General Servicing the 500 mjet

[mattpolley]

Are there any mjet owners here who have their car serviced by an independent garage?

I was shocked at the price of servicing at my local Fiat dealer, and when my DPF decided at 6400 miles that the car needed an oil change I was charged £68 for the oil, filter and to have the warning light extinguished. And the car isn't due its first service until January, which they want to charge £210 for (probably less than that now as it has already had the oil done).

Is the oil warning light and service light something that only a Fiat dealer can extinguish, or could an independent do it with a Crypton handheld?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[pearce_jj]

There is an ECU software update for early oil change warning.

However the oil for these engines is expensive. Add the labour, £70 is actually about right.

Re £210 - that includes engine flush, oil + filter, injector clean, and then all the usual stuff.

 

[mattpolley]

Thanks for the reply. I've read on the forum that there seem to be wide variations in servicing costs between Fiat dealers. Maybe I need to ring round a few and see what discounts there are to be had (if any).

 

[mattpolley]

Wow, just looked at your Fuelly stats - very impressive. You must drive like a saint!

 

[Jake_in_notts]

If you have a service make sure that the oil change is either included or is not and that the price reflects it.

I arranged a service and expected the oil changed and was being charged accordingly but the service guy quite rightly followed the schedule and didnt change it. I quized them and they said they hadnt done it and would drop the price but i made them change it anyway even though at 5K the oil was only 30% used and would easily have lasted the year.

Get the PDF update done and hopefully it'll wont be calling for an oil change at stupid mileage. This can only be done by certain garages and in my view should be free as its a defect however its a lot easier to get free stuff done when you are actually having a service than driving up just for the fix on its own. As a new car you expect a ferw updates to occur.

 

[baxwalker]

If you have a service make sure that the oil change is either included or is not and that the price reflects it.

I arranged a service and expected the oil changed and was being charged accordingly but the service guy quite rightly followed the schedule and didnt change it. I quized them and they said they hadnt done it and would drop the price but i made them change it anyway even though at 5K the oil was only 30% used and would easily have lasted the year.

Get the PDF update done and hopefully it'll wont be calling for an oil change at stupid mileage. This can only be done by certain garages and in my view should be free as its a defect however its a lot easier to get free stuff done when you are actually having a service than driving up just for the fix on its own. As a new car you expect a ferw updates to occur.

Just had my MJT 18000 mile service at Northgate garage, Canterbury. Full service inc oil and filter etc - plus a courtesy car for the day (and service with a smile too). £175 - quite happy with that.

 

[mattpolley]

Somebody on the board (sorry I can't remember who) suggested I try Avanti, who are an independent Fiat and Alfa specialist in Ipswich. Gave them a call today, really friendly and helpful people. The guy went through everything that would be involved in a first service, and quoted £150 including oil and filter change. He also said they have Fiat Examiner (if that's the right name - the diagnostic machine).