FabSwingers.com forum: Car Service

By *ryandsee OP Man
over a year ago

Yorkshire

Do you take your car for service to your dealer to service like Audi, MBW, VW etc or to your local garage. I always took mine to the dealer in the past but the price quoted today was a bit of a shock and more than double from what I was quoted by a reputable local garage.

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By *aptain Caveman41Man
over a year ago

Home

Go to a friend of mine who is a ford mechanic, main dealers would rob you

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I try to do it myself through YouTube tutorials.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

local garage

always

bike i do myself

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By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

Our butler deals with all that nonsense.

As long as the rolls is warm and ready to go I don't think about such mundane matters.

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By *ryandsee OP Man
over a year ago

Yorkshire

"Our butler deals with all that nonsense.

As long as the rolls is warm and ready to go I don't think about such mundane matters."

As lovely as that maybe for you, it doesn't really help me to decide, unless you are suggesting I get a butler too so I don't have to worry either

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By *elvet RopeMan
over a year ago

by the big field

Always look for a decent localish independent specialists for your brand. Many of the mechanics will have some degree of dealer training, extensive experience of your car, the specialist tools each marque needs and they'll usually charge around 60% of the main dealers for the same job, usually with the same parts.

Been doing this since the mid 90's and rarely have any of my cars been elsewhere apart from emergencies or me working on them myself

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By *avexxMan
over a year ago

cheshire

dealer to expensive, take it to your local garage

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

"Our butler deals with all that nonsense.

As long as the rolls is warm and ready to go I don't think about such mundane matters.

As lovely as that maybe for you, it doesn't really help me to decide, unless you are suggesting I get a butler too so I don't have to worry either

Is that 'butler' a certain Vicky Butler Henderson perchance?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mostly do my own or use my mates garage and ramp if can't do at home

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By *m3232Man
over a year ago

maidenhead

Is it a expensive car under warranty or a run of the mill car.

Remember the main dealer is there to take money from you where a very good independent is there to earn money.

This is the way I look at it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I went to the dealer for the first service which wasn't expensive but the second service with them was over twice the price of the local garages. I bought the parts and had my local garage to put them on and stamp the book.

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By *ryandsee OP Man
over a year ago

Yorkshire

Thanks everyone, seems the consensus is local garage.

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By *ttmcdguyTV/TS
over a year ago

Milton Keynes

It depends on age of vehicle

If your car is still under manufacturer warranty then take to main dealer

Reason being is it may/may not (but probably will!) void your warranty

After manufacturing warranty is finished use wherever you want

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I do all my own servicing. Always have

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By *ryandsee OP Man
over a year ago

Yorkshire

"It depends on age of vehicle

If your car is still under manufacturer warranty then take to main dealer

Reason being is it may/may not (but probably will!) void your warranty

After manufacturing warranty is finished use wherever you want

Thanks good advise.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Under 5 years dealer. Over local.

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By *helamontsCouple
over a year ago

Edinburgh

Local garage ...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It depends on age of vehicle

If your car is still under manufacturer warranty then take to main dealer

Reason being is it may/may not (but probably will!) void your warranty

After manufacturing warranty is finished use wherever you want

It doesn't void the warranty if you use main dealer parts. It's never affected any of my warranties.

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By *irtycpl7980Couple
over a year ago

Northumberland

As some have said, it depends on the age.

If you have a newish car (under 5 year old) and you do your own servicing you are loosing (a lot) more than even the dealer would charge for your servicing in part exchange valuation.

Your second service will always be more expensive than your first as this is a major service (whether it’s local or dealer) however when you use local make sure they are actually doing a major.

Regarding dealer/local, this won’t invalidate any warranty so long as genuine brand parts are used and fitted correctly. The only real difference is that the majority of used car buyers want to see a dealer service history but really not a deal breaker most of the time.

I work in a dealer garage hence my input as there can be a lot of miss information out there. We genuinely don’t mind if the car is serviced locally. What I would say is, speak to your dealer about service plans as this usually saves you a considerable amount and makes the servicing costs similar to your local garage.

The only other factor is, most software is upgraded/patches installed when you have a service done at a dealer (again this is for cars upto 5 year old depending on brand), this doesn’t get done locally as they don’t have access to it … some people see value in this some don’t but these get done during service at no extra cost (usually)

Hope this helps

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Always to a local garage where I trust the mechanics. They are so reasonable with their prices. Main dealers just rip you off totally.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Do it myself / with neighbour

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By *B69Woman
over a year ago

Wiltshire

Local specialist garage, main dealer was a rip off

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Some new cars get three years RAC cover if you service it with the main dealer each year.

