Main dealers or main stealers?

vixdname

Brought my car in to the main dealer where I purchased it for is service.
Its a Renault Captur 1.5 tdi 2016.

The "service" costed €179, which would be fine if they had actually carried out a service.

On the job sheet, it turns out that they had changed the oil and oil filter.....thats it...for €179

The lad behind the services counter brazenly told me then that the car needed an air filter, fuel filter (which I would have thought would have been part of the standard service of the car) break disks & brake pads which, along with the €179 for the service would come to a cool €700 (incl VAT), but that was only an estimate as he didnt know how much labour would be charged for carrying out the work.

Is this the norm in main dealers for other brand cars or are they just trying to fleece people in this dealership ?

artanevilla

That's the norm for a main dealers.

punisher5112

Get it to a good indy, wouldn't go near main dealer for any work unless warranty.

biko

Services at main dealers are always way more expensive.
You are free to enquire about price beforehand and go elsewhere.

179 for only oil and filter is very expensive. That usually includes many checks as well, like here http://www.duffymotors.ie/25%20POINT%20CHECK

Terrontress

biko wrote: »

Services at main dealers are always way more expensive.
You are free to enquire about price beforehand and go elsewhere.

179 for only oil and filter is very expensive. That usually includes many checks as well, like here http://www.duffymotors.ie/25%20POINT%20CHECK

Let's be honest though;

The "checks", which they include in the service, are just a method to find more work which they will say you need and then charge you the going rate to fix. If you say you choose not to carry out the work as recommended, they will make a note on your service record to say that they recommended work and you declined to have it done. A red light to future buyers.

Most businesses, including mechanics, love the chance to quote for work without charge because there's a good chance they will get the income. Dealers see that they need paid for the privilege.

The only way I would ever bring a car to a main dealer would be if it were still in warranty and getting the work done elsewhere would invalidate that warranty.

sumo12

So for €179 they only changed the oil and filter ? Are you sure about that? How did they know the brakes needed replacing then?
Were you given a Vehicle Health Check report? This will detail what was inspected. Oil & filter are the physical parts replaced but it's far from the "that's it" as you put it. Dealers have a duty of care to inspect your vehicle as well as replace items. You may not like it, but there is a cost to inspecting items as well as replacing them.

Air filter / fuel filter not replaced at every service as they are not required every time. Brakes are replaced as and when required. Would you have been happier to pay your €179 and not be told your brakes are worn??

Curious, when you booked in, did you ask what the service included? That was your opportunity to walk if you weren't happy.

Yes you will get all the work done for less that €700 elsewhere, but bear in mind main dealer is using genuine parts etc etc Doesn't matter what walk of life you are in, there is always someone who will do it cheaper...

Do you not need to go to a dealer for warranty? I know there used to be an old wives tale about any mechanic and genuine parts but I couldn’t see that holding water if it came to it.

punisher5112

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Do you not need to go to a dealer for warranty? I know there used to be an old wives tale about any mechanic and genuine parts but I couldn’t see that holding water if it came to it.

No not at all once correct procedure followed and genuine parts used.

punisher5112

punisher5112 wrote: »

No not at all once correct procedure followed and genuine parts used.

You could get the parts docket handy enough, but does the vehicle owner have to prove “correct procedure followed” in the event of a warranty claim? You can be guaranteed the dealer will tell you to piss off and dig in if they knew you used an independent.

punisher5112

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

You could get the parts docket handy enough, but does the vehicle owner have to prove “correct procedure followed” in the event of a warranty claim? You can be guaranteed the dealer will tell you to piss off and dig in if they knew you used an independent.

EU laws opened this up same as likes of key code etc as that's how likes of BMW and that can be stolen cloning keys as they had to open the system basically so other businesses can repair or replace...

aaakev

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

You could get the parts docket handy enough, but does the vehicle owner have to prove “correct procedure followed” in the event of a warranty claim? You can be guaranteed the dealer will tell you to piss off and dig in if they knew you used an independent.

That's a major misconception as it's not the dealer who decides on warranty issues. The dealer gets paid by the distributor or manufacturer who decides on warranty.

Best advice is to keep good records, use genuine parts and make sure to note the reg and chassis on the invoice from the main dealer for ssid parts. This goes a long way with helping if a claim is made

elperello

EU regulation from about 15 years ago means you can get your car serviced anywhere as long as parts used are original or equivalent.

