'A' service cost

[jez o]

Just rang local Lotus dealer for A service cost on 12 month old Exige S2. £433 inc vat!!!
Anyone had similar price or am I having my trousers taken down?
Horizon Motorsport (local specialist) quoted £125 and will use Lotus parts/recommended oil so warranty not affected. Service book indicates it's an oil/filter change and then checking other stuff. I can't begin to imagine what labour rate this must be on as it can't be more than a couple of hours work.

[Janitor]

Jeez Jez! That's steep Main Dealer for ya though eh?

It would appear that a good quality independant will see you right and a Dealer will fleece you bad!

There is a strong train of thought that whilst a full service history is vital to maintain of course, it doesn't necessarily have to be Main Dealer stamps in the book because clued-up potential buyers know the score

Having said that, during the initial 2 year warranty period, I think it's a case of Main Dealer servicing only isn't it?

[StuartB]

Janitor said:

Jeez Jez! That's steep Main Dealer for ya though eh?
Having said that, during the initial 2 year warranty period, I think it's a case of Main Dealer servicing only isn't it?

No, some sort of European ruling - as long as it is done to the Manufacturers guidelines any garage can do it

[TonyHetherington]

That IS expensive!!

£125 is very reasonable indeed and you should go with that. Where in the country are you?

As mentioned, the warranty is the difficult one - so DO CHECK with your dealer. OR maybe another dealer with a 'friendly' voice on the other end of the line.

[Sublime]

That's expensive, I think I only paid another hundred and fifty for a C service at a main Lotus dealer and that included the cambelt change.

[MJK 24]

I recommend Horizon - £125 is very good. However, if yu has a K series, Horizon would knock a further £26 off! £104 for me last time I was there (about a month ago).

[stu hill]

Mine goes to Horizon on Thursday, for a A sevice and to get all the wheels pointing in the right direction. Something like 104 notes for the service and 90 notes to get the wheels in the same direction.
I think for the first time in my life I'm actually quite excited about parting with 90 quid!

[scotte]

I assume there is a set of instructions explaining what should be done during an A , B or C service.

Would it be worth taking this service list to a non lotus specialist and saying here you go, do this ?

Scott

[bogie]

id stick with a specialist - they know all the common niggles with these cars ....most good specialists within the M25 area are about £180 for an A service ...which is fine....paid £90 for my last one at MSC in Kent

[hbaumhardt]

I wouldnt want to pay someone to learn to shave on my face*


* Using a non Lotus specialist is mad - the worst of all worlds.

Edited by hbaumhardt on Thursday 29th June 17:39

[bogie]

agreed - its not following the list and ticking that they changed the oil, cleaned the filter etc...its all the stuff the specialist will check/fix/adjust thats not on the list thats important !

[hbaumhardt]

Right, like track rod ends, toe links and such.

[jez o]

TonyHetherington said:

That IS expensive!!

£125 is very reasonable indeed and you should go with that. Where in the country are you?

As mentioned, the warranty is the difficult one - so DO CHECK with your dealer. OR maybe another dealer with a 'friendly' voice on the other end of the line.

I'm near Birmingham- Nick Whale (dealer) is doing a promotion apparently at £199 for 'A' service. The problem I have is that the car is on 3 years finance- at the end of this I have various options- give back, part-ex, pay off etc. If I part-ex for another Lotus, I can see them lowering their valuation because it hasn't been serviced inside their dealer network. If I was to sell privately, due to the type of buyer (ie you guys on here)it may even be better to have Horizon Motorsport's stamp in there. Hope you can see my quandry!