[Balr14]

I just had my annual maintenance done at the dealer. In addition, I asked them to check a warning I got that said "high beam malfunction on left headlight". I think I got it because my battery was low... my battery tender slipped off the post. I only got it when the battery was low.

They charge $250 to diagnose a problem, but it's free if there's actually a problem because that's under warranty. How much effort is it to clear the code and see if it comes back? I may look for another dealer going forward.

[t0pless]

Reason #91837374 why I don’t do dealerships.

Yeah, I would have taken that straight to their service manager or dealership manager. That’s very unreasonable. They can bill warranty rate for something like that.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by t0pless

Reason #91837374 why I don’t do dealerships.

Yeah, I would have taken that straight to their service manager or dealership manager. That’s very unreasonable. They can bill warranty rate for something like that.

Agreed

I’d ask for goodwill at the very least

[Westside Guy]

You got hosed by this service dept. and I would definitely escalate the matter and as t0pless suggested file a complaint with either the service manager or the GM of the dealership.

When you speak to them, don't be afraid to say you will be posting negative reviews online about this absurd charge.

[MisanoblueZ4]

Not surprised, BMW literally charges $250 for anything per hour labor wise. The stories of dealer fleecing customers continue to pile up here.

[BEAR-AvHistory-2]

Speaking of getting fleeced could use a little help. Am making a normal annual appointment for the M4 under warranty.

When I take it in I want to talk to the SA about a notice that has come up on my out of warranty Z4. When I start the car. "Vehicle Check Overdue & the overdue mileage" shows up on the main cluster

Anyone know what this is, had it done & what it entails. If its a $250 an hour job to look at the car will not bring it in. But if its more than that want to see if I can just do it myself.

Thank for any info.

[Highline-Autos.com]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory-2

Speaking of getting fleeced could use a little help. Am making a normal annual appointment for the M4 under warranty.

When I take it in I want to talk to the SA about a notice that has come up on my out of warranty Z4. When I start the car. "Vehicle Check Overdue & the overdue mileage" shows up on the main cluster

Anyone know what this is, had it done & what it entails. If its a $250 an hour job to look at the car will not bring it in. But if its more than that want to see if I can just do it myself.

Thank for any info.

Nothing serious, it just sounds like it is time for your next maintenance interval.

Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777

[Balr14]

I forgot to mention the car needs a software upgrade for the headlights before they will clear the code. Seriously?? I'm going to see if I can get some other software upgrades thrown in before I bring it back.

[Balr14]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory-2

Speaking of getting fleeced could use a little help. Am making a normal annual appointment for the M4 under warranty.

When I take it in I want to talk to the SA about a notice that has come up on my out of warranty Z4. When I start the car. "Vehicle Check Overdue & the overdue mileage" shows up on the main cluster

Anyone know what this is, had it done & what it entails. If its a $250 an hour job to look at the car will not bring it in. But if its more than that want to see if I can just do it myself.

Thank for any info.

I get warnings like that and emails because I was two weeks later than last year for my annual checkup. I only drove it 1879 miles so I don't know why the urgency.

[t0pless]

- that “check chassis” service interval is a money grab. There’s a reason why those coupons and mailers for “free 25 point inspections” are free. They’re there to get you through the door and sell you some some bull shit like diff or trans fluid once every 3 years or 20k miles. I’ve seen “battery terminal cleaning” for 50 bucks.

-codes are cleared with software updates automatically assuming the software update affects the module with the error. Software like BimmerLink + ob2 module can read nearly all the modules and clear errors.

[RigaTony1982]

You need to find a new dealer. I have never heard of something like this before in all my years when a car is under warranty.

Last year, the steering wheel in my wife’s X3 wasn’t getting very warm when the heating was turned on (under warranty). We brought it up during a service visit. They checked it and did not charge us a diagnostic fee or any of that crap. They determined it was like 4° below what it should be (which was within the tolerable range), but offered to replace the wheel under warranty if we wanted. No BS. No diagnostic fees.

They are effectively discouraging people from looking into issues, on the chance that they may not find anything and you have to pay their fee. I agree with others. I’d report this to BMW corporate.

[GerryC]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory-2

Speaking of getting fleeced could use a little help. Am making a normal annual appointment for the M4 under warranty.

When I take it in I want to talk to the SA about a notice that has come up on my out of warranty Z4. When I start the car. "Vehicle Check Overdue & the overdue mileage" shows up on the main cluster

Anyone know what this is, had it done & what it entails. If its a $250 an hour job to look at the car will not bring it in. But if its more than that want to see if I can just do it myself.

Thank for any info.

Looking at the "Next service" list in the MyBMW app, it's the last item. Due at 48 months. It's basically trying to get you to bring it in. It's the same service you get when you get one of their coupons in the mail for a free check up. It might be worth it if it's before your warranty runs out and it catches anything. Or you could just reset it and not worry about it. On the last car I had it done on, it was done as part of an oil change.

[BEAR-AvHistory-2]

Thanks all will do the reset & move to my own schedule.

[rob5819]

Originally Posted by Balr14

I just had my annual maintenance done at the dealer. In addition, I asked them to check a warning I got that said "high beam malfunction on left headlight". I think I got it because my battery was low... my battery tender slipped off the post. I only got it when the battery was low.

They charge $250 to diagnose a problem, but it's free if there's actually a problem because that's under warranty. How much effort is it to clear the code and see if it comes back? I may look for another dealer going forward.

I use a cheap OBD bluetooth scanner to read / clear codes. When they come back I take it in and get charged $250 to read the exact same codes. https://www.amazon.com/BlueDriver-Bl...s%2C210&sr=8-1

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by RigaTony1982

You need to find a new dealer. I have never heard of something like this before in all my years when a car is under warranty.

Last year, the steering wheel in my wife’s X3 wasn’t getting very warm when the heating was turned on (under warranty). We brought it up during a service visit. They checked it and did not charge us a diagnostic fee or any of that crap. They determined it was like 4° below what it should be (which was within the tolerable range), but offered to replace the wheel under warranty if we wanted. No BS. No diagnostic fees.

They are effectively discouraging people from looking into issues, on the chance that they may not find anything and you have to pay their fee. I agree with others. I’d report this to BMW corporate.

💯

[MisanoblueZ4]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory-2

Speaking of getting fleeced could use a little help. Am making a normal annual appointment for the M4 under warranty.

When I take it in I want to talk to the SA about a notice that has come up on my out of warranty Z4. When I start the car. "Vehicle Check Overdue & the overdue mileage" shows up on the main cluster

Anyone know what this is, had it done & what it entails. If its a $250 an hour job to look at the car will not bring it in. But if its more than that want to see if I can just do it myself.

Thank for any info.

My local dealer was going to charge me an extra $100 for “vehicle check” when I was in for annual oil change ($226).

I reset the code in the garage through the built in diagnostic mode….now shows 3 years till next vehicle check is due.