Main dealer service v independent garage service

Tracyk

Hi guys, where do ye think it is best to get your car serviced from, the main dealer or a independent garage. I've a Kia Ceed 1.6 diesel and I just asked the main Kia dealer whom I just bought the car from how much is a service, for future reference. He said its €139 for a standard service for my car. I've also asked a local independent garage and they said €110 for a service.

Just wondering do ye think it's better to go with the main dealer? The price difference doesn't bother me. I'm just a bit sceptical about independent garages not using the right oil (cheap oil) and cheap filters etc or am I being a bit harsh on the independent garages.

At least with going to the main dealer I know everything like oil/filters etc will be to the manufactures specification, am I right?

And all that and peace of mind for a price difference of €29

Noccy_Mondy

I'd personally always go back to the person you bought the car off - seeing as you bought the car off them they will surely take good care of you (and your car) - regardless if they are a main dealer or not. I'm weird like that though...

beauf

I've had far more bad experiences with main dealers than independent mechanics. Many of those bad experiences were in dealers that the car was bought from. With one or two exceptions.

Sir Arthur Daley

I was at the motor factors last week and a main deal mechanic who i know to see came in and took a stock of service items and they were put down on account of the main garage that he works for.

toastedpickles

Tracyk wrote: »

Hi guys, where do ye think it is best to get your car serviced from, the main dealer or a independent garage. I've a Kia Ceed 1.6 diesel and I just asked the main Kia dealer whom I just bought the car from how much is a service, for future reference. He said its €139 for a standard service for my car. I've also asked a local independent garage and they said €110 for a service.

Just wondering do ye think it's better to go with the main dealer? The price difference doesn't bother me. I'm just a bit sceptical about independent garages not using the right oil (cheap oil) and cheap filters etc or am I being a bit harsh on the independent garages.

At least with going to the main dealer I know everything like oil/filters etc will be to the manufactures specification, am I right?

And all that and peace of mind for a price difference of €29

A standard service would probably be just oil and a filter though, don't quote me on that though, I personally avoid main dealers unless I'm popping in for parts that can only be got there, and at that half of them arent cheap, rocker cover nuts for my car cost a tenner each and there's something like 15 on it

A good indy garage won't screw you over, there's guys on here who have gone to other guys on here who run garages, georgedalton being one, and have nothing but good things to say, my own garage who i go to hasn't seen me stuck ever since i got my first car from him, they're hard to find, but well worth it in my opinion, they don't charge half the stuff they do in a main dealers, an example woul be my own car, saab 9-5, known for oil sludge issues, I rang the dealer from where it came, they wanted 1600 to do drop, and clean the oil sump, and replace the strainer, my mechanic wanted 400, I done it myself for 100 euro and a week of my time, but the point is, indy garages are usually cheaper

Tracyk

toastedpickles wrote: »

A standard service would probably be just oil and a filter though, don't quote me on that though

Why are there different levels of services?

I just taught a service is a service, oil/filters/fluids and then they'll check over the car to see if anything else needs to be done like break pads etc and obviously charge extra if anything else needs doing.

Sir Arthur Daley

Is your car under warranty with the main dealer op?

toastedpickles

Tracyk wrote: »

Why are there different levels of services?

I just taught a service is a service, oil/filters/fluids and then they'll check over the car to see if anything else needs to be done like break pads etc and obviously charge extra if anything else needs doing.

Well like if you get your booked stamped saying you were in and the car has say 60000 miles on it and it had an oil change, all the filters changed and the glow plugs changed then it should say something like "full service" and a list of the parts done,and when the next full service would be, usually every 20K then you have what my mechanic calls intermittent services which are just new oil and an oil filter whenever the car manual states that

Tracyk

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Is your car under warranty with the main dealer op?

1 years warranty left on it.

Sir Arthur Daley

Tracyk wrote: »

1 years warranty left on it.

Is part of your warranty to stick with a main dealer?

JohnBoy26

Tracyk wrote: »

1 years warranty left on it.

Get it main dealer serviced until the warranty expires. After that a good independent mechanic is the way forward imo.

