Car servicing at main dealer?

[Graham C]

I bought my car from a Vauxhall dealer, but I don't have to get it serviced through them do I?  Are the days of when getting the dealer to service make the log book better gone or should I continue to get them do it?   There's a garage in the same yard as us so it would be much easier to get them to do it, but I don't want to do anything that will be bad long term news.

Silly question but I thought I'd ask before I book it in.

ta

[jizzemm]

I bought my car from a Vauxhall dealer, but I don't have to get it serviced through them do I?  Are the days of when getting the dealer to service make the log book better gone or should I continue to get them do it?   There's a garage in the same yard as us so it would be much easier to get them to do it, but I don't want to do anything that will be bad long term news.

Silly question but I thought I'd ask before I book it in.

ta

I would say if the car is still within the warranty period then u need to us e a Vauxhall dealer. After 3 years (i think) then dont bother is my opinion.

[Graham C]

It wasn't brand new when I bought it, does that matter?  It had it's first MOT last year. 

[M3boy]

Having ALL the repair/service Invoices adds more value to a car than a stamped log book imo - wherever you take it

[Graham C]

I keep the receipts etc, and the guy behind me will stamp the book to say it's been done, the stamp just won't have Vauxhall on it. 

[vegaslover]

No you don't need to take it to a Vauxhall garage, whether it's brand new or not.
Most companies will tell you that you break the warranty if you don't but that's a load of crap, as rules by the European courts.
Only upside is that it adds some resale value to have a 'named' stamp.

[lazaroonie]

this is a very interesting question. For years dealers argued that by not taking your car to the main dealer would invalidate any warranty. Then some bright spark had the time/money/inclination to challenge this in court, arguing that it anti-competitive. The ruling was that it was reasonable to take you car to a non franchised mechanic for servicing, as long as the garage carried out the service to the manufacturers specification, and used manufacturers approved parts.

It is important to emphasize that the garage must follow the service schedule set out by the manufacturer, and not just do what they would call a "standard service". So for example, if the manufacturer says the fuel filter should be replaced at 40K miles, then they must replace it. For this reason it is important to keep all the receipts, to show that the work has been done to the required level.

Dealers and those who work for you will still try to scare you that your warranty will be invalidated, but they are just lying and trying to scare you. (who would have thought that eh ? )

[kinboshi]

this is a very interesting question. For years dealers argued that by not taking your car to the main dealer would invalidate any warranty. Then some bright spark had the time/money/inclination to challenge this in court, arguing that it anti-competitive. The ruling was that it was reasonable to take you car to a non franchised mechanic for servicing, as long as the garage carried out the service to the manufacturers specification, and used manufacturers approved parts.

It is important to emphasize that the garage must follow the service schedule set out by the manufacturer, and not just do what they would call a "standard service". So for example, if the manufacturer says the fuel filter should be replaced at 40K miles, then they must replace it. For this reason it is important to keep all the receipts, to show that the work has been done to the required level.

Dealers and those who work for you will still try to scare you that your warranty will be invalidated, but they are just lying and trying to scare you. (who would have thought that eh ? )

Don't believe car dealers would do that.  Far too honest a profession.

[boldie]

this is a very interesting question. For years dealers argued that by not taking your car to the main dealer would invalidate any warranty. Then some bright spark had the time/money/inclination to challenge this in court, arguing that it anti-competitive. The ruling was that it was reasonable to take you car to a non franchised mechanic for servicing, as long as the garage carried out the service to the manufacturers specification, and used manufacturers approved parts.

It is important to emphasize that the garage must follow the service schedule set out by the manufacturer, and not just do what they would call a "standard service". So for example, if the manufacturer says the fuel filter should be replaced at 40K miles, then they must replace it. For this reason it is important to keep all the receipts, to show that the work has been done to the required level.

Dealers and those who work for you will still try to scare you that your warranty will be invalidated, but they are just lying and trying to scare you. (who would have thought that eh ? )

Don't believe car dealers would do that.  Far too honest a profession.

indeed..all the crooked ones are estate agents now.

[cia260895]

this is a very interesting question. For years dealers argued that by not taking your car to the main dealer would invalidate any warranty. Then some bright spark had the time/money/inclination to challenge this in court, arguing that it anti-competitive. The ruling was that it was reasonable to take you car to a non franchised mechanic for servicing, as long as the garage carried out the service to the manufacturers specification, and used manufacturers approved parts.

It is important to emphasize that the garage must follow the service schedule set out by the manufacturer, and not just do what they would call a "standard service". So for example, if the manufacturer says the fuel filter should be replaced at 40K miles, then they must replace it. For this reason it is important to keep all the receipts, to show that the work has been done to the required level.

Dealers and those who work for you will still try to scare you that your warranty will be invalidated, but they are just lying and trying to scare you. (who would have thought that eh ? )

Don't believe car dealers would do that.  Far too honest a profession.

indeed..all the crooked ones are estate agents now.

or Plumbers

[doubleup]

I used a dealer for my services mainly because they didn't charge that much and picked up and brought back the car to my workplace.  When they did the first MOT they repaired a couple of things under warranty.

[MPOWER]

If you are going to keep the car for years after the warranty period has finished then local servicing
from a v.a.t registered garage is fine in most cases.

If your driving a car, which when you change could be a retail opportunity for the franchise then I'd stick to main dealer
servicing.

If the car was under warranty I'd never take it to a local garage . 

Dealers and those who work for you will still try to scare you that your warranty will be invalidated, but they are just lying and trying to scare you. (who would have thought that eh ?) 

BMW and most other franchises will always pay more in part exchange with FDSH if it's retail opportunity. We will not sell a car with a Micky mouse stamp in the book.

Another consideration keeping main dealer service history   is "good will" Most manufactures will offer some sort of "good will" when the car is out of warranty if you have a major failure when the warranty has expired if you have FDSH.   

Pay your money take your chance.


Regards

M

[Graham C]

Cheers guys.  I think I will use the main dealer this time mainly as they are offering a pick up service which is very useful for me as they are well out of my way.  I would like to swap it in sometime in the near future so perhaps it would be advantageous to keep in Vauxhalls good books for now.

[KingPoker]

Its quite funny I never service my car with a main dealer, purely because its an audi and cant be arsed to pay the service rates.

BUT... im looking for a new car now and i know what i want, and im ony looking for ones with a full service history done with main dealer. I know this is adding to the price of the car but IMO supplies more piece of mind.


If i had a brand new car (which i never would because whats the point???) and planned on keeping it, i wouldnt worry about main dealer servicing as the slightly better price you hold in resale, is only equivalent in reality to the extra in servicing the car at the main dealer. the profit/loss is negligent either way....again IMO