General First service - home or dealer ?

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General First service - home or dealer ?

chr1s

Panda Lounge TA 2012
Joined
May 13, 2004
Messages
813
Points
287
Location
Cardiff
The local Fiat dealer quote over £300 for a first (2-year) service. This seems somewhat expensive for some checks and inspections and changing the oil, filters and plugs. The car has only done about 8000 miles.
I am tempted to do the service myself (parts < £100, including Selenia K P.E. oil). The only items I don't have the kit for are checking the engine management systems; exhaust gas emissions; and stamping the service record.
(I'm not convinced that the plugs and air filter should need replacing after 8000 miles, but I may do them anyway, if it's only for the cost of the parts and my labour.)

Obviously the 2-year warranty expires at the same time as the 2-year service is due, which leaves the 3rd year warranty (which is reputed to be of little value), the 3-year paint warranty and the 8-year anti-perforation warranty which may be invalidated.
Given that I haven't had to make any claim on the warranty so far, and there is no sign of paintwork damage or corrosion, I'm not convinced that it is worth paying an extra £200+ just for a service stamp and the continuation of these warranties.

Any comments ?

Background:
TA Lounge bought pre-registered from Motorpoint - brand new, but 6½ months into warranty. Low mileage (limited to keep insurance cost down, with learners). Intention to keep it long-term, so more concerned with proper maintenance than stamps in service book.
 
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The local Fiat dealer quote over £300 for a first (2-year) service. This seems somewhat expensive for some checks and inspections and changing the oil, filters and plugs. The car has only done about 8000 miles.
I am tempted to do the service myself (parts < £100, including Selenia K P.E. oil). The only items I don't have the kit for are checking the engine management systems; exhaust gas emissions; and stamping the service record.
(I'm not convinced that the plugs and air filter should need replacing after 8000 miles, but I may do them anyway, if it's only for the cost of the parts and my labour.)

Obviously the 2-year warranty expires at the same time as the 2-year service is due, which leaves the 3rd year warranty (which is reputed to be of little value), the 3-year paint warranty and the 8-year anti-perforation warranty which may be invalidated.
Given that I haven't had to make any claim on the warranty so far, and there is no sign of paintwork damage or corrosion, I'm not convinced that it is worth paying an extra £200+ just for a service stamp and the continuation of these warranties.

Any comments ?

Background:
TA Lounge bought pre-registered from Motorpoint - brand new, but 6½ months into warranty. Low mileage (limited to keep insurance cost down, with learners). Intention to keep it long-term, so more concerned with proper maintenance than stamps in service book.

It's always worth beating your dealer down on price (or at least trying it) for servicing.

I was able to get S G Petch in Middlesbrough to match the much cheaper price being offered by Wentane at Stockton. Ring around a few, the prices can and do vary and ask your chosen dealer to match the lower price.
 
Have you asked for the cost of a "low mileage service"? They don't like it, but should have a fixed price for effectively an oil change & check over. If you speak to a decent dealer you should be able to find out what's needed to keep the 3rd year warranty intact (I did this with the Abarth and had a basic service & oil change for £150 rather than the £330 my local dealer insisted was needed!). (y)
 
The local Fiat dealer quote over £300 for a first (2-year) service. This seems somewhat expensive for some checks and inspections and changing the oil, filters and plugs. The car has only done about 8000 miles.
I am tempted to do the service myself (parts < £100, including Selenia K P.E. oil). The only items I don't have the kit for are checking the engine management systems; exhaust gas emissions; and stamping the service record.
(I'm not convinced that the plugs and air filter should need replacing after 8000 miles, but I may do them anyway, if it's only for the cost of the parts and my labour.)

Obviously the 2-year warranty expires at the same time as the 2-year service is due, which leaves the 3rd year warranty (which is reputed to be of little value), the 3-year paint warranty and the 8-year anti-perforation warranty which may be invalidated.
Given that I haven't had to make any claim on the warranty so far, and there is no sign of paintwork damage or corrosion, I'm not convinced that it is worth paying an extra £200+ just for a service stamp and the continuation of these warranties.

Any comments ?

Background:
TA Lounge bought pre-registered from Motorpoint - brand new, but 6½ months into warranty. Low mileage (limited to keep insurance cost down, with learners). Intention to keep it long-term, so more concerned with proper maintenance than stamps in service book.
. Go to a non main dealer, maybe a 'fiat specialist' in your area if you can find one, I am sure there are plenty around. It is no longer legal to invalidate warranty if professional parts and equipment is used.
 
. Go to a non main dealer, maybe a 'fiat specialist' in your area if you can find one, I am sure there are plenty around. It is no longer legal to invalidate warranty if professional parts and equipment is used.

That's the manufacturer's 2 year warranty I believe. We are talking about the 3rd year "dealer warranty". It's only valid if the car's been serviced by a Fiat dealer. (y)

Edit: the paint and anti perforation warranties won't be affected by the servicing.
 
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If you are planning to run the car for years do it yourself - service history isn't important.

If you are planning on part exchange or private sale at some point missing service stamps may hurt the value/put off potential buyers.

I found my dealer to be pretty reasonable on a small service and mot deal costing just over £200.

