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Thread: Routine maintenance

  1. #1
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    Routine maintenance

    Hi friends, Happy New Year.

    I have a one-year-old M440i. I took it in for routine maintenance and I expected to get it done and drive away with no payment as I have purchased pre-paid maintenance. So, I was surprised when they told me it will cost $440 because tire rotation and alignment are recommended but not required and therefore, they are not covered in the pre-purchase. Only oil change is covered, and I will not be billed for that.

    I felt like this was bait and switch. Am I wrong? To me rotation and alignment are something that should be standard routine maintenance.

    I am a new BMW owner and therefore not sure whether this is normal, or I am being taken for a ride. Any advice is appreciated.

    Dileep

  2. #2
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    Welcome to the Forum!

    No, BMW doesn't recommend tire rotation, that's why you have to pay for it. As for the alignment, not a needed item unless you blow out a tire in a pothole, or smash into a curb. Of all the BMW's I have owned, I never needed an alignment unless it was in an accident, or I had to replace tierod ends, ect.

    The Techs will look at your tires and tell you if you need an alignment by how they wear. If you have a square set-up on the tires, then it's possible to rotate them, but I just by 2 tires at a time and put the newest up front. I don't have a X-Drive cars, so that doesn't matter. If you are sitting on a staggered set, well they won't rotate the tires anyway.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
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  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Thank you so much for the response, it is really helpful. So, I really didn't need the rotation, or the alignment and I just forked over $450 to the dealership. I don't mind paying for something that is required, but feel cheated when I am sold something that I really didn't need.

    I appreciate your response, Dileep


    Quote Originally Posted by dworthy View Post
    Welcome to the Forum!

    No, BMW doesn't recommend tire rotation, that's why you have to pay for it. As for the alignment, not a needed item unless you blow out a tire in a pothole, or smash into a curb. Of all the BMW's I have owned, I never needed an alignment unless it was in an accident, or I had to replace tierod ends, ect.

    The Techs will look at your tires and tell you if you need an alignment by how they wear. If you have a square set-up on the tires, then it's possible to rotate them, but I just by 2 tires at a time and put the newest up front. I don't have a X-Drive cars, so that doesn't matter. If you are sitting on a staggered set, well they won't rotate the tires anyway.

  4. #4
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
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    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    No worries, think of it as getting educated, a bit of an expensive lesson, but we all have them in life.

    Most service departments I have been in just do what the customer ask, more so if they can be charged for said additional services.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

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