I'd recomend them, very helpful, good service! 
Fiat Newcastle
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Fiat Newcastle
Is there just the one Fiat garage in Newcastle?
OP
OP
in newcastle yeh but there's 2 or 3 a few miles away
Same garage as these guys...................
https://www.fiatforum.com/garages/67878-addison-newburn-newcastle.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/garages/67878-addison-newburn-newcastle.html
OP
OP
huh they're an indepandant garage who i use a lot, the fiat dealer's used as a last resource
i like the parts Guys at Benfield! They're great
LanciaMad said:
Yes Gainmanor have a good reputation.
I use benfield (railway street) all the time for parts, guys are spot on (but I always know exactly what I need).
David
David
The past couple of time i have gone to Gainmoaner, i have asked for the Zendar aerial for the panda and was told "sorry but fiat dont make aerials for pandas" but Benfield fiat managed to get me one. Another time i asked for a exhaust hanger for the fiorino (the rubber 'O' ring), but Gainmoaner ordered a metal bracket instead :bang:.
respect said:
From my experiences of main dealers Gainmanor is by far the best.
I bought my car from benfield and it had a slight electrical fault, it went backwards and forwards about 8 times (they did nothing to the car) then the warrenty ran out and they told me I would now have to pay for a new body computer becasue they found what the problem was (strange that the warrenty had just ran out), I said no and took it to gainmanor who instantly diagnosed a faulty earth and fixed it free of charge.
Nicer set of people at Gainmanor too.
What do you want from a Fiat Dealer?
a. Your vehicle serviced in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations?
b. A service at a fair price?
c. Your vehicle to be inspected correctly?
d. Friendly, efficient service from staff?
Don't visit this ranch, forget this bunch of cowboys, when will people ever take notice by learning from past experiences of Fiat owners whom paid hundreds of pounds for a very poor service?
By What Car:
Running your car - Servicing and repairs
The majority of new car owners dutifully return to the franchised dealer to have their car serviced, usually paying over the odds for the pleasure. In the past, owners of cars still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty were tied to the franchised network for servicing – but not any more. Follow our steps to good value servicing.
• Shop around – costs even vary between franchised dealers, so don’t just return to the one where you bought your car.
• You can now get your car serviced at a non-franchised garage without invalidating your warranty, so call local workshops for prices too.
• If you do go to an independent garage, ensure it is VAT-registered and make sure the parts and fluids used are genuine manufacturer products. Get receipts and part serial numbers to prove this.
• Always stick to your car’s servicing schedule and ensure that the servicing book is stamped.
• Always read your warranty document thoroughly before booking your car in for servicing.
• If your car needs a repair or some warranty work carried out, however, this must be done at a franchised dealer in order to keep your warranty intact.
In between services, you can keep your car in tip-top condition by keeping fluids topped up and by carrying out regular checks. Find out what simple DIY jobs you can do.
I hope this helps.
a. Your vehicle serviced in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations?
b. A service at a fair price?
c. Your vehicle to be inspected correctly?
d. Friendly, efficient service from staff?
Don't visit this ranch, forget this bunch of cowboys, when will people ever take notice by learning from past experiences of Fiat owners whom paid hundreds of pounds for a very poor service?
By What Car:
Running your car - Servicing and repairs
The majority of new car owners dutifully return to the franchised dealer to have their car serviced, usually paying over the odds for the pleasure. In the past, owners of cars still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty were tied to the franchised network for servicing – but not any more. Follow our steps to good value servicing.
• Shop around – costs even vary between franchised dealers, so don’t just return to the one where you bought your car.
• You can now get your car serviced at a non-franchised garage without invalidating your warranty, so call local workshops for prices too.
• If you do go to an independent garage, ensure it is VAT-registered and make sure the parts and fluids used are genuine manufacturer products. Get receipts and part serial numbers to prove this.
• Always stick to your car’s servicing schedule and ensure that the servicing book is stamped.
• Always read your warranty document thoroughly before booking your car in for servicing.
• If your car needs a repair or some warranty work carried out, however, this must be done at a franchised dealer in order to keep your warranty intact.
In between services, you can keep your car in tip-top condition by keeping fluids topped up and by carrying out regular checks. Find out what simple DIY jobs you can do.
I hope this helps.
respect said:
This is not new,its been known for years,search the forum & you will see this.
However what it does not say is would you rather have you car inspected by a fully trained(IMI approved) Fiat technician of 'X' amount of years experience who knows exactly where to look/check or a independent garage who do the basics & thats it.End of day its your car & your money so choice is yours,I know which one I would choose!
Many occasions I have declined warranty work to customers because local garage was not VAT registered(even though they said they were)or pattern parts were used,unknown to customer to save money.
Anyone can work at a independent garage...whose working on your car?
p.s.I have nothing against local garages & have stated this many times & have worked at many.However they do not have the access to technical info & tools as a dealer has.You pay for what you get.
T14086 said:
I live in the south and bought a new Panda with the 1.3 multijet engine.
