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Main Dealer Car Servicing - Car Age
perksy - 16/4/23 at 08:37 AM

Just wandered at what vehicle age owners have stopped using the main dealer for servicing their cars?

We have a Mazda that's due its 6th years service and its always been serviced by the Mazda main dealer previously

Is it still worth using the main dealer when the car gets over 5 years old?


Thoughts appreciated

ReMan - 16/4/23 at 11:07 AM

Personally, unless its a special car, then at 6 years your not going to lose value if its not got a main dealer stamp.
Independants and a local trusted garage would do a better job for less money anyway
If your likely to sell soon, then an independent garage stamp would be just as good IMHO, if your not then do whatever.

I have my Porsche serviced occasionally at an Indi (for the stamp) because if I did decide to sell Porsche people are the type that will study the service book, but I refuse to be a slave to it!

craig1410 - 17/4/23 at 01:46 AM

Once out of manufacturer’s warranty, I usually do all my own servicing and keep receipts for (usually) genuine or OE parts and photos to show the work being done. In our family we tend to keep cars for many years beyond the initial (often 3 year) warrant, and thus by the time we actually sell the car the difference between a dealer service history and a DIY history are minimal. The savings can be substantial though!

I recently got a quote for £320 by BMW to do a service on our i3. This was for a brake fluid change, a cabin filter change and a “vehicle check” which is largely covered by the MOT which it had already received a few days earlier. Instead, I bought genuine low viscosity brake fluid and genuine filters and did the work for a fraction of the cost.

Prof_Cook - 17/4/23 at 07:46 AM

Historically used main dealer while car was within warranty - with one car a problem was found during work for a recall - I just turned round and said to them that "car bought here, serviced here, recall being done to manufacturers instructions and car within warranty, so must be latent manufacturer defect". Manufacturer paid up. Once warranty period over then went elsewhere for servicing..

nick205 - 17/4/23 at 07:48 AM

quote:
Originally posted by craig1410
Once out of manufacturer’s warranty, I usually do all my own servicing and keep receipts for (usually) genuine or OE parts and photos to show the work being done. In our family we tend to keep cars for many years beyond the initial (often 3 year) warrant, and thus by the time we actually sell the car the difference between a dealer service history and a DIY history are minimal. The savings can be substantial though!

I recently got a quote for £320 by BMW to do a service on our i3. This was for a brake fluid change, a cabin filter change and a “vehicle check” which is largely covered by the MOT which it had already received a few days earlier. Instead, I bought genuine low viscosity brake fluid and genuine filters and did the work for a fraction of the cost.



Bang on!

Same here.

Only change here is SWMBOs current car has a DSG gearbox, which gets serviced at a garage.

coyoteboy - 17/4/23 at 08:15 AM

I can't imagine accepting the depreciation on a new car, so I certainly can't imagine taking it to a dealer for servicing when it's not needed for the warranty

Slater - 17/4/23 at 12:11 PM

I always do my own servicing, once out of warranty.

SJ - 17/4/23 at 12:26 PM

I've also got a Mazda 6 petrol. I did the first three services at the dealers for warranty but the rest myself.

Doesn't need much servicing TBH. Oil, filters, tyres and a set of front pads so far at 55k miles.

loggyboy - 17/4/23 at 07:51 PM

Just as a note, You don't have to use the manufacturer to keep their warranty. Any qualified mechanic using manufacturer parts is now enough legally to keep warranty alive.

Mr Whippy - 18/4/23 at 06:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Just as a note, You don't have to use the manufacturer to keep their warranty. Any qualified mechanic using manufacturer parts is now enough legally to keep warranty alive.


Yeah, even doing the service yourself is still perfectly fine and can save yourself a heap. I download the full manufacturer manuals from the web and just follow the service info on them. Then just write what you have done on the service book, sorted.

Also if you do get a garage to do the work, tell them that you want a full breakdown of the work done along with the receipt, as some don't bother. Without it you don't have any evidence that all the items were covered. I mind actually having an argument with my local garage when they serviced my Up for the first time. They were meant to change the brake fluid (3 years old) but didn't as they claimed to have a tester kit that said it was fine, but I said I paid for a full service which in the manual said a fluid change so made them change it before I gave them the money.

Slimy38 - 18/4/23 at 07:01 AM

Agree with all the above, EXCEPT when it comes to cam belts and more specialised services (like DSG). Then it'll go back to a dealer or at the very least a specialist. For my Superb a DSG service at a Skoda dealer is actually cheaper than my local garage. I'm guessing it's because they have the tools.

Cam belt service at a dealer is all about the warranty associated with that. Even if a garage specifies a Gates belt and OEM parts, I'd still prefer to have the dealer backing in case the worst happens.

Although having said that my local dealer is an absolute nightmare, so I think I need to find somewhere else to get my belt done next time!!

cliftyhanger - 18/4/23 at 07:54 AM

We have a local garage that is quite large, and has a regular offer of an MoT and service for about £60.
Which is a bargain. Ver set costs on additional work, ie brake fluid change etc, and they did once try to get me to have a coolant change on a 4yr old car, but immediately backed down when I pointed out the manufacturer specced 10 years.

