Dealer stamp - worth it?
Discussion
I've only had my V8V Roadster a few weeks, and have been doing lots of reading up on the car I bought simply because of the noise when it was fired up (man-maths and all that..) and I keep reading bad things about dealer experiences.
My car's got pretty low mileage, and a brilliant service history full of main dealer stamps for the same month it's been serviced each year. Meaning I'll probably get her serviced in the next few months, but that's the dilemma. I'm lucky to be fairly local to Bridge Mill, and have read amazing things about them and the quality of their work. But they're not a mail dealer, so does that matter for resale at all?
My 'local' dealers are JCT600 or Stratstone Wilmslow.
This isn't really about the cost at all - more about getting a quality service carried out. My car's out of warranty, though does have an aftermarket warranty.
My car's got pretty low mileage, and a brilliant service history full of main dealer stamps for the same month it's been serviced each year. Meaning I'll probably get her serviced in the next few months, but that's the dilemma. I'm lucky to be fairly local to Bridge Mill, and have read amazing things about them and the quality of their work. But they're not a mail dealer, so does that matter for resale at all?
My 'local' dealers are JCT600 or Stratstone Wilmslow.
This isn't really about the cost at all - more about getting a quality service carried out. My car's out of warranty, though does have an aftermarket warranty.
As above really ....it depends on how much value you think full history will add over the lifetime you keep it
if you have a 2-3 year old car and will swap it in a year or two, at a main dealer, then Id be inclined to stay with dealer servicing
if you have an older car, out of warranty, you intend to keep for years and maybe sell private/out of dealer network then use a good independant like Bridge Mill, they really do a great job
if you have a 2-3 year old car and will swap it in a year or two, at a main dealer, then Id be inclined to stay with dealer servicing
if you have an older car, out of warranty, you intend to keep for years and maybe sell private/out of dealer network then use a good independant like Bridge Mill, they really do a great job
michael gould said:
my car is coming up to 8 years old and it will have 8 Stratstone stamps in the book.....do you think that has any value when I come to sell it.........I think it does, but as the car is worth probably in the low 30's the value is limited
Low £30's ?Is it a DB9 Volante 2005 ?
What's the mileage then Michael ?
Take the pipe and bedroom slippers out the boot,that should add a few quid.
michael gould said:
my car is coming up to 8 years old and it will have 8 Stratstone stamps in the book.....do you think that has any value when I come to sell it.........I think it does, but as the car is worth probably in the low 30's the value is limited
I think you're right any increase in residual for a main dealer stamp is going to be slim at this age. As more and more age, it's going to be increasingly common to see specialist stamps in the book, as more cars slip out of the main dealer network, which in turn I'm hoping will have a positive effect on residuals for those already using them as time goes by.
My next service is the 70k one, I've been main dealer stamps up to now but I've got a couple of little things that need doing which would add up quickly at £140/hr. i don't skimp by any means but off menu servicing is frightening.
My view is that, for me at least, the savings from here on in are going to easily offset any residual concerns
I recently took my car to a main dealer because they were the most competitively priced. If the car is over 6 years old I doubt whether it'll make much difference on resale if it was serviced by an AM independent or main dealer but I would shy away from buying one that's not been serviced by at least an AM specialist.
Unlike Porsche, the difference between main dealers and independent is very small, in fact one specialist was more expensive (like for like) than the main dealer!
Unlike Porsche, the difference between main dealers and independent is very small, in fact one specialist was more expensive (like for like) than the main dealer!
DangerMonkey said:
michael gould said:
my car is coming up to 8 years old and it will have 8 Stratstone stamps in the book.....do you think that has any value when I come to sell it.........I think it does, but as the car is worth probably in the low 30's the value is limited
I think you're right any increase in residual for a main dealer stamp is going to be slim at this age. As more and more age, it's going to be increasingly common to see specialist stamps in the book, as more cars slip out of the main dealer network, which in turn I'm hoping will have a positive effect on residuals for those already using them as time goes by.
My next service is the 70k one, I've been main dealer stamps up to now but I've got a couple of little things that need doing which would add up quickly at £140/hr. i don't skimp by any means but off menu servicing is frightening.
My view is that, for me at least, the savings from here on in are going to easily offset any residual concerns
This is a no brainer for me (obviously every situation is different). If you want skilled motor engineers who care about their reputation and do not leave the oil change to the yops boys and girls, then use the Aston Martin specialists that are so often mentioned on here.
I have heard nothing derogatory about the specialists we know here but there has been bad press for almost all the stealers. I think the service and knowledge received from our old favourites BR is night and Day compared to my experience with the dealers. Remember if the dealer has your car and finds something major and expensive there is no attempt made to solve it with an engineered solution. It is a straight parts swap operation and boy that can cost. We have also recently had an education about the dealers using the service department to support the sales department. What does that tell you about the mind set that will be dealing with your car
I now have complete peace of mind when I take my car to the garage to have it looked at. I don’t have warranty and I use the independent specialists. I therefore don’t mind spending that bit extra every year on the old banger keeping it reliable and up to scratch.
