£200 Exhaust fix, are they kidding?

Caporegime
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My e38 has snapped its O/side rear exhaust mounting, (the car has twin pipes) Now, the O/side pipe is just visible as the exhaust on that side is sagging (normally, they can't be seen)

I've been quoted £200 by a local BMW specialist to have the exhaust removed & a new bracket fitted.

This seems a tad excessive to me, any thoughts?

Thanks.
 
Soldato
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R124/LA420 said:
HGV Fitters & cars don't mix in my experience.

What you really mean is that if it can't be fixed with a cutting torch or a sledge hammer then they can't fix it. :p

OT, as a quick fix I've used large Jubilee hose clips before to secure pipes to brackets.
 
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Is yours a 1997 E38 728i purchased last July, was looking at one of the BMW mags and noticed someone complaining about cylinder problems a month or so after buying, thought it might have been you, chaps name was Dave Routbridge i think.
 
Soldato
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Any independant garage should fix this for next to nothing. Even if they have to fab up a new bracket (is the old one completely fubard?) it should only be a case of <£50.

£200 sounds rediculous.
 
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I would say take it any local independant garage these days manufactors such as BMW and Peugot just seem to rip people off over silly things. I think even Kwik Fit would be cheaper then that :p
 
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Duggan said:
I would say take it any local independant garage these days manufactors such as BMW and Peugot just seem to rip people off over silly things. I think even Kwik Fit would be cheaper then that :p

To be fair i can imagine you would get better service and treatment from the dealer on the whole compared to a specialist, question is, is it worth paying those extra prices, Independants and Kwick fit wouldn't know much past Fiestas and Mondeos so best avoided.
 
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Replicant said:
To be fair i can imagine you would get better service and treatment from the dealer on the whole compared to a specialist, question is, is it worth paying those extra prices, Independants and Kwick fit wouldn't know much past Fiestas and Mondeos so best avoided.
I doubt you would get good treatment from BMW or any other dealer.
 
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Replicant said:
To be fair i can imagine you would get better service and treatment from the dealer on the whole compared to a specialist, question is, is it worth paying those extra prices, Independants and Kwick fit wouldn't know much past Fiestas and Mondeos so best avoided.

Personally i have had much better service from local independents I had a really bad time with Peugeot and with what i have heard from friends BMW aren’t much better. Not that i am saying there like this every where ..... there must be a good one somewhere :D. My Advise is to just take it to someone local see if anyone you know can recommend any one in your area and see if i am wrong.
 
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jamoor said:
I doubt you would get good treatment from BMW or any other dealer.

I think this depends really, if you look and dress like a person looking to spend the prices those dealers charge then you will receive good service, its because the salesmen here know exactly who they sell to and earn good money doing it, they can stereotype abit i think but you will often see this in higher end retail.
 
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Duggan said:
Personally i have had much better service from local independents I had a really bad time with Peugeot and with what i have heard from friends BMW aren’t much better. Not that i am saying there like this every where ..... there must be a good one somewhere :D. My Advise is to just take it to someone local see if anyone you know can recommend any one in your area and see if i am wrong.

I think taking a car that is expensive to service and has expensive and sophisticated electronics etc is better done at a Specialist, ie. someone who only work on BMW for example but does not charge full dealership prices, yes you will pay more than the independant who does various types of car but you will have the piece of mind that your car is being worked on by better quailified mechanics who know the cars, it may also aid resale value.
 
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Replicant said:
To be fair i can imagine you would get better service and treatment from the dealer on the whole compared to a specialist, question is, is it worth paying those extra prices, Independants and Kwick fit wouldn't know much past Fiestas and Mondeos so best avoided.
Do you honestly believe that? I pity your wallet.

Any exhaust centre will be able to repair a broken bracket, mount or clamp.

If they refuse then it's because doing the job isn't worth it to them.
 
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Replicant said:
I think taking a car that is expensive to service and has expensive and sophisticated electronics etc is better done at a Specialist, ie. someone who only work on BMW for example but does not charge full dealership prices, yes you will pay more than the independant who does various types of car but you will have the piece of mind that your car is being worked on by better quailified mechanics who know the cars, it may also aid resale value.


Er an exhuast is an exhaust. It takes a trained monkey to change one, which are plentyful in places like quickfit.
Unless you have an very unique system, just go to the cheapest place.
 
Suspended
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If anyone wondering. Have a look under a car. They are so easy to fit. They are hung from 2 rubber holds. and the 2 sections bolted together.
 
Soldato
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Replicant said:
I think this depends really, if you look and dress like a person looking to spend the prices those dealers charge then you will receive good service, its because the salesmen here know exactly who they sell to and earn good money doing it, they can stereotype abit i think but you will often see this in higher end retail.
so now I gotta dress up before taking my car to get serviced?
Whatever next?
 
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Replicant said:
I think this depends really, if you look and dress like a person looking to spend the prices those dealers charge then you will receive good service, its because the salesmen here know exactly who they sell to and earn good money doing it, they can stereotype abit i think but you will often see this in higher end retail.

Replicant said:
To be fair i can imagine you would get better service and treatment from the dealer on the whole compared to a specialist, question is, is it worth paying those extra prices, Independants and Kwick fit wouldn't know much past Fiestas and Mondeos so best avoided.

You know absolutely nothing about the motor trade.
 
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