Service options

[Arjxh56]

Whats the general opinion on main dealer vs indie service?
I got my car from a main dealer and it has a full main dealer s/history. I have just short of 2 years warranty (extended plus) left on the car.
I am looking at the pros and cons of keeping the history Main dealer, vs going to an indie, such as BR, and what this will do to the future value / ease of selling / selling options etc..

My initial thoughts are that most would prefer a main delaer history and that by going indie route i will narrow my selling audience and reduce its value?

[AMDBSNick]

Arjxh56 said:

Whats the general opinion on main dealer vs indie service?
I got my car from a main dealer and it has a full main dealer s/history. I have just short of 2 years warranty (extended plus) left on the car.
I am looking at the pros and cons of keeping the history Main dealer, vs going to an indie, such as BR, and what this will do to the future value / ease of selling / selling options etc..

My initial thoughts are that most would prefer a main delaer history and that by going indie route i will narrow my selling audience and reduce its value?

I would be more than happy buying a car with BR history. Note BR do not do warranty work.

[Arjxh56]

I agree that for those in the know with regards to BR and especially those that already use them, it would be fine, but thats a narrow group i feel?
In general though, indie versus main dealer... (not specifically BR).. what would the impact be?

[AMDBSNick]

Depends who you are looking to sell to. When I swapped my V8V for my DBS Stratstone didn't even look in the service book although I suppose they would have checked their computer records. Likewise I did not look in the service book when I bought the DBS. I later discovered that it has missed its 1st service. Some would say this makes my car worthless. Personally I don't give a toss as any missed items will now have been rectified in subsequent services. If a potential buyer was worried about it being looked after by BR you could always point them to this forum. In summary I don't think it makes any difference to some but will do to others

Edited by AMDBSNick on Tuesday 4th December 13:34

[yeti]

Arjxh56 said:

I agree that for those in the know with regards to BR and especially those that already use them, it would be fine, but thats a narrow group i feel?

You sound like you've made up your mind? Is the plan to keep asking until someone says DEALER ONLY!!!

Would make no odds to me as long as it was a proper AML specialist, not a backstreet garage or general 'specialist' and I would like it backed up with invoices to see what had been done. A service book stamp shows you had an oil and filter change, doesn't show what was rectified or whether plugs/coils/pollen filters were done as sometimes these are opted out of if not felt they're needed.

[Arjxh56]

yeti said:

You sound like you've made up your mind? Is the plan to keep asking until someone says DEALER ONLY!!!

Would make no odds to me as long as it was a proper AML specialist, not a backstreet garage or general 'specialist' and I would like it backed up with invoices to see what had been done. A service book stamp shows you had an oil and filter change, doesn't show what was rectified or whether plugs/coils/pollen filters were done as sometimes these are opted out of if not felt they're needed.

Not really... When i purchased mine i was of the mindset that i wanted dealer history, warranty etc... I had never dabbled in AM before and felt it would be a comfort blanket, but i knew it would be more expensive.
My dealer experience was not how i expected it to be and has cast doubt in my mind, which is the reason why i am now looking at the alternative indie route. I just dont want to jump ship immediately without doing a little research or it might kick me in the nuts & wallet later!

[JaseB]

Depends how you are for cash, I started the same way, dealer car, history and warranty, came to service time and was more than happy with the BR guys experience to put my money their way, especially as it was somewhere between a half and a third cheaper.

Then dropped down to 500 quid a year Admiral insurance and I'm probably a grand a year better off, that's a very useful amount in my book. Money no object I'd go dealer... probably...

That and I have to say the BR guys inspired me with confidence considerably more than the dealer I was talking to at the time.

[yeti]

Your car will never be worth less with an indie service history, but as with anything that's not completely vanilla you can limit your pool of prospective buyers.

Any car that isn't Depression Grey with Suicide Black leather, has done 2k miles/yr, has one careful owner and a new clutch does this though (because all clutches, at all mileages are about to EXPLODE killing your whole family and your dog)

A few services at a main delaer versus an AM independent specialist will soon see you several thousand pounds worse off however...And the work will not necessarily be of the same standard.

[F1 NDW]

BR = Motor Engineers.
Dealer = spare parts changers

I know that's an exageration and you cant tar everyone with the same brush, but it has certainly been my experience.

