rant Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Mark wrote SNIP >> As much as anything, this is a rant aimed >> My motto, not just for my vehicles but my home as well is Why pay somebody else good money to f*ck it up when I can f*ck it up just fine all by myself for free. Steve Stoner __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:41:38 -0500 From: "Nancy Fluharty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "BMW Digest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: NYC Car Stuff Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Spending a long weekend with the family unit in Manhattan. Any car things I shouldn't miss? I know, it's NYC, but still... Bob Fluharty 87 325is/3.0 95 M3 Cincinnati ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:52:57 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Mechanic locator Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.iaibmwsp.com/ If they're listed here, you should probably be using them. Brett Anderson KMS > -----Original Message----- > > Looking for a good independant mechanic in the Jacksonville, Fl area. > > - Kevin Jay > '96 328is, red/tan, usual H&R/Bilstein setup, stock motor > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 11:54:30 -0800 (PST) From: kjk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Dealer Prices Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I had my wife's car in for her 60k service. It wasn't cheap with an hourly rate of $150!! (Stevens Creek). They told me she needs new brakes on all four corners and it would be about $550 an axle. Yeah, right. I ordered the parts from Pacific BMW and got it all (including shipping and tax) for $300. So, how can they $700-800 in labor for a brake job. The MSRP is reflected on Pacific's receipt and even at full list the parts were only a bit over $300 before tax. This means they are charging for labor they don't perform (which may be okay if they are allowed book) or they are marking parts up from list--which is really not okay with me. Once I do the front brakes, if my wife's wheel still shakes a bit on initial brake application I get to call the guy and complain. I will ask him if they actually checked rotor runout before asking my wife for authorization to replace them. I am hoping it is the brakes but if not that could be quite fun anyway. As there is no shake once the brakes are applied, I think it is something other than the brakes --like the known deficient E46 suspension arm bushings. Other than that, the service was courteous and prompt. Kevin Kelly '91 M5 (which if I sold I would put in the ad "not serviced at a dealer by a mechanic who is younger than the car) '00 323iT __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Get better spam protection with Yahoo! Mail. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:00:44 -0600 From: "r.mackrill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: '86 535i fuel tank replacement Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Rather than tackle a rusted filler neck repair, I'm in touch with a used tank in British Columbia "in good condition" from an '88 535i. Should fit? He wants $ 195 cdn. + shipping. Randy Regina SK. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 12:48:54 -0800 (PST) From: Brad Couvillon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: '86 535i fuel tank replacement Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Randy, That tank will fit just fine. Don't forget to change out the fuel lines back there and check the transfer pump for proper operation. Brad "Shifty" Couvillon '87 528e ex-'85 Euro 535i (w/ super cool 70 liter tank) ex-'87 528e --- "r.mackrill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Rather than tackle a rusted filler neck repair, I'm > in touch with a used > tank in British Columbia > "in good condition" from an '88 535i. > Should fit? He wants $ 195 cdn. + shipping. > > Randy > Regina SK. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Get better spam protection with Yahoo! Mail. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 14:01:59 -0600 From: Dennis Wynne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Dealers Price Going Up Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The key is "proper filtering". I think even BMW thought at one point that their filters could not hold up and continue filtering for 15k miles. You might also be assuming that I drive 30k a year so I am paying for oil changes at the 3 month mark. With several cars and two motorcycles I don't put a lot of miles on any one. With the case of my 330i - as a daily driver I had around 26k on it when I sold it after 3 years of ownership. I think that would equate to a SINGLE oil change as recommended by the service monitor. When I sold the car it still had not had a single service II on it. During nice weather times, the daily driver car may sit for a long time. In fact, BMW decided that for low-mile drivers to give them a free change after 1 year of service even though the monitor did not say it was time. They sent me a letter to have be bring it in no matter what the monitor said. When the dealer did this one for free, they again did not reset the service monitor. I decided running the same oil and filter for 6-9 months was enough. Yes, I would not recommend folks putting full synthetic in a street car every 3 months or 3k miles. The used oil is supposed to be recycled and not dumped in the landfill - though the filters likely end up there. Now where did I put my dolphin sandwich? Oh, it is over there next to my spotted owl burger :-) Dennis 01 M5 silver/black At 01:46 PM 02/27/2004 -0500, Michael Lawrence wrote: >Not picking on Dennis, but I have yet to understand this so called >'ignorance' of all the data that proves synthetics last much longer than >even the BMW service monitor states for oil changes. I just don't get >it. Has anyone out there EVER had a proven oil failure or damage to a >motor from going 10-15k miles on a oil change? I have done extensive >oil testing on heavy equipment and my own cars. 15k on a synthetic is >nothing with proper filtering. People who change oil at 3000 miles >should bear the burden of the extra costs of dealing with that much >contaminated oil. Do yourself and your neighbors of this world a favor, >test the oil in your car and change it when it needs changing, not 10k >miles before hand. > >Mike > >In the construction biz, landfills and hazardous clean ups. If you have >seen what I have, you would reconsider or maybe you will be lucky enough >to have it in your backyard one day. > >__________________________________________________________________________ >In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. > >UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate >Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! >908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 17:04:12 -0600 From: Dennis Wynne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: BMW show alert :-) Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have a Tivo wish list setup with "BMW" as the keyword. I noticed last night than an upcoming episode on "The Osbournes" on MTV has BMW content. This is episode #302 titled "Car Jacked". I wonder what BMW Jack gets? Dennis 01 M5 silver/black MTV Mar 09 09:30pm CST Series/Comedy, 30 Mins. Episode #302. Jack receives a BMW for his 18th birthday. Original Airdate: February 3, 2004. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 16:56:43 -0500 From: Brad Otto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: 88 325ix ABS Module Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I just purchased a used ABS Module from a dismantler, for my 88 ix..... ETK shows parts numbers 34 52 1 157 946 for up to 4/88 and 34 52 1 159 363 for after 4/88 manufacture date..........They sent me PN 34 52 1 158 924 and had marked on it e30 ix, probably when removed.....does anyone know what car this ABS unit is for? ( PN 34 52 1 158 924). Brad 88 ix, w/abs pn 34 52 1 157 946 ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(15 messages) **********