Tracyk

toastedpickles wrote: »

Well like if you get your booked stamped saying you were in and the car has say 60000 miles on it and it had an oil change, all the filters changed and the glow plugs changed then it should say something like "full service" and a list of the parts done,and when the next full service would be, usually every 20K then you have what my mechanic calls intermittent services which are just new oil and an oil filter whenever the car manual states that

Car has a full service history with book stamped and wrote in what's done so basically the mechanic can look back over the book to see what was done last and therefore knows what needs replacing on that service

Tracyk

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Is part of your warranty to stick with a main dealer?

I bought the car last week and car was serviced before it was hand over to me and I was also given a 1 years warranty so for future reference I really wanted to know which was best to go to.

Sir Arthur Daley

Tracyk wrote: »

I bought the car last week and car was serviced before it was hand over to me and I was also given a 1 years warranty so for future reference I really wanted to know which was best to go to.

Ok but if the car needs a service within the year you can get it done by third party garage all good, car goes faulty after this within the year will the main dealer stand over the warranty since you may have serviced the car at a third party garage?

Tracyk

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Ok but if the car needs a service within the year you can get it done by third party garage all good, car goes faulty after this within the year will the main dealer stand over the warranty since you may have serviced the car at a third party garage?

Not sure to be honest but I'll be sure not to make that mistake first service with main dealer so if needed within the next 12 months but really the question is just for future reference when the warranty expires.

PADRAIC.M

As with all cars inside manufactures warranty you only need to prove genuine parts were used, it doesn't matter who does the service.
I know some main dealers who have told there customers that a service outside of main dealer will void the warranty- this is bull... But remember as part of the service any outstanding campaigns or recalls are done as part of the service which an indie garage wouldn't know about, I recently worked on a car which hasn't seen a main dealer since new, just got injectors, driveshaft and some other work for free of charge as this campaigns were outstanding for 10 years!

R.O.R

PADRAIC.M wrote: »

As with all cars inside manufactures warranty you only need to prove genuine parts were used, it doesn't matter who does the service.
I know some main dealers who have told there customers that a service outside of main dealer will void the warranty- this is bull... But remember as part of the service any outstanding campaigns or recalls are done as part of the service which an indie garage wouldn't know about, I recently worked on a car which hasn't seen a main dealer since new, just got injectors, driveshaft and some other work for free of charge as this campaigns were outstanding for 10 years!

Another point to consider is out of warranty good will claims. You'll have a much better chance of the manufacturer stumping up all or part of the repair cost if there is a full manufacturer service history. If there are independent stamps in the book, they won't look as favourably at the claim.

In this case, for the sake of €29, I'd be going to the Kia Dealer. If it's out of warranty and there's a big price difference, I'd head to a decent independent.

bucketybuck

PADRAIC.M wrote: »

As with all cars inside manufactures warranty you only need to prove genuine parts were used, it doesn't matter who does the service.

Not entirely true, I believe whomever does the service has to be a registered garage. It doesn't have to be a main dealer, but it does have to be a registered company with all that entails. You can't just buy parts and get your teenage son or best mate to service the car and expect the manufacturer to stand over it.

I think people get too hung up on service history anyway, I have been processing warranty claims for over ten years now and I never look for service histories. Why would I want to? It would be turning away work for my workshop, we want to do that warranty work, its good money for us.

I'll reject plenty of warranty claims if it is driver abuse or simply not a warranty issue but in the main we never even ask for a stamped service book. No doubt there is some idiot dealer out there who does, but then any dealer that says he can't fabricate a service history is a liar.

bucketybuck

R.O.R wrote: »

Another point to consider is out of warranty good will claims. You'll have a much better chance of the manufacturer stumping up all or part of the repair cost if there is a full manufacturer service history.

Very true. The most important question in a goodwill claim isn't what the repair is, its who the customer is.

MuppetCheck

For the 7 year warranty if it applies it requires an inspection by Kia each year. This isn't a service but there is a spot in the service book for it.

To get this and then an Indy service would cost more. You'd be better off getting it done in the dealer as it will ok doubt form part of the service price.

beauf

Tracyk wrote: »

Why are there different levels of services?

I just taught a service is a service, oil/filters/fluids and then they'll check over the car to see if anything else needs to be done like break pads etc and obviously charge extra if anything else needs doing.

If you look in the service book for any car its lists a schedule for everything. As different things need to changed, at different intervals.

beauf

bucketybuck wrote: »

Not entirely true, I believe whomever does the service has to be a registered garage. It doesn't have to be a main dealer, but it does have to be a registered company with all that entails. You can't just buy parts and get your teenage son or best mate to service the car and expect the manufacturer to stand over it.

