Servicing - must it be a specialist?

Servicing - must it be a specialist?

Author
Discussion

AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
I'm not located near a tvr dealer but I have a good local place that can do the annual servicing. Is it essential to use a TVR dealer, if i keep it all well documented elsewhere?

Speed 3

4,486 posts

118 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
It comes down to two things:

1. Resale value - most of us would pay a premium for a well known, reputable garage doing the servicing unless you yourself had a good knowledge and reputation in the relevant circles for doing it yourself.
2. Quality of work and speed of diagnosis. If you have a problem the selected garage hasn't seen or doesn't understand they could end up spending more time and more of your cash than a specialist, or worse, make a problem more significant.

Chim's aren't particularly complicated but they can be sensitive to a dodgy hand.

Your previous posts suggest you're on a Peterborough/London axis. I personally wouldn't call that miles from a "dealer" (which haven't existed for nearly 10 years - they're all specialist indies now)

matt-man

2,665 posts

218 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
They are all very easy to work on! If you can be bothered...

I work on both of mine and only get garages for do the stuff I really can't but that's not very often.

Servicing-it is an absolute piece of cake on my wedge, bit more of a pain on the Tuscan due to the stupid design of where the sump plug is, but certainly not rocket science.

Document the work and do it regularly.

I have know people not to have servicing done as they mileage isn't due and they don't want to spend lots on getting the stamp.

I service my wedge every 2000 miles or 8 months and have done since I got it 9 years and 38000 miles ago...!

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
If you are, like me, not a dab hand with a spanner, then a good TVR indie is a good idea. They know what they are doing, and know where to look for issues when doing the thorough checkover that is essential for your safety and the car's health.

Where are you based? We can advise where to go if you can let us know that little nugget of info.

AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
It's more a time thing, only free weekends or late evening. How about Elmwood TVR near Epsom, are they well regarded?

NickOrangeTVR

649 posts

138 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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I would never risk any work from a non-specialist. Yes Rover V8's are not complicated, but in reality specialist knowledge is needed to not make mistakes that will cost you later.

That said - there are also specialists that are also muppets and I wouldn't trust.

R7EBO

501 posts

141 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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For the first 2 & half years of ownership ALL the work done on my car was carried out by a garage local to me who are a VAG (snigger) specialist and had never touched a TVR before. The trick is to find someone you trust & gives good service, not necessarily a specialist. The guys I used I knew from my previous Leon Cupra & I knew I could trust them, & they did a huge amount of research before touching anything remotely out of the ordinary, & didn't charge me a penny for the background work! They've done everything from oil & shim replacements to clutches, master & slave cylinders & even had the engine out to replace a section of engine casing, cams & half time bearings.

Don't get me wrong, I use a specialist more now for some work and he offers a very good service, indeed his customer service is excellent! But it all depends on how much you trust your local place & how well you regard their skills...

Speed 3

4,486 posts

118 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
AD77 said:
It's more a time thing, only free weekends or late evening. How about Elmwood TVR near Epsom, are they well regarded?
They look after my Tuscan and I can certainly recommend them. You can drop you car off out of hours at the Jet station in front and they do collections locally.

Deeman

1,609 posts

181 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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AD77 said:
It's more a time thing, only free weekends or late evening. How about Elmwood TVR near Epsom, are they well regarded?
Trust these guys - very friendly and get through the work quickly. Toby an Pete (and Claire) know what they are doing

AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
Speed 3 said:
They look after my Tuscan and I can certainly recommend them. You can drop you car off out of hours at the Jet station in front and they do collections locally.
That could solve a lot of the problems is they do collections... How far would they go do you think?

Speed 3

4,486 posts

118 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
Give them a call, Claire and Toby are very helpful. Failing that I may be able to assist depending on where you are.

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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Where are you based?

Elmswood would not be a local garage from North London (as intimated above).

AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
Where are you based?

Elmswood would not be a local garage from North London (as intimated above).
sw London. It's actually not too far I could drop it off out if hours if they can't come and collect it. Just wanted to make sure they were reliable.

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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Elmswood are good. I've used them previously and have no reason not to use them again.

If it is just a routine service, you could try Autofix in Coulsdon. Not a specialist but do look after a few Chims in the area so do have experience. They have worked on my S too.

stumpage

2,099 posts

225 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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The first couple of years I had my Chimaera it went to a specialist for everything, due to reading a lot of things on here. Then the more time I spent with the TVRCC and with the car itself I realised that a lot of the jobs were pretty straight forward. Manifold gaskets, electric circuits, hot start kits, radiator replacement are some of the jobs I've now carried out myself and enjoyed some pleasant evenings carrying out the work. All I get the specialist to do are the jobs that cannot be accessed with out a lift.

I do keep every receipt for parts though plus a log of what I've done.