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General Who thinks Fiat service costs are high

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General Who thinks Fiat service costs are high

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I am begining to think Fiat must be one of the dearest service agents for a "common" car.

I have read that they charge £180 for an oil change, and in my car it only holds 3.5 litres of oil.

Has anyone had a talk with thier Dealer to find out why it is so high.

I asked mine if they did some kind of 3 year service deal, and allthough they did not, they said the figure if they did would be about £1000. Compare this to the Mini, or Ka, and it seems extreme....
 
The first service on my 2008 Audi TT was £180, I was hoping it would cost a lot less for the little fiat.
You can get it done through a specialist as long as they use fiat parts and are VAT registered your warranty will still be ok.
 
My 1st service was £120 and that included changing the oil, so it's not always expensive.
 
Arnold Clark offer a 2 year deal for £249 or a 3 year deal for £349 (I think it's for any car under 3 years old but I'd have to check the leaflet). The Fiat prices do seem very high but it's worth shopping around.
 
i have done a service plan with mine £11.00pm over 3 years,so its serviced every 12 months for £132.00
 
My local garage offers a oil change (with the Fiat recommended Selena 20k oil and filter so as not to void the warranty) for £60 which is about the same as my local Fiat dealer. They offer a service with all the stamps and official parts for about £100 which is half what the Fiat dealer wants so I will be haggling at the time of service!
 
Oil & filter only on the diesel is about £65. Full service is undoubtedly expensive, especially compared to the £200 mini 5 year service deal.
 
T14086 said:
you will also of read then that it can cost as little as £99!

If you also think its just a oil change then I suggest you ask at the garage while your service is carried out.
Click to expand...

Ok then, oil change and extinguishing of the service light :D
 
yea they sure dont do a lot on the 1st service for their cash! had a quick look through the service book and apart from the oil & filter change its really just a few other top-ups and basic checks. the words off and rip definitely come to mind :)

getting mine done at an independent also.
 
Cost is the least of it. I hate the whole main dealer servicing experience, regardless of the make of car. Always left feeling I've handed over a load of cash for a stamp in the service book, and not much else. Frankly relieved if I get away from there with the car undamaged. I'd pay more if there was was a guarantee that the service would actually be done fully and properly. As things stand you are most likely, but far from guaranteed, to get that if you pay less and use an independent...

Its not just a Fiat/Alfa problem. I found Audi dealers just as bad.. the only difference being the froth with which the b******s are served, you know, pretty girls, complimentary drinks, plush waiting area, dedicated "service advisor". They still couldn't be arsed to actually change the oil though.. and the soft soap is applied to persuading you that they have....

"Oil goes black instantly in a diesel Sir" "But I haven't even driven it yet" "Its had a test drive Sir"... Yes, new oil always goes black instantly after a main dealer service with Fiat too... but, strangely it takes at least a couple of hundred miles for this to happen when I go to an Independent.... :rolleyes:
 
yes they are, but not as high as Alfa

some dealers are also totally useless at diagnosing simple problems

an example:

I recently re-acquired a Cinq Sporting I used to own in 2001.
The owner's house had been struck by lightning and the car would not start.
Dealer had the car in and diagnosed that the ecu needing replacing at a cost of £700.
For this diagnosis using examiner they charged £150
This owner deduced car was uneconomic repair and contacted me as I had previously expressed an interest in buying back.

I bought the car and having inspected it was obvious that the ecu was not fried at all as all systems work powered up and fuel primed. I tried to start the car and logically deduced without any test kit that the non stating issue was due to lack of spark and this is normally due to loss of timing. I changed the crank angle sensor and car started first turn of the key. Fixed for free using a spare sensor I had.

Shameful ineptitude (n)
 
alfabarry said:
Cost is the least of it. I hate the whole main dealer servicing experience...Audi dealers just as bad...the froth with...pretty girls, complimentary drinks, plush waiting area, dedicated "service advisor".

"Oil goes black instantly in a diesel Sir" "But I haven't even driven it yet" "Its had a test drive Sir"... Yes, new oil always goes black instantly after a main dealer service with Fiat too... but, strangely it takes at least a couple of hundred miles for this to happen when I go to an Independent.... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Totally agree on Audi. Surprisingly Skoda dealers are considerably better (same parts, lower prices, usually happy to work on Audi too (y)).

Re oil - Fiats with DPF get a flush as well as a change, so the oil was pretty clear in mine. Although I have to wonder whether it would be more cost effective to just use Mobil-1, as the flush probably wouldn't then be needed.
 
RobW said:
yes they are, but not as high as Alfa

some dealers are also totally useless at diagnosing simple problems

an example:

I recently re-acquired a Cinq Sporting I used to own in 2001.
The owner's house had been struck by lightning and the car would not start.
Dealer had the car in and diagnosed that the ecu needing replacing at a cost of £700.
For this diagnosis using examiner they charged £150
This owner deduced car was uneconomic repair and contacted me as I had previously expressed an interest in buying back.

I bought the car and having inspected it was obvious that the ecu was not fried at all as all systems work powered up and fuel primed. I tried to start the car and logically deduced without any test kit that the non stating issue was due to lack of spark and this is normally due to loss of timing. I changed the crank angle sensor and car started first turn of the key. Fixed for free using a spare sensor I had.

Shameful ineptitude (n)
Click to expand...

The Subaru apparently needed a new turbo a few years back because it was getting an engine check light and was extremely difficult to start. I disconnected the battery for 15 minutes to clear the ECU and guess what? I started first time and runs like a dream now. Not starting because of a turbo problem? WTF?

Not to say all places are like that but when some places don't know they just go out and quote stupid prices to make it uneconomical to repair so they don't actually need to chase the fault properly.
 
ads abarth said:
I am begining to think Fiat must be one of the dearest service agents for a "common" car.

I have read that they charge £180 for an oil change, and in my car it only holds 3.5 litres of oil.

Has anyone had a talk with thier Dealer to find out why it is so high.

I asked mine if they did some kind of 3 year service deal, and allthough they did not, they said the figure if they did would be about £1000. Compare this to the Mini, or Ka, and it seems extreme....
Click to expand...

Your experience has prompted me to so I go with the advice from 'digitman' and look at some of the good local garages, for when I need a service (not collected my 500, (although it is sitting in the dealers yard!)
 
My oil service light came on after 12.5k so I took it to Glynn Hopkins in Milton Keynes. Oil and Filter changed for £72 inc vat. They would have valeted the car too but I declined that offer as it was recently detailed.
 
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