Not using the main dealer for services whilst in warranty

bogstandard2

We have a car in warranty, we've just had a quote from the main dealer for a major (4yr) service for £300.

I take my car (out of warranty) to a branch of ATS, as do the rest of my family. We've been going for years and trust them. They're much lower priced and I know they offer a major service.

I know you're not legally obliged to use the main dealer for services, but you must ensure they do the same work the dealer would have and use approved parts.

But can I/how can I check if an ATS service would meet this criteria?

motorguy

Whats the car? Is it manufacturers warranty or dealer warranty?

neilmcl

Also, do you own the car or is it on finance?

System

bogstandard2 wrote: »

But can I/how can I check if an ATS service would meet this criteria?

I can make that simple for you, for a national chain it won't. You will get their service using the lubricants and parts that they buy wholesale. Even if they did use the correct parts and follow the service schedule the one thing they cannot do is any software updates or recall work and I doubt they'll do an anti-corrosion body check.

One thing you have failed to take into account in order to save a few tens of pounds is the £100s you'll lose in resale value. People expect to see a full main dealer service history for at least the warranty period and usually at least up to 4 years and they'll pay less or walk away from one that doesn't.

vikingaero

It's also up to you if you lose goodwill from the manufacturer should you have a problem just outside of the warranty period.

Iceweasel

You haven't told us what make or model of car you have but £300 for a major service is not expensive to maintain the service history.

marlot

There was a chap on the Hyundai forums recently who had a service from an independent, but had engine failure a few thousand miles later.

Hyundai insisted on a laboratory testing the oil and oil filter to make sure they met the right specification before they replaced the engine. Fortunately the garage had used the right stuff, but the repair was delayed by the testing, and caused more stress.

vansboy

You also have benefit of any updates to the cars computer systems carried out, any re-calls dealt with, if you go main dealer.

It's still a long term peace of mind expense, as there is much greater goodwill, should a problem occour, in the future.

VB

Iceweasel

It's a fallacy that main dealers are much more expensive than local garages or these national chains.

Here is an example for a BMW 3 series - and we all know that BMW are phenomenally expensive to service and we would save shed-loads of cash by going somewhere other than a main dealer - don't we?

Local Indy - £245.00 - oil & oil filter (other filters and such extra)

ATS - £281.92 - oil & oil filter, air filter and sparkplugs/fuel filter

BMW main dealer - £342.00 which includes oil & oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, and cabin micro-filter - and any software updates.

But you pays yer money and takes yer choice as they say.

daveyjp

Call another main dealer and see what they charge so you can compare your £300 quote.

For my old Mercedes I had quotes of £200 up to £600 for the same service!

Its easy to compare with Mercedes as you enter the reg, select a dealer and it gives you a price at that dealer.

Zola.

Iceweasel wrote: »

It's a fallacy that main dealers are much more expensive than local garages or these national chains.

Here is an example for a BMW 3 series - and we all know that BMW are phenomenally expensive to service and we would save shed-loads of cash by going somewhere other than a main dealer - don't we?

Local Indy - £245.00 - oil & oil filter (other filters and such extra)

ATS - £281.92 - oil & oil filter, air filter and sparkplugs/fuel filter

BMW main dealer - £342.00 which includes oil & oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, and cabin micro-filter - and any software updates.

But you pays yer money and takes yer choice as they say.

I have never came across an independent mechanic that charges £245 for oil change and an all filters service. More like £50/60 after parts have been purchased, as its half an hours work really.