Couple of quick questions re inspection/service prompt.

[BLACK DORIS 9]

Hey, as topic states have just noticed that the inspection light (and little clock symbol) are now on, although there's no other lights i.e. oil, brakes, battery indicating anything specific.

1. I've had the car a few months and it's the first bmer, so wondering if this means everything is now due for a service? I'm happy to have it looked at/sorted, just interested to know what to expect from the workshop when I take car in.

2. I'm keen to check out a couple of places suggested in another thread (powerhaus or page european) as the w'shop I've used nearby is charging 77 p/hr and I'm thinking at that rate I should go and check what a certified s'shop is charging and pay the diff for specialised mechanic...

3. Also, have a couple of shows up in new plymouth on this w'end that I'm keen to drive up for and wondered if it's wise to take the car (aprox a 700+k round trip) up the line before taking it in to be serviced?

4. Lastly could it be a wiring fault? Car def has a few 'characteristics' that I'm not entirely convinced are actual issues (it is a quirky 22yr old).

Is it normal for the service lights (green ones on dash), to go from all green to 'inspection' prompt? Thought they slowly counted down to red?

Thanks in advance for any advice/help.

Rio

Edited March 9, 2009 by BLACK DORIS

[bravo 35]

Due for inspection II provided it's been reset correctly and not by a backyard mechanic like me

Double check the manual if you have one, but I'm pretty sure that's oil, plus other fluids, belts etc.

BUT at the end of the day, a car that old is well past its correct service intervals and you should probably just do an oil change, and anything else that looks like it needs doing.

No need to rush it in - nothing wrong with the proposed 70km trip, but its possibly a timely warning to get anything sorted that needs doing.

$77/h??? I'm probably going to get booted off for saying this, but when qualified engineers with 4 years of degree and at least as long in the job charge less than $200/h, and registered sparkies (who have easily as much responsibility when it comes to making a mistake and it ending in death) only charge $60/h, $77/h for an oil service is a bit rich!

Don't get me wrong - when it comes to optimal care for my pride and joy - I'll fork out the reddies, but for an oil service - give me a break!

[*Glenn* 854]

$77/h??? I'm probably going to get booted off for saying this, but when qualified engineers with 4 years of degree and at least as long in the job charge less than $200/h, and registered sparkies (who have easily as much responsibility when it comes to making a mistake and it ending in death) only charge $60/h, $77/h for an oil service is a bit rich!

I would have to disagree Graham... I don't think we charge enough

I trained for 5 years as an apprentice and I still learn new things every day

An electrician does a 4-5 year apprenticeship as well. But he doesnt have the overheads we have. He normaly works from home and uses 1 vehicle. A mechanic needs premises, either buying premises or renting. His tools and operating expences cost less. $10-20,000 for tools maybe. My personal tools are valued at over $40,000. Workshop tools and equipment a further $90,000. My operating expenses monthly are around $20,000... just to keep the doors open.

We can also kill people if we are negligent. Unlike doctors, our mistakes dont get buried, they turn up on Mondays normaly. We charge $75 per hour so I think $77per hour for providing a service with skilled people is a fair charge.

My IT expert comes to work with a laptop and a bag of discs along with his technical skills. He charges me $80 to arrive and $100 per hour while hes working. He has no office & works from home and has one vehicle. He provides me with a service... I just pay the bill. Please tell me or enlighten me why a qualified engineer should charge $150-$200 per hour... is he a more skilled person ? are his operating expences more than mine ? are his capital expences to set up a business higher ?

I dont think so. However, I may be wrong. The Motor Industry in NZ, and this is only my opinion, under sells it self

[*Glenn* 854]

Back on subject.

To BLACK DORIS

Looks like you need a service according to your SI board. If you dont have mechanical skills to do things for your self. Seek out a reputable BMW specialist that can look after your car properly. You will pay for this service and level of skill, however in the long run it will be worth it. I'm sure people on here from Welly can steer you in the right direction.

In answering 4th. It is normal for the SI board to count down. When a service is carried out the lights are reset to five green lights on. These deminish by milage 1 green light for every 2,000km. Then the service orange promp will appear, if the service is not carried out and the lights are not reset, the red will come on. You could have faulty batteries on the SI board or the board could be faulty. If it can be reset there is no problem. Get it checked.

