2010 car - any need for main dealer service?

Colonel Sanders

Bought a new car last year (Opel Insignai Elite - Ecoflex engine)

Due a service around the start of February. Just wondering is there any need for a main dealer service (i.e. to have full service history from main dealer etc)

Obviously money to be saved by going non main dealer!

Thanks for opinions

Plug

I'd stay main dealer till the warrenty runs out.

Drummerboy08

It will make a big difference to you in 3 years time once the warranty has ran out, especially for a good will claim.

If you have not had your car serviced within the Opel dealer network, they won't entertain a goodwill claim, regardless of any service history.

Thats the main advantage.

The other is that an Opel dealer can and do regular updates on software etc during a service, and they can also check for recalls that you may not recieve notice of in the post.

If it was my car, yes I would be getting it serviced with a main dealer, particularly an Opel dealer.

Plug

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

It will make a big difference to you in 3 years time once the warranty has ran out, especially for a good will claim.

If you have not had your car serviced within the Opel dealer network, they won't entertain a goodwill claim, regardless of any service history.

Thats the main advantage.

The other is that an Opel dealer can and do regular updates on software etc during a service, and they can also check for recalls that you may not recieve notice of in the post.

If it was my car, yes I would be getting it serviced with a main dealer, particularly an Opel dealer.

Also worth mentioning is the Opel boys will be more experienced with that car and will know of TSB's and know what to look out for while servicing them.

coylemj

+1

Think of how much money that you'll save by going to a indy, now calculate that amount of money as a percentage of the price of the car - insignificant isn't it?

Go to your main dealer, do not pass 'Go', do not collect two hundred pounds.

knifey_spoonie

I would say i may be worth picking up the phone and making a few phone calls, you may be suprised at how cheap an opel dealer may be. Ive seen indy's charge more money than a main dealer because they are precived to be cheaper, and their prices aint questioned. It just pays to shop around.

Nissan doctor

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Bought a new car last year (Opel Insignai Elite - Ecoflex engine)

Due a service around the start of February. Just wondering is there any need for a main dealer service (i.e. to have full service history from main dealer etc)

Obviously money to be saved by going non main dealer!

Thanks for opinions

What kms have you up on it? Its not due its first full inspection/service untill 30,000kms. At I think 15k(the oil service light message should come up) its only due an oil change.

Drummerboy08

Nissan doctor wrote: »

What kms have you up on it? Its not due its first full inspection/service untill 30,000kms. At I think 15k(the oil service light message should come up) its only due an oil change.

The Ecoflex CDTi engines are on a longlife cycle (like VAG stuff) so it should make it to 30k or very close to without an oil change. That's the trend I'm seeing anyway.

The Insignia has a very handy Oil lifespan gauge which tells you not the level of the oil, but the quality of the oil. Gives a good indication of when a service is due.

Don't mistake this gauge as an oil indicator level though, I know of someone who done this in a 2.0CDTi 160 SRi, overfilled the oil because he thought it was low, and caused quite an amount of damage to the engine.

Colonel Sanders

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

The Ecoflex CDTi engines are on a longlife cycle (like VAG stuff) so it should make it to 30k or very close to without an oil change. That's the trend I'm seeing anyway.

The Insignia has a very handy Oil lifespan gauge which tells you not the level of the oil, but the quality of the oil. Gives a good indication of when a service is due.

Don't mistake this gauge as an oil indicator level though, I know of someone who done this in a 2.0CDTi 160 SRi, overfilled the oil because he thought it was low, and caused quite an amount of damage to the engine.

Closing in on 12k (miles)

oil life indicator is low at the moment (c7%)

I was advised to get it serviced every year or 20k miles, whichever came fiirst

BTW thanks for all the replies. I will ring round a few Opel garages tomorrow

-Corkie-

I am extremley skeptecial about these long life services. I think its wrong leaving a new car going to 30k for a first service. I do mine at 15k even with longlife oil. Maybe some of the experts can clarify this??

Plug

-Corkie- wrote: »

I am extremley skeptecial about these long life services. I think its wrong leaving a new car going to 30k for a first service. I do mine at 15k even with longlife oil. Maybe some of the experts can clarify this??

No harm whats so ever changing the oil like that. The engine itself will last but other stuff injectors etc start to go.

Anan1

-Corkie- wrote: »

I am extremley skeptecial about these long life services. I think its wrong leaving a new car going to 30k for a first service. I do mine at 15k even with longlife oil. Maybe some of the experts can clarify this??

My interval is 15k kms/1yr, and even that worries me a little on a turbocharged car. I dunno, maybe that's just old-fashioned?

.Longshanks.

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

It will make a big difference to you in 3 years time once the warranty has ran out, especially for a good will claim.

If you have not had your car serviced within the Opel dealer network, they won't entertain a goodwill claim, regardless of any service history.

Thats the main advantage.

The other is that an Opel dealer can and do regular updates on software etc during a service, and they can also check for recalls that you may not recieve notice of in the post.

If it was my car, yes I would be getting it serviced with a main dealer, particularly an Opel dealer.

This.
I have an opel service history on my 2008 corsa. The aircon pump died during the summer of 2010 and the warranty had expired. Opel paid for 50% of the repair as a goodwill.
Also - shop around on service prices. I was approx €150 difference between a kildare dealer (near my work) and a donegal dealer (when was in parents house over christmas)

-Corkie-

Anan1 wrote: »

My interval is 15k kms/1yr, and even that worries me a little on a turbocharged car. I dunno, maybe that's just old-fashioned?