BTW the service manager told me fiat no longer perform an engine flush when changing oil!
 
I think there's the service indicator to reset - I had my 100HP serviced by a local indie and they had to take the car to a nearby service-only Fiat garage to reset the indicator.

Software updates?

I'm sure someone on the forum mentioned that the TA engine has an oil viscosity parameter that might also need to be set.

Having a 4x4, the situation's slightly different as you need to drop the sump guard and that means lifting the car.

It's much trickier if you do a low mileage as the difference in cost per mile is quite significant; I've done 20,000 miles in 15 months so I'm inclined to stick to the dealer route.
 
That's the manufacturer's 2 year warranty I believe. We are talking about the 3rd year "dealer warranty". It's only valid if the car's been serviced by a Fiat dealer.

This is incorrect. EU Competition Law prevents this type of restriction.

God Bless the European Union.

<lights blue touch-paper and retires to a safe distance>
 
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This is incorrect. EU Competition Law prevents this type of restriction.

God Bless the European Union.

<lights blue touch-paper and retires to a safe distance>

Maybe it does (maybe it doesn't) but you won't get the dealer warranty if it's not serviced by the dealer! It's a 2 year "pan European" warranty (from the manufacturer), then the Fiat dealer gives a 3rd if you've been good (in the UK only) - it's clearly been done that way to avoid the legislation & keep the cars in the dealer network. When are you suing Fiat through the European courts & can we watch? ;)
 
There's a difference between dealer warranties that are sold some time after the initial purchase (eg when you buy a secondhand car) and a dealer warranty that is purchased at the time of registration as a top up to the manufacturer's warranty.

The details are here
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/motor_vehicles/legislation/mv_faq_en.pdf

See in particular the answer to Q2

No need to sue through the European Court - UK Competition Law, which incorporates the EU law requirements, will do the job nicely. ;)
 
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Fair enough if that's what the terms and conditions say (they are in the warranty book) - it's not how it was explained to me by 2 different dealers, but I'd always go with dealer servicing for the goodwill side anyway on a new car. Fiat will only consider a goodwill gesture out of warranty with proof of dealer servicing (and that's potentially worth a lot if something big goes wrong out of warranty, certainly more than any savings on labour going independent in the first 2 years IMHO). (y)
 
it's not how it was explained to me by 2 different dealers

To quote Mandy Rice-Davies, "they would say that, wouldn't they?"

You're right of course about willingness to undertake goodwill repairs out-of-warranty, although I must say that the evidence of goodwill seems to be pretty thin on the ground. Personally I'd prefer to keep my money in my pocket, rather than pay way over the odds for routine servicing in the hope that if something does go wrong just after the warranty expires, Fiat might decide, if they're feeling especially benevolent, to throw me a bone.
 
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To quote Mandy Rice-Davies, "they would say that, wouldn't they?"

You're right of course about willingness to undertake goodwill repairs out-of-warranty, although I must say that the evidence of goodwill seems to be pretty thin on the ground. Personally I'd prefer to keep my money in my pocket, rather than pay way over the odds for routine servicing in the hope that if something does go wrong just after the warranty expires, Fiat might decide, if they're feeling especially benevolent, to throw me a bone.

Definitely!

Well I got a £250 bill reimbursed by Fiat a year out of warranty - had to prove a full dealer service history though & they sent me a cheque. Maybe it's not the easiest to get, but they do play fair in the right circumstances. (y)
 
So chr1s,

It looks like a little trip to Bridgend is on the cards then?

I'm thinking of having the 'Bronze Service' on their fixed price menu (sounds like I'm choosing a Christmas Party meal !).

View attachment Service Menu.pdf

These are meant to be for vehicles "3 years +", but their receptionist, who I've known for many years in her previous garage, seemed to think they would be ok with this.
The bronze service, at £109, includes oil, oil filter, sump washer (if fitted) which would have cost me over £50. This makes sure I get the service and oil change flags reset (thanks for the reminder babbo_umbro), and I should get a stamp in the service book, even if it has a note that it's a reduced service.

Not having had anything to do with a dealer, by buying the car from Motorpoint, it's probably worth my striking up a relationship with a local dealer.
 
I'm thinking of having the 'Bronze Service' on their fixed price menu (sounds like I'm choosing a Christmas Party meal !).

View attachment 146639

These are meant to be for vehicles "3 years +", but their receptionist, who I've known for many years in her previous garage, seemed to think they would be ok with this.
The bronze service, at £109, includes oil, oil filter, sump washer (if fitted) which would have cost me over £50. This makes sure I get the service and oil change flags reset (thanks for the reminder babbo_umbro), and I should get a stamp in the service book, even if it has a note that it's a reduced service.

Not having had anything to do with a dealer, by buying the car from Motorpoint, it's probably worth my striking up a relationship with a local dealer.

Sounds like a good plan to me (y)

Enjoy your stuffing ;)
 
Not only do J&J Motors offer a good price, they are very good at what they do IMO. When I had stop/start problems, my supplying dealer Griffin Mill gave up very quickly on trying to sort it out.
J&J took the reigns and made every effort to fix it, which they did.

Wessex in Cardiff were totally disinterested too.

If I were keeping my panda, J&J would get any work from now on . They win on price, and service.
 
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