BMW M5 Repairs

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DavidY

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A lot of you have criticised me going to the BMW main dealer for seemingly simple repairs, and throwing my cash away. So, the time has come for me to get some more repairs done to the M5. I am looking for your recommendations on a good quality, fairly priced garage to take it to, preferably in the Antrim area.

They will need to be able to do BMW coding on my car.

I am looking to book the car in to have the headlight malfunction sorted out (possible new ACL control unit + re-code) and then to have the car fully diagnosed for electrical faults. I know the car has a PDC failure somewhere and would like to get that problem at least fully diagnosed so I can repair it in the future. I am also looking to have a health check-up on the clutch/flywheel, throttle actuators, Vanos system, solenoids, SMG control unit, DSC and ABS control units too.

So what do you think? I am hoping to get it booked into a garage for Friday.

Thanks in advance.
 

Eager

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The chap that is a Porsche specialist also does bmw work and has his work shop at junction1 near Harley Davidson might be worth a go. For antrim town as you mention
 

Eager

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The slightly complicated affairs you describe sound a nightmare to actually find someone good yet get real good service in ni.
 

DavidY

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DavidY
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Cheers for the replies thus far.

its unlikely anyone good could take it in by friday.

Not entirely true. I know Country Garage would happily help out if I booked it in on Thursday afternoon they are more than likely able to get it fixed by Friday afternoon. I've taken it to them at 2pm on a Friday before and had it back, including new parts delivered and installed by lunchtime on Saturday. You pay for good service though......
 

pablo

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Yeah sorry I meant a non dealer. The good indy guys are usually booked solid as they don't have a squad of mechanics sitting waiting.
 

DavidY

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Just spoke to Colm Hyland at Banbridge Motor Works. Had a good chat about a few fault finding techniques I'm going to try before I take the car to him which should help bring the costs down, but he's going to put it on the diagnostics machine for me on Friday too just for my peace of mind.
 
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Rob

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If your prepared to travel, I would recommend Bryan Grieves in Claudy. BMW specialist and fellow M5 owner, albeit v8. Highly knowledgable and a gentleman
 

Neil_M

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If your prepared to travel, I would recommend Bryan Grieves in Claudy. BMW specialist and fellow M5 owner, albeit v8. Highly knowledgable and a gentleman

Probably the worst mechanic I have ever had dealings with. Unfortunately I'm not the only person with similar reviews :worried:.
 

Andy044

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^^^^^^
Car Clinique - The BMW Specialists
Welcome to Car Clinique - BMW Specialist
  • Tel: 07842 994223
39a Old Coach Rd, Hillsborough, County Down, BT26 6PB

Have used him several times without complaint. He'll be servicing my BMW for as long as I have it
 

zafturbo

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What about the garage of the Main Street in antrim,used to have a couple of good mechanics but they possibly have left now.as for there work I have no idea.ds auto springs to mind possibly.
 

DavidY

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Took my 335d to DS Auto's in Antrim to enquire about fitting new uprated pads/discs/lines i had bought. They were less than helpful. Flat out refused to work on the car as they said it was too low for their jacks/ramps. It is completely standard car. I wasn't too impressed tbh.

I went down to see Colm Hyland. Got a good impression despite only talking to his son (I think). He was helpful in trying to do what he can basically for free to help me out. I've done further checks on my car from his advice but still not been able to find the issue with my headlights. I'm hoping i can give them a call back and get it taken to them for a full check over, rather than a quick look. Can't complain at the experience and his costs to be fair.
 

AMG

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Took my 335d to DS Auto's in Antrim to enquire about fitting new uprated pads/discs/lines i had bought. They were less than helpful. Flat out refused to work on the car as they said it was too low for their jacks/ramps. It is completely standard car. I wasn't too impressed tbh.

I went down to see Colm Hyland. Got a good impression despite only talking to his son (I think). He was helpful in trying to do what he can basically for free to help me out. I've done further checks on my car from his advice but still not been able to find the issue with my headlights. I'm hoping i can give them a call back and get it taken to them for a full check over, rather than a quick look. Can't complain at the experience and his costs to be fair.

Colly went to school with me so would be around 33, so I would say it was him you were talking to.
 

suckindiesel

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Darren Wilkinson @ DW Autos in Ballyclare is worth a look D W Autos | Facebook. A great no BS, honest bloke, if he can't help, I'd be sure he will know who can.

Don't think I would agree. Also had a bad experience, stupidly left a mini to him after recomendation a few years ago. Complaint was a high pitched constant non mechanical sound coming from the rear of the car which would have sent you mental and which my own mechanic couldn't get to the bottom of. Returned to lift the car and he said it was the rear discs ^o), and they replaced them with (wait for it) "good second hand parts" and relieved me of £40. The car was (of course) no different, and whose to say the discs were ever touched.
 
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