Keep using main dealer for servicing?
Discussion
I have a 2017 RR Sport so getting on for 7 years old now and it’s been serviced every year by a main Land Rover dealer since I got it earlier this year. It’s due for its next service in Feb and wondering if I’ll be a fool not going to a main dealer again rather than a good, local Indy who specialises in Land Rovers.
I’ll more than likely put it up for sale on Motorway or a part ex on something non LR next year sometime so do you think not keeping main dealer service history would affect its sale value and ease of sale or part ex?
I’ll more than likely put it up for sale on Motorway or a part ex on something non LR next year sometime so do you think not keeping main dealer service history would affect its sale value and ease of sale or part ex?
eliot said:
if it has factory warranty - then dealer, typically first three years, specialist for another couple of years - then more indy or diy thereafter.
It has no factory warranty. I’m just wondering about main dealer history given all the problems Range/land rovers can have and whether it would be more reassuring to future buyers (from dealers mainly) to have the full main dealer history.The general opinion here is that main dealers are ostentatious glass and chrome palaces, whose expensive upkeep is paid for largely by mugs who keep using them for basic servicing work and paying heavily over-the-odds to do so. I can't say that I disagree, in the main, unless it's something incredibly esoteric like a supercar. There are Land Rover specialists all over the place who will be at least as familiar with working on examples of your car as the main dealer, if not more so.
Having run similarly unreliable (in folkfore, if not reality) cars like Alfas in the past, personally I like to see servicing stamps and invoices from a garage known to specialise in them, rather than main dealers who generally have a poor reputation.
Having run similarly unreliable (in folkfore, if not reality) cars like Alfas in the past, personally I like to see servicing stamps and invoices from a garage known to specialise in them, rather than main dealers who generally have a poor reputation.
I would imagine that main dealer history would appeal more to a buyer. Not just because it's been dealer serviced, but it also implies that the previous owner wasn't cost conscious in terms of maintenance, and so probablly kept everything in as good a shape as possible.
In my experience, good quality independents aren't noticeably cheaper than main dealers, so for me it would be independent or dealer based on whose work I trusted the most, and a local independent garage for anything that didn't need specialist attention.
In my experience, good quality independents aren't noticeably cheaper than main dealers, so for me it would be independent or dealer based on whose work I trusted the most, and a local independent garage for anything that didn't need specialist attention.
QJumper said:
I would imagine that main dealer history would appeal more to a buyer. Not just because it's been dealer serviced, but it also implies that the previous owner wasn't cost conscious in terms of maintenance, and so probablly kept everything in as good a shape as possible.
May be "appeal more" but does that translate to "will pay more for"?I've taken two of my modern Land Rovers outside the dealer network (at 4 1/2 and 7 years respectively) to marque specialists because I don't think it'll make the blindest bit of difference when I eventually come to sell (albeit I am not currently planning on selling either for a good few years yet).
The new one is going to be with the main dealer until a year or two out of warranty.
Did the same with previous BMWs and doubt it made any difference whatsoever to the trade in against a different brand.
Not sure which part of Lincolnshire you are in, but these people are superb...
https://maltingsoffroad.co.uk/
https://maltingsoffroad.co.uk/
I bought my evoque when it was 3 years old. The first time I had it serviced I took it to the main dealer as it was under warranty. The dealer were so poor that I would never go back. I've since used a well respected specialist. They are slightly cheaper, honest and update the online service history.
If you're thinking of moving it on next year anyway, why not sell it just before the service is due?
That way you won't have to worry about who to use, and provided it has a full service history it won't make any difference to the value whether the next service is due in 12 months or 12 days. You can always get an MOT done on its own - most of those buying places need at least 6 months MOT to give a decent price in my experience.
That way you won't have to worry about who to use, and provided it has a full service history it won't make any difference to the value whether the next service is due in 12 months or 12 days. You can always get an MOT done on its own - most of those buying places need at least 6 months MOT to give a decent price in my experience.
mikey_b said:
The general opinion here is that main dealers are ostentatious glass and chrome palaces, whose expensive upkeep is paid for largely by mugs who keep using them for basic servicing work and paying heavily over-the-odds to do so. I can't say that I disagree, in the main, unless it's something incredibly esoteric like a supercar. There are Land Rover specialists all over the place who will be at least as familiar with working on examples of your car as the main dealer, if not more so.