The MoT covers the vast majority of the servive checks. After than it is just an oil/filter change. Plus a stamp in the book. However, they always want teh car for a full day, dri=op off before 9 and collect after 4. Which can be a pain.

Other cars I do service myself, what with the kids cars and a couple of friends, plus my old cars, I do about a dozen oil changes a year.

nick205 - 18/4/23 at 01:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Agree with all the above, EXCEPT when it comes to cam belts and more specialised services (like DSG). Then it'll go back to a dealer or at the very least a specialist. For my Superb a DSG service at a Skoda dealer is actually cheaper than my local garage. I'm guessing it's because they have the tools.

Cam belt service at a dealer is all about the warranty associated with that. Even if a garage specifies a Gates belt and OEM parts, I'd still prefer to have the dealer backing in case the worst happens.

Although having said that my local dealer is an absolute nightmare, so I think I need to find somewhere else to get my belt done next time!!



As mentioned SWMBOs current car (Skoda) has a DSG gearbox. For the service on that it goes back to the Skoda dealer as they have the correct kit, training and warrnty on their work.

The rest is done by me.

With the exception of the cam belt, done by a local VW/Skoda/Audi/Seat independent specialist as it requires particular locking tools and experience I don't have.

BenB - 19/4/23 at 12:20 PM

After about five years I either get a local place to do or DIY.
Historically one of the main reasons I'd go to main dealer was to get the air-con topped up as the Renault had weird connectors.
I was tempted to go to Kwik Fit to get them to do it but after a recent experience with them I wouldn't go near them with a barge pole. I recently tried to get my car MOTd only to be informed that the geniuses at KwikFit at the last tyre fittings (one of the few things I'd trust them with) had put both driver side tyres on backwards so they were dangerously lacking in grip.

I must admit to being a bit embarrassed not to have spotted it myself. When you look at the vehicle from behind it's clear the tread pattern on the rear wheels are different.

Still rather annoyed though. They literally had one job- to put four tyres on wheels and managed to screw up 50% of them.

perksy - 19/4/23 at 08:06 PM

Thanks everyone for your thoughts

Some good comments and information

coyoteboy - 21/4/23 at 09:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Agree with all the above, EXCEPT when it comes to cam belts and more specialised services (like DSG). Then it'll go back to a dealer or at the very least a specialist. For my Superb a DSG service at a Skoda dealer is actually cheaper than my local garage. I'm guessing it's because they have the tools.

Cam belt service at a dealer is all about the warranty associated with that. Even if a garage specifies a Gates belt and OEM parts, I'd still prefer to have the dealer backing in case the worst happens.

Although having said that my local dealer is an absolute nightmare, so I think I need to find somewhere else to get my belt done next time!!


What do you think the difference is between a dealer doing a belt and an independent? The indie is just as liable for the engine rebuild if the belt fails due to poor installation or part failure. And I think both would be keen to investigate if the oil pump might have needed replacement and been a potential cause of failure. The amount you save on self-services more than makes up for the cost of an engine rebuild over the years, unless you drive an M5.

Mr Whippy - 21/4/23 at 11:54 AM

I think with something like a cambelt, if the worst was to happen, covering the cost for the dealer and having ready access to the parts to sort it out would be a lot easier than some small independent garage. Plus you'd expect that the dealer will have an established process in place to manage such an event, so I would also expect it to be a lot smoother to resolve. Just my assumptions mind.

As above they are also going to have to hand all the specialised tools for your model which is becoming very common on modern cars. Rather than someone trying to improvise with what they have, which is the norm when doing it yourself or a small garage who just can't justify the cost of loads of tools for specific makes and models.

There are jobs I'm quite happy to do myself, especially if the car is very old. But like our EV, when it comes to dealing with the motors, batteries or controllers then it's straight to the dealer. Although none of that has broke, so far.

Slimy38 - 21/4/23 at 12:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
I think with something like a cambelt, if the worst was to happen, covering the cost for the dealer and having ready access to the parts to sort it out would be a lot easier than some small independent garage. Plus you'd expect that the dealer will have an established process in place to manage such an event, so I would also expect it to be a lot smoother to resolve. Just my assumptions mind.

As above they are also going to have to hand all the specialised tools for your model which is becoming very common on modern cars. Rather than someone trying to improvise with what they have, which is the norm when doing it yourself or a small garage who just can't justify the cost of loads of tools for specific makes and models.

There are jobs I'm quite happy to do myself, especially if the car is very old. But like our EV, when it comes to dealing with the motors, batteries or controllers then it's straight to the dealer. Although none of that has broke, so far.



Aye, that's how I see it as well. Yes an independent would sort a problem, but it would be a bigger headache and probably a longer fix. And for things like cam belt the dealers aren't that much more. In fact DSG servicing is really peculiar, the dealer is cheaper than anyone!

I'm actually having a go at the DSG service this time round. I'm not going to save anything (the fill tool has eliminated any cost savings), but it's more to say that I've had a go.

perksy - 22/4/23 at 09:56 AM

Friend at work needed his DSG servicing on his Skoda and I'd agree, after phoning around it went to the main dealer as they quoted the best price

With regards the cam belts, I suppose there's redress with any garage if something went wrong, but with the main dealer you could always contact the car manufacturer themselves if one of their dealers wasn't playing ball?