A recommended main dealer

A recommended main dealer

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Cats

Original Poster:

993 posts

173 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Can anyone recommend a main dealer that has given them truly exceptional service in the Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey corner of the world?
I know one that I wouldn't recommend but please I just want an honest company that will sort my vehicle without all the corporate flannel and perhaps not even cause more damage/ aggravation.
The car is under warranty.



Triple7

4,013 posts

236 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018
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Good luck with that....! Shame that there is no one I can ‘highly’ recommend. But I am currently using the new Dick Lovett JLR Franchise in Melksham, Wiltshire. I know the DP, as he is from my Porsche dealership. Prob a bit too far?

Whats the prob?

Edited by Triple7 on Thursday 23 August 00:43

Deranged Rover

3,316 posts

73 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018
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I haven't used them extensively but in my brief dealings with Guy Salmon Land Rover in Portsmouth, they seemed pretty switched-on and helpful

Cats

Original Poster:

993 posts

173 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018
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General incompetence basically.
Various faults with car and just takes so long to get the car booked in and then not completed.
Just had a rattle apparently sorted (time will tell) but in doing so have caused damage to internal door paintwork and left gloopy dots of lubricant on seats, carpets and windows.
Aircon problem had no AC for the whole of the recent hot weather. The car was in previously for a premature oil change (only done 9k miles) some kind of factory recall was glossed over regarding the oil dilution issue. Asked them to check Aircon problem and was told that there was only a third of the gas that should be in the system but they didn't have time enough to find the leak. I stated that the heating system was never that powerful in the winter and was on full chat the whole time and never got overbearing. Linked?
Fair enough I thought book it back in - 5 weeks later
Had it 3 days (it didn't move the first day) got it back and was told that it may have had a leak but they couldn't find one so tried two full reboots and hey presto it now works. This was also linked to the heating issue. This is just so worrying for when the car is out of warranty.
I lifted the bonnet before leaving the service centre and found both dust caps off the aircon pipes in the engine bay. Technician foreman came out and agreed that it was unacceptable!
Got home and checked inside in more detail and found silicone lubricant everywhere which seems to be turning white which it hadn't previously.
Door cards had been removed and looks like they have been levered off with a screwdriver denting and scratching the paintwork just to the side of the door card. Chrome door handle trim on drivers door now falls off at will and the rubber door seal doesn't stay in place.
I have wanted one of these cars for so long and to say I am disappointed in the product and this dealership would be an understatement. I love the design and the drive but the continual problems, rattles and error messages are doing my head in.
This is only the last round of visits and I now need to take this further but I wish to find an alternative dealership as I think the technicians here leave a lot to be desired?

DSLiverpool

14,670 posts

201 months

Monday 27th August 2018
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Anyone comment on Liverpool ? its the one thing stopping me getting a RR the fact my blood pressure will top out dealing with a poor dealer.

Jurgen Schmidt

824 posts

200 months

Monday 27th August 2018
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I can recommend John Dennis in Aylesbury, Bucks. Probably a bit of a trek for you, but they’ve been great!

kmpowell

2,915 posts

227 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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Cats said:
Can anyone recommend a main dealer that has given them truly exceptional service in the Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey corner of the world?
I know one that I wouldn't recommend but please I just want an honest company that will sort my vehicle without all the corporate flannel and perhaps not even cause more damage/ aggravation.
The car is under warranty.
The service department at Harwoods Coulsdon are, in my experience, second to none. I have had my RRS serviced there since 2016 and they have fixed/sorted warranty items without any quibble or issue, despite me not buying the car there. They don't go chasing the £, great communications and flexibility re courtesy cars and booking times. Touch wood, they have yet to let me down. My RRS is booked in next Monday for its 3rd service there, so if that stance changes I'll update this thread.

Their sales department in contrast are easily one of the worst I have ever had the misfortune to step into, and that's across any brand!

JONLINE

139 posts

276 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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DSLiverpool said:
Anyone comment on Liverpool ? its the one thing stopping me getting a RR the fact my blood pressure will top out dealing with a poor dealer.
Purchased mine from Williams in Manchester, its been a good car, had a few small issues with it, and would recommend them over anyone in Liverpool. Easy to deal with, and the service side appear to know what they are talking about. Recently tried a new Inchcape LR dealer off the M6, and I really wouldnt allow them to even look after my gold fish! - worse I’ve come across in the last 20 years. Im on my 3rd Range Rover. If they can't plug it in, they don‘t have a scooby. Recently waited over 40 mins to see the service dept, with a simple warranty question, ended up walking out.

Sadly you won't find many that are any good.

DSLiverpool

14,670 posts

201 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018
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JONLINE said:
Purchased mine from Williams in Manchester, its been a good car, had a few small issues with it, and would recommend them over anyone in Liverpool. Easy to deal with, and the service side appear to know what they are talking about. Recently tried a new Inchcape LR dealer off the M6, and I really wouldnt allow them to even look after my gold fish! - worse I’ve come across in the last 20 years. Im on my 3rd Range Rover. If they can't plug it in, they don‘t have a scooby. Recently waited over 40 mins to see the service dept, with a simple warranty question, ended up walking out.

Sadly you won't find many that are any good.
Sadly thats what I suspect, I was warned that Liverpool is badly served and I just dont want cause myself the grief. Options are an older RR I can use an indy for or a Cayenne as Porsche Chester are sublime.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Thursday 30th August 2018
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Deranged Rover said:
I haven't used them extensively but in my brief dealings with Guy Salmon Land Rover in Portsmouth, they seemed pretty switched-on and helpful
Yep, I'd agree with that. I've been using them since they first opened up as a tiny business in Clanfield. The site at North Harbour is still in my phone as "Wessex LR".

