Help! Kia Service dilemma!

MiniMum

Would really welcome some views on whether we should get our 4 year old Kia serviced at the dealer or at a trusted (we have used them for years with previous cars) independent garage. The price difference is £160!

My gut would always be to go with the independent garage as I trust them, I don't know the dealership, and the independent is much cheaper. Have confirmed with them that they can use Kia parts.

However, on another forum someone raised a couple of issues. One was regarding software updates. The independent have confirmed that they can't do these. How essential/likely are these?

The other was around resale value, and querying whether the resale value would be as good with non-dealership services in the history. Personally this wouldn't bother me, as dealership doesn't mean good quality in all cases anyway! Would welcome views on whether this would bother you if you were buying a car and how much this could affect the value if you think it would.

Is there anything else we should be considering?

Thanks for all your help!

AdrianC

Frankly, I wouldn't even consider the dealer.

7yr warranty? Non-dealer servicing is still fine, but you do need to make sure that they not only use OEM parts, but explicitly say so on the invoice.

Buellguy

AdrianC wrote: »

Frankly, I wouldn't even consider the dealer.

7yr warranty? Non-dealer servicing is still fine, but you do need to make sure that they not only use OEM parts, but explicitly say so on the invoice.

And just to add, make sure they carry out the service according to manufacturers sepcifications

alleycat`

You might need to have an "inspection" by the dealer to keep some of the warranty in place even if the "service" is done by the indy to Kia (or probably better) standards.

It'll be in some small print somewhere.

The final 2 years of that 7 year warranty aren't
anywhere near as comprehensive as years 1 to 5 if the bumf i read is accurate so after this year i would have given the dealer a miss anyway.

I personally might have been tempted to use them for this year for piece of mind but it depends if you have a few nearby that you can play off against each other.

photome

I know this is MSE but I would use the KIA dealer in years 1 to 4 (maybe 5)

I know you can use independants who use OEM parts but if you have bought the car partly because of the long warranty the last thing you want if you do have a problem is to have to fight to get KIA to honour it, because the independant has missed something.

Will you save £160 as you may have to go to Kia for the updates and or inspection.

as per previous poster, I always ring the nearest 3 dealers and then get the closest to price match the cheapest

Mankysteve

AdrianC wrote: »

Frankly, I wouldn't even consider the dealer.

7yr warranty? Non-dealer servicing is still fine, but you do need to make sure that they not only use OEM parts, but explicitly say so on the invoice.

Used a dealer for my current service as they were cheaper than my local indie unfortunately as I like my local indie, but a good offer is a good offer.

What I'm trying to say is shop around just stay away from cheap deals at certain well know chains.

jiltyjade

My dealer offers service packages e.g. £194.00 approx. for 2 services + 2 MOT's. Would your dealer offer something similar?

iolanthe07

I'd stick with the Kia dealer for peace of mind.

bigjl

I would double check the last few years of the warranty are not a "dealer warranty"

That is what Subaru and likely some others do.

First 2 yrs are full EU warranty and the 3rd is subject to having full dealer service history.

I would likely still go to Kia in yr 4 though.

peter_the_piper

I took out the 5 year warranty for £499 which was a sensible price imho, at end of the 5 I'll go to the local garage.

firefox1956

I would get back in touch with your Kia dealer & ask them politely if they can do you the service for a 'better' price.
I have done this several times with my Kia dealer & they have always given me a 'special' price.
Worth asking !!