Dealer Servicing

Hi all,
I've been quoted £430 for a 120k service or £215 for a 130k...
email quote
==
"there is a big difference between the 120,000 service and the 130,000,
esp as this is the T5 and the spark plugs are more expensive than the
standard Volvos and are replaced at the 120,000 service in addition to
other items."
==

2 things:
Are the spark plugs *that* expensive?
Does that seem resonable?

I've booked it in for the 120k, but wondered if I'm being ripped off or not!
TIA, Andy.

If they are using the proper platinum plugs then they can be upto £20 each but you can use normal plugs and just change them more often. What else are they doing??

um.... servicing!

Didn't ask whats they do... they just said they use fully synthetic oil and it includes all parts, labour and VAT.

My Dad's V70 had its first service recently, the dealer charged 10 quid a litre for Mobil 1

Si

[liuleichan]

>Hi all,
>I've been quoted £430 for a 120k service or £215 for a
>130k...
>
>2 things:
>Are the spark plugs *that* expensive?
>Does that seem resonable?
>
>I've booked it in for the 120k, but wondered if I'm being
>ripped off or not!
>TIA, Andy.

I suspect it's probably inline with main dealer prices (I assume this was a Volvo dealership?).

However, I honestly think that with this sort of mileage, does it truly matter that it's an official dealer that's stamped the book? By this, I mean that come re-sale time, is a comprehensive, official SH going to be that important, or merely that it has been maintained correctly.

I know with my S70, it has had Volvo services up to 80k, however the 90k service I had done at an independant Volvo specialist. The 100k service was done FOC at a Volvo dealership ("compensation" or part meeting of costs due to the heater matrix needing replacement at around 85k miles).

I think, now, I'll probably just go for services at the independant garage - I'll ensure that the services are done as per the official schedule, and they use OEM filters, and quality synthetic oils. I also have interim oil and filter changes done every 5k miles.

I honestly think that by the time / mileage I come to sell the car, it will be more important that it's been maintained, than merely a stamped up, official Volvo SH.

FWIW, I was put off Volvo servicing, merely because it seemed overpriced for what was being done. The first service I would have done (bought the car with 82k miles on the clock) was the 90k one, and they wanted around £260 for just oil, filters, plugs and stuff like that. Hardly major service expenses - and they may do more checks and be more thorough than others, but it just seems like a lot of money, for what was being done.

With previous cars I've owned, I had gone for dealer servicing, but the prices seemed more reasonable, and prices in the hundreds tended to be for major services where stuff like cambelt changes were being done - but prices in the hundreds for stuff like oil, filters and plugs, just seems a bit OTT, to me.

Were it a newer car, with less miles, and where an official service history may matter for either warranty, or resale value, I may think differently.

Lei Chan

Hi Lei,
I thought the same about taking it to a Volvo specialist... apart from I can't find one in my area .. and the volvo dealer is just down the road... up till now it's been police serviced, so I was thinking I would like it thouroughly looked over by proper Volvo people... and if it goes wrong on something they should've checked then I think I may have more comeback on the dealer.

Maybe I'm wrong...

Previous cars I have owned have been sheds, so I've always serviced them myself... but this car has too many bits (and a service light I can't turn off myself!)

How much do you think it would've cost at a specialist rather than a dealer?

Andy.

[liuleichan]

>Hi Lei,
> I thought the same about taking it to a Volvo specialist...
>apart from I can't find one in my area ..

I just looked in the yellow pages, and looked for Volvo specialists.

I was apprehensive at first, but I've seen loads of Volvos, locally, with their sticker in the window.

>and the volvo
>dealer is just down the road... up till now it's been police
>serviced,

Police vehicles are serviced regularly, as per the schedule. Some may well be done at Volvo dealers, others may be done at the cheapest bidder (effectively) using pattern parts.

>so I was thinking I would like it thouroughly
>looked over by proper Volvo people... and if it goes wrong
>on something they should've checked then I think I may have
>more comeback on the dealer.

Indeed you might.

I wouldn't suggest having your car serviced somewhere that doesn't give you the confidence that they are going to do it properly.

But in fairness, these days, *most* servicing is just changing fluids, filters and other components.

>Maybe I'm wrong...
>
>Previous cars I have owned have been sheds, so I've always
>serviced them myself... but this car has too many bits (and
>a service light I can't turn off myself!)
>
>How much do you think it would've cost at a specialist
>rather than a dealer?

Well in the example I went with, the 90k service was quoted as being £264 with the main dealer. The independent garage did the same work (as per the schedule) and replaced the same parts and fluids (using OEM filters, and quality synthetic oil) for around £130.

5k miles prior to this, I'd wanted an oil change, and initially thought I'd check out the main dealers. They were unhappy with just doing an interim oil change, and said they'd do some sort of oil and fluid service for around £90. Added to this, I wanted the auto fluid changed, so for just an oil change, checking of the levels of the other fluids, and transmission fluid change, it cost around £150.

When I next have the auto fluid changed, I'm not sure whether to go to the main dealers (I'm just thinking - an auto transmission is a lot to go wrong, and potentially expensive, a fluid change with the dealers, gives the illusion of recourse ;-)), trust the independent garage, or go to a good auto transmission specialist.

Don't get me wrong, I'm committed to decent maintenance, and not doing everything at the cheapest possible price. Merely that at the age of my car, now (a few months off 4 years old), and mileage (just over 100k), the names on the stamps in the service book aren't likely to be that important, when I get rid of it - merely that it's been done. I just want to ensure I'm getting good value for money, and not over paying on something (given that I've got none of the time, hands-on expertise, or motivation to be able to do the servicing myself - and how many ladies do you know, actually wanna do oil changes ;-)).

Lei Chan

A small point to note.....a lot of 'normal garages don't really like doing the auto box fluid change, I have had several "have I got to do it" from guys I know in the trade !

Namely the job is known to be straight forward but can be a pain in the bum if they get it wrong !

I took it to Mr Volvo and shelled out the £70 :(

The cam belt however is being done for £50 plus the parts by a local man

Jim,
'96 855-R (The Flying Wardrobe)

>A small point to note.....a lot of 'normal garages don't
>really like doing the auto box fluid change, I have had
>several "have I got to do it" from guys I know in the trade
>!
>
>Namely the job is known to be straight forward but can be a
>pain in the bum if they get it wrong !
>
I asked if they do it for my service... but they say it "never gets done"... I think it's something like every 160,000 miles.... I have the service schedule sheet... I'll scan it and post a link tonight.... I got my auto-oil changed for free when the gearbox fell apart!

Service seemed good... they put some Fuel additive in (cost me £9.99) which I questionned... they said "oh yeah, it's really good, I've seen proof".."hmmmm" I said. They also got the wrong spark plugs so I gotta go back on sat to get them done (£50).

Andy.

FYI Here's the service schedule:

http://www.n-wise.com/campics/2002-06-06/Dcp_0522.gif

(link will only work when my PC is on... which it often isn't at night)