Soldato
Do euro car parts not deliver there?
Service charges a little excessive?!
- Thread starter FlamBango
- Start date
Do euro car parts not deliver there?
I’ll leave the servicing to someone who knows what they’re doing.
I originally thought he was talking Jersey - New Jersey - not since brexit.
we don't yet know how much the main dealer would have charged/quoted for OP's plugs - at, whatever, preferential rate they may buy them
Caporegime
Careful some of these minor services include things like, inspection of part xyz rather than changing part xyz...
Soldato
- Joined
- 29 Dec 2009
- Posts
- 7,174
This was for a Civic Type R. Main stealers gonna steal.
Associate
- Joined
- 18 Aug 2013
- Posts
- 223
I thought that when I had my fn2 type r, until they put the wrong engine oil in and the services didn't change the air filter
Associate
The amount some of you are spending on servicing pretty mundane cars is nuts. Why go to main dealers? Your paying for labour.
Soldato
This was for a Civic Type R. Main stealers gonna steal.
£42 for a pollen filter.........
Nice.
Edit: Actually now you mention it I use the place regularly.
They did a great deal on my muffler bearings, and even topped up the blinker fluid free of charge!
They did say my piston return springs will need doing next though, and that isn't going to be cheap.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Mar 2013
- Posts
- 9,143
My experience with a BMW states tone was shocking, I had some warranty work done (new engine, stuck injector), and there were screws missing when I got the car back, not to mention I always used to leave the service book on the passenger seat, and ever time I had to go in and get it stamped as they forgot.
I can see a lot of main dealers are going to struggle in future years because they just don't offer what they used to. For the first time ever I recently bought a car from one of those supermarket places. The experience, while obviously not on a par with a main dealer, was abosolutely fine. I saved around £2k on an older used car compared to something similar at a franchised main dealer. The salesman was helpful and actually called me back when promised, unlike the main dealer. I've also started getting all my cars serviced at a local independent garage which I've come to trust. Again the experiences isn't as flashy on the surface. I don't get a free tea, coffee and biscuits. But they seem to know what they are doing and it's a fraction of the cost of a main dealer.
So the solution to me now, is never buy a car so new that I have to get it serviced at a main dealer to keep a warranty or the expected main dealer service history. Then get it serviced at my local indi. It is saving a fortune. You get a nicer experience at a main dealer but you pay through the nose for it. No thanks.
Actually I think some main dealers are being forced to move in the direction of car supermarkets to compete. When I had my leased Evoque, on a service package, I had to get it serviced at the main dealer before returning it. It was about £550 for an oil change and inspection (I hate to think what the cost is for a proper service) and it was at a service centre in the middle of nowhere, well away from their showroom. The showroom was lovely and about 10 mins walk from a train station. The service department didn't call me back twice about a query I had. They also didn't tell me that the service centre was located quite far from the showroom. So I turned up on the day to drop the car off at the showroom and was redirected to the dervice centre another 20 mins drive away. That was also 30 mins walk away from any transport. The service centre was clean enough but there were dozens of customers all being dealt with at the same time in a queuing system. Considering the cost of the service I really felt they didn't care about the customer.
The only reason to buy a used car from a main dealer nowadays is if they just happen to have the car you want, rather than for any special treatment or better quality work.
So the solution to me now, is never buy a car so new that I have to get it serviced at a main dealer to keep a warranty or the expected main dealer service history. Then get it serviced at my local indi. It is saving a fortune. You get a nicer experience at a main dealer but you pay through the nose for it. No thanks.
Actually I think some main dealers are being forced to move in the direction of car supermarkets to compete. When I had my leased Evoque, on a service package, I had to get it serviced at the main dealer before returning it. It was about £550 for an oil change and inspection (I hate to think what the cost is for a proper service) and it was at a service centre in the middle of nowhere, well away from their showroom. The showroom was lovely and about 10 mins walk from a train station. The service department didn't call me back twice about a query I had. They also didn't tell me that the service centre was located quite far from the showroom. So I turned up on the day to drop the car off at the showroom and was redirected to the dervice centre another 20 mins drive away. That was also 30 mins walk away from any transport. The service centre was clean enough but there were dozens of customers all being dealt with at the same time in a queuing system. Considering the cost of the service I really felt they didn't care about the customer.
