Car Servicing

ladymarmalade222

Why does everything have to be so difficult to avoid being overcharged?

I seem to spend my life ringing around and comparing prices these days from everything to home, car, pet and travel insurance. Electric and Gas prices and also sky/virgin contracts.

Today it is Car Servicing time of the year. I have just spoke to one dealer who quoted me £269 which he said was a special offer down from £376!!! We only drive a little hyundai, not a top of the range Mercedes!

Just remembered we had a leaflet posted from another dealer a few months ago for £189 for the service so will try and book it in with them instead.

Where do they get these prices from? I am sure they just pluck them out of thin air.

Vent over ahhhhh.

xx

Tiexen

My last service was £166.94, from a Ford main dealer (not Ford Rapidfit)

and they washed it as well

ladymarmalade222

That is acceptable at least, I cannot believe they can charge nearly £400 though, I had to ask him to repeat it! lol

xx

arcon5

My Ford Mondeo is serviced for £65 from a local garage. It's literally an hour spent changing fluids, oils, plugs, tyre pressure and other essentials - rather than pages and pages of checklists and advisories. I got a quote from the Dexel around the corner first and it was about £210 + extra if you wanted spark plugs changing

VT82

My car's only 2 years old so I still got it serviced at the Mazda garage at the showroom I bought it from. This is how the recent service booking/pricing discussion went...

Me: 'Can I book my two year service please'
Mazda: ' Yes that'll be about £230'
Me: *sharp intake of breath* 'That's a lot more than it was last year'
Mazda: 'How many miles have you done?'
Me: 'About 12 and a half thousand'
Mazda: 'In that case, probably £180'
Me: 'I'll be topping it up with screen wash myself beforehand'
Mazda: 'Fine, I'll make a note of that'
Me: 'Also, would you be putting an air filter in, as I could do that myself' (yes I did see SuperScrimpers)
Mazda: 'No I don't think it would warrant it after that mileage'
Me: 'OK let's go ahead with that'

On the day after the service...

Mazda: 'Here's your bill. It's £148'
Me: 'There shouldn't be a charge for screen wash on there as I topped it up this morning'.
Mazda: 'OK I'll take £7(!) off the bill.'

I suppose I was relieved at the bill rather than pleased. But the moral of the story is to talk the quote down in advance, check your invoice, and try to pretend like you know what you're talking about I suppose!

Jakg

If your even a little bit mechanically minded, why not do bits yourself?

I.E. last service on my car (90k, MG ZT), I was quoted £412 from an MGR main dealer, for new air filter / oil / oil filter / gearbox oil.

I got the a local garage to change the oil, oil filter & gearbox oil for £59, I got a stamp in the book, and then changed the air filter myself (not exactly a difficult job).

If you look on the internet you can find out exactly what is meant to be done on the service, you'll notice although it's a long list most of is things like "check washer fluid, check car has 4 wheels, check car is still a car" etc.

CrazyRatLady_2

I agree most of it you can do yourself.
I've had two cars in 3 years (actually I still have both of them) and I have never had either of them serviced in a garage - although a garage once did a bit of welding to get my golf through its MOT (we now have our own welder).
Changing/topping up various fluids is stupidly easy.
There isn't much you can't do yourself as long as you're willing to read a Haynes manual.
Ok so it's nothing to do with a service but I spent part of this morning taking out some old speakers and fitting new ones into the rear door cards of my '69 Ford Capri.

pimento

I also drive a Hyundai and unfortunately, I have to have it serviced by them to keep the 5 year warranty valid. I do fewer than 2500 miles a year.

wellused

Years ago I ran cars and never hardly serviced anything just repairing them when they broke down, cars today are a different kettle of fish and when you think of it £200 a year is less than £5 a week.

VT82

pimento wrote: »

I also drive a Hyundai and unfortunately, I have to have it serviced by them to keep the 5 year warranty valid. I do fewer than 2500 miles a year.

I always thought those 5/7 year warranties were a bit of a con. I reckon after 5 years they'd pretty much put ANYTHING that breaks down to wear and tear, and it therefore wouldn't be covered by the warranty. Meanwhile you are paying top dollar to have it serviced to keep it in warranty...

knightstyle

Wilco near us do a full service for £39.99 plus parts.