Morning isis.
I also had a pre check done and it came out clean. I've been going to the same independent garage for 6 years who in the past has proven incredibly reliable. (I'm an engineer by trade and find it hard to "trust"). He tells me he has the gear to work on BMW's so I'll see how he gets on. Time will tell I guess.
I have to say I have no intention of spending 4K per year just on general maintenance. 1-1.5K at most thanks. My surf is costing around .8K including warrants)
Keep in touch. It would be good to compare notes and success regarding servicing and service costs. (ps the car test was done by a garage recommended for BMW work. I was totally unimpressed by them! Amongst other things they declared the key, fuel tank cover and alarm and central locking faulty. Turns out the boy didn't know how to use the Key. $#^%$#^#. The car had no stereo! ?????. So what the radio, cassette player and multiple stacker in the boot are for I don't know. I'll just use them until I can afford a stereo I guess. However their senior mechanic did the mechanical testing etc and I went over the numbers with the shop owner)
Cheers
Glen