Dealer servicing; is it worth it?
Discussion
My Alpine is due its first service next month which is just oil, filter and cabin filter plus 'safety check' and for that they want a 'discounted' £430. My partner's 4 year old Mini is also due a service which is coming in at £422 for oil, filter, air and pollen filters and spark plugs. Ordinarily I'd just take the car to the dealer without hesitation but I feel they're just taking the proverbial these days. Is it just me that feels like this?
The Mini price is a bit high, but at least they are doing a reasonable amount of work.
The price for the Alpine looks like it's been given the "desirable car premiun" (otherwise known as "let's get extra money off this person because they're probably rich") by the dealer. I had an equivalent first service on my car done by a Suzuki main dealer for just under £150 last September.
The price for the Alpine looks like it's been given the "desirable car premiun" (otherwise known as "let's get extra money off this person because they're probably rich") by the dealer. I had an equivalent first service on my car done by a Suzuki main dealer for just under £150 last September.
For some reason Mini now want near on £80 for a cabin filter and the OE plugs are stupidly expansive, like £20 each. For a full service on a Mini we would be around £350, The BMW for filter and oil, around £130.
But, for me i'd be having the Allpina serviced at BMW for the first few years, the Mini get anyone to do.
But, for me i'd be having the Allpina serviced at BMW for the first few years, the Mini get anyone to do.
stevemcs said:
For some reason Mini now want near on £80 for a cabin filter and the OE plugs are stupidly expansive, like £20 each. For a full service on a Mini we would be around £350, The BMW for filter and oil, around £130.
But, for me i'd be having the Allpina serviced at BMW for the first few years, the Mini get anyone to do.
Alpine. So maybe Renault dealer But, for me i'd be having the Allpina serviced at BMW for the first few years, the Mini get anyone to do.
Legacywr said:
If I was looking to buy your Alpine I’d be looking for main dealer history.
However, I’d accept specialist servicing on a 4 year old Mini.
This. New car first couple of services should suffice before switching, although I’ve bought a Porsche with just one main dealer service and it was utterly reliable. Skipping the first would ring alarm bells for me without a doubt. However, I’d accept specialist servicing on a 4 year old Mini.
Legacywr said:
If I was looking to buy your Alpine I’d be looking for main dealer history.
However, I’d accept specialist servicing on a 4 year old Mini.
That's the thing isn't it? We seem to put a value on main dealer servicing, when in fact it's no more than an oil change most of the time. The Lotus specialist that looks after my Elise goes over the car with a fine tooth comb every time he sees it and does everything that's needed but nothing that's not. Better and cheaper than the main dealers in every way. I can tell I'm going to end up going down this route for the reason you state but it just galls me, especially when I drain the oil when I get it home and put something more suited for track work in! They won't allow me to supply my own oil either.However, I’d accept specialist servicing on a 4 year old Mini.
worldwidewebs said:
That's the thing isn't it? We seem to put a value on main dealer servicing, when in fact it's no more than an oil change most of the time. The Lotus specialist that looks after my Elise goes over the car with a fine tooth comb every time he sees it and does everything that's needed but nothing that's not. Better and cheaper than the main dealers in every way. I can tell I'm going to end up going down this route for the reason you state but it just galls me, especially when I drain the oil when I get it home and put something more suited for track work in! They won't allow me to supply my own oil either.
IMO the biggest argument for dealer servicing is warranty and chances of out of warranty "good will". Even there however it depends on the manufacturer. Some just don't care and won't offer good will. Beyond that while it's arguably more valuable second hand the difference is going to be minimal over specialist serviced...or even just serviced!
James6112 said:
Depends on the age & resale value of the car I guess.
My 8 year old Skoda.. now diy service. Oil/all filters/<£100 & an hour of my time. I just add the receipts & fill in the service book!
Our local friendly garage is actually dearer than our Skoda main dealer, but it is nearer. Having said that, we had trouble this year as he was short-staffed due to illness in his staff.My 8 year old Skoda.. now diy service. Oil/all filters/<£100 & an hour of my time. I just add the receipts & fill in the service book!
I have taken my BMW F30 to the main dealer each service. I have found them reasonable (£52 for brake fluid, as compared to somebody on here who had a £112 quote).
My Astra for a main dealer major service is £200, local garage quote £180 but with an MOT included in price, Kwik Fit £270!
As such it gets main dealer services(mainly for the main dealer history at resale), and if they tell me it needs extra work, it goes to the local garage, who do the extra work much cheaper, or tell me it doesn't actually need said extra work(which is much more common). Though some things are cheaper at the main dealer, brakes are always cheaper at the main dealer, but when it needed a ball joint the main dealer price was almost double the price of the local garage.
