Hi,

My mum has just ordered her new 500 but I have a few questions regarding the servicing for it.

The car will cover very little mileage (as I said previosly her 'T' reg Ford Ka has only done 15k miles to date...) and as such I am trying to see about getting it serviced independently or even do it at home.

I have heard that the 1.2 8v engine is expensive to service which worries me slightly, and basically would like to know if there is anything out of the ordinary it will require over a simple oil and filter change every year or so? Is the engines timing belt chain or belt driven and what is the recommended renewal time for it?

Does anyone have a link to a servicing schedule for this engine?

Cheers,
Mark

I see little point in splashing out alot of money on a new car to then get it serviced cheaply? Why not take out a service plan which will save you a wad of cash. As its a new model only Fiat are familiar with it...however the choice is your own.

It's not a case of skimping on servicing - just with the car doing so little mileage it seems a bit crazy paying £300 to stick it to Fiat when a decent local garage can do it for much less and treat the car just as well. The 1.2 FIRE engine in the 500 is nothing new as far as I am aware apart from the odd improvement to increase efficiency and power.

The only thing I have heard that is the reason for the expensive servicing is the fact that the tappet clearences have to be checked and set. Is this a Fiat only job or should any good garage know how to do this? I presume that the Cinquecento, old Punto's, etc had the same 'problem'?

Cheers

My garage have said that as I only do about 8K miles a year they'll not do a full service on the 12 months, but do a 'proper' service every 24 months, just do the basics every other year .... thought rather nice of them.

A low mileage car will take a far harder hammering than a high mileage one. Lots of short journeys will do more damage to the oil than giving a car a good caning when warm

Get a service plan.

Cheers

PD

Very valid point rallycinq, lets also not forget software updating (especially as its a new model) of which there are a few already.

Shop around for best service deals if you aint taken out a service plan, again choice is your own but full dealer history is first thing that is looked at in the case of a potential goodwill claim in the future

rallycinq said:

A low mileage car will take a far harder hammering than a high mileage one. Lots of short journeys will do more damage to the oil than giving a car a good caning when warm

Get a service plan.

Cheers

PD

Click to expand...

The car will receive an oil change every year.

Basically we will not be paying Fiat £700 to service the car for 3 years over 6k miles! As far as I am aware the warranty should be fine if the car is serviced at any VAT registered garage using Fiat parts so with that in mind, I simply want to know is there is anything out of the ordinary that only Fiat can do on the service schedule (as I see no reason why the car costs so much to service - even a MINI is cheaper!)

service light

mark_mcd said:

Basically we will not be paying Fiat £700 to service the car for 3 years over 6k miles! As far as I am aware the warranty should be fine if the car is serviced at any VAT registered garage using Fiat parts so with that in mind, I simply want to know is there is anything out of the ordinary that only Fiat can do on the service schedule (as I see no reason why the car costs so much to service - even a MINI is cheaper!)

Click to expand...

1.2 is new and exclusive to the 500 it is not the same old fire engine.
As has been said already twice a service plan will significantly cut the £700 down.
Mini servicing is included in the extra 5 grand you pay for the car.
VAT registered garage will keep warranty.
As already said software updates can only be done by the fiat dealer.

3 years servicing from £349 at some garages. Which would also mean keeping a F.F.S.H.

The Beast said:

3 years servicing from £349 at some garages. Which would also mean keeping a F.F.S.H.

Click to expand...

I have emailed my local Fiat dealer, Westover Fiat, asking if they offer a 3 year service package but I am still waiting for a reply.

£349 is an excellent price, well below the fixed cost price but the dealer gets the money up front and guaranteed business so I hope that I get a positive reply as it will be mutually beneficial.

I think ('beast' will verify this) that you have to take out the service plan at time of purchase.

Nope, not at my dealer. I haven't taken it out and they have been asking whether I want to.

Cheers

PD

I thought they would so they could add it on to the 'nevernever'

T14086 said:

I thought they would so they could add it on to the 'nevernever'

Click to expand...

Oh, yes, they can sell it at order time, but as I didn't put mine on the drip with the dealer it wasn't part of the conversation.

Cheers

PD

I wasnt ever offered a service plan, in fact no mention of it at all from Westover in Salisbury. So, if one was available at £349 then Id want it

So the service light must be reset by a computer i.e. it's not just a secret menu or something?

Cheers

thats right, computer job Im afraid.

T14086 said:

I think ('beast' will verify this) that you have to take out the service plan at time of purchase.

Click to expand...

Some do some don't and in some you have 30 days after purchase. Just depends. Just gotta do your research before you buy.

Good dealerships are not always the ones who will give you free mats.

The Beast said:

Some do some don't and in some you have 30 days after purchase. Just depends. Just gotta do your research before you buy.

Good dealerships are not always the ones who will give you free mats.

Click to expand...

This is so true