Valve clearance adjustment - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

mikek · 29th January 2002, 20:35

If any of you UK people are interested, I just booked my M5 in at my Local BMW dealers ( Bowkers in Preston Lancashire) for an oil change and valve clearance adjustment. There prices are as follows:

oil change using semi synthetic oil(cant remember the brand but i doubt it will be a poor quality one) and new oil filter and plug washer, 80 pounds all in.

Valve clearance adjustment on all 24 valves, 140 pounds + VAT minus 10% discount. Thats for labour, theres a rocker cover gasket to add to that at 23.08 + VAT minus 10%. i was told that the rocker cover gasket on the M5 was re-usuable 3-4 times. The dealer wouldn't have that and has insisted on a new gasket, which i'm not complaining as as i'd rather have new!! stops all those pending nasty oil leaks.

Regards

Mike K

de Witt · 29th January 2002, 21:50

Yeah, some have said that they have gotten away with doube-stinting the gaskets on the S38. Risky!

£80 ($113USD) is a decent price for a dealer oil change, similar to what they would charge here Colorado. With my BMWCCA membership, I have been able to get dealer oil changes for about $95USD (£67). That is a pretty good deal considering it is a dealer change.

IvanDias · 29th January 2002, 22:13

Thats bang on with what my local bournemouth main dealer quoted for the valves. They made it £200+VAT all in with the new gasket and the "expected" number of shims they would need.

Surprising how few people will actually do the job. Ask around and see the fleeting look of panic when you ask for this M5 specific task. lol.

I do the oil myself, so I know the oil is good, the quantity is good, and there are new plugs and washers used. I am in control.

Ivan.

mikek · 29th January 2002, 22:28

Ivan,

Yeah i change the oil myself every 3000 miles, but i get the dealer to change it every 6 months to keep my service history upto date, hopefully so it is easier to sell on when the time comes.

I do consider my dealer to be pretty good value for money considering the filter would be 8 pounds and the oil (castrol magnatec) would be about 30 - 35 pounds. So technically for less than 40 quid extra i get my book stamped!!

My dealer is slightly cheaper than yours:

140 labour + 23 for the gasket (shims included) = 163 + VAT

minus 10% = 146.70 + VAT

against your quoted 200 + vat

regards

Mike K