I have heard nothing derogatory about the specialists we know here but there has been bad press for almost all the stealers. I think the service and knowledge received from our old favourites BR is night and Day compared to my experience with the dealers. Remember if the dealer has your car and finds something major and expensive there is no attempt made to solve it with an engineered solution. It is a straight parts swap operation and boy that can cost. We have also recently had an education about the dealers using the service department to support the sales department. What does that tell you about the mind set that will be dealing with your car
I now have complete peace of mind when I take my car to the garage to have it looked at. I don’t have warranty and I use the independent specialists. I therefore don’t mind spending that bit extra every year on the old banger keeping it reliable and up to scratch.
michael gould said:
I have just checked on the average cost of my last 3 services at Stratstone and it comes out £520 + VAT ....not too bad
Av. £624, Good skills! They do seem willing to negotiate on fixed price services, wilmslow, trouble is as I mention, if you need anything doing 'off menu' that's when things start to escalate quicklyDangerMonkey said:
As more and more age, it's going to be increasingly common to see specialist stamps in the book, as more cars slip out of the main dealer network, which in turn I'm hoping will have a positive effect on residuals for those already using them as time goes by.
This is just what we were discussing at CarFest on Saturday. i.e. as the car gets older, is it worth the extra cost to take it to a main dealer ? Since I've had mine ( a year now ) it's been to Bridge Mill twice and that's where I shall continue to take it. Some good advice in this thread. It is a personal decision. I think that to a more casual buyer (ie, someone who maybe is not a super-petrolhead but wants a nice car) the dealer service history would boost the value of the car.
However, to an enthusiast owner, of which Aston Martin owners seem to be in the majority, a stamp from BR, Trinity, Aston Service London, Bridge Mill (I'm missing some surely) does not detract from the value at all.
Even if it does detract from resale, if you are saving a significant amount on the service and YOU know it has been done right, your savings over the course of a few years ownership could vastly outweigh any perceived or actual decrease in resale. Especially for a pre-owned vehicle which has probably taken most of the depreciation blow already.
However, to an enthusiast owner, of which Aston Martin owners seem to be in the majority, a stamp from BR, Trinity, Aston Service London, Bridge Mill (I'm missing some surely) does not detract from the value at all.
Even if it does detract from resale, if you are saving a significant amount on the service and YOU know it has been done right, your savings over the course of a few years ownership could vastly outweigh any perceived or actual decrease in resale. Especially for a pre-owned vehicle which has probably taken most of the depreciation blow already.
The problem I have with your comment Stuart is two fold....... Firstly you don't suggest that it might add to the value of a vehicle going to independent ( but it may add value having a full dealer service history) and secondly, I don't think it's any more expensive having your car serviced by a main dealer than an independent .......especially if your car is 5YO+
As I've previously mentioned I've paid an average of £620 including VAT for my last 3 main dealer services
As I've previously mentioned I've paid an average of £620 including VAT for my last 3 main dealer services
V8 Animal said:
michael gould said:
I have just checked on the average cost of my last 3 services at Stratstone and it comes out £520 + VAT ....not too bad
What did they do? Wash it!Nope serviced it as per the schedule ......only footballers and idiots don't negotiate the price before the service.....interestingly, I tell them not to wash it as it takes half an hour, and at £140 per hour, I will do it myself
Down to reasonable value for money for me. Carrying out an annual service is not rocket science and a young trained AM technician will be just fine, as will a well skilled specialist. If I would get a decent saving from an established specialist I'd take it there - if it's just a few quid off the ticket, I'd give it to the main dealer.
Hard for me to sound impartial for obvious reasons... I have in the past and present used Chiltern Aston, Nick Mee, Trinity and Bamford Rose, have never darkened a dealer's door (except to buy my Nine).
I know of more than one mechanic who has left the main delaer network to go and work with the independents. To a man, they are all shocked that they are allocated the full amount of time to perform the service that they've contracted to provide; i.e. they are not required to do the 140 point check in an hour, which is a common one. And to do it properly, an impossibility.
For those that think their £520 service has really taken the full 7 hours or whatever and they just did it for you cheaply because they're just nice and "you da man"... well, keep on believing
I'd pay more for an independently serviced car if it has been out of warranty. I know the work has been done, rather than just a box ticked.
I know of more than one mechanic who has left the main delaer network to go and work with the independents. To a man, they are all shocked that they are allocated the full amount of time to perform the service that they've contracted to provide; i.e. they are not required to do the 140 point check in an hour, which is a common one. And to do it properly, an impossibility.
For those that think their £520 service has really taken the full 7 hours or whatever and they just did it for you cheaply because they're just nice and "you da man"... well, keep on believing
I'd pay more for an independently serviced car if it has been out of warranty. I know the work has been done, rather than just a box ticked.
yeti said:
Hard for me to sound impartial for obvious reasons... I have in the past and present used Chiltern Aston, Nick Mee, Trinity and Bamford Rose, have never darkened a dealer's door (except to buy my Nine).
I know of more than one mechanic who has left the main delaer network to go and work with the independents. To a man, they are all shocked that they are allocated the full amount of time to perform the service that they've contracted to provide; i.e. they are not required to do the 140 point check in an hour, which is a common one. And to do it properly, an impossibility.
For those that think their £520 service has really taken the full 7 hours or whatever and they just did it for you cheaply because they're just nice and "you da man"... well, keep on believing
I'd pay more for an independently serviced car if it has been out of warranty. I know the work has been done, rather than just a box ticked.
Chiltern are nearest to me ,do you recommend them for my DB9 ?I know of more than one mechanic who has left the main delaer network to go and work with the independents. To a man, they are all shocked that they are allocated the full amount of time to perform the service that they've contracted to provide; i.e. they are not required to do the 140 point check in an hour, which is a common one. And to do it properly, an impossibility.
For those that think their £520 service has really taken the full 7 hours or whatever and they just did it for you cheaply because they're just nice and "you da man"... well, keep on believing
I'd pay more for an independently serviced car if it has been out of warranty. I know the work has been done, rather than just a box ticked.
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