Good WoF locations for older BMW's

[emandru 17]

Hi,

I recently moved to Auckland from Canada and also picked an e34 which is due for a WoF next month. Can anyone recommend any shops in Auckland to bring my car to that understands older BMW's or just older vehicles in general? I'm not looking for a dodgy place but rather a shop that understands that older cars cant be inspected the as new vehicles. From doing some searches I was going to bring it to BM Workshop but I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

[KwS 2421]

all cars should be held to the same standards, as outlined in the VIRM (vehicle inspection requirements manual), age is irrelevant. A brand specific specialist is still best practice imo, they know of the common faults to pick up on and make sure your car is actually safe (unlike VTNZ which sometimes just fails miserably at everything).

[emandru 17]

I think my main concern is to find someone that actually knows what the tolerance for wear and play are on older vehicles. As the VIRM states, all these items are vehicle specific and as a result also age specific. For example a car from 2015 may have a worn steering rack if there is play of more than 5 degrees in the steering wheel as this may be outside of the manufactures tolerances, meanwhile a car for the 1980's may have play of 15 degrees in the steering wheel but may be acceptable as this is still within manufactures tolerances. If the tech. were to hold everything to the same standards and was not aware of the vehicle specific tolerances than a perfectly safe car would fail.

[Docile 64]

I've been to some dodgy as hell garages that didn't even check for bearing play and passed me a warrant...

best to try MTA accredited garages i would say.

or VTNZ

[Mr Vapour 76]

Sparg auto tune is who you are wanting to go see.

[KwS 2421]

I've been to some dodgy as hell garages that didn't even check for bearing play and passed me a warrant...

best to try MTA accredited garages i would say.

or VTNZ

VTNZ passed my old E36 that had badly flogged lower arm bushes and front balljoints. They also passed my Prelude which had its front crossmember lower than 100mm and no cert. I dont have much faith in their inspections.

[dkonsta1 109]

Auto clinic panmure should be fine

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

[Mr Vapour 76]

Vtnz inspectors are just that, inspectors .They are not mechanics and they don't have to be. .

Last wof o got on my falcon they made me remove a factory fitted safety feature and replace it.

They don't know what they are looking at.

[KwS 2421]

They are required to be WOF certified, which means they have to be A-Grade certified or equivalent (and with multiple years experience). Most of them are ex mechanics.

VTNZ locations are all different though, some are actually decent.

Regardless, BM Workshop or the likes would be the best bet.

[emandru 17]

Jeeze that's my concern right there, people doing inspections that have no clue what they are looking for or even at. Thanks for all the replies though and if any others want to chime in the more info the better.

[Matth5 471]

BMW specialists are the best bet. BM Workshop, Bellars Motor Works, Botany Motor Works ect.

BMW Dealers can be good but the bill might ruin you.

The ones recommended on this forum have good reputations and won't push unnecessary repairs on you. And if you need to save money with used parts, BM World or HellBM sell used parts at good prices.

[my_e36 43]

BMW Dealers can be good but the bill might ruin you.

Dealer WOF is no more expensive than a AA or VTNZ one. You even get free coffee and SKYTV while you wait. But if they picked up anything need repairing, those prices are a bit higher than other mechanics.

[Matth5 471]

Dealer WOF is no more expensive than a AA or VTNZ one. You even get free coffee and SKYTV while you wait. But if they picked up anything need repairing, those prices are a bit higher than other mechanics.

The whole point of taking your car to a specialist for a a WOF is so that any issues can be dealt with effectively and you don't pay more than you need

Some of the part prices I've been quoted have been insane, honestly I'd never go to a dealer for anything that isn't under warranty. Independent workshops will happily let you sort your own parts or use second hand parts, they tend to know of good aftermarket alternatives themselves.

BMW dealers will just give you brand new "Genuine BMW" parts which can be well overpriced, especially in NZ where they like to slap on massive profit margins.

Edited February 12, 2016 by Matth5

[KwS 2421]

You make it sound like a bad thing that dealers only use genuine parts. I wouldnt want to them using inferior knockoff parts if i took my car to a dealer for work. They also have to meet dealer standards, and guarantee the work.

