General £99 Service

[sadgit]

My wife has a 500 thats about to celebrate it's first birthday and so the job of where to get it serviced and for how much has reared it's ugly head.
The car was purchased from Thames in Slough and I see on their website a basic (they call it Bronze) service is £99 inc VAT.
Now as the car has only done about 5K miles this appears perfect.
However Palmers in Watford is closer to us and they have the same price on their web site.
Have any of you used either for servicing and do you have any views on which is better please.

 

[Jake_in_notts]

They need to service it according to the Fiat service schedule using the correct parts to maintian your warranty.

I have no experience of either however their is a low mileage service option for cars having done less than 8K in a year which it looks like yours falls in to. Ive had the low mileage service done once (it can only be done alternate years - was told) it cost about £100 and I also had the oil changed despite it being a diesel and the oil usage at less than 40%

 

[udtrev]

My Panda is out of warranty, I'm doing 16,000 mile a year, so it get's a Bronze and a Gold service annually

Here's the spec from my dealer - http://www.pdhcars.com/Servicing.htm

Regards


Trev

 

[Red Bubble]

My wife has a 500 thats about to celebrate it's first birthday and so the job of where to get it serviced and for how much has reared it's ugly head.
The car was purchased from Thames in Slough and I see on their website a basic (they call it Bronze) service is £99 inc VAT.
Now as the car has only done about 5K miles this appears perfect.
However Palmers in Watford is closer to us and they have the same price on their web site.
Have any of you used either for servicing and do you have any views on which is better please.

Hi Sadgit
I used Thames at Slough for Bubbles first service, think I paid £160.00, for a low mileage service, they were very nice and it looked all shiny when it was finished, I could not fault their service.

 

[YouKnowWho]

Hi Sadgit
I used Thames at Slough for Bubbles first service, think I paid £160.00, for a low mileage service, they were very nice and it looked all shiny when it was finished, I could not fault their service.

Call me old fashioned, but I think a service should always include a complimentary wash + clean.

Always make you feel better collecting the car

 

[grimwau]

Call me old fashioned, but I think a service should always include a complimentary wash + clean.

Always make you feel better collecting the car

I don't think that having a complimentary car wash is "old fashioned," I personally have only been offered the service over the last few years.

Mind you, I always refuse the offer, not so much for the reasons that they might use a gritty old sponge, lol, but more because I always make certain my car is presented in as clean a condition as possible whenever it goes in for any work to be done.

 

[RobW]

I don't think that having a complimentary car wash is "old fashioned," I personally have only been offered the service over the last few years.

Mind you, I always refuse the offer, not so much for the reasons that they might use a gritty old sponge, lol, but more because I always make certain my car is presented in as clean a condition as possible whenever it goes in for any work to be done.

it's not complimentary its included in the cost, no such thing as 'complimentary'

+1 i leave a note saying please dont clean

 

[poggy]

According the Fiat customer service, ours isn't due a service until 24 months or it hits the mileage.

It has only done about 1800 miles in it's first year.

Regardless of whether people think it should be serviced, is it meant to have one at 12 months.

 

[T14086]

Thames in Slough and I see on their website a basic (they call it Bronze) service is £99 inc VAT.
.

cars 3+ years old ?

 

[Jake_in_notts]

According the Fiat customer service, ours isn't due a service until 24 months or it hits the mileage.

It has only done about 1800 miles in it's first year.

Regardless of whether people think it should be serviced, is it meant to have one at 12 months.

If it has done less than 8K in a year it falls into the low mileage schedule and it WILL need a 12month service - his can be a low mileage one however and they are usually ~£100. Low miles is assumed to mean lots of short stop/start journeys and they knacker the car quicker.

 

[T14086]

when did low mileage services come in? they are useless and basically an oil change, check levels and lights work.

IMO if a car is getting little usage it should be checked just as much (if not more) that one that is used regulary, especially diesels.

Full services can be easily got for same prices as these low mileage ones so avoid them.

 

[poggy]

Fiat actually said it needed nothing at all, not even a oil change. They said after a certain date it was 2 years or a mileage and just to go by the dash display.

Will it invalidate the warranty not having it done.

I got it for my mother and she hardly uses it, but I check everything regulary.

 

[Jake_in_notts]

Fiat actually said it needed nothing at all, not even a oil change. They said after a certain date it was 2 years or a mileage and just to go by the dash display.

Will it invalidate the warranty not having it done.

I got it for my mother and she hardly uses it, but I check everything regulary.

Its my understnading that at <8K you need a yearly service (To the Fiat service schedule) >8K <18K its a 2yr serivce interval but only if it a later year of manufacture (mine is early and needs a yearly what ever)

This is the minimum you need to do to keep the warranty. If you dont service it according to the recommended shcedule using correct parts it will invalidate warranty and so if your "Fiat said" is correct ask for that in writing as im sure if you check your service book it will contradict them

As most people say its best to service regularly maybe low mileage services are just just oil changes however an oil change doesnt keep your warranty valid.

TBH 5yr warranty should have been on the 500 from the start but that another story

 

[T14086]

I did a service on a 500 with 1 (yes one!) mile on the clock.

 

[Jake_in_notts]

I did a service on a 500 with 1 (yes one!) mile on the clock.

lol but i guess if its 1yr old it HAS to be done ...!

 

[T14086]

lol but i guess if its 1yr old it HAS to be done ...!

exactly

 

[sadgit]

cars 3+ years old ?

Well nothing is simple :bang: called Palmers Watford to book service and yes £99 deal includes an MOT!
BUT only for cars over 3 years old!!
Ok I will have that service and forget about the MOT, but oh no. As the car is under 3 years old need a more thorough check over at a cost of £158 :bang:.
I really don't understand Fiat or garages.

 

[T14086]

Well nothing is simple :bang: called Palmers Watford to book service and yes £99 deal includes an MOT!
BUT only for cars over 3 years old!!
Ok I will have that service and forget about the MOT, but oh no. As the car is under 3 years old need a more thorough check over at a cost of £158 :bang:.
I really don't understand Fiat or garages.

They have quoted you a bronze service price from the fiat.co.uk website however its managers discretion to charge what he wants. Fiat cant enforce garages what to charge only recommend however as we all know their prices are a little on the high side. Phone him back and say 'listen tightarse, £99 for mot and service or you have lost another customer'

 

[poggy]

Got quoted £139 for a low mileage service. As far as I can tell it only needs an oil change as it has done less than 1600 miles when I checked the exact mileage. It doesn't really need a pollen filter etc. Should just buy the oil & filter and go to independent to have it changed. My only real concern is the warranty. It will be sold in another 24 months with probably less than 6k miles on it.

The service book says oil change if you do less than 6k a year, if not for that then 2 years or 18k miles.

 

[poggy]

Got it booked in for oil change to keep warranty, £80 from main dealer.

No point changing the pollen filter after so few miles, it doesn't block up when not being used.