Main Dealer labour rates

Funky-Melon · 18 Oct 2019 at 09:49

My local Volvo dealer charge £153 per hour labour (inc VAT) and charge £90 for a 5 minute plug in to read codes :mad:

Up there with the German prices now.

Bounce · 18 Oct 2019 at 11:24

Jez said:
I guess this depends entirely on the way that you own the vehicle, do leases merely require any VAT registered garage to follow the schedule?

I have never needed to maintain a VAT compliant service history so perhaps i missed this obvious point, if this is the case then i'd do the same as you to be fair. If privately owned, personally, i would consider paying Halfords to be a waste of money, the receipt and the "full main agent history" tag is the reason to pay a garage, with a Halfords receipt and stamp, you get nothing?

We run a fleet of 40 company cars, which are all leased through the likes of Arval , Ald automotive etc.

To be fair we've been doing this awhile , and they have never once mentioned that they should be serviced by a main dealer garage. We have returned vehicles to them , and they have never said to us it wasn't maintained properly. How the lease companies work is once the contract is ended , they immediately send it to the nearest BCA for them to be auctioned off at the soonest possible date. This only applies so long fair wear standards have been met, otherwise they would send me a massive bill for repair costs.

There's a myth in motor trade that all company cars are well looked after, but this isn't true as a lot of companies want to cut costs to improve profitability, in effect running a fleet of company cars is a massive expense and if not managed properly can easily dig into profits just by using main dealer servicing and repairs.

So just a word of caution , for those that are looking to buy an ex company car/fleet car.

I have even gone as far as asking our Arval/Ald automotive account manager and they said it's not a requirement to get servicing done at the main dealer.

Of course it would be a different story if I had paid 50k for my own Audi A6, I'd most likely get it serviced by the main dealership with the hope that it holds the resale value better when I come to sell it.

Jez · 18 Oct 2019 at 11:28

Absolutely fair enough, makes total sense in that situation. I'd be using the cheapest recognised garage just as you have done.

MatteH Oxford · 18 Oct 2019 at 21:51

I used to service cars on my own @ 16 working for a Mercedes Benz main dealer (Rybrook, Kidlington), I bet that kind of history really added value to the car.

Semple · 19 Oct 2019 at 08:34

Spleen Sauce said:
For example, replacement EGR valve on my sister’s Mini Cooper D they wanted to charge for 3 hours labour. I’ve literally just had mine replaced, on my driveway, by Mini Emergency Assistance under warranty - it took the guy less than an hour in heavy rain. That’s on my Mini Clubman SD - so unless it’s that much easier to do on my car I’ve no clue how they can justify it at the dealers.

What you're failing to comprehend is book time versus time to actually do the job. They are both very different things, and can vary quite a bit.

Book time is what the manufacturer will advise as the time it takes to replace the component, plus removal and replacement of any parts that are in the way, along with replenishing of any liquids, plus testing the part.

How long it takes the mechanic is obviously down to them, if it takes them longer than the 3 hour quoted book time, then he'll be costing the business money. If it takes less, then in theory they make a bit more money.

What you've got no idea about, is that just because the mechanic fitted your EGR valve in under an hour, that he likely billed the warranty company 3 hours for the job.

Semple · 19 Oct 2019 at 08:42

Bounce said:
There's a myth in motor trade that all company cars are well looked after, but this isn't true as a lot of companies want to cut costs to improve profitability, in effect running a fleet of company cars is a massive expense and if not managed properly can easily dig into profits just by using main dealer servicing and repairs.

I thought it was pretty common knowledge that ex-company cars are the worst to buy. When people don't own said vehicle, and know that the vehicle will have to be returned in 3-4 years, it kinda gives people the mindset of not really bothering with it.

I mean you wouldn't go and splash out on some autoglym valeting kit for a car you're never going to own.

Heisenberg · 19 Oct 2019 at 09:29

Love how some pay a fortune for a car then expect it to be maintained for peanuts. Cars are more complex now than ever and techs have to be electrically and mechanically trained. Not to mention the cost of manufacture special tools for the garage.

Jez · 19 Oct 2019 at 10:02

MatteH Oxford said:
I used to service cars on my own @ 16 working for a Mercedes Benz main dealer (Rybrook, Kidlington), I bet that kind of history really added value to the car.

Total rip off isn’t it, it’s why I just buy the genuine parts. A necessary evil for situations where you wish to maintain genuine main dealer history though.

Bounce · 19 Oct 2019 at 11:04

Semple said:
I thought it was pretty common knowledge that ex-company cars are the worst to buy. When people don't own said vehicle, and know that the vehicle will have to be returned in 3-4 years, it kinda gives people the mindset of not really bothering with it.

I mean you wouldn't go and splash out on some autoglym valeting kit for a car you're never going to own.

