Never a good idea to let the dealership wash your car. Just say no.

 

Agreed! You may think you're getting a freebie, but you're only getting some 16 YO kid using the dirty water from the previous 10 vehicles and the remnants of the parking lot as he drops the towels here and there.

 

That is usually the only time it gets washed.
I'm on my second vehicle from this dealer and have no complaints

Telcoman

 

^ huh? The only time your car gets washed is at the dealer? I must have read that wrong. A least I hope I did. Otherwise I'd hate to think what the paint finish would look like up close.

 

Still looks like new

My G37S at sunrise



I love it but it's only a car.

Telcoman

 

$180 installed with treats and a wash included seems reasonable.

A good aftermarket battery like the Duralast Gold will cost over $125 with tax.

The hardest thing about replacing a battery yourself is resetting the radio presets. Pretty straight-forward.

 

Your picture reminds me of a great quote from a 90's movie, Clueless. A "monet"- good from far but far from good.

It is completely your choice b/c you're right "it's only a car", but you probably have tons of swirls and micro scratches. If you want to confirm, look under a florescent light and look from different angles. You'll see swirls and minor scratching. Is that the end of the world, no! But those of us who know and care wouldn't be caught dead with that. Just like some don't use regular oil or cheap gas, stock intakes, etc.

Again, you're not "wrong", but some of us are just more **** than others.

 

Hardly. Typical brake dust damage in progress on the front rims of a neglected car. Clearly, there are priorities going on between your ears that the rest of us will just never relate to. It's a big world, filled with odd people.

Then again, I'm the one who's off-topic here, whereas your advice about spending $181 for an OEM battery and delicious service department snacks... while truly bad advice, it was on-topic nonetheless.

 

Rochester,
I'm one of the guys that does not adhere to schedule 1 because 80%+ of my miles are on the highway and I don't meet any of the schedule 1 conditions. That being said, don't wait until 7500 and usually change somewhere after 6k.

Schedule 1:
-Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles in normal temperatures or less than 10 miles in freezing temperatures
- Stop-and-go traffic in hot weather or
- low speed driving for long distances
- Driving in dusty conditions or on rough, muddy, or salt-spread roads
- Towing a trailer, or using a camper or car-top carrier

Brian

 

Well I think evidence of a neglected car is doing oil changes at 7500 miles but then again I'm an old farht.


Brake dust damage?

What damage?

"Big wheels keep on turning" Credence Clearwater

I happen to think that having a good relationship with the parts, service, and even the sales department where one spends north of $40k on a new vehicle purchase is more important than worrying about brake dust and perhaps tiny scratches.

On the topic of a battery purchase many may not realize that you can in most cases purchase your OEM 700 CCA battery at the parts counter and use your 10% discount. Then walk over to your favorite service adviser and ask that they install the battery that you just left at the parts counter.
The total cost will in most cases be less than if you just asked the service department to replace your battery.
The service department at most dealerships marks up parts that come from the parts department.

Whether it is in 3, 6, 7 or 10 years most vehicles owned or leased today will be in the hands of someone else.

Telcoman

 

Some people live their whole lives on an Egyptian river, convinced they're on dry ground.

Nothing for normals to do but smile and wave, and occasionally bask in the glow of their utter certitude.

 

Coding BMWs is actually not difficult as long as you have the proper cable. There are a ton of tutorials and videos on youtube. Just so people are clear you are NOT coding the battery you are resetting the cars charging computer. If you replace the battery with the same size battery you are just telling the computer there is a new battery in it so that it changes is charging characteristics. If you change the battery size to a different AMP hour battery then you need to code the car to tell it the new size (also very easy).
With any car if you learn to do the maintenance and repairs yourself it is relatively inexpensive. My BMW's have been no more expensive then any Infiniti's or other car I have owned. Currently have an 09 Xterra, 10 BMW 3series, 12 G37X. I do all maintenance myself they all cost about the same.

 

During the winter, I definitely let the dealer wash the car. Too cold, snowy and icy for my "old" bones.

My dealer hand washes the car. Even if the rags are dirty(and I'm hoping they aren't), it's better than the salt.

 

I took my car to the dealer this week and specifically asked if they hand washed or put through a machine. They told me they hand wash with care so said go ahead -- big mistake and I've already followed up with Infiniti on this one because the whole car has fine scratches now

Even after reading the horror stories on here I said go ahead. Lesson learned.

 

i have to agree, my m3 does not cost a lot to maintain, in fact i think its easier to work on than the g37 and the resources are much more abundant