Servicing my own PCP bike - is it allowed
Discussion
CoolHands said:
I believe I can, theoretically? I have just got my first ever new bike (yay) it is on pcp (boo). I want to service it myself. I will do so properly using Honda parts and keep receipts etc. Will I suffer any grief in 3 years time when I hand it back does anyone know.
Asked a similar question due to 3yr warranty on the GSXRR. Basically told if I want to retain the warranty and not have any hassle come claim time then dealer servicing only.So first 3 yrs mine is going to Suzuki. After that I'll do it myself.
Read the small print on your PCP agreement. Likely you may be able to service yourself, but then there will be a penalty for not having a full manufacturer history.
No point in servicing yourself if they turnaround and say its now worth £500 to £1000 less .......
https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/service-my-car-pcp-...
No point in servicing yourself if they turnaround and say its now worth £500 to £1000 less .......
https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/service-my-car-pcp-...
I was worried there for a minute, but looks like I’ll be alright 
(their grammar seems a bit dodgy though)and later
And final reference if the above was not adhered to:
my actual contract said:
In addition, if the Goods are not returned in good condition and/or have not been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and any applicable warranty you will be liable for the cost required to bring the Goods up to good condition or if applicable. we may charge you for any resultant reduction in the value of the Goods.
I can service it in accordance with the manufacture’s recommendations so I’ll be ok (their grammar seems a bit dodgy though)and laterother part said:
5 Servicing and care of the Goods
5.1 You must keep the Goods under your control and in good condition and repair.
5.2 You must have the Goods serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and any applicable warranty. The servicing record and registration document must be kept up to date and in your possession. Failure to comply with these obligations will reduce the value of the Goods and have the consequence set out in clause 8.4.
I think that’s conclusive5.1 You must keep the Goods under your control and in good condition and repair.
5.2 You must have the Goods serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and any applicable warranty. The servicing record and registration document must be kept up to date and in your possession. Failure to comply with these obligations will reduce the value of the Goods and have the consequence set out in clause 8.4.
And final reference if the above was not adhered to:
later bit said:
Return of the Goods
8.3 You must return all keys and servicing records and registration documents or pay us tile cost of replacement for any missing items. In addition we may charge you an Administration Fee for each missing item as detailed in the "Administration Charges" section of this Agreement.
8.4 If you have failed to comply with your obligations in clause 5.2 you may be required to pay us the amount by which the value of the Goods has been reduced by your failure, in line with clause 8.7.
8.3 You must return all keys and servicing records and registration documents or pay us tile cost of replacement for any missing items. In addition we may charge you an Administration Fee for each missing item as detailed in the "Administration Charges" section of this Agreement.
8.4 If you have failed to comply with your obligations in clause 5.2 you may be required to pay us the amount by which the value of the Goods has been reduced by your failure, in line with clause 8.7.
Edited by CoolHands on Monday 4th February 21:31
charltjr said:
Isn’t it a condition of the warranty that it’s serviced at a dealer or VAT registered garage?
Never heard of being able to self-service and keep the warranty going, although to be fair I don’t know about bikes so maybe it’s different.
I’m with you on thatNever heard of being able to self-service and keep the warranty going, although to be fair I don’t know about bikes so maybe it’s different.
Op what do you need to do to maintain the warranty?
That’s what you have to do.
But it doesn’t state that - you can see what it says I’ve copied it. There no other references. Without being rude (you all) appear to have invented the must be VAT registered garage etc. One can only go by what is written in the contract, and that is above?
I will take the risk as a) I don’t want to hand over £600 for the service package ‘deal’ (what a joke) b) I will very likely do a better job c) I reckon I’ll be ok.
I’ll report back in 3 years!
I will take the risk as a) I don’t want to hand over £600 for the service package ‘deal’ (what a joke) b) I will very likely do a better job c) I reckon I’ll be ok.
I’ll report back in 3 years!
charltjr said:
Isn’t it a condition of the warranty that it’s serviced at a dealer or VAT registered garage?
Never heard of being able to self-service and keep the warranty going, although to be fair I don’t know about bikes so maybe it’s different.
I think that’s completely wrong because of block exemption. Never heard of being able to self-service and keep the warranty going, although to be fair I don’t know about bikes so maybe it’s different.
The only reason I’m querying it in this case is because it’s pcp which is a different scenario as the future value could be diminished by the servicing. That is a different ballgame from whether your warranty is intact by not serving at a main dealer (it is).
“any applicable warranty”
have a read regarding what will void your warranty, usually non dealer servicing or no servicing for that matter voids the warranty,
how long is the warranty, if it’s over 3 years and you hand the bike back with no warranty ( non dealer service) then the final value estimate won’t be apply
have a read regarding what will void your warranty, usually non dealer servicing or no servicing for that matter voids the warranty,
how long is the warranty, if it’s over 3 years and you hand the bike back with no warranty ( non dealer service) then the final value estimate won’t be apply
CoolHands said:
charltjr said:
Isn’t it a condition of the warranty that it’s serviced at a dealer or VAT registered garage?
