AM rip off service costs
Discussion
Begining to think service costs are an absolute lottery.
I have just been given a quote of €2350 for a 10 year service on my low km V8 Vantage 4.3.....I live near Munich.
Once I sat down I asked them to email me what this entailed.
The answer was oil, filter, transmission fluid (even though the cars nowhere near the kms ) pollen filter (same) and that's it....seriously €2350!
Once explained about the transmission oil and pollen filter not being required the best price I got was 1299€ that's with me supplying the oil!?!
I've tried another dealer within travelling distance and that is €1600 oil, filter, coolant (inconsistent with previous dealer)
Are dealers open to charging whatever they like in europe?
Seriously AM if this is the general patern I might as well go back to porsche, insurance is expensive (and specialist brokers) as it is.
I wont be considering a new AM as my next purchase.
Only wish there was a good independent nearby. I could easily do the work myself but then there's no continous history.
Ok rant over but what would the general consensus do?
I have just been given a quote of €2350 for a 10 year service on my low km V8 Vantage 4.3.....I live near Munich.
Once I sat down I asked them to email me what this entailed.
The answer was oil, filter, transmission fluid (even though the cars nowhere near the kms ) pollen filter (same) and that's it....seriously €2350!
Once explained about the transmission oil and pollen filter not being required the best price I got was 1299€ that's with me supplying the oil!?!
I've tried another dealer within travelling distance and that is €1600 oil, filter, coolant (inconsistent with previous dealer)
Are dealers open to charging whatever they like in europe?
Seriously AM if this is the general patern I might as well go back to porsche, insurance is expensive (and specialist brokers) as it is.
I wont be considering a new AM as my next purchase.
Only wish there was a good independent nearby. I could easily do the work myself but then there's no continous history.
Ok rant over but what would the general consensus do?
On my 4.3, I had the 10yr service done in April (have since changed the car). The quotes were much higher. In the end, negotiated it down to £1000, but still had around £800 of other work needed (brakes and something else)... My usual main dealer services I get down to between £680-880 ish - so it was a little more expensive (started a lot more expensive)
Sounds like a crazy labour rate they are charging over there. Is it solely an AM dealer or a dealer that does other premium brands too ?
I dont think the factory have any control over what dealers charge for their labour costs though...that is up the the dealer franchise, and it does seem that German dealers a bit pricey !
Aston Martin in London are no more expensive for labour than many premium German brands.
Its easy to get a £1k service bill for a hot Audi or Beemer with big engine, just as it is for an Aston Martin. You can also shop around for specialists and nearly 1/2 those bills. Mostly due to the difference in labour rate.
I dont think the factory have any control over what dealers charge for their labour costs though...that is up the the dealer franchise, and it does seem that German dealers a bit pricey !
Aston Martin in London are no more expensive for labour than many premium German brands.
Its easy to get a £1k service bill for a hot Audi or Beemer with big engine, just as it is for an Aston Martin. You can also shop around for specialists and nearly 1/2 those bills. Mostly due to the difference in labour rate.
Dristan, I feel your pain. If you really analyse what the technicians do for the service its almost robbery. Admittedly its a 'sports car' etc. But oil, filters etc are no different in principle on any car. Unfortunately at app. £175 per hour labour, thats some expensive coffee we're paying for. However, like the previous post said, we have to suck it up and get the stamp.
It might be cheaper bringing it back to the UK for a service ?? You can also get a nice road trip in at the same time !!
It might be cheaper bringing it back to the UK for a service ?? You can also get a nice road trip in at the same time !!
For sure the labour rates will vary from dealer to dealer and Munich is high in that regard....
There are inconsistancies between dealers on what the car needs for a set service...this I cant understand.
One dealer initially wants to charge for everything even though the car doesnt need it (according to service schedule/milage) and just rip off its unsuspecting customers.....theyve already lost one dealership here.
I was even thinking about that Lee, coming back for a UK trip and deal with a uk dealer.
Shame i missed Burghley could have done a service at the same time .
There are inconsistancies between dealers on what the car needs for a set service...this I cant understand.
One dealer initially wants to charge for everything even though the car doesnt need it (according to service schedule/milage) and just rip off its unsuspecting customers.....theyve already lost one dealership here.
I was even thinking about that Lee, coming back for a UK trip and deal with a uk dealer.
Shame i missed Burghley could have done a service at the same time .
I bought a full genuine parts service kit which includes oil filter,
o rings for both bypass filters,oil tank drain plug and washer,
2 air filters,2 pollen filters and 11 ltrs of Castrol edge 10w 60 oil.
