Hi!
I bought my fiat 500 from Glyn Hopkin so usually take it there for servicing. It's due a major service, but they seem to be charging at least a third more than kwikfit or Halfords for this. Does it really make a difference whether it goes to the Fiat garage at Glyn Hopkins or can it be any local garage for a major service?
Thanks
PS - is it right that a major service is needed every other year in between minor services?

KwikFit/Halfords quote less because they're **** and will as likely break something, or at least "find" something else that "needs" doing [/sarcasm].
Assuming that your vehicle is still in it's warranty period, you only need to take it to a VAT registered garage for a service. I'd go with an independent personally, unlike the chains they rely on reputation to keep going and so are more interested in consistently doing a good job at a reasonable price.

As for when services are due, "minor" and "major" mean nothing. There are certain items which need servicing/replacement at different intervals. Consult your handbook to find out what needs doing and when. As a rough guide, oil and filters (both oil and air) should be changed at least every 12 months/8k miles (whichever comes first), belts every 5 years/50k miles, other things like tyres and brakes are changed as and when they're required. Gearbox oil and brake fluid have very long lives (I can't remember exactly) but it'll all be detailed in your handbook anyway.

Hi

What mileage are you covering?

Oil will want changing at mileage intervals..same with plugs and filters.

Other fluids on a 3 to 5 year basis.

Tell us more..


Are you in the South East?

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

Hi

What mileage are you covering?

Oil will want changing at mileage intervals..same with plugs and filters.

Other fluids on a 3 to 5 year basis.

Tell us more..


Are you in the South East?

Charlie

Click to expand...

Hi!
Thanks - it has 16000 on the clock. I don't often drive very far in it, so have had it since 2013 (it's a 2010 car) - done less than 2000mi in the past year. I know it's definitely due an oil change. The time belt was done 2 years ago. At the minor service last year, not a lot happened! And they said then that it was due a major service. The handbook advises service schedule by distances starting from 18000mi/30k km. Yes, I'm in London

You do not have to go to teh expensive franchised dealer, but don't go to Halfords or Kwik-Fit. As said above, they are pressured to sell so will 'find' stuff to do, and advise you that it is unsafe to not do it.

Find a local independent who runs on his reputation.

Ok.

So no warranty to keep track of.

Will require.

Oil and filter.
Airfilter

Potentially sparkplugs (pollen filter too?)

Then antifreeze and brake fluid ...
( these have a service life.. so can be tested for condition)


Brakes and tyres should be fine..

exhaust.. corrosion of tailsection..maybe.. this often happens with short journeys.

I have been using a good local Alfa garage as they just know my Stilo and it's the same price as any other good garage. In fact they like the fact that I am keeping a older Fiat on the road, and give me a honest list of jobs to have done and cheaper stuff that will help.

charli2 said:

Hi!
I bought my fiat 500 from Glyn Hopkin so usually take it there for servicing. It's due ...can it be any local garage for a major service?
Thanks
PS - is it right that a major service is needed every other year in between minor services?

Click to expand...

The one thing nobody has mentioned..

The ford Ka is virtually identical to service same engines... same parts and same tools.

So most garages will have worked on them

May help you find a decent place..at a sensible price.

varesecrazy said:

The one thing nobody has mentioned..

The ford Ka is virtually identical to service same engines... same parts and same tools.

So most garages will have worked on them

May help you find a decent place..at a sensible price.

Click to expand...

Good thought, but this does not mean go to a Ford dealer.

Merhaba. Fiat Egea Aracımda yakıt tasarrufu sağlamak için birçok yer araştırdım. Sonrasında Nitro Mekatronik Garaj diye bir yer buldum. Son teknoloji cihazlarla aracıma müdahale ettiler. ve üstelik çalışanların çoğu mühendis. hizmet anlayışlarını ve fiyat politikalarını çok beğendim. Araştırdığım firmalar 1000-5000 arası fiyat verirken bana 800 e mal oldu. Şuan aracımın performansı yükselirken Yakıttan da tasarruf sağlıyorum. Tavsiye ederim.

Mehmet1864 said:

Merhaba. Fiat Egea Aracımda yakıt tasarrufu sağlamak için birçok yer araştırdım. Sonrasında Nitro Mekatronik Garaj diye bir yer buldum. Son teknoloji cihazlarla aracıma müdahale ettiler. ve üstelik çalışanların çoğu mühendis. hizmet anlayışlarını ve fiyat politikalarını çok beğendim. Araştırdığım firmalar 1000-5000 arası fiyat verirken bana 800 e mal oldu. Şuan aracımın performansı yükselirken Yakıttan da tasarruf sağlıyorum. Tavsiye ederim.

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Google translate:

"Hello. I researched many places in my Fiat Egea Vehicle to save fuel. Then I found a place called Nitro Mechatronics Garage. They intervened in my vehicle with the latest technology devices. and most of the employees are engineers. I liked their service understanding and price policies. The companies I researched cost 1000-5000 and it cost me 800. Now, while my vehicle's performance is improving, I also save fuel. I advise."

Zeewulf said:

Google translate:

"Hello. I researched many places in my Fiat Egea Vehicle to save fuel. Then I found a place called Nitro Mechatronics Garage. They intervened in my vehicle with the latest technology devices. and most of the employees are engineers. I liked their service understanding and price policies. The companies I researched cost 1000-5000 and it cost me 800. Now, while my vehicle's performance is improving, I also save fuel. I advise."

Click to expand...

Not sure what a doing work on a Tipo in a different company has to do with a garage for the 500 in the UK but thanks for the translate

It depends on what you mean by a specialist garage. I wouldn't necessarily class a main dealer as such because whilst they may be good with current vehicles, anything no longer in production may be a problem for them.

You also need to look at cost, there are plenty of independent garages out there who specialise in one Marque. I use to use a specialist Alfa garage in Leicester for my Fiat Marea. Cost was a lot cheaper then the main dealer and they still knew how to properly diagnose a fault without just attaching a box to the car.

Forget the likes of Kwik Fit, they are a business whose model is to make as much as money as possible, interest in the cars is not a priority for the managers. Besides, will you be sure that the guy doing the service will be the same guy who did a full motor mechanics apprenticeship and not a tyre fitter who they want to keep working.