That though I suppose is the joys of owning a Vauxhall. A friend has a Discovery, LR main dealer major service quote was £1500! A local reputable garage quoted £350, with that price difference I'd be going to the local garage.
As such it gets main dealer services(mainly for the main dealer history at resale), and if they tell me it needs extra work, it goes to the local garage, who do the extra work much cheaper, or tell me it doesn't actually need said extra work(which is much more common). Though some things are cheaper at the main dealer, brakes are always cheaper at the main dealer, but when it needed a ball joint the main dealer price was almost double the price of the local garage.
That though I suppose is the joys of owning a Vauxhall. A friend has a Discovery, LR main dealer major service quote was £1500! A local reputable garage quoted £350, with that price difference I'd be going to the local garage.
Pica-Pica said:
Our local friendly garage is actually dearer than our Skoda main dealer, but it is nearer. Having said that, we had trouble this year as he was short-staffed due to illness in his staff.
I have taken my BMW F30 to the main dealer each service. I have found them reasonable (£52 for brake fluid, as compared to somebody on here who had a £112 quote).
Some dealers will negotiate - the difficulty is getting to someone who gives a toss, especially the dealers who divert you to a call centre for bookings. The Merc dealer I used to use was very good for pricing then one time they said they'd been told not to discuss service pricing, it all had to be done through Merc's MyService website.I have taken my BMW F30 to the main dealer each service. I have found them reasonable (£52 for brake fluid, as compared to somebody on here who had a £112 quote).
How long will you keep the cars?
What's the service cost difference per year for dealer/indy/DIY?
What's the value difference when you come to sell?
Do some sums. I suspect, as others have said, dealer for the Alpine and indy for the mini.
If you're going to sell privately, "better" service history can also make it quicker to get rid of.
My BMW goes to Birds, because I value/trust their expertise and I want it to last as long as possible, and the Ford goes to wherever is closest. Might do the Ford myself in future if I have time. Neither is expected to be worth much/anything when I'm done with them so resale value isn't an issue.
What's the service cost difference per year for dealer/indy/DIY?
What's the value difference when you come to sell?
Do some sums. I suspect, as others have said, dealer for the Alpine and indy for the mini.
If you're going to sell privately, "better" service history can also make it quicker to get rid of.
My BMW goes to Birds, because I value/trust their expertise and I want it to last as long as possible, and the Ford goes to wherever is closest. Might do the Ford myself in future if I have time. Neither is expected to be worth much/anything when I'm done with them so resale value isn't an issue.
Sometimes main dealer servicing has a good outcome, out Mini was always main deals serviced every 2 years on the dot as per service book.
11 years and 8 months later rust was appearing in the seam at the bottom of the tail gate, took it in, was given the "well we need to do some paint checks etc, to see its not been repainted" its all good I replied.
"and what about service history" All to the book look see.
So a whole new gate was fitted. apparently the servicing includes a paint/body check, who knew!
So there was no wiggle out, they did try.
11 years and 8 months later rust was appearing in the seam at the bottom of the tail gate, took it in, was given the "well we need to do some paint checks etc, to see its not been repainted" its all good I replied.
"and what about service history" All to the book look see.
So a whole new gate was fitted. apparently the servicing includes a paint/body check, who knew!
So there was no wiggle out, they did try.
ScoobyChris said:
My (now 6 year old) BMW goes to the main dealer as they are cheaper than our local BMW specialist and I've also had some good will that covered fixing non-warranty items FOC.
Chris
My recent (last few years) of BMW Main Dealer Servicing has been most positive. Whilst it was never what you would describe as being cheap, I didn’t feel that I was being overcharged and the pricing was acceptable. Chris
When I came to Part Exchanging it, the Dealer was not interested that I always brought the car in for servicing at 12 months or 10k (ish) and well before the car said it was due, but was all the servicing carried out by BMW.
Rob 131 Sport said:
My recent (last few years) of BMW Main Dealer Servicing has been most positive. Whilst it was never what you would describe as being cheap, I didn’t feel that I was being overcharged and the pricing was acceptable.
Which is how it should be, shouldn't it? I don't actually think the Mini service price is toooo bad considering it needs spark plugs as well but it's probably on the cusp of going to the local garage (who are very good). I've also got a Golf Clubsport which is coming up to 6 years old but do still take that to VW as the service plan makes the cost acceptable.I think the Alpine's is well into gouging territory though and I felt Porsche's prices were certainly getting there a few years ago, but at least that was only every 2 years, whereas the Alpine's I every 12 months (and this is the cheap one!)
As I said above I'll probably end up taking it there though even though I know I could do the job quicker than it will take me to drive there and back and I'd save over £300. Just don't like wasting money /tightnortherner
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