The only reason to buy a used car from a main dealer nowadays is if they just happen to have the car you want, rather than for any special treatment or better quality work.
I didn't even bother going to a dealer for my new car, everything at the local Ford main dealer was at least £1500 more expensive than anything else for no good reason other than good old scalping. It always seems dead whenever I drive past too. By contrast the supermarket I got mine from was heaving with people collecting cars and going out for test drives, even got the standard dealer issue cup of boiling hot instant coffee.
I've found a local specialist that's £60 cheaper for normal services and £100 cheaper for majors so I will use them. The book gets stamped and OEM parts are used. My dealer experience so far has been:
- Noticing the car had 10 extra miles after recall work that didn't need a test drive, checking the dashcam (it's the first time I've done that, my spidey senses were tingling) to find two of the young techs taking it out for a spin and trying to do handbrake turns on a public road. It saved me the cost of a major service but no thanks.
- Being told my rear pads are shot, quoting over £200 for JUST the rear pads and then at the next service being told they were fine - unable to explain why I was told I needed a new set. I did another 10k on them.
- Having to hand over my car keys to someone in the car park with no ID, it's only because I recognised them that I was willing to do it. The first time I handed over the keys at the service desk much to the annoyance of the person who had to walk back over to the car park.
- Waiting about 30 mins each time just to get my car/keys after an MOT or service.
The only reason to go to a main dealer is to order a brand new car, and we know how well that's going at the moment.
I've found a local specialist that's £60 cheaper for normal services and £100 cheaper for majors so I will use them. The book gets stamped and OEM parts are used. My dealer experience so far has been:
- Noticing the car had 10 extra miles after recall work that didn't need a test drive, checking the dashcam (it's the first time I've done that, my spidey senses were tingling) to find two of the young techs taking it out for a spin and trying to do handbrake turns on a public road. It saved me the cost of a major service but no thanks.
- Being told my rear pads are shot, quoting over £200 for JUST the rear pads and then at the next service being told they were fine - unable to explain why I was told I needed a new set. I did another 10k on them.
- Having to hand over my car keys to someone in the car park with no ID, it's only because I recognised them that I was willing to do it. The first time I handed over the keys at the service desk much to the annoyance of the person who had to walk back over to the car park.
- Waiting about 30 mins each time just to get my car/keys after an MOT or service.
The only reason to go to a main dealer is to order a brand new car, and we know how well that's going at the moment.
Soldato
Just reading up about the car. Clever little package. However I'm failing to understand why such expensive spark plugs are being used on such a low performance engine, that's effectively working like a generator.
Soldato
100%, you get trapped into this waranty thing, that I guess if, you spend a ton of money on a new car, then something as unlikely as it might be, goes horribly wrong and you DIDNT get it done at teh appropriate place, your screwed and you cant risk it.
But just dont get into that trap into the first place, you can get a perfectly decent used car if you know what you are loooking for, I have yet (touchwood) to ever buy a used car I had any real issues with. I do the servicing myself, brakes myself and other wear and tear items, some repairs myself depending, but I know my limits and for anything over that I have a very good independent garage literally up the road who I can use.
I also dont swap my cars around much, I just keep them until death, so dont really loose out any residual value.
But people buy brand new cars at main dealers then complain about it, but I mean, you only have yourself to blame really, main dealers are always the worst, if you think about it, the mechanics that work at these places are always the newer people, yes they are well trained, have everything they need and only need to know a certain number of cars, but any experienced good mechanic will just work for themselves.
You're kidding yourself if you think a main dealer will do a better job on your car then a good independent mechanic.
I can get 3 years worth of main dealer servicing for £756. That works out to £ 252 a year, they collect and deliver the car and also give it a wash. Last time I used an indy to save money I ended up reversing into a lorry whilst trying to get into their back street garage causing some cosmetic damage.
They don’t offer this price to other more expensive makes as you’ll pay through the nose if you have a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Audi or other expensive makes. I’ve got a Smart which is relatively cheap compared to those others.
They don’t offer this price to other more expensive makes as you’ll pay through the nose if you have a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Audi or other expensive makes. I’ve got a Smart which is relatively cheap compared to those others.
Man of Honour
Associate
Exactly. Most of them are useless anyways.