Hello everyone. About a year ago I participated in another thread about the outlandish cost of the one year service (it's here) that lots of Fiat dealers were touting to Panda owners.

Now we're at almost two years of ownership, so the 18,000 mile service is due. In that previous thread Super Uwe recommended looking around for authorised service centres to try and undercut the main dealers, but so far everyone is charging £248 or a few quid more.

I'm in Norfolk, so locally am limited to Desira in Norwich, or Wests or EMG in King's Lynn. I will be in Sheffield next month for a few days, so could schedule something in while I'm there.

Are they any recommendations for getting the cost of this essential service down? Every dealer or authorised service centre I call appears to be pulling the price off the same central price list.

Thanks in advance.

Edit - a little update; Burrows in Sheffield have quoted £195 incl. VAT and parts, which is an improvement.

Hey James,

Not sure if I've quite got the right end of the stick or not, but am I right in saying that this is the car's first service and it is two years old?

If it is, then the quotes in the region of £240-250 are fairly reasonable IMO. The one for £195 is good value. Sometimes on here you have seen people pay that for an oil/filter change which is disgusting

Anyway, on the 1.2, you would need the oil and filters (air/pollen/oil) changing, but the spark plugs and brake fluid also need changing as per the service manual (they must be done every 2 years regardless of mileage).

Key thing is to check all of the above are being done though. If any of the above are missing from the dealer's checklist then they are not doing the service correctly in line with Fiat's service schedule.

By the way, if your service manual has the previous gen Panda's schedule (which is every 12k), just refer to the 500 section as the schedule is exactly the same. When we bought our car, it came with a service manual dated December 2010 with no reference to the new shape Panda

Super Uwe said:

Not sure if I've quite got the right end of the stick or not, but am I right in saying that this is the car's first service and it is two years old?

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That's correct. I appreciate the recommendations for an oil and filter change after a year, but I let that one slip, while keeping an eye on oil levels over the last two years and topping up as appropriate.

I got the quote from Burrows over the phone, so in fact I'd quite like to get it in an email so I have something to hold them to. But thanks for the confirmation

Why not go to a trusted independent garage using Fiat parts to keep the warranty valid?

babbo_umbro said:

Why not go to a trusted independent garage using Fiat parts to keep the warranty valid?

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Happy to do so - do any FF users have recommendations in the Norwich area?

Edit: typing the above reminded me of Alfashop, who have previously been recommended to me, who just quoted £220 for the work. The bloke used a lengthy phone call (!) to explain how they will only use the correct parts, oil etc. I may go with them rather than Burrows, because of course it'd be good to get the work done before I drive up to Yorkshire.

If Alfashop is the independent behind North Norolk Motors (Suzuki etc.) then I have heard they are good.

Safer to get it done locally. Interestingly, Suzuki requires an annual service for the Fiat engine in my car, while Fiat requires only two year services for the same engine. I prefer an annual service

If the dealers are colluding on service charges, I reckon there's a case for referring them to the Competition Commission!

Panda servicing costs are undeniably ridiculous. I've paid under £200 for both of the 20k mile services on my DS3 THP, and that's got 150bhp!!

gar074 said:

If the dealers are colluding on service charges, I reckon there's a case for referring them to the Competition Commission!

Panda servicing costs are undeniably ridiculous. I've paid under £200 for both of the 20k mile services on my DS3 THP, and that's got 150bhp!!

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While I agree that Panda service charges can seem heavy, in relation to the cost/class of car, I don't see why they should relate to bhp.

Tbh I think it's good that the prices seem uniform across the Country, as they used to vary so wildly that they made a completely mockery of Fiat's so called fixed price 'menu servicing'.

However, they could do with being uniform and a fair bit cheaper. The £195 from Burrows seems very good for a 2 year interval, and £250 isn't horrendous, but for the TwinAir engine the cost goes up even more - several people including my Parents were quoted over £350 for a 500 TwinAir 18,000 mile service!

We paid it on the basis that it's the only service it'll need before the PCP ends in two years (it did have an oil and filter at one year though). However, if you wanted to keep the car a long time and service it annually, it'd be cheaper to service a Porsche - a mate has a Cayenne and that cost the same to service (at a Porsche main dealer) as our 500 - craziness!

Thanks for all the feedback and thoughts; I dropped the Panda off at Alfa Shop in Norwich this morning. It's about 1,000 miles short of the 18k mark, but I have a busy few weeks ahead and would prefer it done before I hit the road.

Will feedback in due course, but so far good first impressions for an independent garage. Only downside is that if I wanted to borrow it, they would need me to have fully comprehensive insurance for their courtesy car. I am fully comp, but it drops to 3rd party on other vehicles provided the owner gives permission. Perhaps I'm a newbie to car insurance, but I don't imagine many people have fully comprehensive insurance on their own car and any other car they have cause to drive?

jamesbrownontheroad said:

Happy to do so - do any FF users have recommendations in the Norwich area?

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Ulpian said:

If Alfashop is the independent behind North Norolk Motors (Suzuki etc.) then I have heard they are good.

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:yeahthat:

Always used them with the Bravo, top lads at Alfa shop and they get a 10/10 from me for Price, Service and their friendly chatty nature. Were better priced than Desira Gt Yarmouth, and I actually trusted them with the car and to do what they charged me for. They also have experienced staff and not spanner wielding chavs working for them.

It was my only regret when changing car brand that I can no longer use them

jamesbrownontheroad said:

Perhaps I'm a newbie to car insurance, but I don't imagine many people have fully comprehensive insurance on their own car and any other car they have cause to drive?

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One or two companies will cover fully comp for a vehicle lent to them while theirs is being serviced or repaired, but its not overly common.

