Ducato First/2yr Service - recommendations? (2 Viewers)

maz

Jan 26, 2011
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With the van coming up to 2 years old in April I thought I'd start looking into getting its first service done in March. That way if they find anything else wrong it's still under warranty for repairs.

Was considering getting it done at a Fiat Commercial garage I know in Worcester on my way south (they've done recall and warranty work for me), but the price quoted of £320 plus an extra £50 for changing the brake fluid has put me off somewhat! :Eeek:

So can anyone recommend a good (and less expensive) garage in either the Wrexham/Shrewsbury area (where I am at the moment) or Cheltenham/Worcester area (where I'll be heading around 20th March)? They'll need to be able to accommodate an 8m 5 ton van.

And is the mentioned £100 cost of the oil alone true for all suitable replacement oils or just the branded Fiat one? :wub:
 
Feb 9, 2008
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Should have had the oil changed last year.

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Bill
 
Feb 9, 2008
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Its a diesel engine, even if it's hardly been run its always best to change the oil at least annually.

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Bill
 
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maz

maz

Jan 26, 2011
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Its a diesel engine, even if it's hardly been run its always best to change the oil at least annually.

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Bill

Thank you for your opinion but I shall be sticking with the Fiat requirement/recommendation.

From the Fiat website:

Remember that the service coupon must be carried out every 30,000 miles. If you do not do many miles a year, we recommend that you change the oil every two years. To keep your warranty valid, you do not need to have your motorhome serviced at the end of its first year of life, unless you have already completed the mileage specified for a service. Use only the recommended engine oil, Selenia WR, or an equivalent SAE 5W-30 oil that conforms to ACEA C2 standard.

I am far more interested in locating a recommended garage in either the Wrexham/Shrewsbury or Cheltenham/Worcester areas than turning this thread into a debate on annual/biannual oil changes - I am sure that's already been done to death in other threads. :RollEyes:
 
Jan 11, 2010
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Well that`s our 13th year & still loving it.
I live in Chester and take my motorhome to Stewart Burrows Llanfynydd Tel 01352 770472, one of the few garages around here that can MOT commercial vehicles.:thumb:

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maz

maz

Jan 26, 2011
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I live in Chester and take my motorhome to Stewart Burrows Llanfynydd Tel 01352 770472, one of the few garages around here that can MOT commercial vehicles.:thumb:

Thank you for that. A bit further southwest than I was hoping but I've made a note of him for future travels. :Smile:

Ignore that bit. Must be two Llanfynydds - google maps sent me to Carmarthenshire but that doesn't tie in with an 01352 number. :doh:
 
Last edited:
Oct 1, 2013
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From the Fiat website:

Remember that the service coupon must be carried out every 30,000 miles. If you do not do many miles a year, we recommend that you change the oil every two years. To keep your warranty valid, you do not need to have your motorhome serviced at the end of its first year of life, unless you have already completed the mileage specified for a service. Use only the recommended engine oil, Selenia WR, or an equivalent SAE 5W-30 oil that conforms to ACEA C2 standard.
Blimey, that's a surprise, but if Fiat say so, then who's to argue :Smile:

Still, I always change oil every year or 10,000 miles, just to be safe :winky:

And every 2,000 miles in the bike :Smile:
 
Mar 26, 2009
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Maz,

Stewart Burrows mechanical engineers.jpg


Hope this helps.

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tonka

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Jul 2, 2008
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I bite the bullet and paid Fiat.... :Doh: £425...

Van was 2 years old back in January and at least for the first one I thought it best as there is still a 1 year warrentee in place... As per Fiats own guideline on these new engines, 25,000km or 2 years.... There is NO stipulation on a first year service.

They do specify the brake fluid change, an independant Fiat specialist in Stoke actually quoted me as much as Fiat.. They priced all the correct parts, oils etc and with slightly lower labour costs but longer travelling distance it make sense to go with my local Fiat place..

Sorry cant help on a recommendation for cheaper, just though I would reply with how I had approached it..
 
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May 12, 2011
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I just used the Motorhome Depot in Redditch to get the tracking done on my van, they had 4 other vans in for servicing at the same time. Just moved from Redditch centre to new premises on an industrial estate with ease of access and large service bays. Just Motorhomes I think.

Bartleet Road, Redditch, B98 0DG Tel 01527 60047.

This is about a 10minute drive off junction 3 of the M42, so not far off the M5.
There is a nice walk across the fields to the Arrow Valley, a couple getting a habitation check went off with their dog while I was there.
 
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maz

maz

Jan 26, 2011
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There is a nice walk across the fields to the Arrow Valley, a couple getting a habitation check went off with their dog while I was there.

Yes, I always have to consider the dog - one of the reasons I like the Fiat Commercial garage in Worcester - right by footpath along the river. :Smile:
 
May 12, 2011
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Until last week, that would have been the footpath under the river....:Smile:

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Feb 9, 2008
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I have read the Fiat manual, I also worked on diesel engines for over 25 years.