I think people get too hung up on service history anyway, I have been processing warranty claims for over ten years now and I never look for service histories. Why would I want to? It would be turning away work for my workshop, we want to do that warranty work, its good money for us.

I'll reject plenty of warranty claims if it is driver abuse or simply not a warranty issue but in the main we never even ask for a stamped service book. No doubt there is some idiot dealer out there who does, but then any dealer that says he can't fabricate a service history is a liar.

From having so many bad experiences with Dealer services. I've completely lost faith in a main dealer service history. I judge a car on its condition only. Dealer stamps don't mean that much to me. If someone has a list of all the receipts of work done. That means more to me.

Having said that if it was under warranty I'd still probably get a main dealer service.

djimi

In terms of service history from a buyers point of view, I guess one of the advantages of it being from a main dealer is that its probably easier to trace and verify, as opposed to an indy who may or may not keep full records. I agree though, receipts trump stamps in a book.

In terms of the work done, its really about finding someone that you are happy with and that you trust. A main dealer will almost certainly be more expensive, but in theory anyway there is no reason that a main dealer could not be the best mechanic in the area, and if that is the case then it might be worth the extra expense (within reason).

heroics

Personally I'll be going with the independent garage from now on. Just cant justify the extra cost of the main dealer for example

My GF had her car in for service yesterday Hyundai coupe 1.6 2007 in a main dealer in Dublin. Apparently the full service 250€ does not inc spark plugs (extra 75€)

she was also told she needed the following
front brake pads and disks - €414
Rear Brake pads and disks - €426
Timing Belt - €595
Wipers - €46
Total €1556 (not including the 250 for the service)

Rang the local parts supplier and the parts are costing 300€ and the indy that services my car will do the labour for ~300 so a saving of >€900

beauf

Timing belt and discs front and back are not usual items in a normal service. They are major items they you'll probably only do once in your ownership of the car.

I'm surprised it would need all at the same time and the cost of the normal service items is so high.

djimi

€46 for wipers? :eek: Are they made of solid gold or something? :pac:

Dangel4x4

heroics wrote: »

My GF had her car in for service yesterday Hyundai coupe 1.6 2007 in a main dealer in Dublin. Apparently the full service 250€ does not inc spark plugs (extra 75€)

Why would you be taking an 07 Hyundai Coupe to a main dealer for servicing?

And €75 for spark plugs?

djimi

I suppose if its platimum plugs then you could be talking about something approaching that price (Id be expecting somewhere between 50-60 though rather than 75). Does a Couple need platinum plugs?

Dangel4x4

Platinum plugs me hole, on a 1.6 coupe putting out 105bhp on a good day? I'd want a night away in a nice hotel with the service manager's wife for that money.

Between the €75 spark plugs and the €46 wipers they sound like right ripoff merchants anyway, whoever they are.

The things a dealer has to do to subsidise the 'free servicing' and long warranties on his new cars eh?

Stallingrad

Main dealer while under warranty, it will serve you better if you have any warranty claims.

Dangel4x4

Stallingrad wrote: »

Main dealer while under warranty, it will serve you better if you have any warranty claims.

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

Why would you be taking an 07 Hyundai Coupe to a main dealer for servicing?

Hyundai warranty is five years. So no point bringing a seven year old car to a main dealer, other than from some misguided sense of loyalty.

djimi

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

Platinum plugs me hole, on a 1.6 coupe putting out 105bhp on a good day? I'd want a night away in a nice hotel with the service manager's wife for that money.

Between the €75 spark plugs and the €46 wipers they sound like right ripoff merchants anyway, whoever they are.

The things a dealer has to do to subsidise the 'free servicing' and long warranties on his new cars eh?

