Best main dealer?
Discussion
I would say avoid HR Owen.
A friend serviced his car with them and they told him aload of things were wrong, eg wipers, tyres, pads.
The funny thing was that the tyres were only a couple of thousand miles old and the pads were done the previous year and he replaced the wipers a few months before the service.
Better to use a good specialist who knows what they are doing, takes care and doesn't charge you for replacing a cable tie.
Also note that mechanics at main dealers have to hit targets, they really don't care about the cars they work on or the time spent.
A friend serviced his car with them and they told him aload of things were wrong, eg wipers, tyres, pads.
The funny thing was that the tyres were only a couple of thousand miles old and the pads were done the previous year and he replaced the wipers a few months before the service.
Better to use a good specialist who knows what they are doing, takes care and doesn't charge you for replacing a cable tie.
Also note that mechanics at main dealers have to hit targets, they really don't care about the cars they work on or the time spent.
SirMark said:
Hi mate,
Personally I like HROwen London they used to do most of my work and also do a BMW courtesy car
Price isn't too bad remember to mention the club and I believe they still give discount (worth checking)
Or Lamborghini Manchester, if the BMW is being used they often loan out a demo car.Personally I like HROwen London they used to do most of my work and also do a BMW courtesy car
Price isn't too bad remember to mention the club and I believe they still give discount (worth checking)
Has anyone that has highly praised a main dealer, actually taken their car to an Indy and discovered the truth of what has actually been done to their car whilst in the hands of a main dealer? It may be nice having your ass licked and being served expensive coffee whilst at the posh dealership. But look a little deeper, don't take the smooth tongued agents word for anything.
P101 said:
Has anyone that has highly praised a main dealer, actually taken their car to an Indy and discovered the truth of what has actually been done to their car whilst in the hands of a main dealer? It may be nice having your ass licked and being served expensive coffee whilst at the posh dealership. But look a little deeper, don't take the smooth tongued agents word for anything.
+1wise words.
andrew said:
they were more, several hundred more..... 
just spoke to mike pullen at carrera sport.... 500+VAT all in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats a bit of an eye opener....

Being an independent dealer but having been involved in main dealers and manufacturers for years my view is the following:
The level of specialist equipment (which is updated as the models update) from the manufacturer to the main dealer is expensive and necessary. The diagnostic computer for a Lambo for example is 70k Euros. In addition to being trained on the ground/college the main dealer will send its technicians on manufacturer training on an on going basis (i.e. every time there is an update or every time there is a recurring fault throughout the network) which means they stay up to the minute. All these costs mean that main dealers contrary to most popular belief don't make fortunes out of the service dept.
The negatives to a main dealer are that they also have to spend a fortune on 'brand standards' that dont add any value like certain colour tiles, a certain coffee machine etc (initial set up pack for a Lambo service agent is around £150k). Again this has be be recovered through the overall hourly rate. The second negative is that in most cases you will be dealing with an employee of a group as your service contact, who in some cases will have all the passion in the world but more often than not its just a job. In an indy you will normally have involvement from the owner and therefore its his name/reputation on the line and is therefore likely to be more responsive/caring.
What I tend to do is use main dealers for the late cars as I know that they can deal with any recalls, updates, ask advice of the manufacturer in diagnostic issues (bearing in mind the manufacturer will have the feedback of every dealer in the world available) and, like it or not people/traders will always pay more for a full main dealer service history (!!) but if it is a non current model i.e. 2005 Gallardo I will be happy to use an indy of which there are many excellent ones.
Long winded I know! Thanks for reading!!
The level of specialist equipment (which is updated as the models update) from the manufacturer to the main dealer is expensive and necessary. The diagnostic computer for a Lambo for example is 70k Euros. In addition to being trained on the ground/college the main dealer will send its technicians on manufacturer training on an on going basis (i.e. every time there is an update or every time there is a recurring fault throughout the network) which means they stay up to the minute. All these costs mean that main dealers contrary to most popular belief don't make fortunes out of the service dept.
The negatives to a main dealer are that they also have to spend a fortune on 'brand standards' that dont add any value like certain colour tiles, a certain coffee machine etc (initial set up pack for a Lambo service agent is around £150k). Again this has be be recovered through the overall hourly rate. The second negative is that in most cases you will be dealing with an employee of a group as your service contact, who in some cases will have all the passion in the world but more often than not its just a job. In an indy you will normally have involvement from the owner and therefore its his name/reputation on the line and is therefore likely to be more responsive/caring.
What I tend to do is use main dealers for the late cars as I know that they can deal with any recalls, updates, ask advice of the manufacturer in diagnostic issues (bearing in mind the manufacturer will have the feedback of every dealer in the world available) and, like it or not people/traders will always pay more for a full main dealer service history (!!) but if it is a non current model i.e. 2005 Gallardo I will be happy to use an indy of which there are many excellent ones.
Long winded I know! Thanks for reading!!
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