Question Re: Manufacturer Warranties

FGR

More specifically the likes of the 7 year Warranty on the Kia C'eed.

Most warranties specify that the car must be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.

Does this mean that the vehicle -must- be serviced in a Kia Dealership? I'd be wondering this as I'd rather get my car serviced with a local mechanic who's quite reputable and far more cost friendly.

Thanks in advance..!

Anan1

AFAIK it must be serviced to manufacturers specifications and using OEM parts, once that's done the warranty will still be valid even if the car's serviced elsewhere. Make sure you keep all invoices to prove the above, though.

Darsad

+ 1 on the above but just to add according to the block exemption law you dont need OEM parts but you must use equivalent quality parts . I would recommend only using OEM parts as i have seen spurious oil filters with as much as 7 times less filtration area and different relief valve opening pressures.

Also if buying a diesel model with DPF some require oil dilution values to be resent at oil change may require main dealer equipment

R.O.R

Double check the terms and conditions of the Kia Warranty in the handbook as I've heard rumuors that the 7 years is only valid if it's serviced by official Kia dealers.

Not sure how legal that is, but better to be safe than sorry.

Theta

Yeah most of the time I think it has to be serviced by the brands service network.

FGR

Ah..guaranteed income for them then.

If I do buy one..I'll probably get it serviced in a dealership north of the border. Their prices justify the fuel/time costs.

Thanks guys.

mickdw

They cannot make you go to the main dealer to maintain the warranty. If they are saying that, its odd, but perhaps the way they may be doing it is that they are providing the standard 2 or 3 year warranty under normal rules allowing you to go to any garage while still maintaining the warranty. Then to avail of the full 7 year waranty, maybe they are adding in a clause stating that you must use their dealer network. I doubt there would be a law againt that but it should certainly be advertised that way if this is the case.

R.O.R

mickdw wrote: »

They cannot make you go to the main dealer to maintain the warranty. If they are saying that, its odd, but perhaps the way they may be doing it is that they are providing the standard 2 or 3 year warranty under normal rules allowing you to go to any garage while still maintaining the warranty. Then to avail of the full 7 year waranty, maybe they are adding in a clause stating that you must use their dealer network. I doubt there would be a law againt that but it should certainly be advertised that way if this is the case.

That's my best guess as well.

I've a 2008 C'eed coming in on Thursday so I'll grab the manual and check in there.

colm_mcm

This was diccussed on boards before.

Mr.Diagnostic

Under BER (block exemption regs) a new car warranty is not effected if the car is serviced outside the dealer network providing the service is carried out by a qualified person, according to the manufacturers spec and using either genuine or equivalent parts.

It is not necessary to have it dealer serviced but it is vital to stick to the recommended times, mileages, fluid etc.

mickdw

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Under BER (block exemption regs) a new car warranty is not effected if the car is serviced outside the dealer network providing the service is carried out by a qualified person, according to the manufacturers spec and using either genuine or equivalent parts.

It is not necessary to have it dealer serviced but it is vital to stick to the recommended times, mileages, fluid etc.

This much has been established but we are wondering if kia might have some smart way around this by offering a standard 3 year warranty, coming under BER thereby sasifying all laws. Then perhaps in the small print, they are offering additional free repairs for a further 4 years if you agree to use the there garages for standard servicing.

Mr.Diagnostic

I think it should be cut and dried. Unless they advertise the warranty as being split then they cant impose restrictions contrary to BER. Look at BMW for example. After the normal warranty you can subscribe to an extended warranty. Because this is different from the normal one they can, and do, impose restrictions.

AFAIK kia just advertise it as a 7 year warranty so it must be all one unit and as such subject to BER.

It is worth remembering that very often dealer service staff will tell you that a car must be serviced in the dealer network. This is both illegal and incorrect.

R.O.R

R.O.R wrote: »

I've a 2008 C'eed coming in on Thursday so I'll grab the manual and check in there.

OK, I've just spent a thoroughly enjoyable 10 minutes reading through the KIA Warranty booklet that came with the 2008 C'eed .

The standard warranty is the only warranty mentioned and that is 84 months / 150,000km. There is no mention of a normal 3 year warranty then an extended 4 year warranty only if it's been serviced at a Kia dealer.

This means it's a normal warranty, just like the 2 years on a BMW or VW so you can have it serviced anywhere as long as OEM parts are used.

galwaytt

ROR - sounds like the perfect warranty, then.

Germans need to get clued in..........

jayotala

According to EU law the manufacturers only have to give a 2 year warranty, anything over that is at their own discretion and it is a form of goodwill on their part, so if the likes of KIA state that it must be serviced to KIA standards that could mean it has to be serviced in a main dealer and if its not then they could deny warranty on the vehicle. But then it could all depend on the type of failure. Best to check with them. I'd always recommend going to a main dealer because they know the vehicles and they know what to look out for and what checks have to be done. A local mechanic might just drain the oil, change the filters and leave it at that. A car is a big investment, look after it.

oxegen85

if you have a new car and it comes with 3 years warranty but are now selling it... does the new owner of the car still have the warranty.. The car is under warranty yeah??

jayotala

Yeah, the warranty is on the car, doesn't matter who owns it.