Im not going to comment on the merits of putting platinum plugs in a Coupe; what I am saying is that if they are platinum plugs then the price probably isnt too wide of the mark, and in fairness if they are platinum plugs then they are going to be good for the next 100000km+ so it will more than even out over time for the OP.

visual

heroics wrote: »

Personally I'll be going with the independent garage from now on. Just cant justify the extra cost of the main dealer for example

My GF had her car in for service yesterday Hyundai coupe 1.6 2007 in a main dealer in Dublin. Apparently the full service 250€ does not inc spark plugs (extra 75€)

she was also told she needed the following
front brake pads and disks - €414
Rear Brake pads and disks - €426
Timing Belt - €595
Wipers - €46
Total €1556 (not including the 250 for the service)

Rang the local parts supplier and the parts are costing 300€ and the indy that services my car will do the labour for ~300 so a saving of >€900

thoses prices sound very familiar to me when I had a renault serviced at main dealer.
At the time I thought wrongly if I get car looked after at main dealer it would serve me well. It didn't I just got ripped off. it was the turbo failing with a cost of 2300 that I decided it was time I got off my ass and DIY

V Eight

Reckon if you trusted the main dealer enough to buy the car off them then you can trust them to complete the service at a fair price - If you have the same faith in an independent you are familiar with then there should be no problem . I always go main dealer as they are "in theory" up to a certain standard.

djimi

V Eight wrote: »

Reckon if you trusted the main dealer enough to buy the car off them then you can trust them to complete the service at a fair price - If you have the same faith in an independent you are familiar with then there should be no problem . I always go main dealer as they are "in theory" up to a certain standard.

Why would you trust them to do the work at a fair price? Ring around and see how they compare. They almost certainly will work out more expensive than an indy; whether their standard is sufficiently high to warrant the extra cost really depends. There is no guarantee that their work will be any better than an indy, in fact in a lot of cases it wont be anywhere near the same standard.

beauf

V Eight wrote: »

... I always go main dealer as they are "in theory" up to a certain standard.

That has not been my experience of most main dealers. There been a couple exceptions who were good.

Dangel4x4

djimi wrote: »

Im not going to comment on the merits of putting platinum plugs in a Coupe; what I am saying is that if they are platinum plugs then the price probably isnt too wide of the mark, and in fairness if they are platinum plugs then they are going to be good for the next 100000km+ so it will more than even out over time for the OP.

I can guarantee you that dealer isn't in the habit of putting fancy spark plugs in a 7 year old coupe. Why would he put long lasting spark plugs in when he can throw in 10 quids worth of Beru plugs for 75 quid, and hope to do the same thing again in a few years?

Anyway given the prices that the OP quoted, it would seem like the dealer likes to sell parts for 4x (or more) what they're actually worth.

It's just gouging profiteering - plain and simple. :rolleyes:

heroics

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

Why would you be taking an 07 Hyundai Coupe to a main dealer for servicing?

And €75 for spark plugs?

Wasnt my idea. Girlfriends car had always been serviced by a main dealer before she bought is 2 years ago. She wanted to do the same. She has come around to the idea of not doing it again though.

I get my A6 serviced at an independent.

heroics

beauf wrote: »

Timing belt and discs front and back are not usual items in a normal service. They are major items they you'll probably only do once in your ownership of the car.

I'm surprised it would need all at the same time and the cost of the normal service items is so high.

I know timing belt and discs are not included in the normal service but I would have expected plugs to be.

Tracyk

Edit

djimi

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

I can guarantee you that dealer isn't in the habit of putting fancy spark plugs in a 7 year old coupe. Why would he put long lasting spark plugs in when he can throw in 10 quids worth of Beru plugs for 75 quid, and hope to do the same thing again in a few years?

Because they wouldnt get away with it for a week before someone realised they were being charged €75 for €10 worth of spark plugs.

Pointless discussion really without knowing exactly what they supply.

djimi

heroics wrote: »

I know timing belt and discs are not included in the normal service but I would have expected plugs to be.

Not necessarily. If they are long life plugs then they wont be included in a standard service (as there is a good chance that they wont need to be changed). Have you any idea what plugs you were being sold?

bucketybuck

Something worth pointing out for the undecided.

The manufacturers main dealer will have the best mechanics. But those mechanics won't be doing your service.

Services at a main dealer are generally done by apprentices or least skilled of the mechanics, the master techs and good mechanics are off diagnosing and fixing real problems.

Now, those apprentices will still have access to the best equipment and technical advice should they need it or see a problem, but the fact remains, the least skilled do the services.

Dangel4x4

djimi wrote: »

Because they wouldnt get away with it for a week before someone realised they were being charged €75 for €10 worth of spark plugs.

How would the average punter who knows nothing about cars realise after a week that his car had been fitted with regular spark plugs instead of Gucci ones?

Would the car be driving differently? Somehow performing worse than before?

djimi wrote: »

Pointless discussion really without knowing exactly what they supply.