Luckily its covered on mine though so got to use the Mito they used to have with no additional cost

Also post some interesting stuff on their FB page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alfashop-Ltd/274680842651704?ref=ts&fref=ts

Picked up the Panda yesterday, can add my hearty recommendation for Alfa Shop. Friendly folk, love a good Fiat or Alfa themed banter and they know their stuff. Thanks everyone.

Just to re awaken this thread, whilst in the fiat dealer in Keswick to have my broken clutch pedal looked at, I was discussing the service intervals with the service guy. Mines a 62 and has done 44k so has had its second service too. Apparently, if you buy the exact same car now, the service interval is 9k or 1year. Though the spec remains at 18 for the older ones. By the way, I took mine to the local guy I trust as Lloyd in Carlisle expected over £300 for the service. The guy did mine for just under £220, apparently some of the filters etc are still outrageously priced, from all suppliers. This is the curse of new tech engine I suppose. The fiat independent in Newcastle quoted me £229 for the same service.

Hi. Just been quoted an eye watering £400 for a 3yr/18k service and MOT by the dealer that we purchased our Panda 4x4 TwinAir through. But it gets better....that's PLUS the cost of purchasing and fitting the OEM replacement spark plugs (£37+fitting....~£70 total?)

Form what I can ascertain, the only parts are air filter, oil, oil filter and sump washer (plus a squirt of aircon freshener)

So....how far wide of the mark is this? Does anyone know of an independent Fiat specialist that I could obtain a quote from locally (Essex)?

Clearly this is daylight robbery, but I need to balance the possibility of them finding something needing work, which would be covered by the dealer warranty against the additional cost saving going independently. Goes without saying that, if I can find a reliable local specialist, I'll be looking to get independent quotes for the next service.

Thanks in advance!

Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica said:

Hi. Just been quoted an eye watering £400 for a 3yr/18k service and MOT by the dealer that we purchased our Panda 4x4 TwinAir through. But it gets better....that's PLUS the cost of purchasing and fitting the OEM replacement spark plugs (£37+fitting....~£70 total?)

Form what I can ascertain, the only parts are air filter, oil, oil filter and sump washer (plus a squirt of aircon freshener)

So....how far wide of the mark is this? Does anyone know of an independent Fiat specialist that I could obtain a quote from locally (Essex)?

Clearly this is daylight robbery, but I need to balance the possibility of them finding something needing work, which would be covered by the dealer warranty against the additional cost saving going independently. Goes without saying that, if I can find a reliable local specialist, I'll be looking to get independent quotes for the next service.

Thanks in advance!

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Might be an aircon filter as well, and (when my 4x4 TA was serviced) they had to drop the sump guard - but it's still a bit heavy. Just checked the invoice for my 4x4 at 36k mile service nine months ago plus first MoT and including new plugs and ALL filters - £434 from Vospers in Exeter. Plugs were 13 quid each by the way.

babbo_umbro said:

Might be an aircon filter as well, and (when my 4x4 TA was serviced) they had to drop the sump guard - but it's still a bit heavy. Just checked the invoice for my 4x4 at 36k mile service nine months ago plus first MoT and including new plugs and ALL filters - £434 from Vospers in Exeter. Plugs were 13 quid each by the way.

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Hmmm... Thank you for this. It actually makes me a little more inclined to just bite the bullet on this service and get it done. The dealer has stated plugs are £18.50+VAT, which seems steep. That said...post-Brexit-vote and the weak sterling may account for that (partially).

We just feel very wary of the dealer we're using, but unfortunately surrounded by dealers who are renowned to provide poor service.

By contrast, a 40k major service with our superb Ford dealer on our diesel S-Max cost >£350, including supply and fitment of new rear brake pads..... one thing the Panda is not is cheap-to-service....

Thanks for your post!

Difficult one really. Seeing as you don't much like your dealer by the sound of it, the other option is to source genuine parts yourself from a site like Shop4Parts and get a labour quote from a garage you trust?

I've just done that with our 1.4 8v Punto, the 4yr/36k service at my local garage cost me around £190 all in (spark plugs, oil/air/pollen filter, brake fluid and coolant change). Although babbo_umbro uses them regularly enough, I personally will never give Vospers another penny of my money after a variety of poor experiences. But the flip side is no dealer stamp which I know is preferable at times.

However, my car has a basic FIRE engine...maybe with a TA I'd be looking for a garage with specialist knowledge, in which case a dealer should be a good choice.

Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica said:

but I need to balance the possibility of them finding something needing work, which would be covered by the dealer warranty against the additional cost saving going independently

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A few options I would consider:

Take it to a local recommended independent having sourced parts as already said from s4p. Ask them to report back any issues that could be done under warranty before it runs out then take to dealer. I have done this since my car was new; excluding parts costs as mine is a 1.2 500 (much cheaper parts to TA) it has cost less than £250 inc VAT labour costs for 3 services, a MOT, brake fluid change and A/C service.

If you want the Fiat stamp. Ask dealer if they do a 3+yr service fixed price (see website below for example). Get the MOT done by the dealer without service before 3yrs at standardised maximum cost and ask them to fix under warranty any issues they find that would be covered. Then return just after 3yrs for service.

http://www.pentagon-fiat.co.uk/offers/servicing-and-repairs/fiat-fixed-price-servicing

Super Uwe said:

...Although babbo_umbro uses them regularly enough, I personally will never give Vospers another penny of my money after a variety of poor experiences...

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I had some terrible experience with Vospers predecessors - Sidwell Steet Motors - but have had no specific issues since Vospers took over. However, now the 4x4's out of warranty it will go to Mid Devon Motors, who have given us faultless service on umpteen cars over 25 years. They'll pop the Fiat over to Sanders (service only Fiat garage) at Milton Damerel to have the service indicator reset as they've done in the past.