I decided to have an early oil and filter change and the main dealer kindly let me watch the tech fit the new oil filter and use my own synthetic oil.
I noticed the original Fiat oil filter being taken out was different ( sort of with vertical wavy pleats) to the one being fitted. Later after a few more thousand miles I bought a Fiat filter from parts and it was a * wavy pleated* one in a Fiat box as originally taken out.
Examining the old filter now removed, that the main dealers tech had fitted, it was not a Fiat part....... (another obscure name on the filter)
Then there was the tech, clanging the wrench against the edge of the engine bay paint while doing the oil filter.
To be honest there were a couple of other things and he seemed to be racing the clock to get a card stamped.
Put me right off and I will take a chance with the warranty and do the regular servicing myself.
I believe there is now some sort of legistlation where dealers are not tied to manufacturers for parts?
Then on another car I had a main dealer antifreeze change and the header tank was half empty when I got home.
2 years later I changed this antifreeze myself and it came out as almost pure antifreeze.
I speculated that some apprentice may have got the job, poured antifreeze in and not had room for the water, as only 2/1/2 litres of fluid comes out when the bottom hose clip is removed ( I was charged for 3 litres of antifreeze and this bottom hose clip was the only one disturbed)
I have the greatest respect for the work some of the senior techs have done for me at this dealership, but felt that your comments on idependents/ main dealer needed some balance as both may not meet the standards of workmanship given by a competent home mechanic.
defoTut said:
they arent even close, its not a matter or skills or experience, a blind goat can service a car, its a question of care, and it doesnt matter where you go they probably wont care about your car. its just a car to them, another part of their daily job. but to me my car is my baby, she's mine and special and every scratch and dent hurts me, even the ones in the engine bay. she deserves the best, the best parts the best fluids and the best care. only i'll bother to do that so only i'm qualified to work on my car. if i need to go to a garage (due to lack of tools or equipment) i only take it to places i know well and i stay with the car the whole time (sad i know but its true). that may seem paranoid but if you've seen the things ive seen you wouldnt turn your back for a minute.
Tut said:
Which was noted at the end of my post.............
"p.s.I have nothing against local garages & have stated this many times & have worked at many."
Strange you felt tech rushed the job as you get plenty of time on these during service,also cant understand how he was 'clanging the wrench against the edge of the engine bay paint while doing the oil filter' ?
T14086 said:
In your earlier post you said
" would you rather have you car inspected by a fully trained(IMI approved) Fiat technician of 'X' amount of years experience who knows exactly where to look/check or a independent garage who do the basics & thats it."
I know a Main Dealer who puts out engine/ gearbox stripdowns to an independent........ who specialises in this.
I`m sure you know that a lot of work gets put out to independents, a sheared off glowplug for example that needs burning out, will get the head taken round to an independent engineering works.
Also, glass, sound system upgrades, tyres, often taken to the local independent specialist. Small paint/dents will often get a small independent doing the job on the premises.
Re the wrench incident. This was on raising a long flexible joint extension over the lip of the engine bay and letting the bottom part clatter over the pannel the bonnet shuts onto, after using the wrench on the filter.
Lots of servicing work really is routine though.. Fluids and filters, brakes, safety check.
No tappets or cambelt to do, long life alternator drive belt. IMHO the Fiat techs are really great at the cars ecu/electrical systems and perhaps worth main dealer labour charges when there is a fault.
For regular routine servicing though IMHO the multijet poses no problems to an independent for routine servicing, or better, a competent home mechanic who has no time pressures in completing the job.
Re the "rushing" I have often found that where a clock off jobcard is involved there is bonus system in place in the motor trade.
Personally yes...I would rather a 'dedicated to that particular make of car tech' worked on my car but it up to the cars owner to decide.Lots are happy with independent garages(because of the price?)so good,I have no problem with that,it's your money/car so do with it what you will.
I have had 3 recent cases on non-VAT garages servicing cars & the owners have had warranty claims rejected,one of which was very expensive.Moral here is obviously make sure the independent garage is VAT registered & of good workmanship.
Gearboxes are stripped in-house by ourselves but auto-boxes are shipped out to local specialist(out of warranty period).Money is normally the factor here as are head skimming as we obviously dont have a milling machine in the workshop Paint/dents etc as you stated although if bodyshop is quiet it will be done there.
Time bonus schemes are rare amoung big dealerships who now favour the 'care' bonus scheme which only partially involves work times.
I have had 3 recent cases on non-VAT garages servicing cars & the owners have had warranty claims rejected,one of which was very expensive.Moral here is obviously make sure the independent garage is VAT registered & of good workmanship.
Gearboxes are stripped in-house by ourselves but auto-boxes are shipped out to local specialist(out of warranty period).Money is normally the factor here as are head skimming as we obviously dont have a milling machine in the workshop
Paint/dents etc as you stated although if bodyshop is quiet it will be done there.Time bonus schemes are rare amoung big dealerships who now favour the 'care' bonus scheme which only partially involves work times.
