Inspection 2 Options - Main Dealer vs Indy vs Home Service

[AW8]

Car has covered around 132k miles.

Has total full main dealer service history from new - I have owned it since 2006 and 60k (so 8.5 years and over 70k miles with me).

Prices quoted vary.

Main dealer £459 plus £79 brake fluid (£538 total)

Decent tried tested or well reviewed independents vary from £330 to £489 on Insp 2 and vary between £60 and £67.50 for the brake fluid.

I suspect the dealer/Indy prices are for particulate rather than carbon cabin filter.

Saving to me by DIY insp 2 service only likely to be  £150- £165


I can do an Insp 2 myself (minus the brake fluid) for £180 using Mobil 1 0W40 LL01, NGK (OE spec) plugs & Mahle  OE filters (charcoal for cabin item).

I can't update the firmware but I can check for codes using my Peake tool and reset the service lamps.


Considering doing this myself as car is 12 years old now and worth relatively little to when new. Only negative issue is if it may make car less appealing to non enthusiast come resale. I would keep receipts and use my own stamp in the book (I have a proper one made up  labelled "home service completed" which I use for the Z3).

Curious to know how many would reject the car if I did the Insp 2 versus Indy versus main dealer (mindful this may be a relatively inexperienced mechanic who may be less careful and thorough than me)

[dgm]

Personally I'd bargain the dealer down on the price and stick with the FBMWSH.  Rightly or wrongly I think it makes your car easier to sell and is worth it for a few quid.  I've kept the dealer SH going on mine at 105k miles and will at the next service too.

[pvr]

My view is that even though it might not add value having the full BMWSH, it would make it easier to sell.

[chelsea]

mine is a late 2005 d s , full coopers bmw history (york) 118k now.

I was wondering the exact same, my car is nearly 9 years old and I really do intend keeping it for 4 years which will make it 13 yrs old and +140k miles when I am ready to let it go.
I am reasonably proficient with the spanners etc and am quietly confident I can do the services, and I am pretty sure that in 4 years time when the car is probably only going to be worth 4k+ or- ish, then the new owner isnt really going to be overly worried that I have serviced it myself properly with all receipts showing parts used.

I searched high and low to get the one I have with BMW FSH between 100k and 120k miles and anyone who knows the trade understands that by this mileage with fsh then most of the important stuff has already gone wrong and been replaced etc leaving not much else to go wrong for 30k or so.

Also think that mostly everyone can afford 4k for a car and when faced with buying an old hyundai or X5 with similar price then the X5 with a good general history is always going to get snapped up.

[X5Sport]

I do the servicing on our 9 year old E46.  Parts all from ECP when there's a sale on (which let's face it is most weeks) and it got through the MOT this year after nearly three years in storage.

I've got a copy of the TIS and a scanner 1.4.0 to help - and having used to do it years ago, a garage full of tools.

Richard

[shadrack]

in all fairness i would just buy everything to service it for insp2 from say ecp, staple the reciept in the book fill out the milage your getting to the point now where the bmw quote it going to be a high % of the cars value, some early x5s are sub 3k cars now, i buy all my cars with fsh then usually do 1 myself if needed and do this meathod and never had an issue selling or px'ing,  only rule breaker was the rrs i just sold as the local landrover indy quoted £99 for the oil servide and parts were going to cost me nearly £70 so i thought for £30 i'm not getting dirty!

[AW8]

Hmm.

Various views above albeit I have found myself convincing myself for and against all 3 choices (main dealer - Indy - DIY with invoices).

I know that prefacelift 4.4i models north of 100k don't make mega bucks come resale. That said I also know that as these get older nicer well maintained ones will be sought  by folk with old money. Perhaps  by folk wanting a 2nd or 3rd car for worst of winter or town the caravan/horse box./trailer. Folk wanting an X5 for occasional use won't be so hung up re the V8 mpg.....many will, however want well maintained examples.

Whichever way I look at it, a service bill approaching up to around 10% of cars value is a factor to consider.

[535dboy]

I wouldn't buy a car off you regardless who had serviced it !

HTH

[AW8]

It would be too ancient and pauper like for you anyway

[535dboy]

[quote="AW8"]
It would be too ancient and pauper like for you anyway
[/quote]

Nah it is more the point I've seen how you drive it!!

[AW8]

) Occasionally I blow out the cobwebs for sure but with my average obc long term mpg over 20 mpg it's fair to say it gets treated kindly most of the time.

[Raj]

Personally getting to that sort of mileage having full BM service compared to an Indy won't make any real difference. I however have done the last 2 services on mine myself with receipts for all parts showing its been done properly. In all fairness I think it starts to make a lot less difference the older the vehicle becomes and the higher the mileage goes too.

[Dan1502]

I'm soon to have a similar dilemma about whether or not to renew the BMW warranty on mine for around £1,000.  Until this last year I've had decent value out of it but having gone a year with no claims it's a difficult decision.  There's a chance I might sell sometime during this year so resale is a consideration.  I should start a new thread really but not sure anyone can really tell me anything I don't already know.

[briankerrys47]

:blink:[quote="Raj"]
Personally getting to that sort of mileage having full BM service compared to an Indy won't make any real difference. I however have done the last 2 services on mine myself with receipts for all parts showing its been done properly. In all fairness I think it starts to make a lot less difference the older the vehicle becomes and the higher the mileage goes too.
[/quote]Correct Raj(as ever) I have always supplied purchasers of my vehicles with full history receipts etc of services down to the amount of fuel/journeys (mpg) point out to them it's a 10yrs old car etc not showroom condition etc!!!  O:-)

[andym3]

[quote="shadrack"]
in all fairness i would just buy everything to service it for insp2 from say ecp, staple the reciept in the book fill out the milage your getting to the point now where the bmw quote it going to be a high % of the cars value, some early x5s are sub 3k cars now, i buy all my cars with fsh then usually do 1 myself if needed and do this meathod and never had an issue selling or px'ing,  only rule breaker was the rrs i just sold as the local landrover indy quoted £99 for the oil servide and parts were going to cost me nearly £70 so i thought for £30 i'm not getting dirty!
[/quote]
Agreed, you will not add value to the car & giving its age & mileage. You may aswell save money & do it yourself.
My X5 is also 12years old so all maintenance work I do myself! I keep all receipts as record to put with the other paperwork & service history. I also like doing the work myself as I know it gets done properly then!