Buying a Service Plan from a Dealership

happyc84

We had a dealers service plan that was costed at £18 per month, this was for 2 years. I'd check the service intervals at this plan was for 12k miles, might have been different from manufactures service intervals. 
Recently we had  the car in for repair at local Bosch approved garage - they found out that the a/c filter had not been replaced by the past dealer. Grrrrr.

motorguy

ontheroad1970 said:

fred246 said:

The last new car I bought is now over 6 years old. It was ordered through a broker on the internet. No main dealer involvement. Picked it up at the main dealer. It's not had anything to do with the main dealer since. I have serviced it myself with genuine parts. Genuine as in the same as the manufacturer use eg Mann filters. I haven't paid extra for the main dealer to put it in a box with the manufacturers name on it. It has had one repair with an easily available part available from many sources. Makes you wonder what the purpose of a main dealer is.
Selling new cars? Just order them online.
Repairing new cars? Nobody recommends main dealers for repairing old ones!
Servicing new cars? Nobody recommends main dealers for servicing old ones!
Servicing and repairing new cars is infinitely easier than repairing old ones. Maybe just there to fix manufacturing !!!!!! ups like software !!!!!! ups?
A lot of main dealers have parts shops on eBay so it is normally cheaper to order from eBay and have them delivered than to actually go to your local main dealer. Might as well just order parts online from the manufacturer.
Main dealers seem a bit pointless to me. Tesla agree. Service plans just an attempt to keep people going there.

Tesla don't want to sub contract their profits.   

You still aren't considering those that are on PCP/leases that are contracted to use main dealers for servicing or have to pay a penalty.  You do this consistently and your posts should come with a h/wealth warning.  If you have no contractual reason to use a main dealer, and have the expertise, then sure, you can save money by doing the work yourself.  I would cause more damage than harm, knowing your own limitations is one of the most moneysaving things there is when dealing with expensive items.  You fail to grasp that not everyone can service their own car just by following a few youtube videos.

Oh he does grasp it.  Its an account used to disrupt and derail threads.

The person knows they can hide behind this "persona" with no fear of real world repercussions.

fred246

There is a massive number of people who do their own car servicing and repairs. The internet is full of forums of people who do their own work. I guess some people do it for money saving which is what this forum is all about. I do it because I know my car will be better looked after than if I took it to any sort of garage. I also find it very convenient to do it when it's suitable rather than take it to a garage. I don't see why DIY people can't join in with the forum and bring our wealth of experience. People that use garages can and do point out why they take them there.

fred246

happyc84 said:

We had a dealers service plan that was costed at £18 per month, this was for 2 years. I'd check the service intervals at this plan was for 12k miles, might have been different from manufactures service intervals. 
Recently we had  the car in for repair at local Bosch approved garage - they found out that the a/c filter had not been replaced by the past dealer. Grrrrr.

I do my own servicing so I know everything has been done properly. I think there are lots of reasons why garages don't service cars properly. People are really demanding these days. Say it wasn't in stock at their suppliers. They can either tell you and ask you to bring it back when they have it. You may have taken a day off work and demand all sorts of compensation. Alternatively they can just pretend that they did it. If they are found out there is no penalty. They would just have to do it. I think they normally see the latter as the best option.

motorguy

fred246 said:

There is a massive number of people who do their own car servicing and repairs. The internet is full of forums of people who do their own work. I guess some people do it for money saving which is what this forum is all about. I do it because I know my car will be better looked after than if I took it to any sort of garage. I also find it very convenient to do it when it's suitable rather than take it to a garage. I don't see why DIY people can't join in with the forum and bring our wealth of experience. People that use garages can and do point out why they take them there.

Great.  When people start threads asking for DIY help, then you are our man and we will bow to your superior knowledge.

Otherwise you're just derailing threads, usually with wild unsubstantiated claims presented as "fact".

For example, on this very thread - why are you continuing to bang the DIY drum when its irrelevant to the O/Ps ask and to their circumstances?

fred246

The OP is buying a car and it is being suggested she could buy a service plan. She could service it herself or she may know someone who could it for her. She could have it serviced by and independent or a mobile mechanic. Nothing wrong with pointing the options out.

motorguy

fred246 said:

The OP is buying a car and it is being suggested she could buy a service plan. She could service it herself or she may know someone who could it for her. She could have it serviced by and independent or a mobile mechanic. Nothing wrong with pointing the options out.

No.  It was not "suggested" she buy a service plan - the O/P came here as she has been offered a service plan giving them a major and minor service for £79.

I would very much doubt she could buy the materials and do the work herself for that, let alone pay a third party.

She has expressed no interest in learning DIY to do it herself.

Which takes me back to my question - why are you continuing to bang the DIY drum when its irrelevant to the O/Ps ask and to their circumstances?

fred246

If she got the car ON FINANCE she could have that plan. God knows how much the finance would cost. There is a lot in this thread that concerns DIY servicing. People are worried about the quality of the service. They have no idea if the garage will do it correctly. If you DIY you always know it's done correctly. A lot of people have trouble dropping the car off at a garage. If you DIY you pick a warm day and go and do it. Take a beer out with you. No stress.

fred246

I am pretty sure that people will realise that the servicing hinges on taking finance which won't be good value. Car servicing is a completely unregulated activity. It's fine if you aren't bothered whether your car is serviced or not. If you just want stamps or the digital equivalent you will get that. What's actually done is anybody's guess. Garages 'services' are all totally different. All the undercover investigations I have read have always shown very poor standards.

AdrianC

happyc84 said:

We had a dealers service plan that was costed at £18 per month, this was for 2 years.

So £432.

I'd check the service intervals at this plan was for 12k miles, might have been different from manufactures service intervals.

12k/12mo?
So in 24mo, you're likely to get two services.
How much would they cost if you paid for them at the time?

'course, if you do less than 12k/year, and let the second service slip until even one day outside the 24mo plan, you're paying for it anyway...

Recently we had  the car in for repair at local Bosch approved garage - they found out that the a/c filter had not been replaced by the past dealer. Grrrrr.

And what's the interval specified for that filter?
It almost certainly won't be every service, possibly not even every second. It might be something like 5yr/60k.

Do you mean the cabin pollen filter, or a filter in the aircon refrigerant circuit?