Seems a lot for a car service

[Profpointy]

Does sound quite a lot. I take my saab to an independent specialist and a "big" service is about that. And there's a good bit more in a big service on the saab I dare say.

 

[Over The Hill]

BE careful if you go to a non Vauxhall garage as it may invalidate warranty.

My Diesel E class Merc was only £260 for a major service inclusive of all the filters and oil at the main dealer. I think it is fair enough that Merc need to see it now and again as they give it a 30 year rust warranty! It came back spotlessly clean and valeted and they seem to assume it will not have any problems rather than expect there to be problems. Rather refreshing.

 

[ianrauk]

BE careful if you go to a non Vauxhall garage as it may invalidate warranty.

Are you sure about that?
See posts above.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

We use an indie for Mrs 3BM's VW Up, bloody good mechanic too, one that actually understands how stuff works rather than someone who can only fit new parts. Also lots of the main dealers tick boxes to say they've done work that they haven't. Last service for the Up cost £95.

I have to use a main dealer for my car as it's a company one, the garage I have to use is shìte, in fact I'm not getting another Volvo just so's I don't have to use them anymore. Lying, time-wasting tossers.

 

[smokeysmoo]

BE careful if you go to a non Vauxhall garage as it may invalidate warranty.

Totally wrong Sir, (although unscrupulous dealers may still say this), see above posts and/or Google block exemption.

You have been able to take your car to any independent as detailed above for quite a few years now.

 

[Mr Celine]

If you use an independent you won't get any 'goodwill' from the manufacturer if something major goes wrong shortly after the warranty runs out. I usually stick with the main dealer until the warranty period is over and then use an independent or DIY.

 

[pplpilot]

You can use independents. My company car goes to independents to keep the lease cost down. Having not paid for the running of a car in 22 years i'm always staggered at the cost of keeping a car when I hear people quoting costs.

 

[stephec]

You can use independents. My company car goes to independents to keep the lease cost down. Having not paid for the running of a car in 22 years i'm always staggered at the cost of keeping a car when I hear people quoting costs.

Same here.

Remember the good old days when you could do it yourself?

 

[Monsieur]

IIRC they changed the laws a while back, going to an indie doesnt invalidate the warranty.
We have a Hyundai and take it to an indie now. We had to get something done on warranty, took it to the Hyundai garage, they were fine that the book had indie stamps in it,

Independent won't invalidate the warranty as long as they are VAT registered AND use GENUINE parts

 

[Monsieur]

My two-year-old Vauxhall Meriva is due its second service - the first one I will have done since buying the car at just over a year old.

The dealer quote is about £320.

Seems a lot to me.

I grasp the second service is a 'big' one, but I wonder what will be done to justify the price.

We all have to earn a living, but a big service on my previous Fords was £200 or less.

Should be comparable in my view, Fords and Vauxhalls are both nothing special, just popular European family motoring.

Both cars are diesels and both serviced/will be serviced at a franchise dealer in the same area.

Even a service for my Audi A4 is less than that!

 

[byegad]

Yes, I get my Toyota serviced by an independent and the dealer never bats an eyelid at warranty claims or when trading the car in.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Independent won't invalidate the warranty as long as they are VAT registered AND use GENUINE parts

and use the correct oil and write/type the grade of oil used on the invoice as quoted in post #8

 

[Spinney]

IIRC they changed the laws a while back, going to an indie doesnt invalidate the warranty.
We have a Hyundai and take it to an indie now. We had to get something done on warranty, took it to the Hyundai garage, they were fine that the book had indie stamps in it,

This ^^^

I bought my last car new, and the one before that at a year old. In both cases I got the servicing done by my local garage at much less than the dealer prices. The independent chap uses branded spares etc (currently Skoda) while the vehicle is in warranty, but reverts to 'best value'* ones as soon as the warranty expires. I had work done under warranty on both (two different manufacturers), and as long as I could show the vehicle had been serviced at the correct intervals using genuine parts (had to show an invoice) there was no problem with the warranty work being done.

* best value doesn't necessarily equate to cheapest...

 

[MarkF]

I pay £150 for a full service on our MX5 each year, the same for my Jeep Cherokee which died recently. I bought a 1 owner, 85k, FSH, 2003 Focus as a runabout, it's mint. The last 3 annual services cost the ex-owner £600+ each in an Ilkley Ford dealership. I only paid £800 for the car.

 

[Over The Hill]

Totally wrong Sir, (although unscrupulous dealers may still say this), see above posts and/or Google block exemption.

You have been able to take your car to any independent as detailed above for quite a few years now.

Sorry I was thinking one thing and writing another.

I agree re the general mechanical service side of things but is that also the case with some additional things they offer?
With Mercedes they offer a 30 year corrosion warranty and a free breakdown/recovery and accident recovery.
With the recovery they get round it (I think) by making the cover valid for 12 months from the date of a service with the main dealer.
With corrosion the law only backs you (again I think but am not sure) for 6 years. After that it is down to the manufacturer to accept it or not.