Bear in mind though that if you have any borderline claims, say just after warranty expires you may find a distinct lack of "goodwill".

vixdname

sumo12 wrote: »

So for €179 they only changed the oil and filter ? Are you sure about that? How did they know the brakes needed replacing then?
Were you given a Vehicle Health Check report? This will detail what was inspected. Oil & filter are the physical parts replaced but it's far from the "that's it" as you put it. Dealers have a duty of care to inspect your vehicle as well as replace items. You may not like it, but there is a cost to inspecting items as well as replacing them.

Air filter / fuel filter not replaced at every service as they are not required every time. Brakes are replaced as and when required. Would you have been happier to pay your €179 and not be told your brakes are worn??

Curious, when you booked in, did you ask what the service included? That was your opportunity to walk if you weren't happy.

Yes you will get all the work done for less that €700 elsewhere, but bear in mind main dealer is using genuine parts etc etc Doesn't matter what walk of life you are in, there is always someone who will do it cheaper...

Hi there, thanks for the reply.

As the car was under warranty I brought it to the main dealer.
They advertise a service for a car aged such as my 2016 as €179.
Any time with previous cars that Ive used an Indy, all filters, air, fuel, oil etc are changed as part of the service.

I didnt ask what was included in a "service" but an oil change and an oil filter, to me, doesn't quantify as a proper car service.

You say theres a cost to inspecting the car, yes there absolutely is, the same cost as it costs an indy to check it and its certainly not going to cost €179 for a quick look and an oil change.

The health check as someone else has said is a way of getting more business off of customers, as it happens I got an indy to check my break pads and disks as I knew they hadnt been on long or used excessively due to the very low mileage on the car and he said and showed me that they were good for at least another 5 to 6 months of my type of driving and mileage, they wanted money by putting the fear in me that my breaks were on the way out, the brake pads were fine and the disks were 100% safe.

Maybe its just this dealer but my belief in anything they do or say going forward has been rocked and as soon as my warranty is over I'll never darken their door again.

Interesting. I’m due a first service fairly soon and I’ve a mechanic I’ve always been happy with a short walk from the house, whereas the dealer is about 25km away. I’ll drop in and ask him what his paperwork is like to cover such matters.

sumo12

vixdname wrote: »

Hi there, thanks for the reply.

As the car was under warranty I brought it to the main dealer.
They advertise a service for a car aged such as my 2016 as €179.
Any time with previous cars that Ive used an Indy, all filters, air, fuel, oil etc are changed as part of the service.

I didnt ask what was included in a "service" but an oil change and an oil filter, to me, doesn't quantify as a proper car service.

You say theres a cost to inspecting the car, yes there absolutely is, the same cost as it costs an indy to check it and its certainly not going to cost €179 for a quick look and an oil change.

The health check as someone else has said is a way of getting more business off of customers, as it happens I got an indy to check my break pads and disks as I knew they hadnt been on long or used excessively due to the very low mileage on the car and he said and showed me that they were good for at least another 5 to 6 months of my type of driving and mileage, they wanted money by putting the fear in me that my breaks were on the way out, the brake pads were fine and the disks were 100% safe.

Maybe its just this dealer but my belief in anything they do or say going forward has been rocked and as soon as my warranty is over I'll never darken their door again.

Obviously I don't know the in's and out's of your car and what condition the brakes are in so I take your comment. If they are upselling without good reason then you are right not to go back.

I would just point out that manufacturers don't require all filters to be changed at every service. To change them for the sake of it is not necessary, just so you feel you are getting something tangible for your money?

You are right, an Indy is cheaper - less overheads, no brand standards to maintain, less equipment costs and little or no training costs. Doesn't mean any lower standard of work of course - I'm not suggesting that for a second, but merely explaining why main dealers are more expensive.

This is an age old discussion with views and opinions deeply entrenched. People are either one side of the fence or the other, and everyone is fully entitled to maintain their vehicle however they see fit. No one is right and no one is wrong, I just wanted to stick up for the poor-old-bashed-main-dealer!

Stevieluvsye

vixdname wrote: »

Brought my car in to the main dealer where I purchased it for is service.
Its a Renault Captur 1.5 tdi 2016.

The "service" costed €179, which would be fine if they had actually carried out a service.

On the job sheet, it turns out that they had changed the oil and oil filter.....thats it...for €179

The lad behind the services counter brazenly told me then that the car needed an air filter, fuel filter (which I would have thought would have been part of the standard service of the car) break disks & brake pads which, along with the €179 for the service would come to a cool €700 (incl VAT), but that was only an estimate as he didnt know how much labour would be charged for carrying out the work.

