OZ Inspection II

[wingman]

Aussies
Any idea what an Inspection II (no extras) is likely to cost me through an independant specialist? Yes I could get on the phone and call them but it's after business hours and the wife wants to know...NOW!!! :(

[pundit]

Aussies
Any idea what an Inspection II (no extras) is likely to cost me through an independant specialist? Yes I could get on the phone and call them but it's after business hours and the wife wants to know...NOW!!! :(
Do you mean... 'She' who will be obeyed? ;)
Oh the Inspection II cost?... I have absolutely no idea! :D

[rob101]

Do you mean... 'She' who will be obeyed? ;)
Oh the Inspection II cost?... I have absolutely no idea! :D
560 AUD with brake and coolant change and full service. mind you that is probably the high end of the scale. Man i am glad i don't have a wife, just me and my 5er.... but i have a mistress 5er as well, she is an older woman;)

[wingman]

Do you mean... 'She' who will be obeyed? ;)
Oh the Inspection II cost?... I have absolutely no idea! :D

I should clarify by saying that it was wife who let me buy the car in the first place. She asked me what I was going to replace my E12 (which she hated) with. I showed her some pics and she said, "Well when are you picking it up?"

[wingman]

560 AUD with brake and coolant change and full service. mind you that is probably the high end of the scale. Man i am glad i don't have a wife, just me and my 5er.... but i have a mistress 5er as well, she is an older woman;)

Independant specialist? I take it that it is. I can imagine the stealer being around $1k. They wanted $350 for an oil service!!!

[rob101]

Independant specialist? I take it that it is. I can imagine the stealer being around $1k. They wanted $350 for an oil service!!!
yes independant specialist. Holy cow $350, sounds like a rich bastard funded bull session at the bmw workshop, lets party! the drinks are on that e34 owner lol.:p

[Boom n Zoom]

Are any of you guys from Oz aware of any of the aforementioned Independant Specialists in Brisbane?

I ask as I am just about to reach my 95,000K service time, not to mention the bloody wandering steering, it is still a handfull to keep straight after I replaced the Thrust arm bushes.:(
After spending a couple of hours under the front of the 540 it appears the previous owner was chasing the same thing, as it has
a new draglink,
new idler arm,
new pitman arm,
new swaybar mount rods.
The only things that haven't been done are the upper and lower control arms and possibly the tie rod ends (the big ticket items of course) Local stealer is asking AUD$339.00 ea for the uppers (with thrust arm bushes) and (from memory) about AUD$280.00 ea for the lower control arms (These are alloy, not steel)
I think I would be looking at about AUD$1500.00 to get it done there and I would like to avoid that of course. This of course doesn't include the service which is a Type I inspection (I think).

I really need someone who knows what they are looking at to give it the once over and tell me straight what the front end needs.

Other than having to fight with the steering over rough truck grooved roads its great to drive :)

You could always refer to your wife as " 'er indoors" ;)

Boom n Zoom

[genphreak]

Check the wheels are e34 (not e39 or something else with a 3mm too-large hub), check for bad brake rotors, bent wheels, wonky tyres... oh and loose steering box mounting bolts (perhaps- I've never seen this).

Buy a new set of arm from the US, $300 if you want the alloy lowers, plus $120 odd for USPS Air shipping I'd expect. Call Patrick at www.bmaparts.com he'll make it happen faster than any oz supplier. These are economy parts, if you want the best, go for Lemfoerder.

If you are happy with what's already been replaced, you probably really only need the arms, they cost $115 for Meyle alloy lowers, $190 for Lemfoerder thrust arms with the cool 750 bushings. That's a total of US$305 plus shipping.

Makes it a whole lot cheaper than you can get locally. Possible to change yourself with a breaker bar, torque wrench and a few sockets.

:) Nick

[rob101]

yes i am aware of one, don't want to plug it on the forum though, but i must say they are reasonable i have used them twice and they seem to know their stuff as well they only service BMW's say the word and I will PM you the details. Got my rear wheel bearings changed for about 350 of labour, i supplied my own parts. (i think the job blew out though, they mentioned something about the bearing seizing onto one of the stub axles luckily i didn't do it!)


Are any of you guys from Oz aware of any of the aforementioned Independant Specialists in Brisbane?

