[sramdeen]

Hi all

BMW have just told me that because my car is at 50,300 miles, my TLC pack is no longer valid. (the service interval was -200, I should have taken the car in a week or two ago!!!!)

They told me that they would charge me £400 for the 'Inspection 2' which seems outrageous. I have declined the quote and am going to collect the car after its MOT (don't ask me why I asked them to MOT it, I should have gone to my council's MOT centre, I'm an idiot).

My question is:

Is it worth buying one of the MINI service CDs off of ebay and doing the job myself? I'm a pretty competent mechanic and have no problems with getting my hands dirty. The only problem I can see with the DIY route is that I won't be able to reset the service interval indicator.

Also, BMW said that the brake fluid needs changing. What type of fluid are people on here using for their general day to day driver? It's not synthetic or anything funky like that, is it?

As always, thank you for the advice and comments.

Stuart

[CC07ERS]

id go to a non mini garage it will be half the price

[Scrogg]

Stuart,

Every time I get involved in a thread about MINI vs Other Servicing I get shouted down, so I'm only going to say one thing.

Regardless of how many miles over/under 50k your car has done and when you should or should not have booked it in for a service, the first Inspection II that you now need doing was not covered by your TLC.

I doubt this helps, but hopefully it clears some of your query up?

[GR33NIE]

Join the club

Ive just been told to extend my TLC it's £300 for TLC XL, overall not a happy chappy as the cars only done 40K 50,000miles free servicing is simply not the case

[sramdeen]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

Stuart,

Every time I get involved in a thread about MINI vs Other Servicing I get shouted down, so I'm only going to say one thing.

Regardless of how many miles over/under 50k your car has done and when you should or should not have booked it in for a service, the first Inspection II that you now need doing was not covered by your TLC.

I doubt this helps, but hopefully it clears some of your query up?

Thanks for clearing that up, Scrogg. Time to DIY!

Now... Good old fashioned Haynes manual (as I've used on all of my cars for years), or the ebay cd workshop manual TIS thingy? Decisions, decisions.

Stu

[WeeScott]

My Brother and I just done the inspection 2 service on my 51 plate Cooper at the weekend with the help of the Haynes manual.
Pretty simple job and only cost me about £80, the oil was the most expensive bit!
The Haynes manual also tells you how to reset the service indicator if that's wot you're worried about.

[Bajanmini]

And the brake fluid is regular DOT4 to my memory i found that info in the owners manual

[Mull3t]

hopefully this wont happen to me, am real sorry to hear for you mate. damn mini service

Well, Ive got a TLC pack, and Im due for my 2nd inspection, I booked it in for the service when I had 1000miles left, Now I have 400miles left and the cars not in untill the 4th January.

So does that mean for me too, that if I go into the - that im gonna be told i gotta pay a over priced and daft price for the inspection.

I also noticed that when I swithc the ignition on, and I press the millage button (on the speedo in the centre) I get another number comes up which reads -265?

Any ideas

[DaiB]

I think that is to do with the brake fluid. Check your manual - I would check mine for you but the missus has the car at the moment!

[Mull3t]

I had a lil read yesturday, it appears it is for the brake fluid, but wanted to make sure, is that soemthing that I need to book in too? or will it be covered under the service/oil inspection?

Or do you think I cud get the same as what they said 2 sramdeen

If so im gonna be dead careful with these last 400miles lol

[Fin]

That number (-265) is the brake fluid interval. Your 265 days past your brake fluid change, as recommended. Unlike the service interval, it is just a count down for each day and isn't altered by your driving style. Brake fluid tends to become less efficient with age as it inevitabley comes into contact with water molecules.

As far as I am aware it is seperate to the oil change/service and there is a seperate TLC voucher for it. And yes I would get it done.

[Mull3t]

lol 265 days over due! lol

I only picked up my car in july, so dont that mean when BMW had the car b4 they sold it to me, that they should have sorted that out first? before selling to me?

I have a voucher in my TLC book, but says brake fluid change at 40k?

[Richard Crofts]

Haynes manual £14

Filters and Fluids £40 max (Even if doing pretty much everything needed on a service with standard parts)

Getting your hands dirty £PRICELESS

Personally I'll be doing mine myself now its out of TLC. My advice is buy a K&N insert filter (That can be cleaned and not just replaced £25) then you just clean it wash and re-oil it regular. Servicing on any car is easy really, the oil filter drain and change is the hardest part and even that is dead simple, especially with a Haynes manual.

R

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mull3t (original)

I only picked up my car in july, so dont that mean when BMW had the car b4 they sold it to me, that they should have sorted that out first? before selling to me?

I have a voucher in my TLC book, but says brake fluid change at 40k?

You're right, your dealership should have done the Brake Fluid Change before you picked the car up. Have you checked with them to see if they did it but forgot to reset the counter?

The voucher book doesn't state a mileage for the Brake Fluid Change, as it is purely time-based.

[Mull3t]

I will pick it up with them when I go in for the service on the 4th Jan.

I have no proof of if they ahev done it or not? or is they a wayin telling, as they cud just tell me they did do it and forgot to reset, just to save them time.

Pretty sure my voucher does say 40k, I might be wrong :s

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mull3t (original)

I have no proof of if they ahev done it or not? or is they a wayin telling, as they cud just tell me they did do it and forgot to reset, just to save them time.

Every BMW dealership keeps detailed records of all work carried out in their Workshops, so if they say they've done it ask for documented proof.

If you're still not sure, get a decent mechanic to physically check the quality of the fluid.

[Mull3t]

okay, thanks