One can only speak as one finds.
Indeed, but the plural of anecdote is not data, and one would reasonably expect that engines have improved in the last 30 years.
Though it's true that BMW main dealer service costs can be very high (although having said that our Mini SE has proved pretty cheap so far) it's also worth pointing out that BMW-compatible software is available at a range of price points from inexpensive smartphone-based apps like BimmerCode through the hand-held devices from the likes of Foxwell through to all-singing all-dancing PC-based systems like BimCom, which is still less than £600.
There's no real reason why an enthusiastic amateur or a reasonably knowledgeable non-franchised service centre couldn't look after a BMW-engined CX car themselves.
