1st Car service ( should i go to the dealer )

paul2468

I have a 950cc chevrolt spark that i bought new 12 months ago for £6k...it is now due a service, the dealers want £190.00.
I am looking for a service centre that wont cost to much...can anyone point me in the right direction, i am not bothered about going to the dealer, but do want a proper service.:j.

trparter

European legislation has it that you can service your car indepentand of the dealership, which already has brought down the prices at the official dealers. But you are free to go to any other local garage.

LandyAndy

trparter wrote: »

European legislation has it that you can service your car indepentand of the dealership, which already has brought down the prices at the official dealers. But you are free to go to any other local garage.

But that independant must show that they have followed the manufacturers service schedule exactly and used manufacterer approved parts or any warranty claim wll almost certainly be rejected.

In my opinion this is too big a risk to take for the sake of a possible small saving.

And, outside the dealer network, you won't get manufacturer recommended warranty fixes/reworks that are done automatically at services by franchised dealers.

fivetide

As above. the car has a five year warrenty. I'd be tempted to speak to the dealer about a drop in labour charges to match an independent but as a 1st owner and for a 1st service it might well be a false economy to look for an independent. If you need to claim on the warrenty they could make it really tricky.

5t.

NBLondon

The usual advice is find an independant specialist who will have a copy of the official schedules etc. Finding an independent Chevrolet specialist might be difficult... isn't this the one that's really built by Daewoo? Searching for that might be helpful.

marlot

I'd ring round local dealers and try to get the price down. But ultimately stick with the main dealer whilst the car is in warranty.

I don't know about Chevrolet, but I do know that Toyota have 'customer campaigns', where there are things done to the car when they see it, but which aren't sufficiently serious to merit a recall. Last time my car went in, they changed the seals at the base of the injectors, for instance [at no charge]. This isn't on any schedule that an independent would use.

nick1970

Do not go to the main dealer you will just pay over the top prices for what is basically a 'short service', ie, an oil and filter change.
The savings can be huge, £190 is TOTALLY EXCESSIVE.

As long as you keep all receipts,get the service book stamped and ensure that the independent garage follows the correct service schedule,uses OEM parts and is VAT registered you will not have any problems in the event of a warranty claim.
The garage will simply download a copy of the service schedule for the car.

I have never taken my car back to the franchised dealers for servicing and have never had a warranty claim rejected.

HTH

nick1970

marlot wrote: »

I don't know about Chevrolet, but I do know that Toyota have 'customer campaigns', where there are things done to the car when they see it, but which aren't sufficiently serious to merit a recall. Last time my car went in, they changed the seals at the base of the injectors, for instance [at no charge]. This isn't on any schedule that an independent would use.

It is, any independent garage can download service schedules and check any outstanding field actions or TSBs(Technical Service Bulletins) from the manufacturers dedicated technical sites,they will be prompted to enter the vehicles VIN and reg number. For example Ford have there own one called Etis which is what independents use.
If there are any TSBs the garage will simply tell you to go to your nearest dealership at your convenience where you will get it carried out FOC.