Reasons why you don’t go to a main dealer for a service
Discussion
Taita said:
First service on a 520d is 350/370quid for fluids and filters only!
The sales girl on the phone didn't have any more info on what was done other than oil and microfilters.....
For 350quid.
The fact is, those parts and the oil cost me £60 from BMW (not oil, I buy that in 20l, same stuff as dealer uses) and they can do that service while I wait, it takes around 45 minutes, that includes washing the car. The sales girl on the phone didn't have any more info on what was done other than oil and microfilters.....
For 350quid.
I did it yesterday on my 520d. Literally up on ramp, open the hatch, drop the oil out, as it is draining replace oil filter, air filter and cabin filter, put sump plug back in and pour in 4.75 litres of oil.
Start car, get it to read level and top up with 1/4 of a litre, if needed.
It is 25 minutes tops and £60 worth of genuine bits.
Now, on a 7 year old 520d they will do that same service for £140.
That is what I find is taking the piss. That just rubs me up the wrong way.
I have no problem paying for people's time and get how much dealerships cost to run, but two cars having the same job done should not be so different in price.
They are screwing you over as they know how important FSH is.
I do think though that the idrive service history might bite them back though. Main dealer history will become less important, you can't stamp the idrive.
sparks_190e said:
You don't need to take your car to a main dealer to keep the warranty intact (Google the block exemption rule) However if you have issues not far outside of your warranty period ending it may favour you to have full main dealer history, both from a dealer and manufacturer point of view.
The block exemption rule is a European regulation, which may disappear on December 31st when we leave the EU proper. It will be interesting to see whether we adopt it in the UK, possibly depends on who lobbies the govtZX10R NIN said:
I use a specialist Indy because he does a better job & has more understanding of my Mercedes, but I've found the Ford Main Dealers great & reasonable on my Mondeo.
My brother in law is not a car person and always takes his XC60 to the main dealer (for the last 10 years). Some of his servicing costs have been eye watering. When his headlight bulb failed they quoted him over £500. I found out the proper spec for the bulbs (they weren't cheap), ordered them online, top quality bulbs, and practically had to drag my brother in law to a local respected independent garage to have them fitted. They are incredibly easy to fit and I could have done it but that would have been a step too far for him. Total cost, less than £200. As far as the Volvo dealership is concerned, b
ds is too good a word for them. Where did my brother in law go for his recent service on his 10 year old XC60? Main bloody dealer. I believe it totalled around £800. I give up.lornemalvo said:
sparks_190e said:
You don't need to take your car to a main dealer to keep the warranty intact (Google the block exemption rule) However if you have issues not far outside of your warranty period ending it may favour you to have full main dealer history, both from a dealer and manufacturer point of view.
The block exemption rule is a European regulation, which may disappear on December 31st when we leave the EU proper. It will be interesting to see whether we adopt it in the UK, possibly depends on who lobbies the govtI have four cars and none go to the main dealer. Mind you one is a 50 year old Rover, one a 20 year old TVR and then a Jazz and a Lexus.
The Lexus has been to the main dealer for recall work and i got them to do some additional bits but...
I worked for Snap-on for 11 years so was in and out of garages and main dealers employed spotty youths by the dozens who ragged cars around and didn't have a clue. Often work simply didn't get done. Oil and filter changes were charged for and not completed particularly on fleet cars.
Main dealers are generally a rip off so I do most of the work on the cars myself and anything I can't or don't want to do I give t a trusted local garage.
I had an XFS Jag for a while which was still under warranty. It went for a service and I got a call saying the rear pads needed changing and would I like them to do them - How much? £225 + VAT - no thanks. I called in at the local motor factors on my way home and bought the pads for £21.00. Must have taken me all of an hour to fit them. They were only 60% worn.
The Lexus has been to the main dealer for recall work and i got them to do some additional bits but...
I worked for Snap-on for 11 years so was in and out of garages and main dealers employed spotty youths by the dozens who ragged cars around and didn't have a clue. Often work simply didn't get done. Oil and filter changes were charged for and not completed particularly on fleet cars.
Main dealers are generally a rip off so I do most of the work on the cars myself and anything I can't or don't want to do I give t a trusted local garage.
I had an XFS Jag for a while which was still under warranty. It went for a service and I got a call saying the rear pads needed changing and would I like them to do them - How much? £225 + VAT - no thanks. I called in at the local motor factors on my way home and bought the pads for £21.00. Must have taken me all of an hour to fit them. They were only 60% worn.
I took my BMW for one service at Halliwell Jones in Wilmslow, went for some breakfast and on the way back saw it come slithering out of a junction, not really bothered but seemed unnecessary, its going to a very well regarded specialist at the end of the month, £300 cheaper and I am much happier to leave it with them.