And did it myself total cost £270 so it just shows how much the garages rip you off, is it really worth paying the dealers the extra £1000+ just to get a stamp in the book?
And changed the brake and clutch fluid too using 2 x Castrol react at £12 per bottle.
o rings for both bypass filters,oil tank drain plug and washer,
2 air filters,2 pollen filters and 11 ltrs of Castrol edge 10w 60 oil.
And did it myself total cost £270 so it just shows how much the garages rip you off, is it really worth paying the dealers the extra £1000+ just to get a stamp in the book?
And changed the brake and clutch fluid too using 2 x Castrol react at £12 per bottle.
I see it like this. If I do my own servicing and repairs which i enjoy doing as part of the Aston ownership just as much as driving it .I will probably save around 5 to 6k over the next 3 years will I loose 5 to 6k just because it has no dealer stamps ? I still have all the receipts for service parts and I fill in the service book.And having worked in the motor trade for 20 years I don't trust others to do the job as I would myself.
NAC63 said:
I see it like this. If I do my own servicing and repairs which i enjoy doing as part of the Aston ownership just as much as driving it .I will probably save around 5 to 6k over the next 3 years will I loose 5 to 6k just because it has no dealer stamps ? I still have all the receipts for service parts and I fill in the service book.And having worked in the motor trade for 20 years I don't trust others to do the job as I would myself.
Right there with you.I'm not terribly concerned about resale since I don't intend to sell the car (I'll add a second Aston along side it, but I'm not getting rid of it). Plus I'm in the US, and it seems to me based on the various discussions I've seen on this forum and 6speed that US buyers are less concerned than UK buyers about the stamps, so long as the services have been done.
Edited by telum01 on Thursday 1st September 21:25
NAC63 said:
I bought a full genuine parts service kit which includes oil filter,
o rings for both bypass filters,oil tank drain plug and washer,
2 air filters,2 pollen filters and 11 ltrs of Castrol edge 10w 60 oil.
And did it myself total cost £270 so it just shows how much the garages rip you off, is it really worth paying the dealers the extra £1000+ just to get a stamp in the book?
And changed the brake and clutch fluid too using 2 x Castrol react at £12 per bottle.
Hi can you tell me where you sourced the service kito rings for both bypass filters,oil tank drain plug and washer,
2 air filters,2 pollen filters and 11 ltrs of Castrol edge 10w 60 oil.
And did it myself total cost £270 so it just shows how much the garages rip you off, is it really worth paying the dealers the extra £1000+ just to get a stamp in the book?
And changed the brake and clutch fluid too using 2 x Castrol react at £12 per bottle.
Thanks
Graze
Similar with the V12.
I sourced the 0W40 oil, Castrol Edge from Opie Oils and used an oil filter from the main dealers HWM. Less than £150.00 all in.
Of course it not just about changing the parts used, there are a fair old list of things to check, but it's still not worth the £500.00 to £900.00 labour on top of that that I was quoted for an "oil service" at 9 years.
I just printed off the service schedule task list and worked my way through it. Things like balljoints, steering and suspension components, brake hoses etc are checked for you anyway during MOT. Lights, washers, wipers, horn, fluid levels and tyre pressures take about 5 mins in total. Brakes can generally be seen through the wheel spokes so the wheels do not even need removal.
It's actually very pleasureable to get into working on the car, getting familiar with it, and maintaining it with the love and care it would never get at a dealer. If you just are incapable of it, don't posess tools, or just cannot be bothered to get your hands dirty, then just shell out the cash and then just drive it.
Same with cleaning your car, if you are simply just too lazy to clean it yourself, or the task is beneath you, then you are missing something very theropeutic about getting to know your car. Some of the very top polishes/waxes are even applied with bare hands to warm and spread them over the paintwork and whilst this is getting a bit OCD about the experience, I have used them and the finish is unbelievable.
Not something I use regularly, but I would never be so lazy as to get someone else to clean my car.
I sourced the 0W40 oil, Castrol Edge from Opie Oils and used an oil filter from the main dealers HWM. Less than £150.00 all in.
Of course it not just about changing the parts used, there are a fair old list of things to check, but it's still not worth the £500.00 to £900.00 labour on top of that that I was quoted for an "oil service" at 9 years.
I just printed off the service schedule task list and worked my way through it. Things like balljoints, steering and suspension components, brake hoses etc are checked for you anyway during MOT. Lights, washers, wipers, horn, fluid levels and tyre pressures take about 5 mins in total. Brakes can generally be seen through the wheel spokes so the wheels do not even need removal.
