Main Dealer? Or Independent?

missile

What make of car do you have?

Some manufacturers are very strict with their franchised dealers and others are a bit lax.

Some offer cheap fixed cost servicing, e.g. TLC with the mini.

neilmcl

hothothot wrote: »

do service stamps really justify the increased cost? after all, you might not get more money for a car based on service stamps but you will definatly save money to do an oil change yourself? just interested, im undecided who to choose.

Of course they do. A lot people will walk away from a sale if there's no dealer service history.

dieselhead

Independent, but only a recommended independent. Most of the guys who work at my former local garage (just moved going to have to find a new one now!) left college and went straight to work in main dealers, then left to work for the independent.

Independent tend to be cheaper, in my experience more experienced, and usually care about their work as being a small business they know they have a reputation and bottom line to maintain. They have even been known to pop to the local scrap yard for me when the part I needed was just too expensive new!

Kilty_2

I don't know what to do with my new car to be honest (when I say new I mean new to me - 2005 so out of warranty)

With my last car I had rubbish service at the main dealer and rubbish but cheaper service at an independent :rotfl:

Think I might take it for a main dealer service for it's first with me (it needs it in the next couple of weeks) in case I decide to sell the car within the next year and then go elsewhere after that .

Older_but_not_wiser_2

Have it serviced at main dealer, but play one off against another until they won't go any lower on cost (Mercedes dealerships) - this gives me continued anti corrosion warranty and free breakdown cover, but for repairs I go to an independant Mercedes specialist, who worked for Merc for 15 years and has a very good reputation - also only uses genuine mercedes parts and has the proper diagnostic machine.

Finding a reputable mechanic/technician you can trust is the key to keeping costs down.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

clockworks wrote: »

But when it comes to the selling the car you will have no service history which will make shifting it very difficult.

I have a full service history on my car, much more detailed and comprehensive than a garage could offer. Just because it doesn't have a stamp doesn't mean it hasn't been serviced correctly.

neilmcl

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

I have a full service history on my car, much more detailed and comprehensive than a garage could offer. Just because it doesn't have a stamp doesn't mean it hasn't been serviced correctly.

Try convincing a potential buyer, most would just walk away.

nomoneytoday

hothothot wrote: »

do service stamps really justify the increased cost? after all, you might not get more money for a car based on service stamps but you will definatly save money to do an oil change yourself? just interested, im undecided who to choose.

Depends on the age, model and condition.
Can't see it making a huge difference to a 4 year old Focus for example

LandyAndy

Both my cars are 59 reg so it will be main dealer servicing for a while. They also happen to be convenient for my work.

Previously I had my old car serviced and repaired at my local independent who were very good.

emmell

My mini goes to main agent because it's still under TLC, my husbands car goes to main agent because it's a company car, my sons goes to local independent because Merc wanted £500 for the last service and the local did it for £250 using the recommended oil and merc bits and bobs. The book still gets stamped but not main agent stamp but you still get an itemised receipt, which is far better than full main agent service history with no receipts. Remember you can buy service history books fully stamped ready for the dodgy owner to fill in themselves. I've seen cars for sale on ebay with full service history and when I've looked into buyers feedback they have bought blank service history books, so never take a full history at face value.
ML.