[sheps]

Can anyone recommend a good BMW independant in the Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire area that is BMW turbo competent?

A good friend of mine called me yesterday to tell me the turbo on his 03 plate X5 has expired. It has been recovered to a main dealer but I have advised him against ok'ing the work until he gets a written estimate which he can compare to local independants - problem is, I don't know any!

Can anyone help me with a recommendation please?

[E92Fan]

I'm thinking that Uxbridge/Heathrow too far out of the way?? Otherwise Birds would be the ideal people. Don't know of anyone decent in Cambridgeshire or Bedfordshire unfortunately

[Budgie]

A1 specialists in Stevenage are the best reputed indy in our way.

http://www.a1bmspecialist.co.uk/

Nothing to lose

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

I'm thinking that Uxbridge/Heathrow too far out of the way?? Otherwise Birds would be the ideal people. Don't know of anyone decent in Cambridgeshire or Bedfordshire unfortunately

The secret's out - E92fan is a shareholder in Birds Garage.

I gather he gets £10 and a sticker for every mention

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by doughboy

The secret's out - E92fan is a shareholder in Birds Garage.

I gather he gets £10 and a sticker for every mention

Careful now, you best get your facts right.... I OWN Birds Garage...

When was it again you are coming down to visit us for the LSD and ARBs ?!

I'll make sure you get £10 deducted from your next bill...

Originally Posted by doughboy

Just phone Birds instead. No such problems.

On a serious note, the problem with recommending garages, whether they be official dealers or Indys is that if something goes wrong with a member's car at a garage that you or I have recommended, then there could be this feeling of "you stitched me up" or "why did I listen to you", know what I mean?

Outside London, I won't recommend anybody because I haven't seen their work first hand and have no grounds to offer a recommendation. In and around London, there's only one BMW official service centre I would go to, and that's BMW Battersea (Stewarts Road, not Nine Elms). And for the independents, either BM Sport in Blackheath (Southeast London) or Birds in Uxbridge.

I remember a few years ago I told a really good friend of mine to take his M3 Coupe (breadvan) to a guy in Surbiton, Surrey for some urgent remedial work - wishbone bushes, failed window motor, and creaking rear top mounts. He came to find me two weeks later holding a bill for £3,500 saying that the garage had done a whole load of extra work without authority, overbilled the hours of labour, and generally tried to rip him off... He thought I was in on it too

Once bitten.....

[doughboy]

Absolutely agree. Been there with plasterers / plumbers etc....

My point about Birds, was re the SR comment of no one answering the phone.

Birds have answered the phone every time, been extremely polite, professional and technically straightforward in their advice and followed up quote requests and emails v quickly (and from Kevin Bird, the man himself, too).

I have also seen great reviews of their work in good mags such as Evo, before joining this forum.

I don't personally know their work standard yet, but haven't hesitated to book due to their service to date..

PS If you own Birds, then I want £15 off and a sticker.