Servicing - Who can you trust?

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by EricMe

I've never doubted the possibility.

However, was very sceptical when first one then another of my cars had exact same fault reported (& in neither case were pads severely worn etc) and having a second allegation on the first car just a few hundred miles after being 'cured' stretched faith beyond breaking point.

imho the conditions of the 2nd set of "warped disks" you decribe,, wouldnt wear with me either,, unless the garage fitted Really really naff disks,,which would earn them a Few sharp questions as to Why they fitted naff parts and charged premium parts prices.....and inside a "FEW" 1000 miles its pretty much a "oh Really? that caused by the brake disk pixies then???"

[DCN85]

You get good mechanics and bad mechanics, doesn't matter what name's above the door. Volvo mechanics will probably see more Volvos than an independent, that may well make the difference when it comes to more specialised jobs (provided it's not an undersupervised apprentice working on your car). However for routine maintenance and service you're kidding yourself if you think paying twice the price at a Volvo dealer using the same parts vs a respected independent will give you twice the quality of service.

I had my car with Volvo main dealer for a service in January. I mentioned that I was getting a harsh vibration through steering and pedal when braking. They told me discs were fine. I knew they weren't so didn't argue and took it to a volvo specialist a few weeks later. They diagnosed discs were the problem, replaced them and everything is smooth again. Case in point...anywhere can make a mistake.

[Metblackrat]

Just picked mine up from the Halfords Autocentre, Welwyn Garden City. Service and MOT £169 and a quality job done yet again.

[froggyted]

Originally Posted by DCN85

You get good mechanics and bad mechanics, doesn't matter what name's above the door. Volvo mechanics will probably see more Volvos than an independent, that may well make the difference when it comes to more specialised jobs (provided it's not an undersupervised apprentice working on your car). However for routine maintenance and service you're kidding yourself if you think paying twice the price at a Volvo dealer using the same parts vs a respected independent will give you twice the quality of service.

I had my car with Volvo main dealer for a service in January. I mentioned that I was getting a harsh vibration through steering and pedal when braking. They told me discs were fine. I knew they weren't so didn't argue and took it to a volvo specialist a few weeks later. They diagnosed discs were the problem, replaced them and everything is smooth again. Case in point...anywhere can make a mistake.

If you're addressing this to my previous posting then i never actually said that nor believe it.

[froggyted]

Originally Posted by Metblackrat

Just picked mine up from the Halfords Autocentre, Welwyn Garden City. Service and MOT £169 and a quality job done yet again.

That doesn't really mean that much though, does it, because it depends on what work needs doing. I had a scheduled service at a Volvo main dealer about 5 years ago that cost about £165 inclusive of VAT.

[Metblackrat]

Originally Posted by froggyted

That doesn't really mean that much though, does it, because it depends on what work needs doing. I had a scheduled service at a Volvo main dealer about 5 years ago that cost about £165 inclusive of VAT.

It was basically the oil service and pollen filter but they did a load of checks and picked up that one wheel was out of balance.

Some garages haven't even picked up on an under-inflated tyre at a service when I have paid a lot more.

My comments were more about the service I received rather than the price.

[scoobysn7x]

I have 2 trusted garages one in the northeast ICA Auto's in fencehouses, the guys a genius with cars does quality work and his prices always surprise me (unbeliavably cheap!! :-) ) I've used him for years as I now live in glasgow I've managed to find a garage up here that I trust VolvoMax in springboig excellant with volvo's great knowledge pain in the arse to get through on the phone and not quite as cheap as ICA autos but closer &a dam sight cheaper than a main dealer

Garages to steer clear of Arnold Clark Vauxhall in pollocksheilds in glasgow, can't say a single good word about them, absolutely abismal, should have learnt after the carry on with the G/friends car, but took my S40 in for some 'free' warranty work and an absolute nightmare again!!

Halford auto centre Polloskshows road previously Nationwide auto centres conning badstars!!, arsed up the tracking, fitted tyres the wrong way round then try to say I 'must have swapped them', & to top it all charged £50 for MOT (with discount) then claimed one of the MOT machines broken so sub contracted MOT to a garage round the corner who charge £17.99 for the MOT. Happened once with the g/Friends MOT then put mine in 6mths and same thing wondered why the MOT 'machine' failure had not been sorted rang the sub contracted garage to find out how much they charge & I was given my answer a nice little earner for Halfords!!

I have to say I've tried loads of garages trying to find a decent one in glasgow, as it was getting a bit much going to the parents for a visit everytime I wanted work doing on the car, but I releived I've now found Volvomax although I'll still use ICA for my MOT's as his hourly rate is very very good......