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

What's a new car?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"What's a new car?"

A way to waste money

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By *ictoria_1976TV/TS
over a year ago

Bodmin

I generally do services & basic repairs myself - if it's a job beyond me then local garage - I'm in rural Cornwall & nearest dealer is miles away whereas I can drop the car off at the garage in the village & walk home!

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

Depends what you want , other than an oil & filter change I do most things myself. Modern cars don’t need servicing , they need oil changes occasional brake fluid top up etc and certain cars need a belt or chain replacing at a number of miles. At main dealer your paying for an overpriced car wash

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

Everything is done by our local garage, with the exception of clutches because they don't do them. I'd never go near a main dealership with a bargepole.

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By *ribsaMan
over a year ago

A box at end of your bed

Always done all my car servicing myself from a simple bulb change to timing belts, brakes and wheel bearings. Don't think I could afford to run a car if I couldn't do the repairs and servicing myself.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My previous car was bought with a full service history.

A year later, the lower timing belt failed - because whichever garage had carried out the timing belt service had only replaced the upper belt. I ended up having to strip down and rebuild the engine.

I have better peace of mind doing my own servicing as I know exactly what's been done and that the necessary jobs HAVE actually been done, and done properly.

Never trusted garages

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By *inballs99Man
over a year ago

Blackheath

After being a gold senior technician at mercedes (I was there 15years) I hate cars now so my mate does everything I need !

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By *ryandsee OP Man
over a year ago

Yorkshire

Thanks to everyone who are obviously skilled enough to do their own servicing and that's great for you. However whilst I enjoy driving and have driven for many years, I have very little knowledge about them or any interest to know more. I will probably continue to go to the dealer for now and perhaps to a local garage when the car is a little older if I still have it.

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By * la carteCouple
over a year ago

Dublin

After I was charged for filling the rear windscreen wash bottle with windshield washer fluid by a main dealer years and years ago when there wasn't a rear wash bottle to be filled (as set out in the detailed invoice - I didn't realise the lack of its presence until after

, yes, in my defence I was young!) at extortionate prices, I subsequently resorted to a local, affordable and reliable mechanic. Mrs

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Bike went to Kawasaki but car goes to local garage as Ford where con artist with their prices

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My uncle took his old 4x4 Mercedes to the Mercedes garage and they quoted him £1100 to do a job.

He said he couldn't afford it and walked out. On his way out he walked around the back and asked one of the mechanics to point out the problem.

The mechanic told him what the problem was and my uncle then drove to his local garage where he had the job done which took literally only 15 minutes to do and he charged him 20 quid yes £20!

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By *ameiMan
over a year ago

Aviemore

Go to dealers and see what they are charging. Then look at local garages and see what they quote. Then go to the best quoted one and get it all written down on contract. So you are covered and cant scam you if you dont know much about cars

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By *nightsoftheCoffeeTableCouple
over a year ago

Leeds

Never go to a dealer unless it’s absolutely necessary, because there’s the normal price of something, say for example £40 then there’s the dealers price £120. Dealers are like apple and motorway services they know they got you by the balls so they can charge whatever.

The mr

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I do ours and always have.

MrWho.

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By *TG3Man
over a year ago

Dorchester

"I try to do it myself through YouTube tutorials. "
lol

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By *utty FruttyCouple
over a year ago

south wales

mr here, i service our own been in the trade 30+ yrs gota be carefull with some garage & main dealers just take the pi$# thire parts no different to wa you buy from motor factors just the stamps on them,

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By *ch WellMan
over a year ago

Scotland

Have a service plan with dealer so go there but will be local garage once that expires however my local guy is retiring soon so will need to find someone else. Some believe the dealers stamp in the service book adds value but my car doesn't even come with a service book

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By *utty FruttyCouple
over a year ago

south wales

most dealer services now are on line so on the app its all logged ????

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"most dealer services now are on line so on the app its all logged ????"

Buy a service book off ebay and keep your own records of servicing. I supply them to my customers that have on line recording

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By *hrista BellendWoman
over a year ago

surrounded by twinkly lights

My local garage does mine

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By *TG3Man
over a year ago

Dorchester

"My local garage does mine"
really what about the car?

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