Scottish Elises

Anyone recommend a goo BMW main dealer for servicing and repairs in / around Glasgow for my M135i?

I have a local Aberdeen BMW dealer, but their less than glowing reviews with regards to service and general performance put me off.

Thanks,
Ross

Ross

There's an ex-BMW guy who now runs the garage at the corner of Great Southern Road/Hardgate who always seems to be working on older BMW's.
A guy i know took his car there once and was pleased with the service.

Can't remember the name of the place but i'll probably pass it soon.

The other place to try is John Park in Union Glen - they have been working on BMWs since the early 90s at least (used to take my M535 to them back then).

I just used Eastern in Edinburgh there but they are not my first choice, they were OK but I found parks in Glasgow to be pretty good specifically one guy, Gavin Lindsay (not sure if hes still there tho) he was like a mini Monty. Eastern refused a manufacturers warranty claim on corroding alloys after much humming and hawing. Took it to Gavin and he replaced them without question.

When I lived in Aberdeen I used to go to http://bavariaautowerke.co.uk - used them for 4 years for everything from servicing to repairs for my Audi A4. They are a German car specialist and I never had any issues with them in that time. That was about 10 years ago though.

Highly recommend Harry Fairbairn in Kirkcaldy where i bought my M135i... great sales and after service!

Rosssco wrote:Anyone recommend a goo BMW main dealer for servicing and repairs in / around Glasgow for my M135i?

I have a local Aberdeen BMW dealer, but their less than glowing reviews with regards to service and general performance put me off.

Thanks,
Ross

Ross
Scott is your man:
http://www.premiermotorsaberdeen.com/
Ex BMW main dealer guy and loves his cars. Nearly everything he works on is BMW or Mini through reputation. Used him for years and is very busy, usually needs 2 -3 weeks notice.

Can't recommend Douglas Park in Glasgow at all given their servicing of our Mini.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'd normally prefer to go to a specialist rather than a main dealer, but in this case I'd like to maintain the existing service history. That and there a couple potentially larger items (steering and auto gearbox related) I want looked at an potentially replaced under extended warranty, and get the various software updates (I think there's infotainment and engine / gearbox updates available).

mxvx wrote:

Rosssco wrote:Anyone recommend a goo BMW main dealer for servicing and repairs in / around Glasgow for my M135i?

I have a local Aberdeen BMW dealer, but their less than glowing reviews with regards to service and general performance put me off.

Thanks,
Ross

Ross
Scott is your man:
http://www.premiermotorsaberdeen.com/
Ex BMW main dealer guy and loves his cars. Nearly everything he works on is BMW or Mini through reputation. Used him for years and is very busy, usually needs 2 -3 weeks notice.

That's the garage on Great Southern Road BTW

I can highly recommend Grassicks BMW in Perth. They have always looked after my cars well, including the current M2.

I used to recommend Grassicks to anyone who would listen. Used them for the 5years or so that I had my 330d and they couldn't have been better.

However, the first time I tried to book my 125d in, I was told that I couldn't get a courtesy car as I bought my car from another dealer! Never heard anything as ridiculous.

So I was forced to go back to Harry Fairbairn in Kirkcaldy who fortunately seem to have upped their game since the previous bad experiences I had with them.

Cheers. I was only thinking Glasgow area as I'm away for a week and flying from there, so could have left the car.

I'll prob leave it till I'm back as it sounds like its generally a bit hit / miss.. Slightly annoying as being a so called 'Premium brand' you'd expect a certain level of service - I remember taking my old 350Z into Infinti dealer for a service and couldn't have been better really. I think Lexus has a similar reputation for excellent service. BMW and Audi dealers seem to fall short in some respects.

Depends who has the franchise I think. Yes, John Clark Aberdeen are a shambles, but, as Paul said, Grassicks in Perth are as good as you would expect.

Doesn't really matter what dealer you go to now...

If its a normal service you generally get the spotty little apprentice doing the work between snap chats of him posing in others cars. If its an oil service on a run of the mill car like the M135i then there's not a lot you can do wrong.

In Aberdeen its made worse by the treatment you get at reception and by their 'trained service advisors'. However, that said, if your car is under warranty and you call up BMW UK to tell them of all the issues your local dealer has caused they arrive at your door with a courtesy car and make sure you get sorted out.

I had a few issues with the E92 m3 that JC Aberdeen couldn't 'diagnose' (even though I had told them what was wrong and they had taken my car out for a few good thrashings) I called BMW UK and they sent their independent tech out to the house, who plugged the car in while we went for a drive and he had the issue confirmed in 10 mins. then the next day the car was collected and taken to JC for repair. (and then went back to them when they made a mess of it again and again and again)

However, in my experience Grassicks are great to deal with - certainly worth the fun drive via glenshee to get there and have confidence in what they do.

Scott Feaks at premier in Aberdeen is also excellent. ex roving BMW tech.

Yeah, I agree that hey shouldn't have any issues with the service itself (I'd hope), but its diagnosis and rectification of any faults that I'm most concerned about, hence looking ideally for a dealer with their customer service head screwed on (as presumably BMW will pay for warranty items). There's an intermittent steering issue (which could either be mechanical or software related according to interweb searching), a clunk at the front end, and the auto gearbox while fine, has a slight whine in 2nd gear for which I've heard some gearboxes have been replaced for..

Having the car ragged about Aberdeen and haggling / arm twisting to get things resolved is precisely what I'm trying to avoid! As above, if its wasn't for warranty items, I'd be much happier dealing with a specialist like the chap noted in Aberdeen.