First Service - Dealer or local?

Driventemple

Driventemple

Joined
Mar 23, 2018
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Location
East Devon
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52,960
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PVC
Exp
Since 1995 + 20Yrs a 'Tugger' first.
The 'van is 12 months old and I need an oil and filter change. Question is, do I go to nearest Fiat Professional 26 miles away or, Local garage just down the road who I have dealt with over several vehicles and in whom I have complete confidence?
 
Normally 1st service is 2 years your choice BUT check whatever you do keeps your warranty valid.
 
I have never used main dealers to expensive find my local garage which I have used for over 20 years do just a good a job as long as they use original parts the warranty will not be affected
 
If it helps you decide, this was my bill from Fiat professional in Bristol, Oct 2017. Ist service.
7BDFF961-A202-4AE9-A6CE-7592F24E3ADF.jpeg

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Driventemple said:
The 'van is 12 months old and I need an oil and filter change. Question is, do I go to nearest Fiat Professional 26 miles away or, Local garage just down the road who I have dealt with over several vehicles and in whom I have complete confidence?
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You can get anyone to do it and the warranty will be valid providing they use approved parts. However, I think this is an EU rule so take your pick how that pans out. :)

I got mine done by a Fiat garage while under warranty just for peace of mind. They will know about software updates and non-urgent recall work done only when the vehicle comes in for a service, mine had several things done to it like this in the first couple of years. If you use an independent check they have access to this information.
 
Why risk your warranty for a service Fiat don’t think is needed?
 
Riverbankannie said:
If it helps you decide, this was my bill from Fiat professional in Bristol, Oct 2017. Ist service.
View attachment 290979
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Fiat Professional garages appear to be hugely variable across the country. Our local Fiat Professional/Iveco commercial (North East Truck and Van) charged us £130 for our second year service and £280 for the third and forth year including MOT and a fuel filter. They declined my request to change the brake fluid saying they’d test it and change it if necessary, adding “we don’t want you wasting money”
It’s booked in again with them for this year.
I have heard others say Fiat are more likely to contribute should anything go wrong out of warranty if it’s been serviced by a Fiat Professional.
 
As others have said, why risk your warranty by having a service, that your van doesn't need, at a non franchised dealer

Modern oils are far superior to the stuff we used to use, stop being old school and realise it's 2019:)

My last 2 year full service (at 55,000 miles) cost £300 at a franchised dealer - a local garage quoted £250 hardly a saving and a fully stamped service book from a franchised dealer is a plus point for many potential buyers, should I ever want to sell it (I dont!)
 
Hettie's Crew said:
Fiat Professional garages appear to be hugely variable across the country. Our local Fiat Professional/Iveco commercial (North East Truck and Van) charged us £130 for our second year service and £280 for the third and forth year including MOT and a fuel filter. They declined my request to change the brake fluid saying they’d test it and change it if necessary, adding “we don’t want you wasting money”
It’s booked in again with them for this year.
I have heard others say Fiat are more likely to contribute should anything go wrong out of warranty if it’s been serviced by a Fiat Professional.
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I wish I was nearer the North East! I’m certainly not going back to Fiat Bristol and will be looking for an independant recommendation in my area.

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In nearly 60 years of motoring I have never used a main dealer - I do not understand why they think it necessary to have a lounge, coffee machine and a person with a clean white coat and clipboard to run a workshop, with no access to the 'Spanner' who does the job. My current commercial garage has a small office for the boss, who understands all my needs, will not change engine oil if it still looks, smells and feels clean etc. and a workshop which one can see.

I always seek recommendations from experienced mechanics for an independent workshop.

There are also half-way houses, if one is lucky to find them, for example I was recommended to a lock-up garage which specialised in BMWs, because Mario had been trained by BMW and held authorisation from them to stamp service books and had access to their diagnostic equipment and re-call info. I used him for near 30 years - then the b*gger retired, without asking me.:( He was less than half the BMW Dealer price and I saw what he had done. He could also source genuine parts at half the price. For me it was win/win.

I must have saved tens of thousands of pounds over the 5 decades and never had bad workmanship, nor unnecessary work done.

In addition I have had the satisfaction of keeping some good guys in business, instead of having to work as an employee with the bosses creaming off the profits.

Geoff
 
Riverbankannie said:
I wish I was nearer the North East! I’m certainly not going back to Fiat Bristol and will be looking for an independant recommendation in my area.
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I've always used M&D services in Fishponds for my servicing and MOTs
 
lunarman said:
I've always used M&D services in Fishponds for my servicing and MOTs
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I did go there for MOT as our usual place which was able to take high top VW not able to take the Ducato.
Not totally impressed but will keep it in mind for service. thanks
 
Driventemple said:
Sorry, I'm 'old school'. Can't let that oil stay there for two years :LOL:
Click to expand...

I'm the same :rolleyes:

Just had my 2018 oil and filter changed by my regular mechanic. He stamped the book.

However, come next year I shall indeed be visiting the main dealer for its first 'service' when it's 2 years old. Mainly because I can do without the agro of warranty small print and get-out clauses, should anything go wrong.

I'll also be bringing my credit card :unsure:
 
Thanks for those answers. It seems that the major charges were for air filters for the cab.
I relate to your "Biting the bullet and getting out the plastic" Riverbankannie!

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Just had ours into the Fiat Professional/IVECO place ..... Autoservices in Perth for an MOT today. They gave it a service last year too. Absolutely great service. Prices reasonable and they don’t try and oversell ..... quite the reverse! Oh and MOT passed with no problems(y)
 
Slight thread drift here.

I have a VW Passat which is using variable service intervals.
Normally an oil change about every 2 years.
This of course is the fully synthetic 'water' that passes for oil in modern engines.:D2

However , being a bit wary of this, I do an interim oil change myself. Even though with modern oils it's not strictly required.

Thus I get maximum protection for minimum cost.(y)
 

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