but many people on this forum are very quick to dismiss the dealer as a viable option for complicated issues such as this one. I apologize if I was abrasive. Your reasoning is quite valid and I can't say I disagree with your choice! Also, I've never really heard that Laurel BMW on Ogden over there has ever been of any extraordinary help for anyone....lol.

You can sign up for BMW car club at bmwcca.org. The Roundel magazine and parts discount are well worth the price of admission. Your post count is low and it is hard to make any assumptions about a new person like: is this your first BMW, your first E34, etc etc so I was never really sure if you were a BMWCCA member already or not.

Most of the Chicago E34 guys that participate heavily on this board are a tight group and look forward to learning and meeting others in the area and I/we are used to my/our open arms being received a little more readily with a lot of information sharing going on. I guess I had set up an expectation there that was not met....leading to a bit of frustration as well.

Once again, my apologies if anything came off strong and abrasive,

Regards,
Scott

Quote Originally Posted by swenpro
Thank you again, however the reason I didn't jump on calling this dealer for diagnosis of the problem is that I live near the south-west suburb of Hinsdale--more than just a few minutes away from Schaumburg. Now that I know what the problem is (going 5 min away for $0 labor) I am VERY interested in learning more about the CCA discount. Rereading your e-mail I see Wilson's post, "I was getting ready to see stars on the price because according to the parts CD, the memory module was $1190, list. But they said with my CCA discount they were showing the module as costing $295. I told them to do it!"

Can I become a BMWCCA member at my local BMW dealer and have them give me a quote for the memory module w/ aforesaid part #? Or must I work through this dealer on the north side? Thanks for the help

P.S. I was not trying to intentionally withold helpful info from other members about the mechanic... Chuck's Import auto repair shop in Darien, IL, 630-964-5271, the original owner Chuck retired last year, but two mechanics (names?) work there now, one with 25 years experience, the other with 9 yrs (the one who helped me), and they mostly work on German/BMW cars. This has been my first experience with them...