Uncle Les Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Hi Folks Have a 2yr old pickup that's just coming up for its 2nd service; Dealer garage looking for about £500 inc vat however Halfords quoted £239 inc vat for a full service. Ive checked with Halfords and they will use parts (filters/oils etc) in line with warranty conditions and say that my warranty will not be affected. Every pennys a prisoner and all that but seems too good to be true. Was just interested how many folk stick with the dealer for servicing or go elsewhere? If dealer was within £50 Id probably just go to them but Halfords are a bonefide business and not some back street fly by night so cant see any reason not to use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 I wouldn't let Halfords build my Lego. I have always used dealership garages in the past but recently used an ATS garage. They were almost half the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpringDon Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 I believe the warranty should be honoured if you can prove servicing was performed to the manufacturers schedule and genuine parts are used. It does not have to be a main dealer. However, halfords is the last place I would go. They may not be a fly by night but there is an huge variation in the quality of their staff. Go to an independent garage with a good reputation and see how much they charge. There is a reason why halfords are cheap ( if indeed they are really cheap). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 I stick with a main dealer, because I get our cars done cheaper than I could buy the parts. I will gladly do neighbours / relatives / friends cars, but it makes no sense to do my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Main agent during warranty period, that way there are no comebacks IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 (edited) Try tbe same dealer but a different garage.Wifes Ford has just had its 1st service,bought it from Jennings ford but Bristol street ford were £45 cheaper You can take take your car anywhere as long as its serviced within the guidines of the warranty. Edited November 7, 2016 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Les Posted November 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 thanks for replies; tried another dealer and they were even more at £636 inc vat (530 ex vat) think I`ll just bite the bullet and go with the cheaper dealer as at least if something happens they cant wriggle out of it.... A couple of hundred more for peace of mind opposed to the cost of a new gear box, engine, 4wd system in `Year 5` of the warranty would be a sickener. Ive been told the 3yr service is only about £150 so every cloud and awe that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Main dealer servicing stood us in good stead. We own a Landcruiser and despite it being 2 or might have been 3 years out of warranty, the replaced the injectors. £2,600 was the final bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 When my wife had a Jaguar Stype (latest jag at the time) our service from Strathstone Jaguar was appauling.During the service they put on 2 x directional tyres.On the way home the rear end was vibrating @ 60mph, got out to find they put the tyres on the wrong way & only one bolt holding one of the rear wheels on.At £126 per hour labour you expect top quality service,maybe Halford would if been a better choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Main dealer servicing stood us in good stead. We own a Landcruiser and despite it being 2 or might have been 3 years out of warranty, the replaced the injectors. £2,600 was the final bill. This is a good point. If a part fails ,like an injector or cam belt,EGR ect, that shouldnt really fail within a certain 'reasonable milage,then the dealers are duty bound to fix it ,or at the death ,pay monies toward it. I had a customer whos cam belt snapped at 48000 miles ,it required a new engine,which was replaced ,under warranty FOC by the dealer. The car was 11 years old. Have your car serviced where you want,but make sure it does not leave room for the dealer to wriggle out of it in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budice Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Going to a decent independant garage is fine, they DO NOT have to use original equipment parts. The parts they use must meet the OE specs and most major brands of filters and other service parts will meet these specs, brands such as Mann & Hummell, Wix, Fram, NGT, Gates (if you're having the timing belt changed). The correct spec oil must also be used again a decent brand will meet the specs. Also the car must be serviced in accordance the manufacturers published schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyh Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Also look at a service plan as it might work out cheaper in the long run. Personally I wouldn't let Halfords (or KwikFit for that matter!) change a lightbulb! As others have said, if there are any issues down the line they'll do their best to wiggle out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 any bonafide independant garage who uses oe spec parts and complies with main dealers service shedule can service your vehicle and not afffect your manufactures warranty offered with new car.i wouldnt let halfords or quick fit touch my grand daughters bicycle as seen horror at some of the out comes which appear at our garage from them but they tv advertise so brainwash public as they are the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1440 Posted November 7, 2016 Report Share Posted November 7, 2016 Main dealer.. I have a vauxhall with the lifetime warrenty. I took it in with a dashboard warning light. It y Turned out to be a glow lamp had gone faulty. First thing they did was check the service on their system. As it was up to date they did it without a quibble. I got ghe impression they would have put up a fight if ghe servicing haddn't been done or had been done by someone else. Probably would have cost £100 to replace of i'd had to have paid. A mate had a similar experience with a dofferent make where his car developed a serious engine management fault. It would have Broke him if he'd missed a service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 (edited) Main dealer.. I have a vauxhall with the lifetime warrenty. I took it in with a dashboard warning light. It y Turned out to be a glow lamp had gone faulty. First thing they did was check the service on their system. As it was up to date they did it without a quibble. I got ghe impression they would have put up a fight if ghe servicing haddn't been done or had been done by someone else. Probably would have cost £100 to replace of i'd had to have paid. A mate had a similar experience with a dofferent make where his car developed a serious engine management fault. It would