I ask as I am just about to reach my 95,000K service time, not to mention the bloody wandering steering, it is still a handfull to keep straight after I replaced the Thrust arm bushes.:(
After spending a couple of hours under the front of the 540 it appears the previous owner was chasing the same thing, as it has
a new draglink,
new idler arm,
new pitman arm,
new swaybar mount rods.
The only things that haven't been done are the upper and lower control arms and possibly the tie rod ends (the big ticket items of course) Local stealer is asking AUD$339.00 ea for the uppers (with thrust arm bushes) and (from memory) about AUD$280.00 ea for the lower control arms (These are alloy, not steel)
I think I would be looking at about AUD$1500.00 to get it done there and I would like to avoid that of course. This of course doesn't include the service which is a Type I inspection (I think).

I really need someone who knows what they are looking at to give it the once over and tell me straight what the front end needs.

Other than having to fight with the steering over rough truck grooved roads its great to drive :)

You could always refer to your wife as " 'er indoors" ;)

Boom n Zoom

[Alexlind123]

It seems to me like the cost would depend alot on the "inspect and replace as necessary" items.

[Zeuk in Oz]

Aussies
Any idea what an Inspection II (no extras) is likely to cost me through an independant specialist? Yes I could get on the phone and call them but it's after business hours and the wife wants to know...NOW!!! :(

If you have a Bentley, have you thought of doing it yourself ? Most of it is pretty straight forward.

[Boom n Zoom]

Check the wheels are e34 (not e39 or something else with a 3mm too-large hub), check for bad brake rotors, bent wheels, wonky tyres... oh and loose steering box mounting bolts (perhaps- I've never seen this).

Genphreak, :)

They are aftermarket AZEV Aluminium rims 17x8.5 fronts, I will check the hub size, rotors I haven't checked yet, but will do tomorrow for sure.
Wheels are fine as I had them balanced just after Christmas and the Beaurepairs boys know me well so all good on that front. Tyres are a little sketchy, 3-4 year old Pirelli Assimetricos, so a good starting point. I will also have a good look at the steering box mounts.



Buy a new set of arm from the US, $300 if you want the alloy lowers, plus $120 odd for USPS Air shipping I'd expect. Call Patrick at www.bmaparts.com he'll make it happen faster than any oz supplier. These are economy parts, if you want the best, go for Lemfoerder.

If you are happy with what's already been replaced, you probably really only need the arms, they cost $115 for Meyle alloy lowers, $190 for Lemfoerder thrust arms with the cool 750 bushings. That's a total of US$305 plus shipping.

Makes it a whole lot cheaper than you can get locally. Possible to change yourself with a breaker bar, torque wrench and a few sockets.

:) Nick

Yeah I think I will get it looked at and then get the parts I need form BMA. I have no qualms about doing it myself, my biggest problem is two kids and job that doesn't give me the flexability I would like when its busy..... add to that being a qualified automotive mechanic makes for frustration :( as I cannot get a crack at really looking at it with time to spare. I guess I should drag the XR8 back into use until I get this sorted out.

Thanks for your reply and information Nick, appreciate it. :)

Keith.

[wingman]

If you have a Bentley, have you thought of doing it yourself ? Most of it is pretty straight forward.

I've got a full BMW/Specialist service record and don't want to spoil it. I don't intend keeping the car for ever.

[BigKriss]

I've got a full BMW/Specialist service record and don't want to spoil it. I don't intend keeping the car for ever.
Does this really matter though. My car had the same, full inspection records in the log books (untill 1.5 years ago), but if you look after the car yourself you are more fastidious and you understand the car better. Sure maybe you will get 1 or 2k extra when you go to sell the car, but if you do the work yourself, you easily make up for that in the money you save.

[wingman]

Does this really matter though. My car had the same, full inspection records in the log books (untill 1.5 years ago), but if you look after the car yourself you are more fastidious and you understand the car better. Sure maybe you will get 1 or 2k extra when you go to sell the car, but if you do the work yourself, you easily make up for that in the money you save.
You have a valid point about money saved by doing it yourself. My car is still at the point where I could sell it to the general populous rather than just an enthusiast. That's also why I bought an auto (plus I like cruise). I didn't buy it sell it though but after trying forever to sell the E12 I'm a little bit wary. A full service history is a big selling point for many. It certainly is for me with BMWs.

[BigKriss]

You have a valid point about money saved by doing it yourself. My car is still at the point where I could sell it to the general populous rather than just an enthusiast. That's also why I bought an auto (plus I like cruise). I didn't buy it sell it though but after trying forever to sell the E12 I'm a little bit wary. A full service history is a big selling point for many. It certainly is for me with BMWs.

