Stupid BMW dealers

[indy525]

We'll, I was excited BMW NA was paying for 75% of the cost of replacing the instrument cluster for bad pixels. I would need to pay for the labor. I thought it would be an hour at best so no big deal. When I called BMW to see how much this would cost they quoted me $1000 for the cluster and 1.9 hours of labor. YIKES!

What's the freaking point.

Looks like if I want to get it fixed I'll just ship it out to VDO.

[sferley]

1.9hrs of Labor .. HAHAHAHAHa .. crooks!

I can swap a cluster in under 10 minutes.

[sferley]

Just tell them to send you the cluster for the 25% you need to pay and you will deal with the rest sending them back your old one ..

[indy525]

I'll still need to get it coded though.

[Evans]

you did go to dryer and reinbold, what else would you expect from them. I wouldn't give them the time of day. Go see Reggie up in Westfield to get your coding done.

[Hernanzx]

I called my local dealer yesterday to see how much they charged for the auto tranny filter+drain and fill not a complete flush $825.00 I said your f*cking crazy click only 2hrs labor and 585.00 in parts I did it myself for 130.00 not to mention they wanted 175.00 to verify that the Dinan tune is currently on the vehicle Leith BMW btw

[Jesus Freak]

Kuni quoted me $600 to change ball joints, and $1000 to fix my oil filter housing gasket. Lol

[indy525]

you did go to dryer and reinbold, what else would you expect from them. I wouldn't give them the time of day. Go see Reggie up in Westfield to get your coding done.

Unfortunately that's the price you pay when both dealers in the city have the same owners.

Interesting that Reggie will code the cluster. He did my thrust arms and seems to be really knowledgeable. I live right down the street from his shop.

[wdsales]

It seems to me that because BMW dealerships treat their service advisors as salesman, they will just make up the most ridiculous costs....

[sferley]

BMW's mentality, if you don't want to pay those bills buy a new car ..

Talk about environmental costs then!

[f355spider]

1.9hrs of Labor .. HAHAHAHAHa .. crooks!

I can swap a cluster in under 10 minutes.

So can I....it is the coding that ends up eating some additional time. There is always "padding" in the book times, but one hour is reasonable charge. 1.9 hours is gouging.

[f355spider]

I called my local dealer yesterday to see how much they charged for the auto tranny filter+drain and fill not a complete flush $825.00 I said your f*cking crazy click only 2hrs labor and 585.00 in parts I did it myself for 130.00 not to mention they wanted 175.00 to verify that the Dinan tune is currently on the vehicle Leith BMW btw

The fluid is the killer charge in that. They use the factory Exxon (now Mobil) synthetic fluid and it is $35+ per liter. You can get it from Bavauto.com for around $22 liter.

The couple times I had it done at a dealer (BMW Store, Vancouver, BC and BMW Seattle) it was around $500, maybe $550.

[f355spider]

We'll, I was excited BMW NA was paying for 75% of the cost of replacing the instrument cluster for bad pixels. I would need to pay for the labor. I thought it would be an hour at best so no big deal. When I called BMW to see how much this would cost they quoted me $1000 for the cluster and 1.9 hours of labor. YIKES!

What's the freaking point.

Looks like if I want to get it fixed I'll just ship it out to VDO.

Try another dealer would be your first option. Then have BMWNA have the service performed at the alternate dealer.

The part should retail for around $800 tops from most dealers. The majority of dealers charge for one hour of labor to perform the swap and coding.

[oldss72]

I am 99% certain that new clusters come bare, and do not need to be coded. The mileage is the concern, but a new cluster does not have the memory that a used cluster does. The cluster will take the cars mileage after XX miles of driving. I read all this on the e38 forum, There are some experts there, and they should be able to definitively answer this.

good luck,
Joe

[supra94tt]

I am 99% certain that new clusters come bare, and do not need to be coded. The mileage is the concern, but a new cluster does not have the memory that a used cluster does. The cluster will take the cars mileage after XX miles of driving. I read all this on the e38 forum, There are some experts there, and they should be able to definitively answer this.

good luck,
Joe

Some experts they are, lol, . It has to be coded, it has to "know" what kind of "series" it's in, lol.

[bimmerfiver]

So when jason5driver says, "See your local certified BMW mechanic"...I hope he knows it's funny.

[monkeyking]

We'll, I was excited BMW NA was paying for 75% of the cost of replacing the instrument cluster for bad pixels. I would need to pay for the labor. I thought it would be an hour at best so no big deal. When I called BMW to see how much this would cost they quoted me $1000 for the cluster and 1.9 hours of labor. YIKES!

What's the freaking point.

Looks like if I want to get it fixed I'll just ship it out to VDO.

bmw called me today offering to pay 25% for a cluster replacement. may have to go the vdo route. grr...
cheers,
larry

[allamer35]

you did go to dryer and reinbold, what else would you expect from them. I wouldn't give them the time of day. Go see Reggie up in Westfield to get your coding done.

Hahaha yeah Dryer & Reinbold is funny. Had a ppi done there. I was quoted $900 for a lower hose and thermostat replacement. I did it myself.