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Bill

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May 21, 2008
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I have a Citroen Relay, which also has a 2 year servicing period - perhaps all the Sevel factory vans do? The guy who serviced mine said it was a Ford engine... Not sure how correct that was!!!

Maz - you may be interested to read this thread on outandaboutlive - a bit old but may be relevant

Catherine
 
Jan 11, 2010
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Well that`s our 13th year & still loving it.
Personally I couldn`t care less what is stated in the Fiat manual or what the Fiat service centre advised.
As oils are hydroscopic and motorhomes are generally only used for shorter journeys between stops and a low mileage over the year, so the engines are heating up and cooling down etc etc, all of which generates condensation within the engine block.

So I change the engine oil in all our vehicles a minimum of once a year and twice a year in my motorbike.
[FONT=&quot]Clean engine oil ensures a clean engine, will help keep the injectors clean and give a longer life to glow plugs and that equals longevity and more trouble free motoring.:thumb:[/FONT]
 
Feb 9, 2008
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I understand the engine is actually an IVECO engine, as used in Fords.

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Bill

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Jun 23, 2013
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I'm due to pick my X250 back tomorrow. It's had what they call a 'low mileage' service. It had an oil & filter change before I bought it last July (at about 3500 miles) and to ensure the warranty is kept unto date, I took it to a Fiat Commercial dealers last week (at only 5000 miles). Whilst it was there I requested a couple of bits of warranty work and it is this, that has caused a delay (a glow plug is down and some dash wiring needs sorting).

The low mileage service is only £250 and obviously the warranty work is free . . . :Cool:
 
Jan 27, 2013
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Its a diesel engine, even if it's hardly been run its always best to change the oil at least annually.

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Bill

Not according to Fiat

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Jan 27, 2013
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My MH is eleven months old. I checked the document and online and low mileage means an oil & filter change at two years and a suggestion of changing the brake fluid.

I'm quite happy with that; it's a low mileage, low revving Diesel engine.

On my car I have the oil and filter changed every 5-7 months (between annual services). It's still low mileage, but it's petrol, high revving and Italian :Doh:

In 13 months I'll be taking my MH to a commercial Fiat garage and paying £250 for a short (low mileage) service.
 
Dec 28, 2011
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I'm due to pick my X250 back tomorrow. It's had what they call a 'low mileage' service. It had an oil & filter change before I bought it last July (at about 3500 miles) and to ensure the warranty is kept unto date, I took it to a Fiat Commercial dealers last week (at only 5000 miles). Whilst it was there I requested a couple of bits of warranty work and it is this, that has caused a delay (a glow plug is down and some dash wiring needs sorting).

The low mileage service is only £250 and obviously the warranty work is free . . . :Cool:

Which dealer did you take it to, if you don't mind me asking ?
Mine has to go to North East Truck and Van because of it's size.
That is even down in the Fiat dealer list in the service book.
 
Jan 11, 2010
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Well that`s our 13th year & still loving it.
Fiat service and main dealer prices as seen from some of the post in this thread are amazing, we have been told our annual habitation cost is £120 and a full service cost is £180. that is from the dealership we bought our motorhome from.

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DBK

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Jan 9, 2013
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If you want to maintain the warranty I think you must take it to a Fiat accredited garage and I suspect they will all cost pretty much the same. Go to an independent and the engine blows up the following week Fiat will wash their hands of the case. Once the warranty is expired go wherever you want.

Long service intervals are very common these days. Improved lubricants, design, materials and manufacturing contribute but a significant factor is the competition between manufacturers to make their vehicles more attractive to fleet buyers through reduced running costs. The typical fleet buyer isn't going to run the vehicle beyond its economic life, which for a typical white van might only be 6 or 7 years.

My new van will have a low mileage service on its first birthday in June as I intend to keep it for at least 10 years.
 
Oct 1, 2013
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If you want to maintain the warranty I think you must take it to a Fiat accredited garage and I suspect they will all cost pretty much the same. Go to an independent and the engine blows up the following week Fiat will wash their hands of the case.
That's an old wive's tale. You can take a vehicle to any VAT registered garage. As long as the garage use proper materials and oils, you are OK
Just get stamp in the book.

I have bought 6 brand new bikes in last 12 years and always done it this way and had no probs with warranty claims
 

DBK

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That's an old wive's tale. You can take a vehicle to any VAT registered garage. As long as the garage use proper materials and oils, you are OK
Just get stamp in the book.

I have bought 6 brand new bikes in last 12 years and always done it this way and had no probs with warranty claims


Technically correct and in the motorcycle world this may be well established but in the vehicle world I think, in reality, it is different. I think manufacturers, like insurance companies, try any excuse not to pay. Either way, you are taking a risk getting a vehicle under warranty serviced by an independent.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...-affect-a-warranty-and-misfiring-airbags.html

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