Having run similarly unreliable (in folkfore, if not reality) cars like Alfas in the past, personally I like to see servicing stamps and invoices from a garage known to specialise in them, rather than main dealers who generally have a poor reputation.
This in spades, find a decent proper indie mechanic locally and save yourself a fortune, I probably could not afford to run my cars otherwiseHaving run similarly unreliable (in folkfore, if not reality) cars like Alfas in the past, personally I like to see servicing stamps and invoices from a garage known to specialise in them, rather than main dealers who generally have a poor reputation.
swisstoni said:
Straight-up services can be quite competitive at a main dealer.
I use them for just that.
Anything that needs some head scratching, diagnostics or years of experience, I’m going to a specialist.
For mainstream servicing I’ve always found BMW Main Dealers to be reasonable. Other marque franchises I’ve experienced. Well that’s a different story. I use them for just that.
Anything that needs some head scratching, diagnostics or years of experience, I’m going to a specialist.
I've always used brand specialists after warranty, I travel to a VW one which is further than the dealer.
Last year I got a recall notice from VW, I had already booked my transporter in at the local indy for service and ATS for MOT (needs a 7).
It flew through service and MOT with no advisories a week later it goes into VW and in that week one of the glow plugs threw a fault.
I asked them to change it whilst it was in if the price was reasonable, "about £120" they told me, i thought for the hassle of taking it back to the indy I'll just suck up the extra few quid up.
In the afternoon I get a video healthcheck, bear in mind it's just been serviced and mot'd that listed pretty much everything wrong with the van, I go to pick it up and the bill for the glow plug is now £320, I ask why and it's because it needed new air charger pipes as they are one time use only (they aren't) and an estimate of works from the healthcheck of £8700.
Roll forward a year the only thing done from the health check is the rear discs and pads.
Its never been back since and I seeing as they tried to take advantage I'd like to think I'd never use them again with my own money.
Last year I got a recall notice from VW, I had already booked my transporter in at the local indy for service and ATS for MOT (needs a 7).
It flew through service and MOT with no advisories a week later it goes into VW and in that week one of the glow plugs threw a fault.
I asked them to change it whilst it was in if the price was reasonable, "about £120" they told me, i thought for the hassle of taking it back to the indy I'll just suck up the extra few quid up.
In the afternoon I get a video healthcheck, bear in mind it's just been serviced and mot'd that listed pretty much everything wrong with the van, I go to pick it up and the bill for the glow plug is now £320, I ask why and it's because it needed new air charger pipes as they are one time use only (they aren't) and an estimate of works from the healthcheck of £8700.
Roll forward a year the only thing done from the health check is the rear discs and pads.
Its never been back since and I seeing as they tried to take advantage I'd like to think I'd never use them again with my own money.
Rob 131 Sport said:
swisstoni said:
Straight-up services can be quite competitive at a main dealer.
I use them for just that.
Anything that needs some head scratching, diagnostics or years of experience, I’m going to a specialist.
For mainstream servicing I’ve always found BMW Main Dealers to be reasonable. Other marque franchises I’ve experienced. Well that’s a different story. I use them for just that.
Anything that needs some head scratching, diagnostics or years of experience, I’m going to a specialist.
If I relied only on dealer servicing and repairs for my car it would have been effectively written-off 2 years ago because of an MOT failure for a rust rear subframe.
Replacing the subframe alone but replacing no other wear-and-tear parts would have been a £9000 job at the dealer.
I completed a full refurb of the rear subframe and suspension (including shock absorbers, arms and bushes but I kept the springs as they were fine) plus a servicing of the differential for <£500.
Replacing the subframe alone but replacing no other wear-and-tear parts would have been a £9000 job at the dealer.
I completed a full refurb of the rear subframe and suspension (including shock absorbers, arms and bushes but I kept the springs as they were fine) plus a servicing of the differential for <£500.
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