[Bincenzo]

Sorry to hijack a little, but with an extended AM warranty, are you obliged to opt for main dealer servicing to maintain the warranty? That was certainly the impression I was given by AM Works. If not, I'd certainly opt for BR, despite not having experienced their professionalism yet, purely based upon the recommendations on here. In fact, if that's the case, I certainly will go to BR.

[Gibberish]

Bincenzo said:

...but with an extended AM warranty, are you obliged to opt for main dealer servicing to maintain the warranty? That was certainly the impression I was given by AM Works.

I thought extended warranties and servicing are covered under ‘Block Exemption Regulation.’

Is it worth asking AM Works to clarify, just in case you have got the wrong impression?

I was told by Car Care Plan (Aston Martin Extended Warranty) that I could take my car anywhere for warranty

repairs, (not just a main dealer) provided they conform to the warranty company’s criteria. I assumed that it would

mean the fitting of genuine parts etc. But I’m now a little skeptical. I didn’t pursue with Car Care Plan any further,

after they said it would take 14 working days to print and send a policy document to me. I asked for a copy of my

current documents, at the time and never received them.

[Arjxh56]

I will look into my AM warranty as I am not sure what the Ts and Cs specifically say about servicing. From having a conversation with a reputable indie it looks like it might be fine for service items to be completed by indies but not for warranty repairs.
I will post back when I get the official line....
Thanks

[yeti]

Bincenzo said:

Sorry to hijack a little, but with an extended AM warranty, are you obliged to opt for main dealer servicing to maintain the warranty? That was certainly the impression I was given by AM Works. If not, I'd certainly opt for BR, despite not having experienced their professionalism yet, purely based upon the recommendations on here. In fact, if that's the case, I certainly will go to BR.

Now I wonder why AM would want you to think that..?

The ONLY stipulation is that the garage performing the work is VAT registered to maintain both factory warranty and extended warranty. This is the block exemption rule mentioned above, the correct servicing schedule must be followed as stipulated by the factory using the correct parts of course, but can be done anywhere that's VAT registered.

Those are the facts. Enjoy them

[Bincenzo]

yeti said:

Now I wonder why AM would want you to think that..?

The ONLY stipulation is that the garage performing the work is VAT registered to maintain both factory warranty and extended warranty. This is the block exemption rule mentioned above, the correct servicing schedule must be followed as stipulated by the factory using the correct parts of course, but can be done anywhere that's VAT registered.

Those are the facts. Enjoy them

Eloquent and reliable as ever Lewis, thank you. I've a man who has offered me a discount at a dealership, but I'd be interested to see how it compares to BR, for example. Think i'll call the boys to get a price and take it from there.....enjoy Soho you lucky devil, I'll be stuck in Shrewsbury taking in a round of pub golf. Oh dear....

[George29]

Bincenzo said:

I'll be stuck in Shrewsbury taking in a round of pub golf. Oh dear....

9 hole or 18?

Make sure to get one of these fantastic pub golf hats - http://www.partyanimalsfancydress.co.uk/products/m...

[Bincenzo]

George29 said:

9 hole or 18?

Make sure to get one of these fantastic pub golf hats - http://www.partyanimalsfancydress.co.uk/products/m...

George, starting at 1130 with a student pilot graduation, rolling seamlessly into 18. I fear the worst. The hat's out of stock but I will simply move hell and high water to get one as it is simply brilliant.

[George29]

Bincenzo said:

George, starting at 1130 with a student pilot graduation, rolling seamlessly into 18. I fear the worst. The hat's out of stock but I will simply move hell and high water to get one as it is simply brilliant.

I'm not sure if I still have one of those hats, I'll have a look and if I find it I'll pm you and post it down

Last time I did one we had some great pub golf cards - as well as the drink, there was stuff that determined your score. So for a par you would just need to do the drink, then for a birdie it would be the drink and a jaeger bomb, moving all the way to the end where you just had to do something stupid like riding a pool cue like a horse around the bar for a lap

[v8woollie]

George29 said:

moving all the way to the end where you just had to do something stupid like riding a pool cue like a horse around the bar for a lap

You boys oop norf certainly know how to have a good time

[MichaelV8V]

Have a look at this site to get some comparison prices http://www.servicethecar.com/

[George29]

v8woollie said:

You boys oop norf certainly know how to have a good time

Reading it back it doesn't sound great It was just one of the things I remember from playing pub golf (it wasn't me who did it btw!)