have Broke him if he'd missed a service. So called LIFE TIME warranty is not like a normal warranty.These state you have to us the garage or franchise (Evans Halshaw and Stoneacre are just two dealers that run this scheme) for servicing.I had one with my Jimny i bought from Stoneacre Suzuki,could get it service only at Stoneacre.They work on the same priciple as a normal warranty other than having a firm hold on yout nuts.However a warranty of this type may be cheaper(£350ish-£400 for 2yrs) than an independent warranty from say Warranty Direct.But i think its cheaper as they mark up the servicing costs.Life time warranties usually come on 2nd hand cars and are becomming more common.I think its a loophole thats been created to re tie the customer to the dealer since the government clamp down (freedom to get service anywhere) on the old warranty system where you had to get the car service by the dealer. Edited November 8, 2016 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 Some years ago we had a big warranty claim on a commercial vehicle that had suffered a major engine failure. They did it but before it was authorised the manufacturer wanted chapter and verse on all the servicing. Fortunately it had all been done on time and by a main agent but I got the feeling that they were just looking for the smallest excuse to get out of doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db135 Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 Any garage can service your car and keep its warranty valid long as there vat registered use like for like parts ad still stick to using genuine filters like and the correct spec of oil your fine I make sure I keep the invoice from the service in my service book with the stamp in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db135 Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 Kia wanted 250 qwid for a second year service got it done through the fiat garage I work at ordered a second year service kit from kia used the 5/30 c3 low ash oil and a hours labour at staff rate 90 qwid job done inc parts and the labour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 A majority of our higher end company cars are dealer until the Warranty expires on time or mileage, after that they go into Halfords They appear to come back OK with the required bits done and parts replaced if needed. The only time they didn't perform too well was on a gear box change, the motor spent more time back in than it did out. Oh and they were forever setting warnings off on our telemetry by ragging them around or revving the knackers off them stationary, they eventually stopped doing it after a few high level meetings where they were presented with the GPS log and ECU print Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 a chap purchased a bmw 116 from stone acre car developed fault broke down and was recovered back to stoneacre selling garage they couldnt fully diagnose and didnt have have specialist software to diagnose we recovered car to our garage diagnosed timing chain stetched and jumped but they still couldnt repair as they didnt have the specialist timing tools or knowledge to carry out such repair which we did and they wouldnt pay for his repair bill chap pid us and was going to persue claim legally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 One of our local Landrover main dealers did first service on a top of the range R/Rover (£90k car) and forgot to put the oil in. Dippy lady owner didn't notice warning lights but £16,500 to replace engine and a couple of weeks later the gearbox failed. We have two Landy main dealers and a mate who runs a commercial vehicle repair business refuses to use either for his R/R Sport. It took three visits (+ compensation!!) to get the brake shoes replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 There is no guarantee whatsoever that paying a dealer top whack does not mean that some spotty 16 year old has not stripped every thread that he touched while servicing your pride and joy. If you know a local chap and build up a relationship over a number of years then I would always use him - you can chat while he does the work most times, my local charges me £70 for Oil + Oil, Air & fuel filter change which I think about right as the Oil is £26 to buy in Halfords, to date my car has covered 114,000 miles under his care and only ever had a coil pack fail on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 There is no guarantee whatsoever that paying a dealer top whack does not mean that some spotty 16 year old has not stripped every thread that he touched while servicing your pride and joy. If you know a local chap and build up a relationship over a number of years then I would always use him - you can chat while he does the work most times, my local charges me £70 for Oil + Oil, Air & fuel filter change which I think about right as the Oil is £26 to buy in Halfords, to date my car has covered 114,000 miles under his care and only ever had a coil pack fail on me. Spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benspain_uk Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 Had a nightmare at Ford recently. I've always used my local until I bought an SMax for the wife with a full ford service history so decided to keep the history up for when we decided to sell it. However after the last service where they didn't tighten up the oil filter which meant we were spilling oil everywhere and needed rescuing by the AA I was having seconds thoughts. Then after they had taking it back in and looked it all over and delared it all well, they damaged the o-ring which meant it was yet again leaking oil. Trip #3 to Mr Ford seems to have done the trick, but they should have got it right the first time. Still, at least they have refunded the cost of service plus the five litres (yes five!) of oil Mr AA had to put in at the side of the road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 Had a nightmare at Ford recently. I've always used my local until I bought an SMax for the wife with a full ford service history so decided to keep the history up for when we decided to sell it. However after the last service where they didn't tighten up the oil filter which meant we were spilling oil everywhere and needed rescuing by the AA I was having seconds thoughts. Then after they had taking it back in and looked it all over and delared it all well, they damaged the o-ring which meant it was yet again leaking oil. Trip #3 to Mr Ford seems to have done the trick, but they should have got it right the first time. Still, at least they have refunded the cost of service plus the five litres (yes five!) of oil Mr AA had to put in at the side of the road! If it needed 5 litres,and you had been driving it,I would be looking at getting a bit more than a free service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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