Independent Servicing - Scotland

I know this isn't helpful and I hope you find someone, but with the exception of Phoenix I don't think any exist in the UK. All the "experts" i've spoken to know less than me, and i'm a blithering idiot. One BMW e31 "expert" told me that my brakes were "scary" and suggested I change the discs and pads, it turned out to be a dead pressure accumlator (brake bomb) which anyone who knows 8s (or indeed any of the BMWs of that era) should know. Another expert charged me an arm and a leg to fit a couple of bits that now that I know what I'm doing (sort of) I could have done in a couple of hours. Plus he was charging his time out at over £70ph. My advice would be to find a BMW dealer that discounts working on old cars (i've heard there are a few out there) and take it there. They don't know what they're doing either, but at least they can look it up and you have some sort of come back if they screw it up. Better still do it yourself

If anyone does know of any real e31 experts i'd love to hear about them.

Sorry for the rant...shutting up. Good luck, Nick

Dealer-Shmealer

Zitat von NickF;68993

I know this isn't helpful and I hope you find someone, but with the exception of Phoenix I don't think any exist in the UK. All the "experts" i've spoken to know less than me, and i'm a blithering idiot. One BMW e31 "expert" told me that my brakes were "scary" and suggested I change the discs and pads, it turned out to be a dead pressure accumlator (brake bomb) which anyone who knows 8s (or indeed any of the BMWs of that era) should know. Another expert charged me an arm and a leg to fit a couple of bits that now that I know what I'm doing (sort of) I could have done in a couple of hours. Plus he was charging his time out at over £70ph. My advice would be to find a BMW dealer that discounts working on old cars (i've heard there are a few out there) and take it there. They don't know what they're doing either, but at least they can look it up and you have some sort of come back if they screw it up. Better still do it yourself

If anyone does know of any real e31 experts i'd love to hear about them.

Sorry for the rant...shutting up. Good luck, Nick

I would endorse 100% what Nick's said. All of our beasts are now over 10 years old, they can qualify for up to 60% discount (as Nick says - only at participating dealerships)...but you do need to 'hold' the hands of these dealers

Can I share with you an example of 'dolt' like shennanigans......

Local BMW Dealer carries out MOT - notes (but not as a fail) "front track control arms rubber bushes split".
I ask them to elaborate and they say it's the Thrust Arm Bushes.
Hmmmm....Gerry at Phoenix had replaced these only 3,500 miles ago.

So I asked Gerry to check over the whole Front Suspension.
His report...........nothing split, all in good nick.
His charge?
No charge.

You can't get a better recommendation, can you?

So...um, er, save for a flat-bed truck?

I agree with what's been said here, too; I split my life between the South East and Edinburgh, and whenever I'm down South, I use Phoenix.

When I'm North I go to a very good workshop with people that know what they're doing, can be trusted and who have serviced my 840 well -though they aren't bmw specialists as such; Robin Hamilton Autos

http://www.edinburghonline.co.uk/info/20559/

In Bonnyrigg. No commercial affiliation in any way, though Robin might look after your car even better if you tell him Jaap sent you.

Did robin used to work at deutschmarque just outside of danderhall ? if so i have been told very good thing's about this man.

I use Phoenix whenever I can, Gerry and the team do a fantastic job. The only other outfit I've used in the UK in Kevin Bird whom I would also thoroughly recommend - Kevin really knows his BMW's and they did a great job of my car, phoning me to check items and asking how to proceed on some defective parts they discovered.
It's a short list in the UK with Phoenix and Birds.

Zitat von johnnywas;71552

Did robin used to work at deutschmarque just outside of danderhall ? if so i have been told very good thing's about this man.

I don't believe so, no.