Had a Sharan come back and the oil was still filthy and still right on the minimum, really dont think it got done, plus it stank of fish and chips.
Dropped a Manta GTE off for warranty work (years ago) at Sid Abrams and waited for my lift, only to see my car leave the forecourt with its tyres smoking (amazed it could do it)
Had a Sharan come back and the oil was still filthy and still right on the minimum, really dont think it got done, plus it stank of fish and chips.
Dropped a Manta GTE off for warranty work (years ago) at Sid Abrams and waited for my lift, only to see my car leave the forecourt with its tyres smoking (amazed it could do it)
My Skoda Citigo is my cheap run around. Bought from a Skoda garage in Newbury and at 1 year old, was just serviced by them. So the following year , they called me up and said it was due a service. I asked how much and was told £270. I think she sounded surprised when I questioned what I get for that ? She said oil and filter and pollen filter. I declined that offer as the oil is only 3.5 litres , so they were ripping the pee out of me. She also sated I needed an air con service at the same time and was £200 . I asked why and she said it was 2 years old and needed. I had the refrigerant removed and a new pollen filter. I advised she was changing the pollen filter in the main serviced. She ummmed and arrrrh'd. Said I work in air conditioning and trying to find out why you need this done and did she think I needed it ? She said er............ no..........
I emailed the manager of the service department on why he needed this work done and justify his costs and he must has mislaid the email as never came back to me.
Local garage I use did the service for £110 and also changed the air filter too.
I emailed the manager of the service department on why he needed this work done and justify his costs and he must has mislaid the email as never came back to me.
Local garage I use did the service for £110 and also changed the air filter too.
If I had a fairly new car with remaining warranty or some other dealer perks or if I was bothered about resale value or if I was required to use a main dealer due to say lease/PCP t&c's, then I would do it. However I've always bought cheap used cars and purely on a economics basis use local Indies who I trust and are good value for money.
I use my local MB main dealer for routine servicing, a good indie for additional work like brakes, and a small indie tyre guy I've used for years.
The main dealer servicing is a painful experience, no parking, dealing with daft 20yr olds on the service desk that haven't a clue, terrible communication, but...it preserves the value of the car as I tend to change them when under 5yrs old and buyers still expect FMBSH.
More importantly I've had lots of goodwill and good warranty claim experiences as the car has been main dealer serviced. Paint bubbling on bumper, new bumper supplied, fitted and painted FOC. Alloys corroding, new wheels fitted FOC. That's on cars I haven't even bought new, or from them.
The main dealer servicing is a painful experience, no parking, dealing with daft 20yr olds on the service desk that haven't a clue, terrible communication, but...it preserves the value of the car as I tend to change them when under 5yrs old and buyers still expect FMBSH.
More importantly I've had lots of goodwill and good warranty claim experiences as the car has been main dealer serviced. Paint bubbling on bumper, new bumper supplied, fitted and painted FOC. Alloys corroding, new wheels fitted FOC. That's on cars I haven't even bought new, or from them.
forzaminardi said:
Sump said:
The only dealer I’d trust is a Lexus one.
Seconded. Yes, it'd be cheaper to take it to an indie, but the premium is worth it at Lexus.Julian Thompson said:
You can stamp the idrive, but when that car goes back to bmw the non bmw “stamps” are deleted...
Is that definitely confirmed?Is it still possible to get a service book rather than electronic only?
Eg I won't be taking my car to a dealer, it will be going to Auto Techbik locally so want to make sure their work can't be erased.
I have differing experiences of main dealers...
For my Volvo daily, I will never use the local main dealer ever again (they said they were the 2nd best in the country, in my experience they'd struggle to be 2nd best in the County and they're the only one...)
Price quoted over the phone twice to do the belts, tensioners and a service went up by several hundred when I came to pay, stuff on the bill that when questioned, appeared to be BS... "the item for screen wash includes rags sir" and "the free safety inspection that covers all consumables is different to the service inspection as that looks at different consumables and that's why you've been charged for it". Oh and the arrogance when doing little things like putting a stamp in the book that took them 15 minutes and came with added sarcasm about how it had been stamped in the past.
Letters of complaint were 'intercepted' (their words, not mine), calls and emails to them were not returned, still they've just moved into a nice new much larger shiny showroom so they must be great.
Oh, and I could do with another key but that's going to cost many hundred because only Volvo can programme it apparently...
The other half's main dealer (Peugeot / Citroen / Kia) couldn't be more pleasant and helpful and will be used again and again and again.
For my Volvo daily, I will never use the local main dealer ever again (they said they were the 2nd best in the country, in my experience they'd struggle to be 2nd best in the County and they're the only one...)
