General Have I just been mugged off for servicing?

[LittleMax]

Well I think you're both being a little premature with your condemnation. If a 500 does less than 10k miles each year it needs a yearly service. That is a fact

But I told the dealer I am doing in excess of 15k miles a year, based on that he is saying I need a service at 9k. This is not right ... fact! (page 25 - 26 Fiat Passenger Vehicle and Service Warranty Booklet Dec 2010).

Cannot find any reference to a yearly service if less than 10k miles per year ... perhaps you could quote your source?

 

[306maxi]

Aha the old service interval question. This is made very clear in the owners handbook and service book

Perhaps take some time to familiarise yourself with the content before arguing on here

Is the search you speak of in your signature some kind of force that runs through the universe and was just understood for a long time to be a sort of energy but then was put down to midiclorians in the bloodstream?

 

[RobW]

Is the search you speak of in your signature some kind of force that runs through the universe and was just understood for a long time to be a sort of energy but then was put down to midiclorians in the bloodstream?

Wise in the ways of the force you are, young Jedi

 

[306maxi]

No, I've just got lots of midiclorians in me

 

[RobW]

No, I've just got lots of midiclorians in me

Indeed these midiclorians give you the desire to read car manuals

 

[306maxi]

But I told the dealer I am doing in excess of 15k miles a year, based on that he is saying I need a service at 9k. This is not right ... fact! (page 25 - 26 Fiat Passenger Vehicle and Service Warranty Booklet Dec 2010).

Cannot find any reference to a yearly service if less than 10k miles per year ... perhaps you could quote your source?

Yes, BUT you were previously saying that people who bring their cars in @ 9k miles were bringing them in twice as often. Not true

 

[306maxi]

Also, to dust off an old chestnut, some use of the search function will yield you some rather tasty information regarding sericing and saving you a shedload of cash.

I've had the first 2 services done and actually had the car overserviced (we plan to own it till it kicks the bucket) and so far it's cost me about £400 or so all up for the first 36k of full fat servicing PLUS replacing the plugs and filters more regularly than the service schedule says to. If you wanted just the bare minimum you could knock some money off that figure. Searche ande yee shalle finde!

 

[Assimilate]

I bought my 500 1.2 Lounge 2 weeks ago - and at the time of buying it they offered me a 3 year servicing plan for just over £500, which they said includes a discount for signing up for it at the time of buying the car. I haven't had to pay it all in one go - it's £14 a month over the 3 years.

I'm only going to do 5,000-6,000 miles each year. I was told at the time that even though I do low mileage that I still have to have a service every 12 months otherwise it invalidates the warranty...

I've trawled through the first few pages of this thread and to be honest I am undecided whether £500 for 3 years is good, bad or indifferent.

What are your views folks?

 

[RobinPJ]

If you are doing low mileages then over three years you should have 2 basic services with one bigger one in the middle.

Although there may be ways to get those for a bit less than you paid, you would be lucky to get them for £500 if you went back to your Fiat dealer and let them supply the parts.

So I would say it is not a bad deal at all - assuming you get the third service out of it.

 

[T14086]

I bought my 500 1.2 Lounge 2 weeks ago - and at the time of buying it they offered me a 3 year servicing plan for just over £500, which they said includes a discount for signing up for it at the time of buying the car. I haven't had to pay it all in one go - it's £14 a month over the 3 years.

I'm only going to do 5,000-6,000 miles each year. I was told at the time that even though I do low mileage that I still have to have a service every 12 months otherwise it invalidates the warranty...

I've trawled through the first few pages of this thread and to be honest I am undecided whether £500 for 3 years is good, bad or indifferent.

What are your views folks?

at my local,

1st service £119
2nd £149
3rd £119

garages are desperate for retail work, I would forget the service plan and haggle hard at service time, there are loads of other garages after all

 

[metro]

My 2 year old 1.4 has done 7000 miles and is now coming up for its 2nd year service.
I have been quoted £260 incl vat by a Fiat main dealer.
Is this expensive or a similar price to other Fiat garages.

 

[306maxi]

My 2 year old 1.4 has done 7000 miles and is now coming up for its 2nd year service.
I have been quoted £260 incl vat by a Fiat main dealer.
Is this expensive or a similar price to other Fiat garages.

It's expensive, have a look through this thread and you will see how much it's cost others and how much cheaper you could have it....

 

[grimwau]

My 2 year old 1.4 has done 7000 miles and is now coming up for its 2nd year service.
I have been quoted £260 incl vat by a Fiat main dealer.
Is this expensive or a similar price to other Fiat garages.

metro, some people have been charged more and some less, there isn't any "fixed price servicing" that Fiat dealerships follow I'm afraid.

Couple of points to make here that could help lessen the cost:

1) If you didn't have a low mileage FIRST service last year then you can ask to have one this time.

2) Some dealers quote for spark plugs on the second service but these are changed based on mileage NOT age so you will not need them replacing yet. They should be replaced every 30,000KM (18,000 miles)

3) You will need to have your brake fluid changed as this is based on time as opposed to distance so make sure that they have included this in the price.

4) Depending on proximity you could ask for quotes from any other dealers in your area and ask your preferred dealer if he will price match.

Let us know how you get on.

ps. I know a couple is only two, just got carried away.

 

[loveshandbags]

metro, some people have been charged more and some less, there isn't any "fixed price servicing" that Fiat dealerships follow I'm afraid.

Couple of points to make here that could help lessen the cost:

1) If you didn't have a low mileage FIRST service last year then you can ask to have one this time.

2) Some dealers quote for spark plugs on the second service but these are changed based on mileage NOT age so you will not need them replacing yet. They should be replaced every 30,000KM (18,000 miles)

3) You will need to have your brake fluid changed as this is based on time as opposed to distance so make sure that they have included this in the price.

