Re: Happy Holidays, Needing some advice (archive)

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: Hopefully everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. I'm sure my BMW dealer is. AFter spending $890 for some service and cosmetic fixes, my tranny had a problem. They charged $150 for a diagnostics to find the computer was bad. They are charging $800 to install the new computer (price includes the new computer). I was wondering if anyone knew of a place that can do this for less expensive. I am 15, and the gift under our tree from my dad will be the bill from BMW. I knew i would have to spend money, thats why i bought the car now- a year early, but this seems an outrageous price.

Dan, Sorry to hear about your troubles, Just remember this, someone will always have a worse story than you.
Here's mine, during the Thanksgiving holiday I went out to my garage to start my 84 633csi. I turned the ignition key to find my car not wanting to start.The engine wouldn't even turn over. I had my car towed to my local garage for them to diagnose the problem. later that day, my mechanic told me that I had fried the distributor cap and coil wire, so I would need to have the cap, rotor and plug wires replaced and they were special order parts for him. After getting the wires 2 days later, he called me to say the car still would not start. 1 1/2 weeks later and 1100.00 clams less in my pocket, plus 1 rebuilt ECU, my car was finally repaired. The next day my wife complained after driving the car that a wierd thumpping sound was coming from the hand brake area. This time I took the car to a shop that was recommend to me. I had to replace the drive shaft center bearing and tranny mount with cross member. So that set me back another 300.00, right before christmas. So all total, 1400.00 and no Christmas presents for my family.
So, give your dad a great big hug and tell him he's the greatest dad and that you love him. The season's not about bimmers but, its about family and your love for them.
Do dad a favor and learn as much about the car as possible and if you need it, take an auto repair class at a local junior college. If you get a high school counselor approval for a JC class they should let you in. This will save big bucks.
Merry Christmas and a safe New Year,
Robin F.

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