Zippee

13,438 posts

233 months

Friday 31st August 2018
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I feel for you OP - sadly LR ownership is let down so much by their dealer network, made even worse by the fact it's a premium brand whereby you should expect better than average service.
My wifes Evoque has had lots of rattles and an issue with the sat nav that our local dealer (Bedford) has never been able to resolve (read not bothered). We're trying Milton Keynes LR this year to see if a shiny large showroom does come with better service but we remain to be convinced.

Sheepshanks

32,517 posts

118 months

Friday 31st August 2018
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DSLiverpool said:
Anyone comment on Liverpool ? its the one thing stopping me getting a RR the fact my blood pressure will top out dealing with a poor dealer.
I know people in the Chester area who drive to Llandudno Junction to use the Rybrook franchise there, rather than use Chester.

Chester is Inchcape - my experience with them is as a customer of their Mercedes and VW (tried two locations) franchise. All dreadful. They're very focussed on selling things to customers based on lying to them. They'll try and charge for stuff that you'd expect to be covered by warranty. I imagine it's a horrible company to work for so you have to wonder about the staff they have.

designforlife

3,734 posts

162 months

Friday 31st August 2018
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CSK automotive in Hoddesdon, Herts. Independent Landy specialists and very well respected.

(if you give up on main dealers)

Cats

Original Poster:

993 posts

173 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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Has anyone got any experience of using Lancaster at Reading or Slough?
Hunters of Guildford now appears to be Inchcape, is that good or bad?

From my visit to the dealership who supplied the vehicle I still have the rattle, not sure the aircon is 100%, hopefully be able to tell with our Indian Summer coming up, but now the car has to go into the paint shop to have the damage to the inside of the doors straightened and then resprayed. Gut feeling says that this won't be completed satisfactorily but as the car is not quite 2 years old with 10k miles on it what can I do. Basically got you by the balls!
If I could get my money back I'd jump at it but doubt that is on the agenda.

swisstoni

16,844 posts

278 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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I have experience of both Lancaster’s mentioned.
Reading is ok and is my current choice for servicing.
I won’t ever be returning to the Slough one even though it’s much closer.

The Leaper

4,935 posts

205 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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I get my DS serviced at Guy Salmon Thames Ditton. No problems experienced in the past 20 months or so. Best to book the car in well in advance though: they always seem to be very busy.

R.

oop north

1,592 posts

127 months

Sunday 2nd September 2018
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JONLINE said:
Purchased mine from Williams in Manchester, its been a good car, had a few small issues with it, and would recommend them over anyone in Liverpool. Easy to deal with, and the service side appear to know what they are talking about. Recently tried a new Inchcape LR dealer off the M6, and I really wouldnt allow them to even look after my gold fish! - worse I’ve come across in the last 20 years. Im on my 3rd Range Rover. If they can't plug it in, they don‘t have a scooby. Recently waited over 40 mins to see the service dept, with a simple warranty question, ended up walking out.

Sadly you won't find many that are any good.
I had a dreadful experience with them in 2010 over a D3. Got my D4 from Kendal dealer three years ago - reasonable experience but have had local indie service the car since warranty ended. Yours is not the first time I have heard positive things about Williams in Manchester.

kmpowell

2,915 posts

227 months

Tuesday 4th September 2018
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kmpowell said:
The service department at Harwoods Coulsdon are, in my experience, second to none. I have had my RRS serviced there since 2016 and they have fixed/sorted warranty items without any quibble or issue, despite me not buying the car there. They don't go chasing the £, great communications and flexibility re courtesy cars and booking times. Touch wood, they have yet to let me down. My RRS is booked in next Monday for its 3rd service there, so if that stance changes I'll update this thread.

Their sales department in contrast are easily one of the worst I have ever had the misfortune to step into, and that's across any brand!
Just to update this quickly, my RRS had its 3rd Service and 1st MOT at Harwoods Coulsdon yesterday, and they were as I expected, totally spot on. There was no over-sell, they said the Land Rover tyre-advisor is over cautious so they told me to ignore the orange advisory warnings on the report. They even topped up the AdBlue FOC. The courtesy car was ready, no obnoxious inspections or penny chasing for any fuel I used. All in all just good old fashioned customer service.

Cats

Original Poster:

993 posts

173 months

Tuesday 4th September 2018
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Good to hear 👍

james S

1,615 posts

244 months

Monday 17th September 2018
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Interesting comment regarding Slough further up the page. They have just charged me about £550 to diagnose a blocked turbo oil drain pipe, despite the fact its a known problem with its own LR technical bulletin and with a replacement part so different if requires an extra hole to be drilled in the sump in order to fit it.

They also suggested I need a new rear wiper motor as it was seized, despite the fact it works fine, and give me a car back ins such a state it that looked like it have been living in sea and had a battery left totally discharged and wouldn't hold sufficient charge to even get me home without the car nearly stalling each time I slowed down. The service was beyond dreadful and into downright laughable!

I do need to get the turbo pipe done, and my local indi reckons its a main dealer job. Does anyone really rate Watford, Aylesbury, Ascot, Oxford or Reading?

I had to pay the guys at Slough to get my car back, but I'm loathe to let them just get away with it, as they;ll just keep doing it to other people. Is small claims court the best place, or is there a step before this. I have written to them a number of times but they say they I authorised the work on the diagnosis, (an oil change which shouldn't have been needed) wand have failed to comment on the report suggesting the car needed a new wiper motor, amongst other things. They declined any responsibility for the battery, claiming they would have charged me £90 if I had wanted them to keep it charged. The battery was strong before it got to them!

Thanks James