XC70: General Servicing of XC70, Independent or Dealer?

[bullstiff]

Hi everyone i'm a forum virgin so please be gentle.
Ive just bought a 53 plate XC70 D5 163 bhp I'm wondering whether i should have it serviced through a Volvo dealer (nearest one is 30miles away) or use an independent that specialises in Volvos (12 miles away).
Past experiance of independents servicing my 2000 plate v70 2.4t was that none of them could read the fault codes or reset the service light although they always did a good job with the general replacement of parts and usual oil/filter changes.
This XC has lots more technology ie the 4x4 system, can the independents really cope with it all? (not that i'm slagging the independents, i'm just cautious.)
I'd appreciate your opinions.
Thanks, Mark

[Clan]

Generaly you get what you pay for i think .. in depth knowledge costs money in all walks of life ..

[tommyweaves]

I agree with Clan (as usual).

My car just went to the local Volvo dealer for its first service. There were cheaper quotes from dealers a little further afield (even after a discount from the local one) but the reality is that I trust the guys at my local that they know what they're doing, how the car works and how it's put together. When I had VWs many of the workshop staff in the dealers were capable of little more than plugging a computer into the car and seeing what it said. Some of the independents were far more capable, particularly when it came to sorting out "little niggles", primarily I think because they were passionate about the marque.

I'm sure the same applies to Volvo garages, if you can find a good independent I'd say they were a better option than a poor or mediocre main dealer, particularly as the car gets older, as yours is.

[bullstiff]

Thanks chaps, I've no experiance of this particular Volvo dealership but I think i will take the car to them for it's next service and see how they perform i can then make a better judgement.

[Nick44]

Hi Bullstiff,
I use an independant to service my 2007 G3 V70. They have been very good, and are much cheaper than the main dealer, however the car goes back to the main dealer for warranty items.
I have no complaints, however a nasty downside is that the trade-in value of the car has been compromised without a Volvo history.
I did my sums, and in all honest it's swings and roundabouts depending on how long you intend to keep your car.
I've dropped about £1k on resale value, but saved about the same by using my indie.
I've been using the same guy for 20 years, and he looks after the rest of the family's Volvo's too. This is the first car I have had new enough for this to be an issue.