You started it, not me...

djimi wrote: »

I suppose if its platimum plugs then you could be talking about something approaching that price

djimi

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

How would the average punter who knows nothing about cars realise after a week that his car had been fitted with regular spark plugs instead of Gucci ones?

Would the car be driving differently? Somehow performing worse than before?

The average punter probably wouldnt. But how long do you think it would be before someone who had more knowledge than the average punter realised they had been charged 6 times what the plugs are worth?

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

You started it, not me...

Grow up...

Dangel4x4

djimi wrote: »

But how long do you think it would be before someone who had more knowledge than the average punter realised they had been charged 6 times what the plugs are worth?

Your logic is failing. Someone with more knowledge than the average punter:
(a) wouldn't be getting a 7 year old Hyundai serviced at a main dealer unless it was being done for free, and
(b) would hear alarm bells ringing at the news of €75 plugs and €46 wipers, then turn around and go elsewhere.

Places like this prey on people who are trusting and uninformed.

Rip-off merchants - full stop.

djimi wrote: »

Grow up...

:rolleyes:

chinwag

Problem is getting a good all round indy. I went to an indy last time and was overcharged for the work, was shocked when he gave me the bill, previous experiences weren't all good either for one reason or another. There are good guys like George on boards, wish he was a bit nearer to me. Some dealers are offering better deals now and show their prices clearly. Meanwhile my search for a decent indy goes on.

Hellrazer

Dangel4x4 wrote: »

I can guarantee you that dealer isn't in the habit of putting fancy spark plugs in a 7 year old coupe. Why would he put long lasting spark plugs in when he can throw in 10 quids worth of Beru plugs for 75 quid, and hope to do the same thing again in a few years?

Don't be ridiculous.A main dealer has to sell genuine parts.Whether you agree with the price or not.
No main dealer in their right mind is going to throw in a

10 quids worth of Beru plugs

and charge the customer for the 75 euro ones.

You can loose a franchise for that type of stuff.

Anyway given the prices that the OP quoted, it would seem like the dealer likes to sell parts for 4x (or more) what they're actually worth.

Dealers don't make the prices-the manufacturer or distributor does.Ive had this argument plenty of times.
We are a main dealer-we sell genuine parts.If we think something is too expensive theres nothing we can do about it other than raises it with the distributor and hop they do something about it.

If its a car inside warranty then genuine parts must be fitted.Ok you can argue block exemption etc etc but when you try put a claim through you have to prove that the parts are the same standard as the genuine ones.

Believe me that's not an easy thing to do.

It's just gouging profiteering - plain and simple. :rolleyes:

Your opinion.

MuppetCheck

chinwag wrote: »

Problem is getting a good all round indy. I went to an indy last time and was overcharged for the work, was shocked when he gave me the bill, previous experiences weren't all good either for one reason or another. There are good guys like George on boards, wish he was a bit nearer to me. Some dealers are offering better deals now and show their prices clearly. Meanwhile my search for a decent indy goes on.

That's the thing. I've had worse experiences with indys that main dealers. A good Indy is hard to find (George being one) but main dealers shouldn't be dismissed. Last time I got anything more than servicing done at a dealers was a full service (including fuel filter), front and rear pads, brake fluid change and it was just over €300 which isn't bad at all. You just need to price around. Five minutes looking around the car will give you an idea what needs doing too.

The stamps in the book helped with a lot of good will on the car too (shocks, dpf, air con compressor) too.

gibbon75

Hellrazer wrote: »

Dealers don't make the prices-the manufacturer or distributor does.Ive had this argument plenty of times.

I've tried to explain that as well many times, but I have given up.

bucketybuck

Hellrazer wrote: »

No main dealer in their right mind is going to throw in a and charge the customer for the 75 euro ones.

You can loose a franchise for that type of stuff.

The ignorance about what happens within main dealers is just ingrained in some people, you won't convince them. They think main dealers are all evil buggers out to fraud their customers according to some people.

In reality, the mechanics and service advisors dealing with the customers generally have no reason whatsoever to defraud their customers by doing something like fitting cheap parts and charging for genuine, or charging for parts not fitted at all. By and large the service advisors aren't on commission and won't make an extra penny by doing something like that, and the mechanics are by design insulated from the customer so will just do the work straight.

Staff at a main dealer might do something stupid or make a mistake, but you are far more likely to be intentionally scammed by an dodgy independent garage.