Yes, the parts are likely more expensive than buying the same thing overseas or aftermarket, but its generally not because of "massive profit margins", it because we are a much smaller market and thus costs are high in the first place. Repco and the likes have HUGE margins on their parts (just get trade on a set of brake pads or something and see how much cheaper than retail it is), but you dont complain about that.

Yes the labor at a dealer will be higher, but as we see all the time, a dealer can usually get the same job as "averages joes mechanical services" done in less time because they have all the right tools and experience. We often do work to fix issues that other workshops have charged an arm and a leg for but couldnt fix, and we do it first time for less than they have paid the other workshop.

Anyway, thats just my rant. I get tired of people slagging off dealers, they arent out there to get you.

[tawa 150]

Top right of the windscreen works for me...

[Matth5 471]

Yes, the parts are likely more expensive than buying the same thing overseas or aftermarket, but its generally not because of "massive profit margins", it because we are a much smaller market and thus costs are high in the first place.

That's a weak excuse. If I can import it myself for less than half the price, they're doing it wrong. They end up losing sales to US and European online stores because of this, and the end result is that everybody avoids dealers for anything not warranty related.

It's also such a pain to even get prices out of them, gotta phone them because they ignore your emails half the time (that goes for both the Auckland dealers). Ordering from overseas is not just cheaper, it's easier.

Edited February 13, 2016 by Matth5

[KwS 2421]

Sounds like you have sh*t dealers then (or you have a bad relationship with them), never had an issue contacting Jeff Gray here, even by email.

You can call it a weak excuse all you like, but until you have worked in the industry your opinion is moot.

[Matth5 471]

Don't see why I need to work in the industry to have an opinion as a customer. Other than urgency (if there is even stock locally), how do you justify to a customer that he should buy the same thing at double the price from a local dealer?

[KwS 2421]

As a customer you dont know the cost prices set by the overseas head of the company. If you worked in the industry you would have a much more realistic opinion of it.

Its an issue we constantly battle with, and i understand, but there is generally sweet f**k all the local dealer can do about the pricing. No point blaming the dealer for it and acting like they're so evil.

[KwS 2421]

We're always pushing to get prices lowered to meet the guys that parallel import parts, but its an uphill battle. A lot of the parallel imported genuine stuff comes from countries like China that have legal limitations put on parts pricing, so they can import it cheaper than the NZ company can get it for from Germany. Aftermarket stuff is just a gamble, some people get away with it, some dont, i dont go there personally.

Theres also issues with parts warranties if not purchased from a legit local dealer. I know with Mercedes parts MBNZ will tell you to jog on if you try to claim parts warranty on a parallel imported part, it will need to go back to the country of origin. CGA will come into effect from the supplier, but its still more of a headache.

Anyway, this is way off topic now.

[Michael. 2313]

P&S Auto in East Tamaki, they're a good bunch.

[Matth5 471]

Your local BMW dealer doesn't set the price BMW NZ does , and they have changed their pricing strategy to be more in line with Australian policy. BMW parts have gone up consistently in recent years making them more expensive.

Plus you are probably not factoring in GST with overseas sourcing.

Sad...

Even GST doesn't bring prices anywhere near what we're paying.

BMW Performance Power Kit for 335i, only a software flash and activation code, nothing physical to ship. About $800-$1200 in the US depending on where you look, I was quoted $2500 for this in NZ.

(Ended up discovering that it works on my car without activation code so paid a workshop less than $200 to get it, but that was luck...)

Its an issue we constantly battle with, and i understand, but there is generally sweet f**k all the local dealer can do about the pricing. No point blaming the dealer for it and acting like they're so evil.

I'd expect the dealers to have more influence than the general public or anyone else, it affects their profit directly so they ought to be discussing it if they want the prices lower. If they don't, the situation will not get any better.

For the customer it doesn't matter what the reason or whose fault it is, the customer will pick the better option for them and that means lost sales for dealers. So it's on them to do something about it, nobody can help them.

Edited February 14, 2016 by Matth5

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

Independent workshops will happily let you sort your own parts or use second hand parts, they tend to know of good aftermarket alternatives themselves.

Really? I'd love to know where these independents are, never been to any mechanic that has done that.

What sort of guarantee / warranty do they put on the work, especially with the used parts?

[FRT 144]

P&S Auto in East Tamaki, they're a good bunch.

+1

[HappyH00ker 30]

+1

+1