Owning a vehicle is somewhat like marriage; you’re in it for the good and the bad, both for better or for worse—especially if you own a BMW; BMWs are known for their durability, longevity, and high-performance standards, and upholding such brands takes a lot of effort and energy over a long period of time, not to mention a lot of money. It isn’t uncommon for automotive shops in the San Antonio, TX area to gauge BMW owners for costs on repair work because they know that such car enthusiasts are willing to pay big bucks in order to get their BMW’s back in their hands in a timely manner. Unfortunately, quick automotive work isn’t always the solution; accurate diagnoses and efficient solutions are the best way to approach automotive work, and not all shops maintain the integrity that BMW owners deserve. This is precisely why the estimated costs of fixing common BMW issues, such as transmission problems, are all over the place; while the parts might be relatively affordable, automotive shops drive up the cost of labor to get a high profit, sacrificing the quality of work.
SEARCH FOR A GOOD AUTOMOTIVE SHOP
Finding a good automotive shop is a good place to begin when it comes to transmission issues; because it can be a costly repair, it is best that it’s done right the first time, without any potential for misdiagnosis. A good, thorough diagnosis can save you thousands of dollars in repair work, and with transmission issues, often there is a chain reaction of damage that occurs to other parts, requiring even more labor and repair work to be performed. Knowing about these issues up front will give you a better idea of exactly how much repair work needs to be done and therefore how much the entire process may cost. However, beware of shops that suggest unnecessary repairs and labor; they take advantage of the public’s lack of automotive knowledge, exploiting them for thousands of dollars that could have been kept in the client’s pocket.
EVALUATE THE COST
Replacing a transmission itself can range in cost depending on what type of BMW you drive and the year of the vehicle; anywhere from the low 2,000s to high 3,000s is pretty typical for a transmission replacement, depending on the type of replacement, the shop you choose, and how much other damage your vehicle has sustained. Furthermore, you may look into utilizing a salvaged or used transmission, or even choosing to rebuild your transmission, both of which will be significantly lower in cost than a brand new transmission; but there are clear downsides and risks to going about a transmission replacement this way. It is important that you inform yourself of your options, and a good automotive shop will help you through the decision-making process.
MAKE SURE THE ISSUE FIXED RIGHTLY
Your BMW is an exceptional piece of machinery designed and engineered with special care and attention for detail; therefore, your transmission replacement should be seamless, and your car should feel like it did the first day you drove it when all is said and done. It is likely that you invested in your BMW because you felt you deserved to have an extraordinary driving experience, and it can be especially devastating when you realize that your Bimmer will be out of commission until the transmission can be brought back to life. Transmission replacements sound scary, but with the proper support from a knowledgeable shop, you can get through it unscathed.
DEAL WITH ‘AUTOBAHN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE’
For over 40 years Autobahn Automotive Service has been providing San Antonio, Longhorn, TX and the surrounding areas with integral automotive work. Specializing in European imports, we know that BMWs are especially sacred automobiles that deserve to be treated with the same excellence they were manufactured with. We hire only the most highly-trained and qualified individuals as our technicians on-staff, and we make sure that they are certified in the proper techniques and equipment needed to perform such critical tasks as transmission replacements on our customers’ BMWs. Above all else, we value our client’s experience. We know that dealerships can be unfairly priced, and we don’t think you should have to sacrifice what’s in your wallet for what’s under the hood of your car. Give us a call today to learn more about our philosophies on best automotive practices regarding transmission replacements or any other automotive concern you may have—we will be happy to help.
Old BMW 5-series e60 image credit goes to:chasdesign