Renault Main Dealer Servicing

trace-j

Myself and a work colleague by coincidence have both got Renault Clio 1.5 dci's. His has done loads more miles and mine will be due for it's 1st service under warranty in about 6months time (18,000 miles). If I go to the main dealer and book it in advance it will cost me around £150. However I have been told by my colleague that if I got to the Renault Minute across the road (basically turn up without booking in advance- is still Renault owned) the same service is considerably cheaper.

I have yet to verify this as only found out today. Has anyone come across this before? If this is the case and since the garage in Bristol is a pig to get to, I'm minded to take a day off work and go and sit and wait whilst they do it!

MarkyMarkD

Sounds good, if they actually do full Renault standard services. Some of these manufacturer offshoot service centres operate exactly as the fast fit places do - i.e. using their own made-up service plans - but using genuine manaufacturers' parts instead of unbranded ones. So you would need to make sure that the service covered everything required to maintain your warranty compliance.

I drive a Renault but there isn't a Renault Minute anywhere in my county, let alone my local area.

VickyA_2

I'm lucky that I've got one just down the road (and I drive a Renault Clio 1.2 dynamique!). It doesn't need a service........... yet, but it will do soon. This specific Renault Minute is owned by the dealership that I got the car from. Would this make a difference, do you think?

VardreRFC

Have just had our Renault Clio 1.5dci serviced (36,000 miles)

Phoned the garage we bought it from and was quoted £278. By phoning other Renault garages in our area (Swansea) found one that was £50 cheaper )

So phone around


A friend says that it's always cheaper to get your car serviced with another manufacturers garage ie service a Renault in a Ford garage. He says that they offer their services cheaper to attract new business in, and tempt you from your current manufacturer. His Citroens service booklet is full of stamps fom a Ford Dealer, and he is adamant that this does not affect his warranty.

Hope this helps

trace-j

Thanks for the tips guys. I know of 2 other Renault main dealer garages in the Bristol area so will compare prices. There will also be dealers across the Severn Bridge- but it will have to be worth the drive and £5 to cross the bridge!

I know the OFT were investigating the practice by car manufacturers and motorists having to pay their fees for servicing to maintain the warranty. Effectively a restrictive practice, but not sure what the outcome was.

Will let you know the outcome.:cool:

carl310166

This might interest you,

http://money.guardian.co.uk/cars/story/0,11944,1360642,00.html

carl310166

Forgot to post this.

Are you going on holiday to France? maybe Calais for a booze cruise?

I have heared that servicing is much cheaper over there (suprise suprise!)

Here is another link for you,

http://www.day-tripper.net/shoppingcarservicetyres.html#Anchorcalaisgarage

trace-j

It's been a while, but here are the results of my phoning around for a Clio 1.5 dci 2yr/18k service without aircon. If you want full dealership addresses use the Renault UK website. PS I live in Bristol, however I have phoned other garages not local as it is possible for me to tie the service in with visits elsewhere.

Results are cheapest first and additional information was stated by the operator and not prompted for:

S.J. Cook & Sons (Minute), Staple Hill, Bristol- £144.35
S.J. Cook & Sons, Staple Hill, Bristol- £144.44
S.J. Cook & Sons, Weston Super Mare- £146.02
Lookers, Chester- £147.17, if you live within 10miles they collect and return your car (not saturdays)
Clist & Rattle, Potishead, Bristol- £150-£160
Hylton Group, Gloucester- £155
Bridges of Cirencester, Cirencester- £165 or £195 if you have the pollen filter changed as an optional extra.
Hylton Group, Cheltenham- £169.50- (*note company name changed but were prosecuted a number of years ago for charging work not done :eek: )
Abergavenny Autos, Abergavenny- £175
City Motors, Bristol- £180
Platinum, Bath- £197.73

*obviously not stated on the phone

I've booked in with the cheapest (obviously), but not all minute garages will allow it, depends who you talk to. I've only gone main dealer this time because if a non Renault dealer puts the wrong oil in car (ie diesel) it will invalidate the warranty. For the next service, I will probably go elsewhere.