New Car - 1st year service. Does it need to be with main dealer?

MerseyLad

Hi,

I bought a Volvo 12 months ago and its due for its 1st service next month. The car is bought on hire purchase, so I am paying monthly with the option to buy at the end, or hand keys back.

The service with Volvo is around £320, but I can get it done by the Local Police Force garage [and they stamp the log book] as I have family who work for them. This will cost a lot less.

Does it HAVE to be done by the main dealer, or can I go independantly?

Also, how strict is it about getting it done bang on 12 months? Only as money is tight right now, and a month extra would be a help.

Thanks in advance

ML

moonrakerz

You don't have to go to a Volvo dealer, but it must be serviced to the Volvo spec and any parts used must be to Volvo spec.
A month late could well invalidate any warranty.

TBH I would go to the Volvo dealer, if you get problem in the future he is far more likely to show "goodwill" to someone who has used him rather than Fred down the back alley !

TiTheRev

moonrakerz wrote: »

You don't have to go to a Volvo dealer, but it must be serviced to the Volvo spec and any parts used must be to Volvo spec.
A month late could well invalidate any warranty.

TBH I would go to the Volvo dealer, if you get problem in the future he is far more likely to show "goodwill" to someone who has used him rather than Fred down the back alley !

Exactly. It really depends if you want to keep the car past 3yrs old. If there's a chance you will then keep it main dealer but maybe see if they do a 2year service schedule to reduce the cost? £320 is a bit pricey for a 1st year service though, which in theory should only be an oil change. Ours is £99.

daveyjp

Check your agreement - whilst you don't have to go to Volvo to keep the warranty intact PCP agreements generally state that you need to have it serviced at a dealer - remember you don't actually own the car. If you hand it back it's better for them to have a service record from main dealers, not having it may affect the value.

If you don't have it done at a dealer you need to see what effect this will have if you chose to hand the car back.

gingerdad

The key bit is they use genuine volvo parts to keep the warranty valid, as long as that is the case get it down the local police garage.... or wherever.

We have done this for years at a local indy garage and had a couple of warranty claims with out any issues..

TiTheRev

gingerdad wrote: »

The key bit is they use genuine volvo parts to keep the warranty valid, as long as that is the case get it down the local police garage.... or wherever.

We have done this for years at a local indy garage and had a couple of warranty claims with out any issues..

BUT, a car with full dealer history is more likely to be assisted even past the 3 years. We have known 'issues' that we still pay the bill for even up to 6years old as long as the car has full dealer history.

colino

It all comes down to the wording in your agreement. Don't fall foul of it for a few quid! I'm concerned too that the Force garage will be generally compatible with most service schedules and if they are really attached to the police, are they VAT registered?

McKneff

Main dealer 1st service £189
Local dealer £115.

no contest.

TiTheRev

McKneff wrote: »

Main dealer 1st service £189
Local dealer £115.

no contest.

We (as a main dealer) do price match.

Local dealer £115
Main dealer £115

No contest

Oh, and our 1st service is £99, so I'd happily price match £115!!

McKneff

TiTheRev wrote: »

We (as a main dealer) do price match.

Local dealer £115
Main dealer £115

No contest

Oh, and our 1st service is £99, so I'd happily price match £115!!

Not round here they dont, I asked.

So you would service an 09 Corsa Design to Vauxhall standard for £99 and you are a main dealer.