Full Main Dealer Service History
Discussion
Joeguard1990 said:
Those mistakes can happen at any garage, be it a dealer or an indie, all depends on the person carrying out the service. The difference is obviously the stamp in the book...
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I suppose it comes down to redress. If a good Indy messes up then it's between you and them. If they are good with a reputation they value, they will be concerned. If a bad or average Indy messes up, you are at the mercy of their goodwill which may not be forthcoming..
I took a car to an Indy a few years ago for a repair. They did not put the car back together properly when I insisted they did I had to put up a mechanic throwing a tantrum and tools around.
Imagine if that had been a main dealer. The screw up could well have been the same, but I'd not have had to deal with a petulant mechanic, or if I had the maufacturer would have been involved and I could have created hell. This Indy could not give a stuff. No comeback available to me other than they were reccomended on forums for fixing MGs. All I could do was to have a little whinge online about it
Main dealers give you more comeback if and when they get things wrong.
I am quite lucky as I take one of my cars to a maufacturer approved service centre. Just the same as a main dealer, nice decor, coffee, corporate branding only they don't sell cars and they are cheaper. It's a good half way house solution. You can't name on here but they service British 4x4s in a valley and they are a great team.
On this topic could someone give me a bit of advice :
We have a 4 year old fiesta titanium purchased from a Ford dealer about a year ago for ~ £8k.
It's essentially a shopping trolley and will soon be a daily for my wife, as such it is unlikely to ever do more than 5k miles a year.
The dealer is ~40 minutes drive away on horribly congested south London roads, needs booking weeks in advance, can't loan me a replacement car, don't know how long a service will take, and have a terrible reputation.
So far the car is FSH, would it be worth keeping it this way ? I'm really tempted to take it to the local garage instead but not sure how much it will hurt the resale value.
I'm not sure how long we're going to keep it, maybe another year or two.
We have a 4 year old fiesta titanium purchased from a Ford dealer about a year ago for ~ £8k.
It's essentially a shopping trolley and will soon be a daily for my wife, as such it is unlikely to ever do more than 5k miles a year.
The dealer is ~40 minutes drive away on horribly congested south London roads, needs booking weeks in advance, can't loan me a replacement car, don't know how long a service will take, and have a terrible reputation.
So far the car is FSH, would it be worth keeping it this way ? I'm really tempted to take it to the local garage instead but not sure how much it will hurt the resale value.
I'm not sure how long we're going to keep it, maybe another year or two.
johnnyBv8 said:
Lee540 said:
I home service all my cars and minor repairs/brakes etc..
I always write in my service book, keep all receipts and document the history of the car entirely in my ownership.
When I come to sell, I say 'full service history' because it is a full history, even if its me doing the work and not a garage.
About main dealers, a local dealer near to me.. used a torque gun as used to fit wheel nuts when re-fitting camshaft in honda engine, looked a bit heavy handed to me.
Hopefully you at least disclose in advance what you mean by 'full service history' though? Technically you're correct, but I'd still be a bit peeved if I travelled to see a car with FSH, only to find that this entailed some ECP receipts!I always write in my service book, keep all receipts and document the history of the car entirely in my ownership.
When I come to sell, I say 'full service history' because it is a full history, even if its me doing the work and not a garage.
About main dealers, a local dealer near to me.. used a torque gun as used to fit wheel nuts when re-fitting camshaft in honda engine, looked a bit heavy handed to me.
The car sold for my asking price and the purchaser travelled over 600 miles!
steveo3002 said:
Fast Bug said:
Really? I'd walk away from a car if it's been 'serviced' by the owner. The world is full of mechanical retards (like me!), and I'd class that as a car without any history at all
Luckily not everyone that home services their car is a retard 
And dealer service history IMO means more chance of idiotic, cack-handed, rushed in order to not go over the allotted time work. My E90 330i came with FDSH and receipts for work done at dealer including front brake pad replacement.
When I went to investigate why the front brakes were a bit sticky I discovered a perfect screwdriver blade shaped tear in the dust seal on the O/S caliper piston.
Caliper dismantled, cleaned and re-assembled by me with new piston ring and dust seal and all is now well.
Edited by r11co on Tuesday 19th August 19:21
I did my school year 10 work experience at a main dealership, some 7/8 years ago now, and Christ was it an eye opener. While there were some good mechanics, some could not give a s**t. Just so rough with everything. Few examples below.