Is this the norm in main dealers for other brand cars or are they just trying to fleece people in this dealership ?

You were royally ripped off.

I'll be paying €80 for this on Saturday for a BMW

CrankyHaus

Is €180 for an Indy service on a 4 pot 2L Turbodiesel excessive?

_Brian

Surely everyone knows that basic work at a main dealer costs much more than an indi garage.

OP, were you really surprised because you shouldn’t be.

As for what was included, you really need to ask that stuff up front.

Audioslaven

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

You were royally ripped off.

I'll be paying €80 for this on Saturday for a BMW

He wasn't ripped off. It is expensive but not ripped off. If he was to buy genuine oil and filter he would be looking at around 60 -70 euro. How much would an mechanic charge for doing this maybe 50 to 70 euro, so 140. That's 40 euro extra so its not excessive.

Stevieluvsye

Audioslaven wrote: »

He wasn't ripped off. It is expensive but not ripped off. If he was to buy genuine oil and filter he would be looking at around 60 -70 euro. How much would an mechanic charge for doing this maybe 50 to 70 euro, so 140. That's 40 euro extra so its not excessive.

I'm getting the exact same done from a trusted mechanic for €80. What he paid was excessive

Family member got a new car recently, I wasn't involved in purchase unfortunately. Paid for the service pack, nice one, one less thing to worry about for a few years. Last service needed brake pads on the front. Not included in the service pack they paid for. Over 100 quid to fit two new brake pads. A con and if you can stay away from main dealers always do so.

elperello

In fairness nobody is forced to go to main dealers for servicing anymore.
You pay your money and take your choice. Caveat emptor.


Some people who call main dealers stealers are the very ones who will be delighted to buy a second hand with main dealer service history.

sumo12

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I'm getting the exact same done from a trusted mechanic for €80. What he paid was excessive

Are you talking about an oil & filter change or a service?? Two totally different things. Very few guys will do a service for €80 except in a driveway on jacks - no receipts, no VAT etc etc

Stevieluvsye

sumo12 wrote: »

Are you talking about an oil & filter change or a service?? Two totally different things. Very few guys will do a service for €80 except in a driveway on jacks - no receipts, no VAT etc etc

Oil & filter. I thought that's what he got done...........

bladespin

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

You were royally ripped off.

I'll be paying €80 for this on Saturday for a BMW

What BMW dealer will do that for €80????

the culture of deference

vixdname wrote: »

Brought my car in to the main dealer where I purchased it for is service.
Its a Renault Captur 1.5 tdi 2016.

That car has a 2 year 30,000km service interval.

When did you buy it?
How many miles have you put on it?

Ask dealership did they take the wheels off to measure discs and pads

Genuine 5L oil and filter is 60 euro max

bladespin

bladespin wrote: »

What BMW dealer will do that for €80????

none
would you even see change out of 50 for an air and oil filter?
genuine of course.

bladespin

BrownFinger wrote: »

none
would you even see change out of 50 for an air and oil filter?
genuine of course.

Which one do you want for €50? You could probably have one but both would be unlikely.

Tazzimus

While main dealers will generally be more expensive, you're paying to have lads working on your car that are certified for that particular brand.
Granted, the work was probably done by an apprentice.

Also just to note, genuine parts are expensive as **** compared to your motor factor equivalent.
GF works in a Renault dealership in the service department and some of the prices she tells me about for stuff is hefty to say the least.

bazz26

BMW dealers usually charge between €90 and €120 per hour in labour alone, I could not see how you could get an oil and filter changed by one for €80 even with the 20% BMW First membership discount.

corkgsxr

My van is mini and major servicing alternating.

Mini oil and filter. Major air fuel oil filter and oil.

250 and 350.

But I also get a van or car off them for the day.

And Iv also had 5 years of trouble free motoring. So despite it being out of warranty I still use them

bladespin

corkgsxr wrote: »

My van is mini and major servicing alternating.

Mini oil and filter. Major air fuel oil filter and oil.

Thought you had a Mini for a van for a second lol.

Stevieluvsye

bladespin wrote: »

What BMW dealer will do that for €80????

No idea. You tell me?

What's the point of your post?

bladespin

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

You were royally ripped off.

I'll be paying €80 for this on Saturday for a BMW

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

No idea. You tell me?

What's the point of your post?

Well, you posted it, you tell me, don't know on any BM dealer that would be that cheap but by all means share.

