Would you buy a car that had never been serviced by a dealer

[4lf4-155]

I have a company car, an alfa Romeo giulietta multiair. The first service is due and I called to book it in.

They have booked me in at a halfords auto centre rather than a dealership.

I said that they ought to double check that halfords can do the service as the multiair unit needs oil that meets specific requirements and as far as I can find there are only two brands that meet it and both are very expensive.

Only opie oils carry them for sale in the uk other than that you have to buy from an alfa dealership.

There are recorded failures of the multi air units and feedback to say that using the wrong oil at service time is the cause.

I am highly sceptical that halfords will be able to put the right oil in it.

You might say what's the problem? It's a lease car and not my issue. but the contract states that it's my responsibility to,ensure car is serviced as per manufacturers schedule and failure to do so would leave me liable for any repairs that the warranty doesn't cover.

That will sort itself out but it got me thinking, would I buy a used car that had never been serviced by a manufacture backed dealership and the answers no.

The EU legislation that made manufactures honour warranties provided the right parts are used may mean you can shop round for a cheaper deal but it opens up a can of worms for situations like this.

Edited by 4lf4-155 on Monday 7th April 19:26

[kambites]

I'd happy buy a car that had never been serviced by a main dealer.

I'm not sure I'd buy a car that had been serviced by Halfords, though.

[J4CKO]

Evidence of oil changes, other than that, not bothered.

[Jasandjules]

If it was serviced by a decent garage/indy etc then sure why not.

[4lf4-155]

I have the option to purchase at the end of the contact - I told them that to put it on file that I was interested but won't be doing it now!

[Tribal Chestnut]

Yep, no qualms about it.

All of my recent vehicles have had incomplete histories, but have given me no problems other than those anticipated.

[themanwithnoname]

Yep, more than happy to but non dealer serviced.

Wouldn't touch a Halfords serviced car with a very long bargepole.

My only experience of the service received there is managing to screw up changing tyres... TYRES.

[sleep envy]

4lf4-155 said:

You might say what's the problem? It's a lease car and not my issue. but the contract states that it's my responsibility to,ensure car is serviced as per manufacturers schedule and failure to do so would leave me liable for any repairs that the warranty doesn't cover.

Raise your concerns in writing, if they respond that you have to take the car to Halfords then you've covered yourself should any issues arise.

[Dodsy]

I would if the services were at a decent garage i.e. a marque specific independent. Matters less as the car gets older and loses value to a point where any service is a bonus.

I personally had a very bad experience with that place many years ago and would never let them touch any car of mine every again. It would also put me off buying any car that had a their stamp in the service history, particularly a new car. There are many cars that need certain special things done at service intervals (your car and the Honda S2000 spring to mind but there are others) that I am sure a non dealer/marque specific garage wont do. While many modern cars can get by with just an oil and filter change there are just as many where this wont do.

[4lf4-155]

sleep envy said:

Raise your concerns in writing, if they respond that you have to take the car to Halfords then you've covered yourself should any issues arise.

I plan to do just that, along with a complaint about them telling me to take a copy of my company insurance certificate to cover the courtesy car.

My company car insurance doesn't cover me to drive any other cars under any circumstances, they should know that as they organise the insurance. If I hadn't checked I could have been driving with no insurance. Absolute fking chuffets!