Car in for turbo replacement, when done, started and held at 4k revs from cold (diesel) to clear the exhaust, no-one thought to check oil?
They let me (an inexperienced kid at the time) fill the oil on a car, I overfilled it but the response was "don't worry, she's a ford and will burn it off'
Subaru in for an mot, immaculate,clearly an enthusiast owned, low miles etc, failed on emissions. Now I know you need to clear out the cat, but he took it out and absolutely caned it, driving like a complete moron, way over speed limits etc, I thought it was great at the time, but looking back on it I'd have been pretty hacked off if it was my car!..
Few examples on our cars - i had a car serviced at a main dealer as it was less than 3 years old so for warranty purposes, checked it over when I got it back, suspiciously black oil, came to the conclusion that it had not been changed. Perhaps the worst was my dad's car, wondered why his mirror wouldn't fold in, until it fell off to reveal a load of superglue, he always folds the mirrors in at work. Noticed when back to work the following week. Called the dealer who denied all knowledge. We were certain it was them but how do you prove it a week later?
As a result out cars are serviced at the local HIQ or done by ourselves, never had a problem since! I'm sure there are good main dealers and bad Indies, but I bet the former outweighs the latter!
Car in for turbo replacement, when done, started and held at 4k revs from cold (diesel) to clear the exhaust, no-one thought to check oil?
They let me (an inexperienced kid at the time) fill the oil on a car, I overfilled it but the response was "don't worry, she's a ford and will burn it off'
Subaru in for an mot, immaculate,clearly an enthusiast owned, low miles etc, failed on emissions. Now I know you need to clear out the cat, but he took it out and absolutely caned it, driving like a complete moron, way over speed limits etc, I thought it was great at the time, but looking back on it I'd have been pretty hacked off if it was my car!..
Few examples on our cars - i had a car serviced at a main dealer as it was less than 3 years old so for warranty purposes, checked it over when I got it back, suspiciously black oil, came to the conclusion that it had not been changed. Perhaps the worst was my dad's car, wondered why his mirror wouldn't fold in, until it fell off to reveal a load of superglue, he always folds the mirrors in at work. Noticed when back to work the following week. Called the dealer who denied all knowledge. We were certain it was them but how do you prove it a week later?
As a result out cars are serviced at the local HIQ or done by ourselves, never had a problem since! I'm sure there are good main dealers and bad Indies, but I bet the former outweighs the latter!
I service my own stuff now. Bought a lift a few years back to make life easier. Had so many issues in the past both with bikes and cars. I follow the service schedules, keep all receipts etc.
First time I serviced my GSXR after the warranty had expired. Found the factory paint over several bolts/screws had never been cracked, meaning the bike could never have been serviced properly.
Another previous bike I took to a place that was recommended, fortunately I spotted a friend just after leaving and stopped for a chat. Good job I did as when I went to get back on we noticed the pool of oil underneath. They forgot to torque up the sump plug.
Wife's bike collected from a recall a couple of weeks back. Spilt brake fluid on it. Oh same place managed to chip the tank on its first service. Of course 'it was already like it' apparently. This time we made them do a full walk around when we dropped it off.
Endless arguments with the Mazda service manager when it was in warranty. Oddly it's now done 349k miles, serviced by me and has had no issues at all since they stopped touching it
Friends dads Lotus came back after an oil pressure sensor was replaced. Big split in the wing. That too was apparently already like it.
Only thing I didn't do my self was a diff rebuild. I had all the parts I needed but there were a couple of special tools I needed so decided to get it done somewhere. Well it lasted less than 300 miles.
Recently told a story about a Seat garage. Friend collected his car, noticed a few days later the under tray was missing. Goes back to the garage for a moan. They offer it back to him. Apparently there's a stack of them in the corner of the workshop, it the garages normal practice to leave them off because its a pain to take them off and put them back on.
I always buy on condition. If its been well looked after inside and on the shinny side, its more than likely been well looked after below. I'm not at all interested in MDSH. Find a well looked after car or a well known one in whatever circles your involved with. That's the best way.
First time I serviced my GSXR after the warranty had expired. Found the factory paint over several bolts/screws had never been cracked, meaning the bike could never have been serviced properly.
Another previous bike I took to a place that was recommended, fortunately I spotted a friend just after leaving and stopped for a chat. Good job I did as when I went to get back on we noticed the pool of oil underneath. They forgot to torque up the sump plug.
