General Have I just been mugged off for servicing?

[loveshandbags]

I love how they added "cleaned wipers" in the description to help justify the cost. That must have taken all of 20 seconds...

We got lucky on this one. The OH thanked them for not charging €40 for a new set salvaging the old pair. Then again I was charged €40 for one blade in a very reputable outfit in Kilbarrack.

From what i see its your labor price thats a joke = )

Couldn't work this out. Given that the charge is normaly €75 a hour it must have been for 2.5 hrs work.

...Consider how much Michael paid for the brake pads on his partners MiTo and you can get them for £20-30...

Not surprised you spotted that one... originally 'listed' at the price of a set of Ferodo DS-2500s for a 500 - I could have got her a 'cheap' set of Brembos.

When I first say the discounts on the bill I wondered if she used her charm :idea:...

 

[T14086]

they said unfortunately they couldn't as Fiat might "kick up a fuss" if they did otherwise.

Take it to a local independent garage, Fiat are a joke when it comes to servicing, if they don't even know what service you need what makes you think that the YTS 16 year old boy that will be doing the service will know what he is doing. At a local garage usually the person that owns the business will be the person that does the work.

Loads of crap local businesses though so that's an unfair assessment. One advantage of going to a large outlet is they have more to lose from bad publicity. A apprentice is not allowed to work unsupervised until 2 years experience (18).

i feel fiat would make more money if they had more control over their dealer standards.

Being saying this for over 8 years but it will never happen!

loveshandbags....5 litres of oil in a 1.3MJ? I'd be on that phone straight away and a set of aftermarket pads will cost you a 1/4 of the price. Shocking!

 

[ahmett]

Loads of crap local businesses though so that's an unfair assessment. One advantage of going to a large outlet is they have more to lose from bad publicity. A apprentice is not allowed to work unsupervised until 2 years experience (18).



Being saying this for over 8 years but it will never happen!

loveshandbags....5 litres of oil in a 1.3MJ? I'd be on that phone straight away and a set of aftermarket pads will cost you a 1/4 of the price. Shocking!

Haha they charged me 4 liters for a 1.4! Its ok I wont be going to my dealer again you can rip me off once but not twice!

 

[loveshandbags]

loveshandbags....5 litres of oil in a 1.3MJ? I'd be on that phone straight away and a set of aftermarket pads will cost you a 1/4 of the price. Shocking!

To give them their due it was a 1.6MJ - haven't got the handbook handy so they probably needed a 4L container. I looked at the 'final' price of €28 & was fine with it. Reading back on the thread we should have got the pads ourselves since the car is 'out of the 2 year manufacturers warranty period' and asked them to fit them. After checking the price of the pads the 'Bravo ones' that were fitted are dearer that Alfa pads & I would have thought that it would be the other way around. I then got a little paranoid and started checking the fuel filter that was marked 1.3 MJ but the same one is used in the 1.6 MJ . I really have to trust the experts.
Hindsight is a great thing.

 

[frupi]

I've just had a 'phone call from my nearest 'local - 12 miles away' franchised Fiat dealer after I enquired by email how much they would charge for a basic service on a one year old (it will be in February) 1.2 POP with approx 6000 miles on the clock. They have quoted me £149.99.

They were keen to point out that asides from an oil and filter change WOW they would have the car up on the ramps and visually check the car for anything untoward. They were also very keen to impress upon me, that a Fiat dealer has the technical equipment to download any software updates to the engine management system, something an independent might not be able to offer. They finished off by adding that if I find another dealer (or independent) that can offer a like for like service (including software updates where required) for a cheaper price, they would match it. Enquiries continue!!

 

[306maxi]

I've just had a 'phone call from my nearest 'local - 12 miles away' franchised Fiat dealer after I enquired by email how much they would charge for a basic service on a one year old (it will be in February) 1.2 POP with approx 6000 miles on the clock. They have quoted me £149.99.

They were keen to point out that asides from an oil and filter change WOW they would have the car up on the ramps and visually check the car for anything untoward. They were also very keen to impress upon me, that a Fiat dealer has the technical equipment to download any software updates to the engine management system, something an independent might not be able to offer. They finished off by adding that if I find another dealer (or independent) that can offer a like for like service (including software updates where required) for a cheaper price, they would match it. Enquiries continue!!

Hmmmm, if you consider that I got my plugs, air filter and pollen filter changed for £20 less than you it's not a fantastic deal IMHO.

 

[306maxi]

I should point out that I made my saving because I bought 3 years worth of consumables from Shop4Parts so the shipping was spread over 3 services rather then just 1.

 

[frupi]

Oh, I know, I agree, that is why I'm going to do plenty of 'phoning around.

I know what it is, some of the time, these people will think they have you over a barrel when it comes to stuff like the software updates and will use that as a 'frightener' for you to go with them.

 

[306maxi]

Oh, I know, I agree, that is why I'm going to do plenty of 'phoning around.

I know what it is, some of the time, these people will think they have you over a barrel when it comes to stuff like the software updates and will use that as a 'frightener' for you to go with them.

