Should the car go to the main dealer for a service?
Discussion
Hi guys,
My Mum has a 12 plate SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI CR FR and is coming up for its first service.
I work as an apprentice (so far for two and a half years) at a VAG Specialist and was wondering should the car go to the local SEAT Dealer for it's first service or should my work place do it.
Obviously, my work place would be a lot cheaper and we use Genuine Parts so no issues there, but I am a little concerned that if anything should happen under warranty, then they might try and wriggle out of it because the car wasn't serviced by them.
Also, the car is currently on LongLife intervals (up to 2 years or 19,000 miles) but as she covers less than 10,000 miles per year, would you think it would be good to change it to Fixed Intervals (every year or 10,000 miles) whilst it is still under warranty?
Just want the best for my Mum and her car you know
Many thanks
My Mum has a 12 plate SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI CR FR and is coming up for its first service.
I work as an apprentice (so far for two and a half years) at a VAG Specialist and was wondering should the car go to the local SEAT Dealer for it's first service or should my work place do it.
Obviously, my work place would be a lot cheaper and we use Genuine Parts so no issues there, but I am a little concerned that if anything should happen under warranty, then they might try and wriggle out of it because the car wasn't serviced by them.
Also, the car is currently on LongLife intervals (up to 2 years or 19,000 miles) but as she covers less than 10,000 miles per year, would you think it would be good to change it to Fixed Intervals (every year or 10,000 miles) whilst it is still under warranty?
Just want the best for my Mum and her car you know
Many thanks
Of the few times I've had a new car in warranty I've serviced it at main dealer. Once outside of warranty period I use specialists or self-service depending on the car's value.
AKAIK the Longlife services were more geared towards those doing high annual mileage. So the car would still only need to visit the dealer once a year. There's no harm in keeping the Longlife service but still taking it back to the dealer once a year. I know on some cars a higher quality oil is used for Longlife services.
AKAIK the Longlife services were more geared towards those doing high annual mileage. So the car would still only need to visit the dealer once a year. There's no harm in keeping the Longlife service but still taking it back to the dealer once a year. I know on some cars a higher quality oil is used for Longlife services.
She should be on the fixed term service. Longlife is for those who do a lot of steady motorway miles on a regular basis. If you're pratting around town or rag it down country lanes and don't do many miles (especially lots of short journeys), then you need the shorter intervals. 2 years before the first service seems quite high to me? I would've thought you'd want to get the first oil change out the way before then, but I'm no expert.
I think most stealers/indies just use the higher grade Longlife oil regardless of the type of service to save on stocking costs.
As for the warranty, it stays intact as long as genuine OEM parts are used, so you can save yourself a fair chunk by going to an indy and you shouldn't have any issues.
I think most stealers/indies just use the higher grade Longlife oil regardless of the type of service to save on stocking costs.
As for the warranty, it stays intact as long as genuine OEM parts are used, so you can save yourself a fair chunk by going to an indy and you shouldn't have any issues.
Edited by zeduffman on Saturday 8th February 14:04
VX5195 said:
Hi guys,
My Mum has a 12 plate SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI CR FR and is coming up for its first service.
I work as an apprentice (so far for two and a half years) at a VAG Specialist and was wondering should the car go to the local SEAT Dealer for it's first service or should my work place do it.
Obviously, my work place would be a lot cheaper and we use Genuine Parts so no issues there, but I am a little concerned that if anything should happen under warranty, then they might try and wriggle out of it because the car wasn't serviced by them.
Also, the car is currently on LongLife intervals (up to 2 years or 19,000 miles) but as she covers less than 10,000 miles per year, would you think it would be good to change it to Fixed Intervals (every year or 10,000 miles) whilst it is still under warranty?
Just want the best for my Mum and her car you know
Many thanks
Why don't you do the service @ the specialist and telephone the dealer to ask for any updates/recalls etc.My Mum has a 12 plate SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI CR FR and is coming up for its first service.
I work as an apprentice (so far for two and a half years) at a VAG Specialist and was wondering should the car go to the local SEAT Dealer for it's first service or should my work place do it.
Obviously, my work place would be a lot cheaper and we use Genuine Parts so no issues there, but I am a little concerned that if anything should happen under warranty, then they might try and wriggle out of it because the car wasn't serviced by them.
Also, the car is currently on LongLife intervals (up to 2 years or 19,000 miles) but as she covers less than 10,000 miles per year, would you think it would be good to change it to Fixed Intervals (every year or 10,000 miles) whilst it is still under warranty?
Just want the best for my Mum and her car you know
Many thanks
Troubleatmill said:
Is your place VAT registered?
Does it use OEM parts?
Is the car leased? Anything in the small print to say that franchised dealers must be used?
No point in paying franchised costs if you don't have to.
Yes we are VAT Registered (have been running for about 26 years now) and use Genuine parts. The car is outright owned by herself (not leased or on finance) Does it use OEM parts?
Is the car leased? Anything in the small print to say that franchised dealers must be used?
No point in paying franchised costs if you don't have to.
I think under EU law, that provided the car is serviced "as per how Seat would do it", using correct parts then the warrenty is still valid regardless. this i think was bought in to stop the dealers charging too much and keep the costs down. At least if you do it it will, it will be done properly
VX5195 said:
H
Obviously, my work place would be a lot cheaper and we use Genuine Parts so no issues there, but I am a little concerned that if anything should happen under warranty, then they might try and wriggle out of it because the car wasn't serviced by them.
Provided you use genuine parts (which you've said you will do) that would be illegal.Obviously, my work place would be a lot cheaper and we use Genuine Parts so no issues there, but I am a little concerned that if anything should happen under warranty, then they might try and wriggle out of it because the car wasn't serviced by them.
Wasn't this where the EU deemed 'block exemption' illegal? Basically you can get the car serviced to the same standard. I heard of a Skoda dealer who was opposite the Audi dealer and was full of Audi's for services. You do not even have to go to a specialist to find a cheaper service
I can't imagine the difference in overall costs in the first 5 years of that car's life will be significant between main dealer and under the railway arches.
BUT
If you want the comfort of a possible "goodwill" contributions from the manufacturer in the event of major failures outside the warranty period you need to stay in the main dealer network.
BUT
If you want the comfort of a possible "goodwill" contributions from the manufacturer in the event of major failures outside the warranty period you need to stay in the main dealer network.
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