which main dealer for service?

home_bird

Morning all.

Just wondered what are people's views on this:

Bought a 13 plate ex demo/courtesy mini last May from Synter Nottingham, now due for its service.

Is it better for me to take it back to Synter Nottingham, which is an hour's drive from me OR should I take it to Synter Leicester (half the distance from me)?

Just that I heard if there were to be any issues, the service continuity may be to my advantage? Does it matter that they are both Synter but in different towns?

Thanks x

Spicy_McHaggis

Take it to whatever's easiest for you.

daveyjp

Take it to the cheapest! As they are both Sytner group they may charge the same, they may not. Also try some non Sytner dealers for comparison, regardless of this always haggle.

Strider590

You don't need a main dealer, you'd get a better service at an independent and for less money.

Technicians at main dealers, work to very tight targets, with no time to spare if something doesn't quite go to plan (which is nearly always the case).

Much like when desk jockeys started setting the round times for Royal Mail postmen, using a map versus average walking speeds, not taking into account dogs, gates, waiting for doors to be answered, etc etc and all the stuff that only the person doing the job would actually understand.

So at main dealers, the technician have to meet targets set by someone who's never even lifted a spanner. This can and sometimes does lead to service items being skipped, do you really want to pay through the nose for someone to stamp the book an not even touch the car?

LandyAndy

Regardless of the fact that it isn't strictly necessary, I would continue with main dealer servicing, at least until the manufacturer's warranty has expired, assuming the vehicle still has a full service history.

McKneff

You don't need to take your car to a main dealer at all.


As long as genuine parts are used by any garage that you use, it will be fine x

waynedance

Easy answer in none if them, go for independent.

home_bird

Thank you all for your advise.

I will mull it all over....x

Spicy_McHaggis

McKneff wrote: »

You don't need to take your car to a main dealer at all.


As long as genuine parts are used by any garage that you use, it will be fine x

Don't they need to be vat registered?

daveyjp

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Don't they need to be vat registered?

I have never found any evidence they need to be.

Going independent is OK, but you will need paper evidence that everything fitted to the car meets the BMW specification and everything was carried out. This may need to be provided should you need to claim on a warranty and its very easy for main dealers to be awkward.

Goodwill payments towards any faults outside of the warranty period will also go out of the window.

OddballJamie

daveyjp wrote: »

I have never found any evidence they need to be.

Going independent is OK, but you will need paper evidence that everything fitted to the car meets the BMW specification and everything was carried out. This may need to be provided should you need to claim on a warranty and its very easy for main dealers to be awkward.

Goodwill payments towards any faults outside of the warranty period will also go out of the window.

Also paint and bodywork warranties won't be covered unless the car is taken to the main dealers for inspections.

I'm surprised the OP wasn't given the option of a service pack, I thought most Mini owners had these as they are such good value.