I think half the battle is convincing them that you know what you're talking about. Some will still refuse to budge, but if you've got someone on the other end of the phone who is realistic and sees that it's the difference between £0 from you or £70 from you then you're onto a winner.

I really like my dealer. the guy on the service desk (Mathew) inspires a lot of confidence and the technicians know their stuff too. When you get a car back and all of the hinges, battery terminals and so on have been protected/lubricated then it gives you the impression that they've done a good job.

My local independent is good too, but I kind of think that if there is a dealer who is willing to do the servicing for a competitive price then I'll keep it with them at least until the warranty is up just to make any warranty claims that bit easier.

 

[frupi]

I have four franchised dealers within a 20 mile radius (spread over three counties!) of where I live. If I decide to use one of them, I will of course make sure I play them off price wise against one another.

 

[Super Uwe]

I've just had a 'phone call from my nearest 'local - 12 miles away' franchised Fiat dealer after I enquired by email how much they would charge for a basic service on a one year old (it will be in February) 1.2 POP with approx 6000 miles on the clock. They have quoted me £149.99.

They were keen to point out that asides from an oil and filter change WOW they would have the car up on the ramps and visually check the car for anything untoward. They were also very keen to impress upon me, that a Fiat dealer has the technical equipment to download any software updates to the engine management system, something an independent might not be able to offer. They finished off by adding that if I find another dealer (or independent) that can offer a like for like service (including software updates where required) for a cheaper price, they would match it. Enquiries continue!!

Wow, you've received an outbound call from a Fiat dealer! I'm profoundly shocked, haha!

Hmm...interesting pitch there from your dealer. Sounds like they are not getting much business to me, although I could be wrong. Still, at least they sound like they want your custom rather than some who clearly couldn't give a monkeys and price themselves accordingly.

 

[frupi]

Wow, you've received an outbound call from a Fiat dealer! I'm profoundly shocked, haha!

Hmm...interesting pitch there from your dealer. Sounds like they are not getting much business to me, although I could be wrong. Still, at least they sound like they want your custom rather than some who clearly couldn't give a monkeys and price themselves accordingly.

That's not the best of it. I received a SECOND telephone call from the same dealer an hour and a half after the first because one colleague clearly hadn't spoke to another! Anyway, I then received an email from a local independent (another Alfa/Fiat specialist just a few miles away from me) who has quoted me £103 plus VAT but he has listed fully labour rate @ £39 per hour, price of Selenia oil and filter, engine flush and pollen filter. Also stated he can check vehicle using correct diagnostic equipment. His price is the best so far in my area for what he says he will do. Quite tempted for when the time comes.

 

[bgunn]

Never take the claptrap that dealers state about diagnostic equipment and the ability to update ECUs to latest spec. Invariably main dealers don't (I've lost count of many cars I've found like this), and EU Block Exemption rules mean that manufacturers HAVE to offer original equipment to independent garages (or anyone who's prepared to buy), which means they can offer exactly the same standards of service.

A really good independant will offer service that is of a far higher standard than a poor main dealer. Sadly, I've yet to find a *truly* conscientious main dealer who really surprises and delights me with their service.

 

[306maxi]

A really good independant will offer service that is of a far higher standard than a poor main dealer. Sadly, I've yet to find a *truly* conscientious main dealer who really surprises and delights me with their service.

My dealer is fairly good to be honest.

I think that you're always going to find that a dealer or independent will do something wrong

 

[bgunn]

You're probably right in that regard. I don't like people working on my car, I have very high standards.

 

[306maxi]

Same here. We've got a Subaru specialist near us who is an absolute crook. I looked through the service history of the wifes Subaru a while back and there's a receipt for a "turbo chimney mod". There is no turbo chimney fitted to the car anymore, the mod was obviously to chuck it away. Some of the other stuff he did to the car was criminal, including stealing the fusebox cover, then when asked where it was he supplied us with a fusebox cover in Japanese from his import car. I wonder where the UK one went? Not hard to guess where...... Then there were the two tyres he fitted which were "the ones he uses on his rally car" which were Pneumant's and which were frigging terrible.

No one with a Subaru and half a brain uses him.

I think our current independent has lost the locking wheelnut for the Subaru, but we don't know for sure tbh....... they're nice guys and very reasonable in terms of their charges.

 

[GrandeGuy]

Do things to help reduce the cost, for a start fit a K&N panel filter from the day you buy it, then never need an air filter ever.
Make sure the screen wash is full, and grease the locks, they love spending time and your money greasing things
I also told the dealership to just service it, no washing it, no checks just a service.


think your self lucky some Mercedes garages are charging £100 per-hour labor.

 

[306maxi]

K&N filter = no warranty through Fiat and possible need to pursue warranty claims through K&N. No thanks

 

[FloJo]

Frupi I'm interested in who you decide to service with - it looks like we live in a similar area...

 

[bgunn]

I also told the dealership to just service it, no washing it, no checks just a service.

Yep, good plan. I do NOT want the dealer to scratch my car with their shoddy cleaning/detailing technique. Some of them say it as though it's an added bonus: "We'll wash your car for you". Oooh, thanks.