4) Depending on proximity you could ask for quotes from any other dealers in your area and ask your preferred dealer if he will price match.

Let us know how you get on.

ps. I know a couple is only two, just got carried away.

This topic is dear to my heart at the moment after the OH's '09 Mito MJ with 30K miles got a 'hairy' bill early on this week. I'm technically due a service now on the 1.4 '09 with 8K miles the last service being a 'low mileage' last November at 3K miles (I've done less than 6K miles in one year). Quote (Irish prices) I had from a main dealer yesterday is the following...

Basic service €99 (this includes oil & filter change & 'other checks')

I asked the following questions and what need's to be changed...
Spark plugs - no.
Fuel filter - no - its a long life 'built in' (different than the MJ)
Pollen filter - no - but if it needs it will cost is €40 (not needed for the POP). Service manual says it should be changed every year.
Air filter - no (!) - does concide with the manual.
Brake fluid - no ! Garage stated only at 3 years or 20K miles since the car has only 8K but if I wanted it changed another €60. The service manual DOES STATE 'change brake fluid every 2 years or 60K km whichever comes first.
(prices above include VAT)
The subject of 'Does the brake fluid needing changing' probably lends itself to a whole new topic but it has been discussed out there on other forums at great length. In a nutshell you can test the brake fluid with a tester for mositure content but to quote from another unmentionable forum...
Testing the reservoir is not a good indication of brake fluid "strength" The dirtiest fluid will be at the calipers, the in / out movement of the pistons take tiny amounts of debris and water inside every time you brake. The fluid degrades and the boiling point lowers.

If it was me I would pay the €60 and be done with it.

Re the air filter and the plugs I have changed them myself. Given the thirst of the 1.4 I want ever bit of bhp when it's called upon. I would definitely change the air filter if it's 2 years old. Have been charged a crazy €20 on another 500 for this but you should get it a lot cheaper.

One good 'thing' about the 1.4 is the tappets are hydraulic so you wouldn't have the tappet adjustment cost 'down the road'.

P.S. You should be able to get a better price than the ones I have quoted.

 

[Super Uwe]

I don't know what to think of Fiat dealers as a whole, it seems to be a lottery a lot of the time as to what price you might have to pay for servicing. Quite why there is so much inconsistency between dealers is beyond me, but there you go.

Ours is due a second service early next month; will need 18k service as per the manual which follows a low mileage one last year. Have already got the parts (only need to get the oil) so just need to get a labour quote from a couple of dealers.

I would hope to get it all in for £150-170 to cover the spark plugs, oil, filters and brake fluid as it should be approx 1 hour labour in total.

Will come back to this thread bit nearer the time once I know how much it will be!

 

[T14086]

IMO stick to the service sheets regardless of mileage, I have no time for these silly low mileage services which is an attempt to make servicing look financially more attractive yet is just an oil and filter change.

End of the day the manufacturer built, tested the car so should know the schedule when to renew parts/lubricants. Also by sticking to the service schedule to the letter you are in no way risking any future warranty claim because a part was not fitted at the correct time. A lot of dealers don't know the correct service schedules so stick to the manufacturer's schedule.

 

[306maxi]

Completely agree. My car had only done 23k miles when had 2 full fat services. Much better to overservice than underservice.

 

[Super Uwe]

Happy days yet again with the wonderful world of Fiat servicing!

Spoke to two dealerships around this way (should actually be three but I refuse to deal with my nearest one as they were wholly incompetent on two separate occasions).

I explained that we had a low mileage service last year @ 8k, and would like the 18k service as per the schedule this year in order to get the plugs and brake fluid changed.

Garage 1 quoted £187.00 all in for an 18k service including a wash and clean, which I thought was very good. The chap on the phone knew everything about the schedule which was good to hear. I forgot to mention that I have my own parts/oil, so will get a revised quote in a bit - presumably the labour will be around £70-80.

Garage 2 quoted £378.00 as they said I could not have an 18k service because the mileage was too high. I tried to explain that we had a low mileage service and that we didn't want the full works yet, but they said unfortunately they couldn't as Fiat might "kick up a fuss" if they did otherwise. Said service is 3 and a half hours labour, which is the same as the other dealer who quoted me £449.49 for the same service (see post 80 on this thread, obviously they wanted an extra 70 quid for their Christmas party!)

How can this be?!!!

 

[RobinPJ]

Happy days yet again with the wonderful world of Fiat servicing!

Spoke to two dealerships around this way (should actually be three but I refuse to deal with my nearest one as they were wholly incompetent on two separate occasions).

I explained that we had a low mileage service last year @ 8k, and would like the 18k service as per the schedule this year in order to get the plugs and brake fluid changed.

Garage 1 quoted £187.00 all in for an 18k service including a wash and clean, which I thought was very good. The chap on the phone knew everything about the schedule which was good to hear. I forgot to mention that I have my own parts/oil, so will get a revised quote in a bit - presumably the labour will be around £70-80.

Garage 2 quoted £378.00 as they said I could not have an 18k service because the mileage was too high. I tried to explain that we had a low mileage service and that we didn't want the full works yet, but they said unfortunately they couldn't as Fiat might "kick up a fuss" if they did otherwise. Said service is 3 and a half hours labour, which is the same as the other dealer who quoted me £449.49 for the same service (see post 80 on this thread, obviously they wanted an extra 70 quid for their Christmas party!)

How can this be?!!!

What is your current mileage then? I'm confused what the second garage was proposing doing.

 

[RUI]

Take it to a local independent garage, Fiat are a joke when it comes to servicing, if they don't even know what service you need what makes you think that the YTS 16 year old boy that will be doing the service will know what he is doing. At a local garage usually the person that owns the business will be the person that does the work.