Service Issues: dealer quotes,...Be wise!!!

[yeoman]

I am sure there is a thread about this, but as I cannnot find it here goes.

If there is anyone out there that who just goes to their nearest(or local volvo dealer for servicing please read this.

I rang 4 dealers within a radius of 40 miles from my home and was staggered at the difference in the quotes.The most expensive was my local dealer at £455.00 for a 36k sevice and the cheapest was £340.00!!!

They all said they could pick and return the car.

Anyone with similar experiences ??

[strider]

Originally Posted by yeoman

...Anyone with similar experiences ??

Not with Volvo but with Mazda. Major service, cam belt change. I guess main cost would be labour as it's a long job. Quotes from dealer ranged from £300ish to £500+ (approx., it was a while ago). I was a bit shocked as they should have all been using original parts and following manufacturers guidelines for time/cost.

Eventually got the job done at an independant (Mazda trained) for around £250 mark. Had to travel 200 miles but near friends so worthwhile trip.

However, since learnt that even 'phoning for parts from dealers can result in vast variations in price for the same (Volvo in this case) bit.

Can only presume that there's a markup value based on the dealers rent/rates/wages/etc depending on where they're located. As with any business IMO there's also an element of charging what they think they can get away with. For example, I've found garages in Hull expensive and I think it's because (a) it's at the end of the M62 so pretty isolated and (b) locals don't really travel far outside Hull. So the local dealers milk this.

Now, when getting a quote I always try to ask if that's their best price and can I get back to them. I admit this would be a bit hard to do if you've a broken car and it's at the dealer - BOHICA - bend over, here it comes again - time.

[RoyMacDonald]

The first time my 940 TD needed a cambelt change my then local Volvo dealer told me that Volvo told them to send it to First Diesel in Croydon and I got charged 100% markup and advised me to to straight to First Diesel and save myself a lot of money. I don't know if it was because it was the early days of small car diesel engines.

Eventually I ended up using First Diesel for all my servicing when my local dealer stopped doing Volvo and the new local Volvo dealers turned out to be bad to a degree I wouldn't have thought possible. Deservedly that chain of Volvo dealers went bust and lost the Volvlo franchise

[Tiggerii]

I had my 2004 XC90 T6 serviced by Kings of Southampton yesterday. The car has only done 17,000 miles but was due the 36,000 (3 year) service and an MOT. Damage for that was £579.18 including the £50.35 for the MOT. Yes I wish I had shopped around!

I'm also extrmely annoyed at the mark up on parts, for 7 litres of Castrol Formula SLX they charged £106.93 including VAT, I can buy 8 litres for less than £90! They also charged £3.41 including VAT for Washer Fluid even though I had filled up the system - "If you don't tell us we drain and refill the system" was their response.

So as well as shopping around to save money, fill up your screen wash and tell them and also buy your own oil for them to use at the service.

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

You can always supply your own consumables, even with Volvo Dealers.

Just make sure that what you supply meets or exceeds Volvo specification for warranty purposes.

You can also use a Volvo Independent and use Volvo approved parts and still maintain your Volvo warranty..

Des. . .

[JIM C]

Dealers are far to spread out to be able to do comparisons for pricing up in bonnie Scotland. Just have to pay the local dealer prices or look else where.

[pigapumbu]

Originally Posted by Tiggerii

They also charged £3.41 including VAT for Washer Fluid even though I had filled up the system - "If you don't tell us we drain and refill the system" was their response.

Aren't they supposed to check and refill if necessary? Never realised it was drain and refill every time a service is done.

I also find calling around saves money. Maybe a website for Volvo service centres like money.supermarket.com might help. That way, we the consumer can compare prices and shop accordingly. Its a joke really. I think its a rip-off to have prices vary so much.

cheers

[cliff h]

This annoys me also.
I have not had the pleasure of Volvo servicing yet but a while ago I was running a Discovery 3.
All the 'local' dealers (30 mile radius) charged within £10 of each other at about £325 for the first service.
Other members on the Disco 3 forum were having the same service done at LR dealers for as low as £170.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Tiggerii

I had my 2004 XC90 T6 serviced by Kings of Southampton yesterday. The car has only done 17,000 miles but was due the 36,000 (3 year) service and an MOT. Damage for that was £579.18 including the £50.35 for the MOT. Yes I wish I had shopped around!

I'm also extrmely annoyed at the mark up on parts, for 7 litres of Castrol Formula SLX they charged £106.93 including VAT, I can buy 8 litres for less than £90! They also charged £3.41 including VAT for Washer Fluid even though I had filled up the system - "If you don't tell us we drain and refill the system" was their response.

So as well as shopping around to save money, fill up your screen wash and tell them and also buy your own oil for them to use at the service.

What version of Castrol Longtec SLX was it? If it wasn't SLX Professional
Longtec for Volvo cars A5/B5 0W-30. Yes that is the full name, any other is the wrong oil for your car. It's the only Castrol oil that meets the A5/B5 spec. The only oil I've found besides that one is Millars XF Longlife 0w-30.

Check http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=92 for the 26 most common garage ripoffs. The washer fluid and oil scams are 3 and 14.

[Viper_7]

If you ask for a discount at the main dealers if you state it's very expensive - they usually knock you 10% off there and then. If you don't ask you don't get!
Insurance is the same.