E46 M3 - Best Inspection II service provider in Auckland?

[zero 1162]

he has already spent the money,someonle else has lready commented on the delaer pricing thing ,your post didnt say to ask for a price or even ask the OP to query the price with JC just a pointless post to make him feel even better about the experience and in a not so sublte way say .wow i wouldnt pay that.

If you read the whole thread you would see that I recommended an independent right near the beginning of the thread.

Glad to hear that you too wouldn't pay $470 to have four springs put in a e46.

[Olaf 3309]

$470 is about $100 per corner, and the cost of a courtesy ride and a coffee. It covers cost of some broken trim clips in the boot, replaced... not so exhorbitant in many respects. and a bit of healthy margin.

And as the OP says, he saved valuable time not taking it elsewhere.

Hopefully they did the alignment with the weights on the floor as per factory spec.

As for Mag and Turbo? Why would anyone go there, for anything? Would you buy food - to eat - from McDonalds? Sheesh. If you want a specialist job done, go to a specialist. If you want a hamburger, you can go to Ronnie Maccas or Booger King.... or go to Burger Wisconsin or Burger Fuel. There are good independent workshops around for suspension work, if you prefer not to go to a BMW independent.

[hybrid 1043]

Who does not love a good old fashioned misinformed dealership beat up? come on lads lets keep to the truths and enough of the dribble.

Went to them as a full paying customer for years, spent a lot of money with them over that time .. after going back 4 times and paying for their mis-diagnosis of the 4 separate issues I gave up. Not really a beat up when I decided to learn about this stuff myself and easily found the causes of my problems and fixed them myself.

I knew the managers well there and had very good relationships with them and the staff. When they all left I stayed on as a customer but left because of the issues the new crew and substandard level of workshop service. I dont really have an issue with voicing my concerns for repeated mistakes. As I said earlier, it was 5 years a go and im sure things have changed. Maybe not either. I know the prices havent. As I said, I know where the good people are for these less plastic engines and they're not at the dealerships. Indy mechanics are where everyone is ... because they're enthusiast themselves not just another spanner swinger.

[Neal 540]

I would have done exactly the same thing. I wouldn't waste time or experiment finding a place to do springs. Too many trashed car stories and double visits.

It's also ironic that the current dealer mechanics get a bashing , old gen bashing the new gen. Kiwi thing. Had a opportunity to talk with one here locally. Had come out from my fav motorcycle dealer and had probably shimmed more valve trains than the majority of car mechanics. Had been working through the BMW courses etc.

I'd have no issue with him doing servicing ( and shims)on my M3 any time but there are quite a number there that I have the same regard for.

[Lubed 55]

Went to them as a full paying customer for years, spent a lot of money with them over that time .. after going back 4 times and paying for their mis-diagnosis of the 4 separate issues I gave up. Not really a beat up when I decided to learn about this stuff myself and easily found the causes of my problems and fixed them myself.

I knew the managers well there and had very good relationships with them and the staff. When they all left I stayed on as a customer but left because of the issues the new crew and substandard level of workshop service. I dont really have an issue with voicing my concerns for repeated mistakes. As I said earlier, it was 5 years a go and im sure things have changed. Maybe not either. I know the prices havent. As I said, I know where the good people are for these less plastic engines and they're not at the dealerships. Indy mechanics are where everyone is ... because they're enthusiast themselves not just another spanner swinger.

Welcome to paying for dealership branding and showrooms. A lot of us just DIY this sort of stuff or get the trusted regulars to do the work. the e46 m3 is an old car, the true first gen trained mechanics have left the dealerships a long time a go. Jerry Clayton is now owned by Sime Darby .. when this happened everyone walked out the door who was a true BMW mechanic. From memory only two of the older guys stayed on but where quite jaded when dealing with them ... they were there to guide the young mix brand mechanics ... this is when things started to slip.

I havent gone back in 5 years so things may have changed .. but I would say for the newer cars, not the older vehicles such as the M3.

Indy specialist shops are where its at for this sort of work.

Being this is a public forum and your part of the admin on this site then its best we keep to the facts. I currently work in the JC BMW workshop and have done for the past 14yrs along with a number of other long term techs who are still very passionate and dedicated to the product. My colleages and I are some of the people who were doing pre delivery inspections on new E46 M3,s so its fare to say there is a lot of experienced guys in the shop more than capeable of working on these cars. Your comments about the dealership once being taken over by Sime Darby are simply not true with so many long term staff still onboard.

[Karter16 403]

I usually steer clear of these sorts of threads as you're always going to get people on both sides of the argument (it's like the Manual/SMG discussion, you can't win) but I do feel I should weigh in here. I used JC when I owned my E46 318i and again now with my E46 M3. With both cars I felt well taken care of - although you do get made to feel extra special with an M car ;-)

I am well aware that I'm paying a premium by going to a dealer for service, however having run the numbers it's not as much of a premium as you might think. I've had excellent service. The service manager has always gone the extra mile for me, and I've had alternatives presented to me when repairs have been needed.

Yes I could have probably had things done cheaper elsewhere, but in the 10 odd years I've been going to JC I haven't once wished I opted for the cheaper alternative.

That's just my opinion/preference. Not everyone will feel the same way. But for me the overall value has always been there.

It does come down to what your approach is, maintaining service history, etc. which is why the perceived value will never be the same for everyone. Just wanted to give my perspective though, as dealers can often have a rough time on the forums :-)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hybrid 1043]

Being this is a public forum and your part of the admin on this site then its best we keep to the facts. I currently work in the JC BMW workshop and have done for the past 14yrs along with a number of other long term techs who are still very passionate and dedicated to the product. My colleages and I are some of the people who were doing pre delivery inspections on new E46 M3,s so its fare to say there is a lot of experienced guys in the shop more than capeable of working on these cars. Your comments about the dealership once being taken over by Sime Darby are simply not true with so many long term staff still onboard.

We are going to have to agree to disagree.

Wasnt my experience sorry with your goldfields workshop i'm sorry. Keith and the workshop guys all walked after the change. The parts department after Gary as well.

Sorry dude, im sure there are some good people still there but as a long term customer it simple was true. It can kind of be quite different on the other side of the fence.

[Lubed 55]

We are going to have to agree to disagree.

Wasnt my experience sorry with your goldfields workshop i'm sorry. Keith and the workshop guys all walked after the change. The parts department after Gary as well.

Sorry dude, im sure there are some good people still there but as a long term customer it simple was true. It can kind of be quite different on the other side of the fence.

If we read through your previous posts its seems your not comparing apples with apples, the OP car was serviced by JC BMW in Takapuna and not the JC BMW workshop in Wairau which you speak of that has been closed for many years now . While I can understand your disappointment with previous dealings I feel it some what unfair to be painting both workshops with the same brush . Intended or not your comments are disservice to the hard working people at JC BMW Takapuna .

[hybrid 1043]

If we read through your previous posts its seems your not comparing apples with apples, the OP car was serviced by JC BMW in Takapuna and not the JC BMW workshop in Wairau which you speak of that has been closed for many years now . While I can understand your disappointment with previous dealings I feel it some what unfair to be painting both workshops with the same brush . Intended or not your comments are disservice to the hard working people at JC BMW Takapuna .

Wow .. see from a customer perspective that sounds even more messed up. Same company, different cultures. Ok I understand the company had a 'those guys down the road' thing going on... got it.