Independent Servicing in N London
 

I checked the non-franchised garage list... but with Braydon and Swedish Motor Services RIP, are there any Volvo independent specialists left in (or relatively easily accessible from) North London?

Tried Sentinel... as the default follow on from Braydon - fine, but not really worth paying main dealer prices on a 10+ year old car, but can't see any alternatives.

Any suggestions?

Doh - take the lack of replies to mean I'm not missing anything and there are none. Guess its back to Sentinel. Ho hum.

Very weird though that there isn't somewhere given the number of Volvos in the area. Left with the choice of taking to an 'all car marques' independent who will be cheaper but less knowledgeable or take it to a main dealer who will be less cheap, but hopefully more knowledgeable.

Nothing really wrong with it bar a noisy under dash fan and erratic aircon temp sensor (neither of which are probably going to be easy hence worthy of fixing).

Less of a gamble to go main dealer.

Yes, but main stealer prices are insane. Snows of Winchester charge £120+VAT (and that’s not even London!) whereas the reputable indy I use in SW Surrey who specialises only in Volvo charges £50+VAT.

A 50 mile drive for you, so not worth it unless you have several hours work to be done, and can hang around while it’s being done.

Be careful as I live in SW London, and some of the local indy prices are knocking on the door of the stealers. That’s why I take my car 25 miles down the M3 to have all my work done. A bit of a pain logistically, but not financially.

Andy, Sentinel have a different pricing system for older Volvos. After Braydon went under I continued to buy parts (and will do so tomorrow, as my 940 rad blew last week) from Braydon Steve upstairs at Sentinel, and he showed me the workshop where they have an engineer dedicated to older Volvos. From vague memory, the charges were £65 +VAT.

Swedish Motor Services were victims of redevelopment of an old light industrial part of Walthamstow. There are plans to redevelop a lot of the industrial Lea Valley and build 100,000 houses (an old Boris vision) and as much of the area has been for many years The Land That Time Forgot, I can understand why.

SMS moved to Leyton and are still in business. Details: 020 8503 3559, 40b Grange Park Road, Leyton, E10 5ES. All the search engines bar one (find-open.co.uk) show them at the old Sutherland Road E17 site, which naturally is now home to upmarket flats.

Thanks Eric. I'll see what rate Sentinel offer and take it from there.

Non franchise garages in London
 

Could I suggest DMW in Merton? www.dmwcars.com I would only go to Braydons at Sentinel now for spares because I don't think they are so competitive servicing older Volvos as they were before they closed down their Hackney Fields business.

Yes, Braydon prices still available to old customers - no harm in asking if you weren't. I was there the other day buying a battery. It does look a lot more cramped than the old Braydon place though.

What do you want done? For most jobs now I've used local people in Hackney nearby us.

Also a nice chap in Ilford I met the other day who has VIDA.

DMW look good, Derek, but the wrong side of London for me.
Neo Brothers in Waltham Cross used to deal with Volvo and Saab, but have cut down to just Saab.

V90 spares etc
 

Know what you mean Eric. London gets in the way a bit. Anyway, some years ago I bought Volvo parts from Lea Valley Motors in Edmonton. As I am from Enfield I quite enjoyed the drive there! The owner retired and his son took over then moved the whole lot to Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex. The web site in case it helps is https://www.heathfieldmotors.com/ I recently bought a V90 ECM from them and Andy is the very helpful owner. He may be able to suggest a Volvo garage nearer to you. Derek.

Is there any further info available on this 'nice chap' in Ilford?
I'm looking for servicing & maybe future parts replacement.
Thanks.