Wife's bike collected from a recall a couple of weeks back. Spilt brake fluid on it. Oh same place managed to chip the tank on its first service. Of course 'it was already like it' apparently. This time we made them do a full walk around when we dropped it off.
Endless arguments with the Mazda service manager when it was in warranty. Oddly it's now done 349k miles, serviced by me and has had no issues at all since they stopped touching it
Friends dads Lotus came back after an oil pressure sensor was replaced. Big split in the wing. That too was apparently already like it.
Only thing I didn't do my self was a diff rebuild. I had all the parts I needed but there were a couple of special tools I needed so decided to get it done somewhere. Well it lasted less than 300 miles.
Recently told a story about a Seat garage. Friend collected his car, noticed a few days later the under tray was missing. Goes back to the garage for a moan. They offer it back to him. Apparently there's a stack of them in the corner of the workshop, it the garages normal practice to leave them off because its a pain to take them off and put them back on.
I always buy on condition. If its been well looked after inside and on the shinny side, its more than likely been well looked after below. I'm not at all interested in MDSH. Find a well looked after car or a well known one in whatever circles your involved with. That's the best way.
KissMyRs said:
A main dealer service is always preferred, especially in the cars early life imo.
As they get older specialists are ok.
I wouldn't generally touch 'self serviced' cars. Resale would be a pain.
There's people queuing up to buy my stuff because they know its all so well looked after. Trouble for them is I don't intend to sell. As they get older specialists are ok.
I wouldn't generally touch 'self serviced' cars. Resale would be a pain.
the keen guy thats doing his own jobs will spend whatever time is needed , say he spots a ropey bolt , order a new one or find one in the parts box in the shed , or some cracked underseal gets touched up, dab of grease where its needed and so on
vs a pee'd off worker that gets bonus for finishing the job quickly..thats why everything is roared on with a airgun and things get scratched etc
vs a pee'd off worker that gets bonus for finishing the job quickly..thats why everything is roared on with a airgun and things get scratched etc
steveo3002 said:
the keen guy thats doing his own jobs will spend whatever time is needed , say he spots a ropey bolt , order a new one or find one in the parts box in the shed , or some cracked underseal gets touched up, dab of grease where its needed and so on
vs a pee'd off worker that gets bonus for finishing the job quickly..thats why everything is roared on with a airgun and things get scratched etc
Yes 100% vs a pee'd off worker that gets bonus for finishing the job quickly..thats why everything is roared on with a airgun and things get scratched etc
xjay1337 said:
berlintaxi said:
Ain't hard to slice a body open either, so I trust you would have open heart surgery on your kitchen table?
I can cook a rather tasty chicken if that counts? Don't come back with stupid situations to try and prove your terrible idea?!
Fast Bug said:
kambites said:
Evidence of regular home servicing rates even higher for me.
Really? I'd walk away from a car if it's been 'serviced' by the owner. The world is full of mechanical retards (like me!), and I'd class that as a car without any history at allHe does his and most of the familys cars, keeps reciepts for all the parts bought and hand writes a service log for each car.
I bought a mondeo a few years back, the owner had it from new, main dealer history for about 3 yrs, then he did(most) of it himself.
Every single reciept was with the car. and a diary of when he did any work, the car was also spotless.
People seem to think main dealer history is the be all and end all.
berlintaxi said:
I take it in that case you never go out to eat, as you can do the same job at home? Not a stupid situation, you would sooner a surgeon performed an operation on you, I would sooner a manufacturer trained mechanic worked on my car. How is it a terrible idea to use a qualified person to do a job?
Oh dear... No hope for some people. All MDSH is about is getting the job card done, not doing the job to the best that it can be done. Simply, time will not allow for the job to be done as well as it could be done.
rambo19 said:
Fast Bug said:
kambites said:
Evidence of regular home servicing rates even higher for me.
Really? I'd walk away from a car if it's been 'serviced' by the owner. The world is full of mechanical retards (like me!), and I'd class that as a car without any history at allHe does his and most of the familys cars, keeps reciepts for all the parts bought and hand writes a service log for each car.
I bought a mondeo a few years back, the owner had it from new, main dealer history for about 3 yrs, then he did(most) of it himself.
Every single reciept was with the car. and a diary of when he did any work, the car was also spotless.
People seem to think main dealer history is the be all and end all.
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