Audioslaven

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I'm getting the exact same done from a trusted mechanic for €80. What he paid was excessive

Ya but this is not genuine parts or genuine oil. I buy genuine oil and filters and it costs 70 euro, so I would question what your guy is putting in or is that labour only?

bladespin

Audioslaven wrote: »

Ya but this is not genuine parts or genuine oil. I buy genuine oil and filters and it costs 70 euro, so I would question what your guy is putting in or is that labour only?

Or was it even a genuine main dealer? Though I know the answer to that already.

Stevieluvsye

bladespin wrote: »

Well, you posted it, you tell me, don't know on any BM dealer that would be that cheap but by all means share.

I never said it was a BM dealer. I was pointing out what i am paying for a trusted mechanic and that the OP if he didn't go to a MD could have got it cheaper elsewhere

Stevieluvsye

Audioslaven wrote: »

Ya but this is not genuine parts or genuine oil. I buy genuine oil and filters and it costs 70 euro, so I would question what your guy is putting in or is that labour only?

But it is genuine oil and parts..............That's a fact

Audioslaven

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

But it is genuine oil and parts..............That's a fact

Are you the mechanic and it cost 80 euro for the parts!!
So how much were the parts?

This does not sound right and I would question the genuine parts and where they came from.

Whats the car?

elperello

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

But it is genuine oil and parts..............That's a fact

You do know that nobody could stay in business charging so little?
Tax, VAT, light, heat, rent, rates, insurance, equipment replacement etc. etc.

Stevieluvsye

Audioslaven wrote: »

Are you the mechanic and it cost 80 euro for the parts!!
So how much were the parts?

This does not sound right and I would question the genuine parts and where they came from.

Whats the car?

BMW 320D

I know what i'm paying and what is going in and who the mechanic is.

Stevieluvsye

elperello wrote: »

You do know that nobody could stay in business charging so little?
Tax, VAT, light, heat, rent, rates, insurance, equipment replacement etc. etc.

Really? Must tell him.

elperello

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Really? Must tell him.

That's not much of an answer.
Can you square the price he's charging you with his overheads etc. ?

Stevieluvsye

elperello wrote: »

That's not much of an answer.
Can you square the price he's charging you with his overheads etc. ?

Checked with him. Has parts for 55

elperello

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Checked with him. Has parts for 55

It's not a commercial transaction.

bladespin

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

You were royally ripped off.

I'll be paying €80 for this on Saturday for a BMW

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I never said it was a BM dealer. I was pointing out what i am paying for a trusted mechanic and that the OP if he didn't go to a MD could have got it cheaper elsewhere

Actually you did, OP posted that they had oil and filter change in a main dealer and you stated you were paying €80 for this on Saturday.

Still that's an amazing price for an indy including parts etc. stick with him, they're hard to find these days.

Shefwedfan

First off what’s an Indy?

Second off, yes main dealer is more expensive. No surprise. Don’t see why someone who has paid maybe 20 odd grand is complaining about a service for less than 200 quid?

I see people buying cars for huge money and then sticking low budget tires on it....

It’s also strange people complaining about main dealer service but I bet when you go to buy a car you check service history etc?

Let’s look at UK, majority of cars are serviced in main dealers, yes once they get older etc they go to other garages but buying a car will have a full service history. Why cant we do the same in Ireland ?

bladespin

Shefwedfan wrote: »

First off what’s an Indy?

Independent garage/mechanic, can often be brand specialist and are usually a fraction of MD pricing.

elperello

bladespin wrote: »

Actually you did, OP posted that they had oil and filter change in a main dealer and you stated you were paying €80 for this on Saturday.

Still that's an amazing price for an indy including parts etc. stick with him, they're hard to find these days.

But he's not an independent mechanic.

He's some guy working off the books for cash in hand and not much cash at that.

He's already gone to the trouble of getting the oil and filter for €55 and now will do the job for €25.

Nobody could work for that.

Shefwedfan

bladespin wrote: »

Independent garage/mechanic, can often be brand specialist and are usually a fraction of MD pricing.

Yes but most people buy a recent car will want a main dealer history.....

Some of the independent dealers are great, some are pure f**king rubbish...the problem is how can anyone tell as no standard etc. At least a main dealer has to stick to standard etc

FishOnABike

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Yes but most people buy a recent car will want a main dealer history.....

Some of the independent dealers are great, some are pure f**king rubbish...the problem is how can anyone tell as no standard etc. At least a main dealer has to stick to standard etc

I've seen a main dealer cross thread a spark plug and another forget to secure a wheel arch liner after working on a clutch. Unfortinately main dealership is no guarantee of the quality of workmanship.