Big car service (£500) Can I get that price down?

DBGage

I have a Honda Civic 06 plate, it's up for its 40k service which is going to cost £500.

I want to stick with a Honda garage but want to know if the price can be knocked down at all.

If so what methods/bargaining tools do you use to get the cost down?

jaydeeuk1

It's 7 years old, is this its 7th service? If not you've probably missed 3 services so no point going to Honda. Go to an independent.

C_Mababejive

What are they going to do for 500 notes?

worried_jim

C_Mababejive wrote: »

What are they going to do for 500 notes?

Bending the OP over and spanking them like a mad man.

GAZ237

C_Mababejive wrote: »

What are they going to do for 500 notes?

Would expect the cambelt as well for £500

arcon5

Even if you get it down by 50% the price is still steep in my opinion.

Genuine Honda service kits can be bought for £50, the generics for about £20-£30. Oil+filter change 30 minutes max, rest of the filters & inspection another 60-90 minutes max. Go to a local independent garage you'll get it all done for anything from £120-£200. Or a nationwide garage for about the £250 mark.

It's a 7 year old car, so not exactly new enough to justify the ridiculous prices these dealerships charge!

DBGage

It has a full service history with Honda yes.

Work to be done:

Engine oil change.
Replace engine oil filter.
Replace air cleaner element.
Inspect and adjust valve clearances.
Replace fuel filter.
Replace spark plugs.
Inspect washer bottle level.
Replace transmission fluid.
Change oil.
Inspect front and rear brakes.
Replace brake fluid.
Check and adjust parking brake.
Then visual checks of car components.

worried_jim

No more than £200 at a good local independent. You are getting your pants pulled down at Honda.

Retrogamer

DBGage wrote: »

It has a full service history with Honda yes.

Work to be done:

Engine oil change.
Replace engine oil filter.
Replace air cleaner element.
Inspect and adjust valve clearances.
Replace fuel filter.
Replace spark plugs.
Inspect washer bottle level.
Replace transmission fluid.
Change oil.
Inspect front and rear brakes.
Replace brake fluid.
Check and adjust parking brake.
Then visual checks of car components.

It's worth ensuring these things are done. These are often forgotten about by most garages and people who service cars.
£500 is still rather steep in my opinion though. I'd hate to see what they would charge for the timing chain / belt replacement.

daveyjp

Do Honda still provide a year's breakdown cover with every service? My dad has a Jazz and every time he has had it serviced his RAC cover is renewed.

red_eye

DBGage wrote: »

It has a full service history with Honda yes.

Work to be done:

Engine oil change. done
Replace engine oil filter.done
Replace air cleaner element. done
Inspect and adjust valve clearances. ear to the rocker cover, is it ticking?...no....done
Replace fuel filter. done
Replace spark plugs. done
Inspect washer bottle level. semi transparent bottle with some blue fluid in...inspected!...done
Replace transmission fluid. transmission fluid never needs changing as the box is sealed yawn
Change oil. two oil changes?
Inspect front and rear brakes. done
Replace brake fluid. open each nipple one by one and pump the pedal 10 times....done
Check and adjust parking brake.yank, 4 clicks.....done
Then visual checks of car components.

your being charged for jobs that dont need doing, like replacing the gearbox oil, the box is sealed so no dirt can get in, unless you like crunching gears there should be no metal in the box.