I dont think you are. I always do a first service at 5-6k and again at 15k. I know people think its a waste of money etc but as Plug said it is no harm. I change the Diesel filter at 50k KMS.

PaulKK

-Corkie- wrote: »

I am extremley skeptecial about these long life services. I think its wrong leaving a new car going to 30k for a first service. I do mine at 15k even with longlife oil. Maybe some of the experts can clarify this??

Lol, I do mine every 8K miles (~15 weeks driving) with longlife oil (5.5L Castrol Edge/Mobil 1 ESP), even though the service interval is 20K miles.

I would never allow more than 10k miles between oil changes personally.

Drummerboy08

-Corkie- wrote: »

I am extremley skeptecial about these long life services. I think its wrong leaving a new car going to 30k for a first service. I do mine at 15k even with longlife oil. Maybe some of the experts can clarify this??

Plug wrote: »

No harm whats so ever changing the oil like that. The engine itself will last but other stuff injectors etc start to go.

Anan1 wrote: »

My interval is 15k kms/1yr, and even that worries me a little on a turbocharged car. I dunno, maybe that's just old-fashioned?

-Corkie- wrote: »

I dont think you are. I always do a first service at 5-6k and again at 15k. I know people think its a waste of money etc but as Plug said it is no harm. I change the Diesel filter at 50k KMS.

PaulKK wrote: »

Lol, I do mine every 8K miles (~15 weeks driving) with longlife oil (5.5L Castrol Edge/Mobil 1 ESP), even though the service interval is 20K miles.

I would never allow more than 10k miles between oil changes personally.

Im not arguing with any of you because I see the merit in what you are saying, but the long life stuff does work.

I've had 1.9TDi/2.0TDi Passats come back with 200k plus on the clock and still running like clockwork. Serviced every 30k with a good oil.

As long as the car is looked after and serviced according to what the manufacturer says then happy days.

I haven't seen any Insignia's hit that mileage yet so I can't comment on them, but what I do see going in them regularly is brake discs at a very low mileage. I think there is a recall on them in the UK but not here.

david

Opel service really isn't that expensive? Maybe €20 more than an Indy for my '06 Astra? I'd get it done for the stamps in the book/warranty. Although there are huge price discrepencies between different Opel Garages I find. FM Autocentre in Carlow is the best I've found.

coylemj

Don't modern engines with long-life oil measure that state of the oil and tell you if a service is due? I have a 2007 Golf GT and apparently if I top it up with regular (non long-life) oil the engine will detect this and bring forward the next service i.e. it won't let me run to 30,000 kms since the last service.

That would tell me that unless you're driving the crap out of the engine, the recommended long-life service is perfectly good to observe because if the oil had broken down earlier the engine would tell you that a service was due.

So if you really need to get the oil changed before 30,000 kms the car will tell you - correct?

Nissan doctor

coylemj wrote: »

Don't modern engines with long-life oil measure that state of the oil and tell you if a service is due? I have a 2007 Golf GT and apparently if I top it up with regular (non long-life) oil the engine will detect this and bring forward the next service i.e. it won't let me run to 30,000 kms since the last service.

Service intervals are preset in the vehicles on board computer. The car has no means of conducting tests on the oil to determan what grade it is.

On most later VAGs there will be standard service intervals and long life intervals, you have to select the interval when carrying out a service based on what oil you are using.

Damien360

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I haven't seen any Insignia's hit that mileage yet so I can't comment on them, but what I do see going in them regularly is brake discs at a very low mileage. I think there is a recall on them in the UK but not here.

My mechanic looks after some fleet cars and said they are going at less than 15,000kms. Known issue but Irish network not doing anything about it so far. Our UK neighbours know how to complain and get results.

alexmcred

My x1 has condition based servicing and has already reduced its next service interval by 3,000kms since I got it. It was originally showing a service due at 30,000km

R.O.R

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Closing in on 12k (miles)

oil life indicator is low at the moment (c7%)

I was advised to get it serviced every year or 20k miles, whichever came fiirst
BTW thanks for all the replies. I will ring round a few Opel garages tomorrow

I presume it was the dealer that advised this? Pay no attention at all to this, and wait until the light comes on the dash to tell you it's due a service.

Between us, I'd say Drummerboy and I are running in excess of 200 Insignia's at this stage, so have a bit of experience

For future reference, we use Bolands of Clondalkin for our Opel work in Dublin. Not just because they are the closest, but they are one of the better ones. I think that might be the wrong side of the city for you though - Joe Duffy Opel in Finglas have always been fairly decent to be fair.

Lex Luthor

Anan1 wrote: »

My interval is 15k kms/1yr, and even that worries me a little on a turbocharged car. I dunno, maybe that's just old-fashioned?

I'm of same opinion with leggy. However my mileaage is not heavy driving and it gets a good run daily. However i plan to pull in the service oil changes on my missus turbo diesel to 10k.
On the subject of dealer or no dealer then i would advise dealer until warranty expires

Nissan doctor

alexmcred wrote: »

My x1 has condition based servicing and has already reduced its next service interval by 3,000kms since I got it. It was originally showing a service due at 30,000km

I think you'll find that the BMW intervals will say its due 'in' 30,000kms, not 'at' 30,000. So as you drive the kms to the inspection reduce by the kms you are covering..

Some yokes though do tell the driver the car is due a service sooner than the 15K or 30K interval. For instance it you do loads of short spins you might get the service message after 12K miles even if the interval is 15K