Just because a vehicle hasn't been washed every weekend using autoglym valeting kit doesn't mean it's not well maintained. What your talking about is cosmetic and has no bearing on if an engine is well maintained.

Semple · 19 Oct 2019 at 17:54

Bounce said:
Just because a vehicle hasn't been washed every weekend using autoglym valeting kit doesn't mean it's not well maintained. What your talking about is cosmetic and has no bearing on if an engine is well maintained.

You said "well looked after" not "well maintained". I, and I'm sure many others on here would say for a car to be 'well looked after' it would be washed reasonably regularly with decent kit.

balanceballs · 20 Oct 2019 at 00:44

Audi wanted £200 to do an oil change but even a local "independent" garage quoted £150. What's going on? It's such a simple job and oil isn't that bloody expensive (£35 - surely cheaper at trade cost).

Similar story with Ford. If I had a non-sloping driveway I'd do it myself.

Can I rent a 2 post lift somewhere?

Rroff · 20 Oct 2019 at 02:22

Have to say I haven't encountered these prices - though my experience is with Nissan and VW main dealers.

The invoiced amounts for labour on the last 3 lots are £178.60 (was almost 3 hours work), £45.00 (1 hour), £79.95 (not sure how long it took but it was over an hour).

EDIT: Looking back at older stuff looks like ~£75-79/h is average though seems to vary depending on a number of factors.

EDIT2: The Navara has some kind of 5 year care plan or something on it though (I've not really troubled myself with the details) that probably reduces the cost of maintenance on it at the main dealer.

GregF56 · 1 Oct 2020 at 16:35

Finglonga said:
Found a decent VW/Audi and BMW specialist with all the equipotent that charges £40/hour for anything I don't do myself.

Hi Finglonga,

Would you be able to share your contact?

Long story short my mechanic most likely ****** something changing the front left drive shaft gaiter and now either the drive shaft itself or the transmission has an issue. I'm looking for a more trustful mechanic that could make me a diagnostic at a more reasonable price than my main dealer.

If you could help me on this one would be much appreciated.

AWPC · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:24

A lot depends on your location & how much they think they can get away with as well! Here in London they go for the highest rate & see what reaction you give!

Got silly quotes for simple things I can easily do myself. At the end of the day modern cars are way more complex than ever before so sometimes the high cost is justified a lot depends on the job if its a mess it up & cause lots of £££ damage (cam belts, water pumps, t-chain, clutch, gearbox etc etc) then you are better getting the main dealer to do it just in case but for many basic things then forums, DIY videos from other owners & Haynes are good enough some of the time!

AWPC · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:25

A lot depends on your location & how much they think they can get away with as well! Here in London they go for the highest rate & see what reaction you give!

Got silly quotes for simple things I can easily do myself. At the end of the day modern cars are way more complex than ever before so sometimes the high cost is justified a lot depends on the job if its a mess it up & cause lots of £££ damage (cam belts, water pumps, t-chain, clutch, gearbox etc etc) then you are better getting the main dealer to do it just in case but for many basic things then forums, DIY videos from other owners & Haynes are good enough some of the time!

Finglonga · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:41

GregF56 said:
Hi Finglonga,

Would you be able to share your contact?

Long story short my mechanic most likely ****** something changing the front left drive shaft gaiter and now either the drive shaft itself or the transmission has an issue. I'm looking for a more trustful mechanic that could make me a diagnostic at a more reasonable price than my main dealer.

If you could help me on this one would be much appreciated.

If you are in the Stafford area this guy.... https://www.sdwautomotive.co.uk/

GregF56 · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:49

Thanks. Shame it's bit far as I'm in South east London.

If anyone has a good contact not too far from greater London please let me know.

bazzabear · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:51

Heisenberg said:
Love how some pay a fortune for a car then expect it to be maintained for peanuts. Cars are more complex now than ever and techs have to be electrically and mechanically trained. Not to mention the cost of manufacture special tools for the garage.

Just lol if you think that it being done by a main dealer has any bearing on whether it's been done well or not.

As evidenced by the guy 3 posts up from you who was servicing cars unsupervised at the age of 16 at a main dealer.

You're not paying the extra for the expertise. You're paying the extra for the incredibly expensive stainless steel and glass showroom the service bay is attached to.

jamoor · 1 Oct 2020 at 18:15

Main dealer labour rates are terrible value. Since when is £130+ ok when independents are half of that.

chaparral · 3 Oct 2020 at 13:00

Richie said:
I think people forget to factor certain things into the cost for car repairs

Staff training which is ongoing.

Equipment costs e.g. The OBD machines, tools etc

Building costs e.g. Electric, rates etc

Staff salaries

As well as other things.

My ford dealer rate was £75 PH last year

£130+ PH for BMW/ Audi/ Volvo/ Etc dealers just makes me think of "A fool and his money is easily parted"