tazzieman Posted 19October, 2014 Report Share Posted 19October, 2014 You've probably seen this nads in a noose article, but worth discussing here. http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/motorists-to-pay-more-for-car-servicing-under-new-regulations/story-fnkgdhrc-1227095455020 LOCAL mechanics could soon become extinct and motorists may be forced to pay more for vehicle servicing after the car industry blocked independent repairers from getting access to complete maintenance data and specialist tools to fix modern cars. In Europe and North America it is compulsory for car companies to make available to independent workshops the same complete maintenance data and diagnostics equipment provided to new-car dealership service centres. In most cases, independent mechanics in Europe and North America pay a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly subscription fee to access the most up to date information and diagnostics tools to work on certain cars. But in Australia the car industry has been accused of locking motorists into dealership servicing programs. “This shows complete arrogance and contempt on behalf of the car makers,” said Andrew McKellar, the chief executive of the Australian Automobile Association, the peak body representing the NRMA, RACQ, RACV, RAA, RAC and other motoring groups in each state and territory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel Posted 19October, 2014 Report Share Posted 19October, 2014 yep this has been an ongoing issue with Peugeot amongst other brands in OZ for sometime - tripe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV911 Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 In Europe and North America it is compulsory for car companies to make available to independent workshops the same complete maintenance data and diagnostics equipment provided to new-car dealership service centres. Even if they legislate to make it "available", it doesn't mean that small independents will be able to afford it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airhead Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Local mechanics extinct? Yeah. I nearly shot one today!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 20October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 In the future , we don't need no dealer mechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvs11 Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Subscriptions to software upgrades, maintenance data, diagnostic tools... The only risk to being able to service my old timer 911 is the dwindling numbers of mechanics who actually know how to use real tools, not the virtual kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9fan Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Battery change on BMW not able to be done by RACV - Dealer charge done at $870 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvs11 Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 I'll see your battery change and raise you $350+ to replace one BMW rocker cover gasket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV911 Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Battery change on BMW not able to be done by RACV - Dealer charge done at $870 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! W-T-F??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC78 Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 The article is from 'News' .com. Nothing to see here folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Battery change on BMW not able to be done by RACV - Dealer charge done at $870 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why cant RACV change the battery Mark ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 20October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 As I've said before , you guys are too rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 20October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 The article is from 'News' .com. Nothing to see here folks. The ABC are also running it ; FCAI report from last week has been the first nail in the coffin WTH will people in rural areas do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Why cant RACV change the battery Mark ? I've done a bit of reading on this, as we have a 2007 530D, still with the original battery. According to what i've read (on the internet forums, so it must be true...) the BM's computer "knows" how old the battery is and adjusts the charging rate accordingly - ie a higher rate of charge as the battery ages. If you take out the old battery and replace it with a new one, without "telling" the computer by using the BMW dealer software, the new battery will continue to be charged at a higher rate than required, apparently leading to its demise in short order... The $870 quoted by Mark seems to align with what I've read elsewhere. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Wow, BMW have got a nice little racket happening haven't they. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brick Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 I've done a bit of reading on this, as we have a 2007 530D, still with the original battery. According to what i've read (on the internet forums, so it must be true...) the BM's computer "knows" how old the battery is and adjusts the charging rate accordingly - ie a higher rate of charge as the battery ages. If you take out the old battery and replace it with a new one, without "telling" the computer by using the BMW dealer software, the new battery will continue to be charged at a higher rate than required, apparently leading to its demise in short order... The $870 quoted by Mark seems to align with what I've read elsewhere. Rob Audis do the same, you need Vagcom to reset one of the measures on the system so that it knows a new battery has been fitted. A client of mine had his battery changed by a non-dealer after a quote of similar proportions. However he then needed to find someone to perform the reset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatout Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 There's no money in building cars, the money is in the financing & servicing. Probably why car companies are doing painful things like doing a battery reset. I know a guy that bought an X1,they don't have dipsticks. That freaked me out for some reason, never thought the need to replace something that is simple, reliable and accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvs11 Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Wow, BMW have got a nice little racket happening haven't they. As I've said before , you guys are too rich They also wanted to replace the entire brake vacuum pump instead of replacing a failing O ring. $300ish vs $18.40 for a seal kit. After I stopped spluttering They got a firm NO f'n way. I'll do it myself. Their response was it needs to be done by a BMW trained specialist. Total BS! They were playing on the fact that many, if not most, who buy a new bimmer will agree to whatever the service desk tells them and just pay. It was quite a shock for the guy I spoke with to have someone disagree for a change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutch-monkey Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 should be renamed to "extinction of local mechanics.. who don't know how to use the internet to source their gear" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 20October, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 Toyota have "caved in" http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/toyota-gives-local-mechanics-a-fair-go-as-ricky-muir-asks-car-industry-to-review-its-decision/story-fnkgdhrc-1227096523670 Good on them ; great news for my son who's picking up his first new car , a Toyota 86 , this week . Mind you he read that a spark plug change costs $1700 at the dealer (engine has to be raised etc etc 6 hr job) Mind you , Mr Google turns up a spark plug socket variation which for $50 gets the job done in 1.5 hours. Faster than an Outback plug change (which I've done twice , bugger of a job) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV911 Posted 20October, 2014 Report Share Posted 20October, 2014 They were playing on the fact that many, if not most, who buy a new bimmer will agree to whatever the service desk tells them and just pay. Reminds me of the time when my Golf was in for it's first annual service with <3000km on the clock - the bird at the service desk tried to tell me the intake manifold and injectors needed to be removed and cleaned. Don't remember the figure but it was about $1k so I told her to pull the other one. Strangely enough it has never been a problem since and has just had its 4th annual service. Audis do the same, you need Vagcom to reset one of the measures on the system so that it knows a new battery has been fitted. It takes all of 5 mins to plug in the laptop and do a reset with Vagcom (I know because I've used it. I've also uploaded and downloaded various "tunes" and changed things like how long lights stay on after you switch off). $870 works out at an hourly rate of over $10k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonk Posted 21October, 2014 Report Share Posted 21October, 2014 I expect all of the Japanese manufacturers will follow Toyota and none of the Europeans will, except maybe Volvo. Having just forked out $2 large ones for a tow bar on the Cayenne knowing Audi Q7 and VW Toureg owners pay half of that for essentially the same thing, it makes me feel incredibly sour towards Porsche Australia and I will do my best to not support them when I can. In this case, there was no aftermarket alternative and my independent gave me a bargain basement price for installation. It would have been 25% more expensive for PCB or PCM to install it. As long as there are enough stupid people out there for the European dealers to bend over, they will continue to do so. My dad is certainly one of them and pays a stupid amount of money to maintain his X5. The long term effect will be even heftier depreciation on European cars. The second hand market relies on independents to service their cars because they can't afford dealer servicing. You make the cost of owning an older car even more then the value of that car drops more. The knock on effect is the new car buyer will cop a bigger hit in depreciation which may then come in to consideration when buying. Just a theory I came up with now so who knows... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airhead Posted 21October, 2014 Report Share Posted 21October, 2014 Gets the job done in 1.5 hours. Faster than an Outback plug change (which I've done twice , bugger of a job) You're not doing it right though. If you've changed the plug in the outback twice you can't be putting it in properly, as the last time I went past Alice Springs all the water had drained out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 21October, 2014 Report Share Posted 21October, 2014 Anyone who pays top dollar for a BMW dealer to adjust their computer is advertising the fact they can't google. Service light resets can be done with a paper clip. Changing any of the settings can be done with aftermarket software available from eBay for $50, including cables. Or you can be adventurous and get the cracked dealer software for free. If you're not of the adventurous type, there are plenty of independents who have the right aftermarket tools. As noted, the European laws say the stuff has to be made available, so Australian independents can get the same gear if they have half a clue. The only thing I have had to pay the dealer for is getting a replacement immobiliser reprogrammed by a dealer for $100, which is a good trade off for knowing that thieves aren't able to do the same thing. Still, I support any move to break the monopoly power of Australian dealers in parts, servicing and sales. Actually I hope the entrance of Tesla into the market gives them a major shakeup, like it has done in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9fan Posted 21October, 2014 Report Share Posted 21October, 2014 I have manged to get initial dealer service charge quoted at $330 down to $220 and replacement key at $430 down to $230 - same dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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