Hello fellow members!

Just joined this forum even though I've had my 1.2 500s for about a year. I'm hoping to get some insight on the service schedule for the car as it is extremely confusing!

So the car is registered March 2014 (although build August 2013 I think). The dealer has actually given me a manual for a twin air 0.9 instead of a 1.2 (which I just realised!) and reading on google i'm getting confusing messages. I see on one hand that its every 18k miles/2 years but also see some sites showing 9k miles/1 year. I called the dealer and they said 18k miles/ 2 year. Personally I'm thinking about going for minor service this year and major service next year, then minor, then major etc (if I keep it that long!). I don't think servicing a 500 every other year is healthy for the car (no offence, they're not the most reliable of cars). Also a bit surprised minor service is £149 & major is £299, thats pretty steep!

The car is mostly driven around town with occasional long drives and under 6k miles a year.

Any help would be useful!

Thanks!

You say you do under 6k miles p.a. so if you were to follow Fiat's plan you should do a low mileage service (oil and filter) annually anyway, so forget about the 2yr cycle.

I'd find a trusted independent garage instead of a main dealer at those prices. Your car is out of original warranty.

The servicing intervals were 2 years or 18,000 miles (21k for diesels) up till around Mid-2014, when Fiat changed them to one year or 9000 miles (12k for diesels). However, weirdly, an oil change is only included as standard every 2 years, so if you want it changed at year 1, 3, 5 etc, you need to request it and pay extra if using a main dealer.

Additionally, if you do less than 6000 miles a year, Fiat suggests a 'low mileage service' which includes an oil & filter change. It's all very messy really - they should just say service & oil change every year & 10/12,000 miles.

Therefore for your car, you'll more than likely be on the old 2 year/18k interval. Taking into account your low mileage, I would request a 'low mileage service' at year 1, then a full service at year 2. Even if you don't reach the full service mileage by year 2, you can't have another low mileage service, so that has to be a full one. As your car's 3 years old, I'd check if it's had one full service and if it has, then this year just get a low mileage service. If it's not had a full service, get that done this time then a low mileage service (oil & filter) next year.

Change the oil every year regardless you can DIY for about £25 or an independent £50-70 , at your car age things will start cropping up that needs fixing

Thanks for the info. I bought the car through a fiat dealer (approved used) and it's had one service done at year 2 by the original owner (march 16) and one service + check by the dealer before handing it over to me (July 16). Hence I'll be servicing every July. I think dealer prices are as follows: £99 for low mileage service (oil + filter), £149 minor service (oil + filter + sparks) and then a major service for £299. Also Is it worth to extend the warranty, any idea how much renewals are?

Plugs (£30) oil (£15-30) filter (£5) shows just how much they charge?

My local Indy is not far off from those prices either!

MN500 said:

I'd find a trusted independent garage instead of a main dealer at those prices. Your car is out of original warranty.

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

Main dealer servicing will cost you considerably more than using an independent garage, for little or no benefit once the car is out of warranty.

Servicing is split into two parts; items which are adjusted or replaced, and items which are merely inspected. Most of the latter are also inspected as part of an MOT, so on cars >3yrs old, it makes sense to combine the service with the MOT, as you then won't be paying twice for the inspection items.

On a 1.2, I'd suggest fitting iridium spark plugs at the next service; they'll last at least 50,000 miles, so on the mileage you'll be doing, that will effectively remove them from the service schedule.

On a low mileage car, change the engine oil and filter annually, the hydraulic fluid every 2 years (including the clutch, which many garages don't do), and the coolant every 3 years. Cambelt/water pump every 4-5 yrs, depending on how lucky you feel (failure is reported here only very rarely, but it'll wreck your engine if either breaks). All the rest can be changed 'on condition'.

Extended warranties usually have so many exclusions (including a 'catch-all' for wear and tear items) that any real protection they offer is merely an illusion.