It's actually very pleasureable to get into working on the car, getting familiar with it, and maintaining it with the love and care it would never get at a dealer. If you just are incapable of it, don't posess tools, or just cannot be bothered to get your hands dirty, then just shell out the cash and then just drive it.
Same with cleaning your car, if you are simply just too lazy to clean it yourself, or the task is beneath you, then you are missing something very theropeutic about getting to know your car. Some of the very top polishes/waxes are even applied with bare hands to warm and spread them over the paintwork and whilst this is getting a bit OCD about the experience, I have used them and the finish is unbelievable.
Not something I use regularly, but I would never be so lazy as to get someone else to clean my car.
If you fancy an extended weekend in the Cologne area (not really close to Munich), here's a good alternative:
http://kochsgarage.lima-city.de/
Aaron Koch used to work for Aston Martin Cologne and has now opened up his own garage. You'll even get his courtesy car - a Smart, but good enough to go into town and enjoy the day. We arrived Sunday, dropped the car on Monday morning and collected in the afternoon. Time and money well spent.
-Konrad
http://kochsgarage.lima-city.de/
Aaron Koch used to work for Aston Martin Cologne and has now opened up his own garage. You'll even get his courtesy car - a Smart, but good enough to go into town and enjoy the day. We arrived Sunday, dropped the car on Monday morning and collected in the afternoon. Time and money well spent.
-Konrad
Jockman said:
Mansfield said:
The answer was oil, filter, transmission fluid (even though the cars nowhere near the kms ) pollen filter (same) and that's it....seriously €2350!
No air filter? Generally changed with pollen filter every 2 years back in the UK.There really is many inconstancies between the 2 quotes. Not just in price but the work being carried out
Edited by Mansfield on Friday 2nd September 10:50
Thank you for the replies, it is encouraging to see people’s attitudes towards DIY maintenance.
I am now looking into this route and actually makes me happier about the whole experience.
My service book is now full and considering the low km I do each year it becomes very expensive/km to carry on with the AM history (this would be were the good independents in the UK would then get my business)
The continuation service pages can be bought from AM but (again) they are charging an excessive amount for the bits of paper (they should be free really?!)
Another PH member kindly forwarded on these and I was going to print them off on good quality paper anyway before heading to the dealer.
I spent last night looking at genuine service parts and these are easily available (even Aston Martin works sell these).
A great site/blog I found is www.redpants.lol showing how to do various maintenance procedures etc.
Really enthusiastic guy who’s an Aston nut by the looks of it.
I am now looking into this route and actually makes me happier about the whole experience.
My service book is now full and considering the low km I do each year it becomes very expensive/km to carry on with the AM history (this would be were the good independents in the UK would then get my business)
The continuation service pages can be bought from AM but (again) they are charging an excessive amount for the bits of paper (they should be free really?!)
Another PH member kindly forwarded on these and I was going to print them off on good quality paper anyway before heading to the dealer.
I spent last night looking at genuine service parts and these are easily available (even Aston Martin works sell these).
A great site/blog I found is www.redpants.lol showing how to do various maintenance procedures etc.
Really enthusiastic guy who’s an Aston nut by the looks of it.
konrad.holl said:
If you fancy an extended weekend in the Cologne area (not really close to Munich), here's a good alternative:
http://kochsgarage.lima-city.de/
Aaron Koch used to work for Aston Martin Cologne and has now opened up his own garage. You'll even get his courtesy car - a Smart, but good enough to go into town and enjoy the day. We arrived Sunday, dropped the car on Monday morning and collected in the afternoon. Time and money well spent.
-Konrad
Hi Konrad what was the price for this ? thx.http://kochsgarage.lima-city.de/
Aaron Koch used to work for Aston Martin Cologne and has now opened up his own garage. You'll even get his courtesy car - a Smart, but good enough to go into town and enjoy the day. We arrived Sunday, dropped the car on Monday morning and collected in the afternoon. Time and money well spent.
-Konrad
Mansfield said:
A great site/blog I found is www.redpants.lol showing how to do various maintenance procedures etc.
Really enthusiastic guy who’s an Aston nut by the looks of it.
That's me and my site, thanks for the compliments!Really enthusiastic guy who’s an Aston nut by the looks of it.
I don't post much on PH but I'm around. Lots more work being done to continue building out my website. Almost entirely V8V stuff right now but I should have a DB9 from Oct-Dec to do a bunch of work with, so that content will be coming soon
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff