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Cars, main dealer servicing prices

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Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Lons » 19 Jan 2022, 23:30

I've mentioned this in the past but got another shock yesterday.
My car needs a B1 main service, basically change brake fluid and dust filters on top of an A service, I went on the manufacturer website to get quotes and it lists my car as needing just the A service so the quote for that from Newcastle Mercedes (Sytner) was £443.62 and exactly the same from main dealer at Coldstream was £333.72 so why the hell is there a difference of £110 between main dealers? It's because Sytner have a monopoly in the area with lots of dealerships! I Knew that because last time it was £60 more.
I rang Newcastle and asked for a price for the correct B1 service and was quoted £546.26 "but of course sir that doesn't include £40 extra to top up the Adblue, plus cost of the liquid". Yeah right, don't ring me I'll ring you! For those who don't know the Adblue is simply poured into a separate tank with the filler next to the fuel filler.........Damn thieves and robbers.
So like last time it's going in on Friday to my trusted local specialist garage, correct Bosch parts same as Mercedes use, total cost £194
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Malc2098 » 20 Jan 2022, 01:07

It's been a while since I had my Jaguar, but work done at a Jaguar main dealer down here in Devon back in the late noughties was £100 ph, while the local garage round the back streets was £35 ph with a much better service and more knowledgable mechanics.

The local garage hourly rate has gone up obviously but is still much much lower than main dealers.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby jimmy s » 20 Jan 2022, 02:35

I think the dealers margins are getting squeezed so much on car sales now. In addition a lot of them seem to be franchises so when the brand decides its time to modernise, they dont get much say and have to install what they are told by Volvo or Audi or whoever. So they claw what they can back through overpriced servicing.

My current car has had minimal servicing at the dealers to maintain its warranty but from now on its goes to the local garage, where I know the guys by name and trust. When it needed servicing to be fair the dealers used to collect it from the house and leave me a courtesy car which was quite handy. I can't remember what it was now but something wasn't right with it. I remember speaking to the sales guy (who had got the job of dropping off the courtesy car and taking mine in) to see if they could fix the issue when it was in for the service. The advice was that I might be better just fixing it myself (it was a minor thing) as the garage guys would probably make a mess of it!
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby novocaine » 20 Jan 2022, 08:48

How much do you think the rent is for a couple of thosand square metres indoor space with ample parking for up to 100 cars in a high traffic area is.
How much for the perfectly clean workshop, waiting area, car park and surrounding spaces is?
now, how much do you think the rent on a 1000 square metre space with 2 lifts and a * in the corner is?

Guess which of the two is making more profit on their prices? it isn't the stealers.

yes they cost more, yes the service probably isn't any better. no they won't go out of business if you don't use them, because others damn well will, because they simple don't know or they like the added bits they get at the dealer.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Lons » 20 Jan 2022, 10:17

novocaine wrote:How much do you think the rent is for a couple of thosand square metres indoor space with ample parking for up to 100 cars in a high traffic area is.
How much for the perfectly clean workshop, waiting area, car park and surrounding spaces is?
now, how much do you think the rent on a 1000 square metre space with 2 lifts and a * in the corner is?

Guess which of the two is making more profit on their prices? it isn't the stealers.

yes they cost more, yes the service probably isn't any better. no they won't go out of business if you don't use them, because others damn well will, because they simple don't know or they like the added bits they get at the dealer.

That's absolutely spot on however it doesn't explain why 2 comparable main dealers 60 miles apart and with very similar expense regarding corporate signage, type of building, customer add ons and car collection or courtesy car, basic health car video and copious coffee and biscuits etc. imposed as part of their Mercedes franchise are consistently a lot difference in price, in this case the difference was £110 which meant that one was a huge 33% more expensive on a like for like service.
They are definitely clawing back profit on service even more so than they've always done only some more than others. The other thing often overlooked is your car in a main dealer is often worked on by young apprentices, (my nephew is one with BMW) who carry out many of the checks, change the oil etc. but you're still charged the full rate, my local has all time served major brand trained mature mechanics who are far more likely to spot a potential issue.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Phil Pascoe » 20 Jan 2022, 10:44

I worked with a chap (he was part time) who was a mechanic for a Ford main dealer - he told me that when he was sixteen he was doing basic servicing on six cars every Saturday morning - six up on lifts, six oil drops, six filters changed, six sets of plugs changed ... all unsupervised, he was paid pence and they were charging top whack.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby RogerS » 20 Jan 2022, 11:10

Yup..I've been a mug for several years now taking my Q3 in to the main dealer.

But now I go to a good local garage. Recently replaced front drivers' brake calliper. £225

Audi main dealer price ? £442 !!!
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby fezman » 20 Jan 2022, 19:46

I've a Lexus SUV. Latest major service list price was £725, mot £50, New rear brake pads and discs £375. Dealer discounted that for me to £950 ish.
Now I may have still paid top dollar, but every time i go to the dealer, they give me a top notch courtesy car**, free tea / coffee / biscuits / nibbles / tin of sweets. Car gets a valet every time at no extra cost (and it's usually filthy).

** This service it was a brand new Lexus UX e - full electric - new cost approx £40k. Had it all day and a good run round in it. Great fun.

Last visit was a brand new RX450h, approx £58k.

Dealership is in a prime location, service is impeccable and the best i receive from any where ever.

I choose to drive a premium car and accept paying a premium price for a premium service. You pays your money, you takes your chance.

Oh and from this year, having it serviced by Lexus gets you a premium extended warranty for a full 12 months on both the hybrid batteries and any other (non-consumable) part of the car. This alone cost me £500/year previously. Now last summer the air con failed and the repair cost was approx £1.5k. Not a murmur of argument, i simply dropped the car off, took the RX450h courtesy car , went back the next day, picked mine back up (valeted again) and drove out with no charge. They even gave me another box of sweets :-)
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Lons » 20 Jan 2022, 21:52

I've paid main dealer prices many times, BMW, Audi and Mercedes including the first 2 services on my current GLC but let's not kid anyone here, the coffee, biscuits and courtesy car are not "free", they are included in the inflated price you pay for servicing.
My car is now 4 years old with nearly 23000 miles on the clock and is the longest I've kept a car for many years so previously have swapped my car whilst still under warranty and any major component failure is covered by that and it matters very little where you've had the car serviced as long it's a VAT registered garage using approved parts, the most you gain using a main dealer is some goodwill if you have niggling problems.

BTW it's not difficult to borrow a luxury car for a day if they think you might be in the market to trade, I've done it a couple of times and even had a BMW X5 for a weekend. The last time i was seriously looking I expressed an interest in an AWD E class saloon, surprise surprise when my car went in some warranty bits they loaned me a brand new top of the range E class. It was a soft top and bloody rained all day though. :lol:

We all have the option to choose what we wish however I object to being ripped off and feel in this case it's what they are trying to do.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby RogerS » 20 Jan 2022, 22:26

Lons wrote:....
We all have the option to choose what we wish however I object to being ripped off and feel in this case it's what they are trying to do.


+1

I can forgo having my car valeted if it saves me over £200 !
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Lons » 20 Jan 2022, 23:02

RogerS wrote:
Lons wrote:....
We all have the option to choose what we wish however I object to being ripped off and feel in this case it's what they are trying to do.


+1

I can forgo having my car valeted if it saves me over £200 !


I've never allowed any of them to do it Roger, as you know I'm a bit fussy and the kids they employ to wash the cars don't do it properly. :lol:
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby AJB Temple » 21 Jan 2022, 09:53

Next to the supermarket precinct in Tonbridge, near where we live, while you shop the local valet place with proper facilities all under cover of an awning, will let you drop your car, give it a full clean inside and out, tire shine, all glass cleaned, boot emptied and vacuumed. £15 for a large SUV. They do a great job.

I treat myself once a year. :lol:
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby novocaine » 21 Jan 2022, 10:03

MY wife paid someone to do her car (it's her's till it breaks) last year. I then finished the job. :D
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Woodster » 21 Jan 2022, 11:56

My car came with a five year warranty so it made sense to have it serviced at the main dealer. My last couple of services were a bit over £100 plus they do the MOT for me for £40. They pick the car up from home, do the work then wash and valet (they did a fantastic job last time) they then drop it back off at home. This seems like great service to me for the money. I also have peace of mind that they get all the latest TSB’s etc.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Lons » 21 Jan 2022, 12:29

AJB Temple wrote:I treat myself once a year. :lol:


:shock: Mine gets properly washed twice a week and thorough clean inside every week, more if I've carried anything mucky in the boot, also waxed roughly once a month and a light machine polish every spring. I wash my wife's car every week but flatly refuse to do the inside, unless I'm angling for some new tools and need a few brownie points. ;)
The kids know I'm OTT and my daughter takes advantage of that by dropping by just at the right time to include hers. :)
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby RogerS » 21 Jan 2022, 12:49

Lons wrote:.....
The kids know I'm OTT and my daughter takes advantage of that by dropping by just at the right time to include hers. :)


I think you mean OCD :lol:
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Stuart » 21 Jan 2022, 13:14

If I’m correct you don’t need main dealer servicing to maintain a warranty any more. Just servicing in accordance with the manufactures recommendations.

Any franchised dealer is generally a ‘rip off’ when compared to a good specialist garage (note, - good specialist not just a back street black hole!).
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Phil Pascoe » 21 Jan 2022, 13:26

Lons wrote:
AJB Temple wrote:I treat myself once a year. :lol:


:shock: Mine gets properly washed twice a week and thorough clean inside every week


I used to park next to a bin when the pedals wouldn't go down because of the rubbish under them and empty it, other than that I've had cars that haven't been cleaned from the day I got them to the day they were scrapped. :lol:
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Lons » 21 Jan 2022, 18:23

RogerS wrote:
Lons wrote:.....
The kids know I'm OTT and my daughter takes advantage of that by dropping by just at the right time to include hers. :)


I think you mean OCD :lol:


That as well. :lol:

I've just picked up the car after servicing and he said it's running like a well oiled sewing machine. The car has to be serviced every year which is a pain and the last main dealer service was more than 2 years ago, I note from the paperwork that they had flagged up that 3 tyres could do with replacing very soon and the rear brake disks had some corrosion, I didn't do anything about that at the time and they weren't mentioned on the last year's local dealer service, I asked my friendly mechanic to check condition today and he told me that all 4 tyres still have a minimum 4 mm of tread with just some light crazing around the edges and the brake disks are in excellent condition. It all just reinforces my opinion based on personal experience.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Phil Pascoe » 21 Jan 2022, 20:41

We use a little back street garage that has never let us down. My daughter had been driving for a couple of years when a workmate told her she'd been to a local (known to be expensive) dealer because her wipers had broken down - they quoted her £200+ vat without looking. She told her to go where we go - she saw the girl a week or two later and asked how she got on. Brilliant, she said, they charged me £35 and did it while I waited.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Woodster » 22 Jan 2022, 12:29

Servicing and repair costs often come up on the forums I’m on. It’s normally German car buyers that complain the most. It’s seems many are prepared to pay a premium to buy a particular car but don’t like it when the dealership charges them a premium for servicing and parts?

https://www.hotcars.com/everyday-german ... oney-pits/
Last edited by Woodster on 22 Jan 2022, 14:32, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Cars, main dealer servicing prices

Postby Lons » 22 Jan 2022, 13:50

Woodster wrote:Servicing and repair costs often come up on the forums I’m on. It’s normally German car buyers that complain the most. It’s seems many are prepared to pay a premium to buy a particular car but don’t like it when the dealership charges them a premium for servicing and parts?


Not so, you need to look closer at servicing costs of Landrover, Jaguar, Ford and Vauxhall and Nissan for example. It doesn't help of course that the manufacturers are pretty much all owned by oversees companies. I have direct experience of 3 of those I've listed btw.

I doubt if anyone especially with a premium car objects too much to the cost of regular servicing, I certainly don't but like anyone else we want value for money and don't want to be ripped off.
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