Price quoted over the phone twice to do the belts, tensioners and a service went up by several hundred when I came to pay, stuff on the bill that when questioned, appeared to be BS... "the item for screen wash includes rags sir" and "the free safety inspection that covers all consumables is different to the service inspection as that looks at different consumables and that's why you've been charged for it". Oh and the arrogance when doing little things like putting a stamp in the book that took them 15 minutes and came with added sarcasm about how it had been stamped in the past.
Letters of complaint were 'intercepted' (their words, not mine), calls and emails to them were not returned, still they've just moved into a nice new much larger shiny showroom so they must be great.
Oh, and I could do with another key but that's going to cost many hundred because only Volvo can programme it apparently...
The other half's main dealer (Peugeot / Citroen / Kia) couldn't be more pleasant and helpful and will be used again and again and again.
The problem is there are many lemmings that will just put their cars in and pay up. The ones that question bill's and have things removed aren't the ideal customers they want as they'll never change the "dangerous" 4mm tyre or "dangerous" only 30% left on the brake pads. So best just to make you go away, another lemming will be along soon.
stargazer30 said:
This thread reminds me of an old engineer I used to work with. He’d mark the oil filter, air filter etc.. before the car went in with a marker and then ask for the old parts back. His property after all. That way he knew they had been replaced.
That's what I started doing toward the end of my relationship with BMW dealers (after lots of little mishaps over 12 years).e.g. marking my initials on the air filter, stripes on outside edges of gaskets (that were visible without stripping of course), initials on spark plugs, etc.
Final straw was due to doing a spot check after another £1200 Insp.II as I realised they'd not stamped the service book (again), nor reset the SI, nor supplied me with the valve clearance report I'd specified when booking it in (no report as no shims required, sir!). Simply took the air filter housing off and it looked like it had already done 20,000 miles (must have been an oversight, sir!).
Straight after this I decided to get a local specialist to check it over, and got them to do a valve clearance adjustment (didn't tell them any history). Came back requiring 8 shims moving/replacing - and every clearance check after that (10,000 mile intervals) required at least 2.
It must be institutional, and they only fix an issue if the customer speaks up - so wonder how many with service inclusive schemes or blind faith are being ripped off. In my case both the apprentice who worked on my car, and the master technician who co-signed it missed all these little errors somehow. BMW GB's response was no more than a washing of their hands as they told me it was between me and dealer to resolve...not interested in ensuring other victims were protected in future.
Red 4 said:
In warranty period - main dealer.
Out of warranty period - National Tyres for a £50 oil and filter change and do the other filters myself.
A receipt for an oil change is still a receipt for an oil change - it doesn't matter who has done it !
^^ This is the right way.Out of warranty period - National Tyres for a £50 oil and filter change and do the other filters myself.
A receipt for an oil change is still a receipt for an oil change - it doesn't matter who has done it !
Think about the main dealer's motivation. When your car gets to a certain age they want to sell you a new one. So they will make the service expensive.
A certain Japanese manufacturer's cars has cheap servicing up to about 4, 5 or 6 years (depending on mileage) then a "BIG" service with timing belt. They will tell you this at the service just before the big one. Big hint to walk round to the front and look at the new ones.
More than once I have bought one of their used cars at that point, i.e. it's just been traded in and the garage does the big service as part of the sale. I'm not really knocking them for it, it's just the way cars are, they need maintenance, and the brand I know about is good.
M4cruiser said:
^^ This is the right way.
Think about the main dealer's motivation. When your car gets to a certain age they want to sell you a new one. So they will make the service expensive.
A certain Japanese manufacturer's cars has cheap servicing up to about 4, 5 or 6 years (depending on mileage) then a "BIG" service with timing belt. They will tell you this at the service just before the big one. Big hint to walk round to the front and look at the new ones.
More than once I have bought one of their used cars at that point, i.e. it's just been traded in and the garage does the big service as part of the sale. I'm not really knocking them for it, it's just the way cars are, they need maintenance, and the brand I know about is good.
They dont make servicing expensive because they want to sell you a new one, they make servicing expensive because its where a lot of profit is for franchised dealers now. Think about the main dealer's motivation. When your car gets to a certain age they want to sell you a new one. So they will make the service expensive.
A certain Japanese manufacturer's cars has cheap servicing up to about 4, 5 or 6 years (depending on mileage) then a "BIG" service with timing belt. They will tell you this at the service just before the big one. Big hint to walk round to the front and look at the new ones.
More than once I have bought one of their used cars at that point, i.e. it's just been traded in and the garage does the big service as part of the sale. I'm not really knocking them for it, it's just the way cars are, they need maintenance, and the brand I know about is good.
Next to no profit in selling new cars. I'd a main dealer tell me the main reason they sold new cars was to get more of their brand cars out in the area needing serviced, warranty work, parts, repairs, etc.
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