BTW: SI= Service Indicator

Edited March 9, 2009 by *Glenn*

[Jono51 59]

.

Edited April 19, 2016 by JKSE

[Graham m5 0]

Back on subject.

To BLACK DORIS

Looks like you need a service according to your SI board. If you dont have mechanical skills to do things for your self. Seek out a reputable BMW specialist that can look after your car properly. You will pay for this service and level of skill, however in the long run it will be worth it. I'm sure people on here from Welly can steer you in the right direction.

In answering 4th. It is normal for the SI board to count down. When a service is carried out the lights are reset to five green lights on. These deminish by milage 1 green light for every 2,000km. Then the service orange promp will appear, if the service is not carried out and the lights are not reset, the red will come on. You could have faulty batteries on the SI board or the board could be faulty. If it can be reset there is no problem. Get it checked.

BTW: SI= Service Indicator

I totally agree with Glenn on this. When i started out over 25 years ago i done a five year truck, then a five year car apprentiship before i was allowed to qualify in my field as a mechanic ( not a fitter as they call some of them now )i worked for ford,and Renault for over 10 years. I then went to work for BMW where i had to do a years training course to qualify me to work on them. We worked in immaculate conditions and they charged 40 POUNDS $120 an hour in 1993 so i dont think $80 an hour is so bad do you. People also forget that in N.Z if the mechanic makes a mistake they have to put it right at there own expense, and people do make mistakes, also any mistake with brakes,steering,suspension etc will kill you and we work with machinery that can do serious damage to you every day, jacks,welders,lathes etc.From what i understand with Glenn being a specialist, and very good at what he does $80 an hour is a small price to pay for piece of mind driving a car that has been maintained to the highest standard

[*Glenn* 854]

Hey Rio,

If I was you I would use Page European, Go and talk to Bow, tell him that Jon begley sent ya.

first thing you should get done before worring about anything else is cambelt and tensioner!, that is if you do not know when it was last done. they should be replaced every 80,000 ks, or every 2 years, which ever comes first.

When the cambelt snaps in an E30, is can cause costly engine damage.

anyways Bow will sort you out, he is really good.

Jon

M20 engines you change the cambelt every 60,000km or 5 yrs which ever occurs first

M40 its 40,000km or 5 yrs

[BLACK DORIS 9]

Thanks for the replies people.

Will prob get the w'shop to do this servicing but I'm def keen to do the basic fluid changes etc myself next time.

Cheers

rio

[kiwi535 538]

Thanks for the replies people.

Will prob get the w'shop to do this servicing but I'm def keen to do the basic fluid changes etc myself next time.

Cheers

rio

inspection with clock symbol is "annual inspection" not ins 1 or 2

[BLACK DORIS 9]

inspection with clock symbol is "annual inspection" not ins 1 or 2

ok, cheers! Still wondering why the lights didn't count down to inspection notice but rather went from 'all green' to 'inspection' overnight... anyway, keen to get it looked at anyways as the previous owner had done a few of diy replacements etc and wasn't sure when he'd done certain bit and pieces.

thanks again

rio

[kiwi535 538]

ok, cheers! Still wondering why the lights didn't count down to inspection notice but rather went from 'all green' to 'inspection' overnight... anyway, keen to get it looked at anyways as the previous owner had done a few of diy replacements etc and wasn't sure when he'd done certain bit and pieces.

thanks again

rio

should count down as said before, but the info i gave is good for when she is working properly again!

[Jono51 59]

ok, cheers! Still wondering why the lights didn't count down to inspection notice but rather went from 'all green' to 'inspection' overnight... anyway, keen to get it looked at anyways as the previous owner had done a few of diy replacements etc and wasn't sure when he'd done certain bit and pieces.

thanks again

rio

if you need another SI board, let me know bro, got heaps

Jon

[BLACK DORIS 9]

^^ Cheers bro, will do.

Cars booked in at page european for tues morning so should know what overall state she's in by weds. -Slight apprehension. Hope she's not just a pretty face...