Independent Servicing in N London

[andyb911]

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?

[andyb911]

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.

[Scooser]

Originally Posted by andyb911

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.

[ericbeaumont]

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.

[andyb911]

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

[derek vivian]

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.

[largeruk]

Originally Posted by Scooser

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.

Hi

I'm not far from you. May I ask where in SW Surrey you take your car? I'm at the top of the M3 and looking for a decent, honest independent to take my Phase 1 V70 to.

Many thanks to you or anyone else who can help.

Many thanks

[derek vivian]

If Morden/Merton is not too far for you try DMW www.dmwcars.com. I can recommend them.

[Scooser]

Originally Posted by largeruk

Hi

I'm not far from you. May I ask where in SW Surrey you take your car? I'm at the top of the M3 and looking for a decent, honest independent to take my Phase 1 V70 to.

Many thanks to you or anyone else who can help.

Many thanks

Camberley Independent Volvo Centre, www.civc.co.uk

[mmills2]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

I’ve just got my first Volvo (V50 2.4i 57plate), I’m looking for a garage in North London without much success. (Belts and service).

I have tried Swedish Motor Services and received an answer phone message on two separate numbers. Google is showing them as permanently closed, but I don’t know if this is confused by the move to Grange Road.
Does anyone have an update on this??

Ideally I’d prefer to go to a Volvo specialist, though any good local Indy recommendations would be welcomed.

Thanks!