Never heard of being able to self-service and keep the warranty going, although to be fair I don’t know about bikes so maybe it’s different.
I think that’s completely wrong because of block exemption. Never heard of being able to self-service and keep the warranty going, although to be fair I don’t know about bikes so maybe it’s different.
The only reason I’m querying it in this case is because it’s pcp which is a different scenario as the future value could be diminished by the servicing. That is a different ballgame from whether your warranty is intact by not serving at a main dealer (it is).
You probably can get it done at a non VAT registered workshop but good luck finding one of them.
Either way you need to get it serviced either at a manufacturer owned or approved workshop or a non approved one but in accordance with the manufacturers service guidelines.
If you home service it you are likely in breach of both your warranty and your PCP.
Block exemption regulation doesn’t mean what you think it means.
It’s designed for removing barriers to competition by preventing lock-ins to specific suppliers. It’s effect has been most keenly felt in the automotive servicing sector but it is much broader than that.
It doesn’t give you the right to self service a vehicle, just to take it to a different professional to the one specified by the manufacturer for maintenance.
It’s designed for removing barriers to competition by preventing lock-ins to specific suppliers. It’s effect has been most keenly felt in the automotive servicing sector but it is much broader than that.
It doesn’t give you the right to self service a vehicle, just to take it to a different professional to the one specified by the manufacturer for maintenance.
OP, I know you don't want to hear it, but the answer to this is quite simple - you're asking for trouble by servicing it yourself.
Try to put aside the precise wording of the contract - if you hand back a bike that's worth less than it would have been then they're not going to simply say 'that's OK'. And a bike without a full service history from recognised businesses won't be worth as much (however well you've done the servicing yourself).
If you do focus on the wording of the contractual clauses you've posted, be prepared for those wordings and your interpretation of them to trip you up. Just for example - you'd need to check the precise wording of the warranty and servicing recommendations too (and note that the requirement is to service in accordance with the "recommendations" - not, for example, in accordance with the service schedule which would be much narrower). Similarly, the service record must be kept up to date - with a book designed to be stamped by garages carrying out the work, question whether it's even possible for it to be up to date without being full of garages' stamps. I'd also take a bet that the PCP agreement has separate mop up clauses dealing with things that have caused the value of the bike to decrease generally.
But aside from all that, if you don't have professional's invoices, it'd be very difficult for you to show that the necessary work has been carried out, and when it needed to be. Receipts for parts won't show that they were fitted, or when, and some jobs might not need parts at all (checking valve clearances, assuming no shimming is required?).
£600 for 3 years' servicing sounds like good value to me if you take into account the cost of parts, the cost of your time and the fact that you'll almost certainly save yourself a load of grief, and probably money, when it's time to hand it back.
Try to put aside the precise wording of the contract - if you hand back a bike that's worth less than it would have been then they're not going to simply say 'that's OK'. And a bike without a full service history from recognised businesses won't be worth as much (however well you've done the servicing yourself).
If you do focus on the wording of the contractual clauses you've posted, be prepared for those wordings and your interpretation of them to trip you up. Just for example - you'd need to check the precise wording of the warranty and servicing recommendations too (and note that the requirement is to service in accordance with the "recommendations" - not, for example, in accordance with the service schedule which would be much narrower). Similarly, the service record must be kept up to date - with a book designed to be stamped by garages carrying out the work, question whether it's even possible for it to be up to date without being full of garages' stamps. I'd also take a bet that the PCP agreement has separate mop up clauses dealing with things that have caused the value of the bike to decrease generally.
But aside from all that, if you don't have professional's invoices, it'd be very difficult for you to show that the necessary work has been carried out, and when it needed to be. Receipts for parts won't show that they were fitted, or when, and some jobs might not need parts at all (checking valve clearances, assuming no shimming is required?).
£600 for 3 years' servicing sounds like good value to me if you take into account the cost of parts, the cost of your time and the fact that you'll almost certainly save yourself a load of grief, and probably money, when it's time to hand it back.
CoolHands said:
other part said:
5 Servicing and care of the Goods
5.1 You must keep the Goods under your control and in good condition and repair.
5.2 You must have the Goods serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and any applicable warranty. The servicing record and registration document must be kept up to date and in your possession. Failure to comply with these obligations will reduce the value of the Goods and have the consequence set out in clause 8.4.
5.1 You must keep the Goods under your control and in good condition and repair.
5.2 You must have the Goods serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and any applicable warranty. The servicing record and registration document must be kept up to date and in your possession. Failure to comply with these obligations will reduce the value of the Goods and have the consequence set out in clause 8.4.
The point about a PCP deal is that the finance company are taking a gamble that the money they collect from you will pay for the bike and give them enough for the staff Christmas party. To do that, the finance company is gambling on the value of the bike at the end of the term. If you do anything that reduces the value of the bike at the end of the term then you can be pretty sure they'll be looking for ways to pass that "loss" back to you. To ensure you do not become responsible for that loss, you need to be 100% sure that you've met with both the requirements of the PCP agreement and with the requirements of the bike manufacturers warranty.
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