Main Dealer vs Indy Service

macgabhs

Hi,

My car (Volvo S40 - 2006) is due for a service soon and I'm debating the potential benefits of going to a main dealer for a service. The only reason I'm considering it is that the car has a full service history from a main dealer and I'm wondering if it's worth keeping the volvo service history going as I've heard that certain faults will be covered by Volvo if they occur only with a full volvo service history. I've always used an indy garage before but then I never had a car with a full main dealer service history before either! So what opinions do people have on this?

MidlandsM

Price the both up but don't just consider the cost, ask what you get for your money, and get like for like quotes, for instance get a quote from an indep who have full diagnostics to plug your car into, as the main dealer will.

R.O.R

Volvo main dealers know how to charge!

Whereabouts are you? There may be an indy local, recommended for Volvo's.

If you are in Dublin, Scully Automotive in Clontarf have an ex. Volvo master technician there.

-Chris-

I'd be very surprised if you could get any goodwill warranty from Volvo on a 2006 car, full Volvo service history or not!

MidlandsM

Prob recalls the OP is concerned about

S Line

Full main dealer service history is nice however say you keep the car for 3 years the fact that it has an 8 year main dealer service history isn’t going to add a lot of value to it. It will help to sell it when it comes time to move it on. For example if it was a choice between similar cars but one had a full main dealer service history it might be the deciding factor.

You are not going make back the extra costs incurred by choosing the main dealer when you sell it on. Chose a reliable indy in your area, just ask around family and work colleagues. They can still stamp the service book to keep up the service history


I don’t really know about long term faults in the S40 – Google it. However you seem to be worried about possible ‘good will’ gestures by the main dealer for ‘out of warranty faults’. As far as I know if you get your indy garage to use OEM parts for servicing (purchase them from the main dealer and keep the receipts) than this should be enough to give you a chance when it comes to good will out of warranty claims(well as much of a chance as a person with full dealer history)

Factory re-calls have nothing to do with service history

A rough rule of thumb would be:
Up to 3 years = Main dealer, no question
3 to 5 years = minor service – indy (with OEM parts), major service – dealer
(although with lesser value cars I’d be more inclined to go indy)
5 years plus = indy (with using reliable generic parts from motor factors)

One thing to bear in mind at the moment that because of the ‘current climate’ a lot of main dealers are offering reduced cost menu pricing on servicing - might be worth looking into

bazz26

-Chris- wrote: »

I'd be very surprised if you could get any goodwill warranty from Volvo on a 2006 car, full Volvo service history or not!

They probably would actually, the ABS/Traction Control module on this model is known to fail. It costs the bones of €900 to replace. From what I have heard Volvo have been replacing these under goodwill but you need to have a FVSH afaik.

OP, when I had my S40 I got a straight forward service from the main dealer for just shy of €200 which was about €50 dearer than an indy at the time. So my advice is ring around and see what works out best for you. Remember you can haggle a bit with them on the price too.

MidlandsM

S Line wrote: »

Factory re-calls have nothing to do with service history

erronious or wha?:rolleyes:

If a car has a proper service history, all applicable recalls will be detected and seen too.

AndrewBond

Generally "goodwill gestures" are for ORIGINAL OWNER with full service history. If you did not buy this car brand new from dealer but got it second hand from someone else your chances to get any goodwill are very slim, especially considering age of the vehicle.
By the way as long as you are using genuine parts and stick to the lubricants and maintenance schedule dealer can't refuse your warranty claim even if you never serviced your vehicle at the dealer - that is the law. Of course you should be able to proof that you have used correct parts and oil so keep the receipts!
You can get good or poor service for your car regardless where you are taking it - it depends on the particular garage and particular mechanic who is doing your service. Pricewise you also can't say that dealers are always more expensive. See what you are getting in every case: what parts included in service, what checks they are doing, what kind of report you are getting when service is completed.

AndrewBond

MidlandsM wrote: »

erronious or wha?:rolleyes:

If a car has a proper service history, all applicable recalls will be detected and seen too.

Not exactly like this. Take any car to the dealer and they'll have to check it for outstanding recalls and perform all recall works free of charge. Recalls are profitable for dealers as it is manufacturer who pays for them and there is no advertising costs involved to bring this sort of jobs into workshops

macgabhs

Thanks for the replies. I'll price up the difference between the Indy and main dealer and go from there.

MidlandsM

AndrewBond wrote: »

Not exactly like this.

it is exactly as I state.:rolleyes:;):D

VolvoMan

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, when I had my S40 I got a straight forward service from the main dealer for just shy of €200 which was about €50 dearer than an indy at the time. So my advice is ring around and see what works out best for you. Remember you can haggle a bit with them on the price too.

I presume it was from the recently appointed Ford dealer you have down in Limerick?

One thing Ford dealers are notorious for is cheap servicing and parts.

bazz26

VolvoMan wrote: »

I presume it was from the recently appointed Ford dealer you have down in Limerick?

One thing Ford dealers are notorious for is cheap servicing and parts.

It was indeed.

exador

The concern over having any problems that would possibly be covered under goodwill is a valid one particularily if it turns out to be a high value part that fails. As other poster have said check the price of service with main dealer and compare as you may be surprised as the difference may not be as much as expected.

Check to see if any of the likely common problems have already been rectified through the original service history with the dealer. If for example the ABS modulator has never been done well then the chances are high that you may need one in which case to have a better chance of GOODWILL it would be best to continue the service history with main dealer. GOODWILL is exactly that and is getting more difficult to get.

Weigh it all up first