Car servicing

thamespirate

Hi all i just booked in my car for a service with vauxhall , the cars an astra, cost for services, £300.00 i have seen local garages offer services for a lot less , question should i use vauxhall or go for cheaper, i have no warrenty on the car year 2007 astra diesel.

rev_henry

No reason to stick with the dealer now the warranty's up. Just make sure the local independent's are doing everything in the service schedule for the prices they're quoting.

kh904

Depends on what you get for that service. Doe that include parts &labour for things like brake for eg?


If I can remember correctly I was charged around £120 for a service (usual oil & oil filter change, replace air filter, top up of fluids etc). That was a reputable independant garage including VAT.

I was charged approx £250-300 for a major service from an authorised peugeot dealer 4 years ago. That included changing spark plugs, flush & replace coolant, air filter, wiper, fuel filter, oil & oil filter, top up of fluids, etc. My car is a 2000 406 coupe.

But my initial thought was yes it's too expensive, assuming if it's a basic service.

Hammyman

The prices are only comparable if they're done to the manufacturers spec.

jeannieblue

Hammyman wrote: »

The prices are only comparable if they're done to the manufacturers spec.

But as it is out of warranty now, one can use common sense and only replace what actually NEEDS to be replaced - and not get ripped off! and Vauxhall service parts are very reasonably priced.

The OP may have low mileage and not need alot to be done etc - either way, recommend find a good independent garage - even if a car is still under warranty, you'll save alot of money.

jd82

I would never recomend using another garage if the car is under warranty is just causes too many problems in the event of a dispute. Since the car is no longer in warranty then providing OEM filters and the correct oil is used I can't see them being any problem. You should get change from £200 but it does depend on exactly what needs doing. At three years old things like the brake fluid will need changing if its not been done already.

Hammyman

jeannieblue wrote: »

But as it is out of warranty now, one can use common sense and only replace what actually NEEDS to be replaced - and not get ripped off! and Vauxhall service parts are very reasonably priced.

The OP may have low mileage and not need alot to be done etc - either way, recommend find a good independent garage - even if a car is still under warranty, you'll save alot of money.

For the love of god....
What do you think a service is? A REPLACEMENT OF PARTS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

And FYI, a local garage annual service for my car included the fuel filter, which didn't need to be done as it only needs to be changed every 37500 miles and had been at the last service, but excluded the pollen filter which DOES need to be changed annually or it fries the heater motor speed controller.

Thats why it matters that you follow the mftrs schedule, in warranty or not.

ukjoel

There is little difference between a good local and a franchised repairer.
Would make a couple of points though.
Firstly - yes your out of warranty (but only just) and if something major goes wrong then manufacturers often apply a level of goodwill in year 4 and 5 and this is considerably reduced if they have been serviced elsewhere.
Second point is when coming to sell the car at 4 or 5 years a full manufacturer service history is considered to be a lot more desirable than a local independent (unless the buyer is local and rates the independent)

ukjoel

Another KEY point which I dont think I have seen mentioned on any boards on here is that all manufacturers and most retailers now use Customer Relationship Management systems and this means waiting a couple of months may save you hundreds.

The reason is there computer tells them your 30 days overdue your annual service.
As your no longer under any pressure due to warranty to go there they will send you a letter offering a value service on 3 yr plus cars for the same price as the independent.
Offers and levels of service vary but it does mean you get a cheap service and a dealer stamp in the book.
I got a Ford one last year for £99 which included a £20 marks and spencers voucher and a years breakdown cover thrown in for free.
So might be worth doing NOTHING for 5 or 6 weeks and see what pops through the letterbox.

pimento

When the power steering failed on my (then) seven year old Ka with 25,000 miles on the clock, I took it to my local garage to be repaired. What a mistake that was.
As soon as I picked it up, the power steering worked OK but the car would stall every time I slowed down to stop. The garage said it wasn't something they had done and implied that I was a silly woman who didn't know how to drive properly.

I took tf to Ford who said they had joined something up incorrectly and it cost me a couple of hundred pounds to repair. The local garage denied all liability and Ford wouldn't put it in writing.

I'd never use a local garage again.

oldagetraveller

That seems very excessive for what, if it's like my Meriva, is only a minor third service. Basically, an engine oil and filter change with bells on! My Vx dealer charged £130 for intermediate service (1st & 3rd) and £210 for main, 2nd and 4th, including brake fluid change.
However, the Astra might be a different beast - can't see why though. Try another dealer and independent, they might drop the price somewhat to nearer an independent to get your business. Their prices aren't set in stone.