Is it worth having your car serviced in dealership? Please, really need advice!

gdard

If you have a common brand of car (Opel, Ford, etc.) servicing does very seldom require special attention. Surely you don't have to go to a dealership to get your oil changed, because any auto service can do it. Dealerships are usually more expensive than no-name auto services, while they do the same routine operations. However, if you run into serious problems with your car, you should go to a dealership service.

roswell

depends on what needs doing, im not normaly a kwick fit lover but recently needed a oil change, ran out of window washer fluid on route, £29 for a oil change and filter, got in the car and the windscreen was nice and clean, pulled the washer leaver and they had filled them up along with the power steering fluid .... all in for £29 ill go thier for oil changes more often I normaly get the oil changed they change fuel / air / cabin filters myself

Fly_Baby

rev_henry wrote: »

Your car is 7 years old and done 80k and never had a service??!!

Of course it has! Full service every year plus a few interim services.

I was referring to what my dealership calls a "major service" which is advised for older car and not every year, I assume.

Just_Incredible

I service my car myself, takes me 90 mins to do a full service of replacing all the filters, plugs, oil & check everything over

parts come up to around £50, saving me alot if I was to go to a garage

cyclonebri1

Just_Incredible wrote: »

I service my car myself, takes me 90 mins to do a full service of replacing all the filters, plugs, oil & check everything over

parts come up to around £50, saving me alot if I was to go to a garage

Then you are one of a forntunate group of motorists, myself a founder member that smile every time you read a post like this, no offence op, I understand not everyone has the ability or inclination to not only do all thier own service and repairs, but also to enjoy the satisfaction of having done it as cost effectively as possible, and know it's been done properly.

I have now been driving exactly 40 years. I've had some rubbish, some exotic stuff and some newish mundane cars. I can honestly say apart from mots and the odd bodywork repair to presentable cars, I have yet to take a car to a garage for anything.

And I'm not inclined to anytime yet, the odd few times I've taken my car in under manf waranty for bits to be done, it's often gone back several times for the same fault to be rectified. I'd sooner trust myself

roddydogs

Changing your own plugs can be dodgy as their ususally well hidden, unlike the old days....just accidently cross thread, youve got a problem!

michaelro

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Then you are one of a forntunate group of motorists, myself a founder member that smile every time you read a post like this, no offence op, I understand not everyone has the ability or inclination to not only do all thier own service and repairs, but also to enjoy the satisfaction of having done it as cost effectively as possible, and know it's been done properly.

I have now been driving exactly 40 years. I've had some rubbish, some exotic stuff and some newish mundane cars. I can honestly say apart from mots and the odd bodywork repair to presentable cars, I have yet to take a car to a garage for anything.

And I'm not inclined to anytime yet, the odd few times I've taken my car in under manf waranty for bits to be done, it's often gone back several times for the same fault to be rectified. I'd sooner trust myself

Do you:
Have all the correct tools required?
Use Manufacture approved parts?
Reset the Service Indicator?
Flash the ECU to clear faults?
Check the ECU for current faults?
Offer 12/24 month warranties on the work you do?

If the answer is no to any of the above, while I'm sure you're a competent mechanic, I would not buy a car from you.

computershack

michaelro wrote: »

Do you:
Have all the correct tools required?
Use Manufacture approved parts?
Reset the Service Indicator?
Flash the ECU to clear faults?
Check the ECU for current faults?
Offer 12/24 month warranties on the work you do?

If the answer is no to any of the above, while I'm sure you're a competent mechanic, I would not buy a car from you.

So going by that, you'll only buy cars from main dealers then?
Oh and BTW ODBCII readers and programmers are quite cheap to buy on Ebay and I know many home mechanics who have one.

As for using genuine parts, Lada dealers used to use aftermarket brake cylinders because they were far superior to the original manufacturer ones. And most non-dealership garages use non-genuine parts.

michaelro

computershack wrote: »

So going by that, you'll only buy cars from main dealers then?
Oh and BTW ODBCII readers and programmers are quite cheap to buy on Ebay and I know many home mechanics who have one.

As for using genuine parts, Lada dealers used to use aftermarket brake cylinders because they were far superior to the original manufacturer ones. And most non-dealership garages use non-genuine parts.

No, If anything, Specialist service history would sway me more than main dealer.

My point was that I wouldn't buy a car that hadn't been serviced by a fully qualified mechanic with proof to back it up.

My last point is the big one though, home servicing won't come with any labour or parts warranty.

Having an ODBC reader means little unless you are aware of recent ECU updates which Main Dealers or Specialists would.

Maybe the Non-Dealership garages you use, use non-genuine parts but doesn't mean they all do....:rolleyes:

cyclonebri1

michaelro wrote: »

Do you:
Have all the correct tools required? Yes
Use Manufacture approved parts? Only when no quality independants are available
Reset the Service Indicator? Yes
Flash the ECU to clear faults? Yes
Check the ECU for current faults? Yes
Offer 12/24 month warranties on the work you do? Of course not, but I don't charge myself £50 an hour either

If the answer is no to any of the above, while I'm sure you're a competent mechanic, I would not buy a car from you.

Not a problem, when I sell a car there's not much value left as they are usually 8 to 10 years old, srvice history doesn't matter at that age, a pile of parts receipts is just as acceptable.

I'll satisfy myself that others, probably yourself included, spend a fortune on car maintenance. I don't

I trust my self and my abilities far more than any garage, but I do have a lifetime in mechanical and electrical engineering as a basis;)