Stlr Visit: Good Results, Finally!

[motordavid]

I waddled over to Asheville area this am for a visit to my one "local" BeamEr Stlr:
Fletcher Motors. Had appt. to get some stuff looked at/fixed before the Extended Maint expries in mid Sept, as does the orig Fac Warr.

-They fixed the final stage resistor which had just glitched last week for the first time; the fan, (and A/C cold air), had mysteriously come back on, glitched off and come on again in the week since I made the appt.). It was replaced and now the cold air is Really cold!
-I complained of ongoing brake situ and they finally admitted front pads were thin, (46K), and R&R front pads and new rotors. Rears are well within spec, they say.
-Had a 2nd press. test done on cooling sys. but they say no leak of any kind, could be found. I'll jes'keep adding a few ounces of mix on a reg. basis, though that coolant is going "somewhere". They gave me the "all BMWs use coolant" line again for the umpteenth time.
-Annual oil change
-Replaced right upper tail gate light for 3rd time; I had it taped in place. Maybe this one will stick in there longer.
-They said control arms are "fine"...hmmm

NEway, my points are: the 1 yr Ext Warr I got last August was a good deal, as the front brakes woulda eaten up most of that 400 bucks I think, at Stlr rip pricing. And, with a new Ser Mgr at Fletcher, it was a much more professional and zero acrimonious visit compared to previous visits. This SA never asked for or begged for "5s", either. A welcome change in that Service Dept.

They had No new '06 X3s or X5s and only 2 new '06 330is. No new '06 X3 or X5 brochures yet, either. Lotsa '05 and even '04 new leftover stuff and jammed full of "cpo" used beamErs. Sales dept is still pretty aloof.

Glad to get this stuff done...still have a couple niggling issues so I may motor back before the mid Sept end of Maint and end of Warr period. I am also shopping hard for a 3rd party ext warr. I have it narrowed down to One Source or Warr Direct and leaning toward WarrDirect. The ultimate question is, "Is it worth the 2gs for another 30+K miles of coverage?" which equates to about 2 1/2 more years, at my rate.
BR,md