Evening all,
Well four weeks on and the Doblo jtd is going great guns. No problems at all and brilliant fuel economy. Only slight problem is learning how to keep the foot off the accelerator as it goes so fast.
The service will be due in a month or two and I was wondering if it is really worth letting Fiat do it. I know all about service history from the main agent being worthwhile but after hearing about the quality of Fiat garages after sales I really do wonder if I would be better off going to my regular garage that I have used for years. Anyone have an opinion on this. If the car was in the 12 to 15k price range it might make a difference but it isnt. Also are there any Fiat garages in South Kent that anyone can recommend please.
Thanx.

Hi,
So long as genuine parts are used, which is basically all the filters, for warranty purposes then go for a good local garage you can trust.

The final straw for me re Fiat servicing came after the last service which was £160 dearer than the previous( which was carried out in another county due to work) and included mystery items such as injector treatment fluid at £16.50 and 'environmental disposal charge' at £12.

12K service was £220 Wiltshire
24K service was £380 Buckinghamshire

The dobin was serviced at 36k miles locally for £155 all in which included new dipped beam lamp and a bloody good clean and with genuine parts!! No contest

Cheers, Shed

It's part of the terms & conditions of your fiat warranty that it's serviced at a Fiat garage during the warranty period.

I thought that had changed with recent legislation, and as long as you used FIAT parts, any VAT registered mechanic is allowed to do the work and still keep the warranty?

Thanks for your help everyone. I do think that Fiat take the Mick as do most car sellers regarding the Warranty. I will check to make sure about the legislation on third party servicing. I must say that at the moment I am not impressed with the prices of servicing and think my garage would do a better job. At the end of the day one has to weigh up the chances of anything big going wrong in the first 40k miles and the need to claim against the Warranty .

Well, if our new Ulysse to go by, and the Stilo now in its 3rd year, I am glad I have full FIAT service historys on both of them, and big warranty claims to match.

Stuart DemonD said:

I thought that had changed with recent legislation?

Click to expand...

I may be wrong,

Considering its once a year, and my local garage is a good garage (Gainmanor) i don't mind the cost of the service. Its an oil change and so on. I can not be arsed to get under the car, remove the under tray and so on.

So its in the garage for a couple of hours, job done.

Since October 2003,changes to EU rules governing the car industry –
the ‘block exemption rules’– mean that car manufacturers can’t force
you to use their dealers. But some car makers have been slow to implement these new rules.
If you bought a car recently,your warranty terms may incorrectly
insist that you use franchised dealers for all of your servicing. Despite this,you
are technically free to use an independent garage,without invalidating your cover. The OFT is launching an awareness campaign to clarify warranty terms,stressing that car owners do have a choice.

Just had the 12k service done. I was quoted £160 when buying the car. When I took it in I was told it would be £235. I reminded them of the quote and that is what I paid no problem.
Northgate garage in Ashford Kent are polite and efficient I would recommend them.