I understand your point of view completely. The log book with all the service stickers indicates the car has been serviced at the required intervals. Thats doesn't mean though the mechanics did a good job or they replaced items when they wore out though.

I mean the auto trans in my car had a service sticker of 185,000kms for its next service. I assume it had be done at around 140,000kms, I eventually changed it at 200,000kms, the trans fluid was black and smelt burnt, definately not a good sign if you want your trans to last a long time. Were where the mechanics around when it needed servicing, sure the log books say the car was serviced, but was it looked after to the best standard possible. I think not. same with other items on my car like the dogbones, swaybar links, upper control arms, they where all worn but never replaced.

If you work on your own car and read the posts from this forum, you will know more about your own car than most mechanics out there. When I took over the car from my dad, I knew I couldn't afford to take it to a workshop / dealer. I was very intimiated at first working on my own car. I didn't want to break anything. However I know I'm not the first or last person to do so. You have the greatest DIY mechanics in the world and on this board to help you.

[rob101]

You have a valid point about money saved by doing it yourself. My car is still at the point where I could sell it to the general populous rather than just an enthusiast. That's also why I bought an auto (plus I like cruise). I didn't buy it sell it though but after trying forever to sell the E12 I'm a little bit wary. A full service history is a big selling point for many. It certainly is for me with BMWs.
yeah i don't know how much of a difference it would make if you did do the servicing and kept a good record through invoices etc. after all a potential buyer just wants someone who takes care of the car if you have invoices for all the material for the work you did and recorded it in a log.... well there aren't really too many questions a potential buyer can ask.

[Zeuk in Oz]

You have a valid point about money saved by doing it yourself. My car is still at the point where I could sell it to the general populous rather than just an enthusiast. That's also why I bought an auto (plus I like cruise). I didn't buy it sell it though but after trying forever to sell the E12 I'm a little bit wary. A full service history is a big selling point for many. It certainly is for me with BMWs.
Perhaps I am no longer your average BMW purchaser, but I would much rather buy an old (as opposed to almost new) car from an enthusiast who had done all the servicing him/herself rather than a car with dealer stamps.

I have 2 newish cars that I change oil and filter on in between normal service intervals, and with the F250 I supply full synthetic oil for the dealer to use as they cannot supply. Anal ? - who me ?

As Whit Lowell indicated with his posts on oil sludge from dealer serviced cars, you cannot rely on dealer recommendations to look after your car all the time.

I was also a little disillusioned with my independent mechanic the other day when I replaced my head gasket. He had replaced the timing belt 4,000 km previously but had NOT replaced the tensioner pulley. Admittedly it might not have failed, but I feel it should have been replaced and I replaced it when I fitted the new timing belt.

Sometimes, I think, independent mechanics are caught between a rock and a hard place as they have a need to keep costs down and so take calculated risks.

If you are doing the work yourself and buying parts from BMA, maintenance is quite affordable and so can be done properly.

Obviously I don't have the same experience as a mechanic and so need this forum and lots of time to think things through (I lost sleep over the timing belt fitting before I actually did it and realised how easy it was!) and read instructions over and over to make sure I understand what I am doing.

ps : my 5 speed has cruise !

[wingman]

I have one other problem. A 2 year warranty ( of dubious quality). To keep this vaild I need an authorised mechanic to do the work. I knew every nut & bolt on my E12 (gotta love that 13mm spanner). I'm not sure I could be bothered anymore. And with 2 kids under 5 I know I don't have time. You all have valid points though.

[rob101]

I have one other problem. A 2 year warranty ( of dubious quality). To keep this vaild I need an authorised mechanic to do the work. I knew every nut & bolt on my E12 (gotta love that 13mm spanner). I'm not sure I could be bothered anymore. And with 2 kids under 5 I know I don't have time. You all have valid points though.
i'd check how much the warranty covers, i got a 1 year but in the end the warranty wouldn't cover the cost of anything especially when you get "special" bmw rates because you have to use their mechanic.

"special" rates mean "special" people ie people who think that because you have a bmw that you can't understand anything mechanical. The irony is that usually that is why you bought the car is because you do know that a bmw is well put together ie you aren't clueless.

In the end i though ah whatever. I will do the work myself and save all that ********.