Better to get servicing done by main dealer or not

luminated

I have always had the main dealer service my cars. But that was in the days when I had more money. Is there any merit in main dealers or should I go to the local 'none main' dealer?

Will it be cheaper?

Can I trust them any more or less?

Will not going to a main dealer have any adverse effect on the value when coming to sell or P/X?

Any help gratefully received?

fred7777

luminated wrote: »

Will it be cheaper?

Almost certainly

luminated wrote: »

Can I trust them any more or less?

Depends on the main dealer and the non main dealer. But in my experience a good small business mechanic beats a main dealer.

luminated wrote: »

Will not going to a main dealer have any adverse effect on the value when coming to sell or P/X?

No effect for mainstream mass manufactured cars. Maybe a problem for specialist manufacturers.

andy208833

Never use a main dealer myself they are far too expensive.

i use my local garage who have done work for me before so i trust them and they do a very good job for half the price.

TiTheRev

All prejudice replies I shall give my humble "impartial" advice...dealers are great!

In this day and age no company can afford to turn business away, and working at a dealer I have seen the shift towards being more competitive and value for money. At my dealership we do an annual service for £129, major service (all filters and plugs) for £249, and all cambelt jobs for £319. Using genuine parts, with a 2year warranty, it will add to the resale value and for me make the car far more saleable and 'cared for'.

pendulum

TiTheRev wrote: »

At my dealership we do an annual service for £129, major service (all filters and plugs) for £249, and all cambelt jobs for £319.

That still is expensive!
I can buy a car for £250, that works! With MoT!
If you wanted to give more detail about what you did in the services it may change my mind?

For example, the major service: you say "all filters and plugs". I'd get a coolant change as well, wouldn't I? Brake fluid done too? What else?

Because £249 for filters, plugs and oil (I do get oil don't I?? ) seems dear to me!

cardinalbiggles

TiTheRev wrote: »

In this day and age no company can afford to turn business away, and working at a dealer I have seen the shift towards being more competitive and value for money. At my dealership we do an annual service for £129, major service (all filters and plugs) for £249, and all cambelt jobs for £319. Using genuine parts, with a 2year warranty, it will add to the resale value and for me make the car far more saleable and 'cared for'.

Yeah good one... add to the resale value eh?

Taxi!

vikingaero

Not only does it depend on the make of the car (general v premium) but also the age of the car. You have to wonder that if someone is going to skimp on a £129 service for a 1 year old car what other corners they've cut.

The only real thing you loose out on is goodwill if you've have a full row of dealer stamps.

luminated

A big thank you for all helping me and taking your time to reply.

I have a local garage who has been reccommended by several of my neighbours and who I will now use and I will now stop being so indecisive.

maxmycardagain

I wouldnt trust a main dealer with my old socks, never mind my car, ive had brand new vehicles and the back up for parts has been dire, the workshops slow and over-priced

i use a comercial vehicle repairers because they dont mess about, i pay £25/hr labour but they work faster than a main dealer, for oil+filter I use ATS or Kwikfit, I change my own air/fuel filters, and just fitted new mintex discs and pads on the front for £50 when a garage quoted me £150 - and its only 60 minutes work with all the tools and a car lift

I pay £39 at Kwikfit for oil+filter so i can avoid the mess but also because the car takes 6 ltrs of 5w-30w oil which would cost me MORE than £35 alone

I drive 1000 miles a week

pompeyfaith

Something to take in to consideration when choosing non franchised over franchised is all franchised dealers have the special tools many of which are model specific and not available to a non franchised dealer.

Furthermore all franchised dealer technicians undergo regular training on the models they service or repair so are bang upto date on the latest technology and this is very important in today's technological cars with the ever increasing use of ECM'S etc.

Yes they are more expensive but we all forget the above when paying which does cost the franchised dealer.

In short I would use a franchised dealer always for those reasons which does add to the value of the resell of your vehicle.

Flyboy152

You actually have seven choices:

1. Car's own franchised dealer
2. Any franchised dealer
3. Authorised repairer
4. VAT registered specialist repairer
5. VAT registered independent/any make
6. Back street mechanic
7. DIY

Personally, the days of me getting my hands dirty are long gone. If it cost me fifty pounds more for a "B" service at the franchised dealer than a specialist/authorised repairer, I'd go with the franchised dealer. At least you have the opportunity of a courtesy car, the car getting washed and a decent cup of coffee; as well as, potentially, the support of the manufacturer, if things go wrong.