Hi

I have a quote from a Fiat dealer of £295 for the 2nd yr, 24000 mile service. This seems a bit steep (was expected about 200).

As the car is fairly new, is it worth keeping the Fiat stamp in the book? Is the Fiat quote reasonable?

Cheers all

It cost me £200 from an independent for a 24,000 mile service.

Mine was never serviced by a main dealer. It didn't cause any bother when trading it in, but then they didn't ask about service history at all...

thanks for that

My 1.2 Eco has just come up for 2nd service, which is, in theory, the 24000 mile job.
Main dealer rang me today and because I've only got 13k on the clock, suggested a low mileage service at cost of £151, to include oil and filter change, engine additive and a general look-over. The 24k service includes spark plugs, brake fluid change, which they will do for an extra £35,plus oil and pollen filter replacement, plus the look-over. Have yet to get a price for that, so will update tomorrow. To make sure I get Selenia oil I always do the oil and filter change myself, and I already have a new set of plugs in stock.. Last year the 12k service cost £101, which boiled down to the fact that I paid £101 for them to have a look at my car. Won't be happening this year, as am looking for a good local garage.

It's not a Fiat stamp you're after, but one from any old, oily handed merchant who uses Fiat approved parts and solutions when providing you with a, probably, vastly cheaper service. The stamp and criteria keep your warranty alive for that vital last year.

Never used Selenia in mine, I just use the Shell stuff the dealer puts in. The FIRE is a basic engine and isn't really too fussy about oil types

If you do get the basic service done, I would still get the brake fluid changed, I also wouldn't leave the coolant too long either, leave it too long it looses its anti corrosion properties and I had a Corsa where the head gasket was rusting because of this Yep a head gasket failed because it had rusted in half.

24,000 service also includes the first check the car gets of the valve clearances.

What is interesting is to note the time the service book shows for that service (my old book shows 2.2 hours for the 1.1 engine at 24,000 miles)

Now, do the maths on the parts: 4 spark plugs, one oil filter, and oil. That's the lot. Total parts price probably much less than £50? So how much is the 2.2.hour's labour costing you?

To maintain the warranty you don't have to use a Fiat dealer, and you certainly don't have to use Selina oils. Modern coolant is good for at least five years - in fact it doesn't appear in any of the service schedules at all...

Hi All

Thanks for the advice.

I rang an independant Fiat garage: £250
I then rang another Fiat garage: £230
I then rang the 1st garage and told them I got a lower quote, which they say they'll match, so its £230

Still a lot, but cheaper than the indie, so thats ok by me.

When its 5 yrs old I'll do the cheap as chips service, till then I want to keep the Fiat stamp both for warranty reasons and resale.

Cheers

Update - Quote for 24k service at my local Fiat dealer is £320 inclusive! I was specifically asked if Panda had aircon, which it has, so not sure if extra charges applied for that.

I reckon the cost of parts as charged by Fiat would be in the region of £80 /£90, so that leaves a labour charge of about £230. Bit too rich for me I'm afraid. Time to make other arrangements.

This is the downside to newer cars. My dad has a 13 year old Fiesta, he's had it for four years and done 35,000 miles in it. The car cost £850 (is a top spec Ghia) he has spent £1500 over four years including new bushes, wishbones, tyres, pads, discs and all the usual servicing such as an oil change. Our local mechanic charges £25 for the oil change and £15 to do the plugs. I do the air and pollen filters.

Last year it needed a lot doing for the MOT including welding and bushes, but it still cost less than £200, yet main dealers want to charge that just for doing an oil change.

When my car is three years old I am getting the services done by my local indie, the Panda as a very simple engine and is not too fussy about exact types of oil like some cars are. It has long life coolant too.

Clutch fluid change - is there really any need after two years?
Brake fluid change - yes its worth it.

Getting tired of saying this in various different threads, buy the parts yourself (cheaper than main dealer prices when bought online through shop4parts) and then talk to an independent and see what price they will do it for, then get Fiat to price match. Job done.

Herts Hillhopper said:

24,000 service also includes the first check the car gets of the valve clearances.

What is interesting is to note the time the service book shows for that service (my old book shows 2.2 hours for the 1.1 engine at 24,000 miles)

Now, do the maths on the parts: 4 spark plugs, one oil filter, and oil. That's the lot. Total parts price probably much less than £50? So how much is the 2.2.hour's labour costing you?

To maintain the warranty you don't have to use a Fiat dealer, and you certainly don't have to use Selina oils. Modern coolant is good for at least five years - in fact it doesn't appear in any of the service schedules at all...

Click to expand...

I got my dealer to get their labour down to £45+ VAT. Parts can be had for about 50-60 quid genuine....