Oil and the difference between OEM and meets specs regards warranty.

[HandyAndy]

There was a thread a short while ago about serving your vehicle inside warranty period and a few people thought that they had to comply with the dealer to keep your warranty intact.
Most of this was surrounding the oil used.
As well as industry standards for oil, such as the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), original equipment manufacturer (OEM) often have their own standards or specifications for oil that can be used in their vehicles.

“These specifications are made available to oil blenders, who can then formulate products that meet the criteria. If an oil has been formulated in line with the OEM specification, it is described as “meets specification”.

“An oil is OEM approved if it has been submitted to the vehicle manufacturer for testing, and they have confirmed that it meets specification.”

Industry standards
The Verification of Lubricant Specification monitors the market and checks compliance of products to industry and performance standards, ensuring businesses and consumers have confidence in the claims made by oil blenders.

The European Commission introduced the block exemption regulation, which is a law that stops unfair activities that prevent competition.

In the context of oil, Millers Oils said: “it means motorists can have their vehicles serviced or repaired in any chosen workshop without invalidating their manufacturer’s warranty, so long as the work, parts and oil are of appropriate and matching standard to that of the manufacturer”.

The firm added: “Simply put, if an oil meets the OEM specification, it is the same standard as the OEM approved oil and will not invalidate warranty.”
So there you go ??☝

 

[Nixdorfer]

As a garage owner for the last 10yrs and a mechanic for 35 we run across warranty vehicles regularly.

Block exemption helped a bit but the issue with vehicles under warranty is the manufacturers don't just insist on you using genuine or approved parts, they also in their small print normally insist the work is carried out by someome VAT registered.

Its known in the trade but customers usually end up having to double check with the dealers or warranty company when we point it out and invariably are told the same

We can't take any risks with a customers warranty so usually end up referring them elsewhere till outside of warranty period.

So be careful you don't give them an easy excuse to avoid sorting any bigger issues.

Avoid the rip off dealers who do a sub standard job at 3 times the price and don't even bother taking the wheels off, instead find a good independent one who is vat registered.