Servicing your Volvo

[AB100]

Our XC60 has just had its second year service at the main dealer, after a 25% discount on the original proposed cost, this bears no resemblance to the on line calculater!
However it is still expensive for what is essentially an oil change and car wash!
It is not even possible to check the dip stick to see if the oil is clean!!
I know there is the 'free' years aftercare and the software stuff, but this is never quantified like a computer software update.
And when the car comes back with all the settings changed, heater set to stun and door locking on for instance, it doesnt inspire a love of the service people.
There is also the health check where prices for replacements of brakes and tyres, which in this case were amber, and we were informed not actually needed, are inflated by 50%.
I know the dealer has significant overheads, but that doesnt excuse poor service or communication, especially when they keep messaging for an 'excellent' response with half working e-mails etc.
So next year?
This all depends on the local dealer, if you have a trusted one, use them, in our case we will probably mot and do the simple repairs elsewhere, but use the dealer for the actual service and updates only.
Of course, as the car will be 3 years old we may change it, but from many previous cars we are well aware that most of the main dealers and car manufacturers are, shall we just say, not interested in the customer, and Volvo are far from the worst!
AB

[Zebster]

Has anyone negotiated a cheaper dealer service by opting out of the Volvo breakdown recovery?

[Mick787]

I loathe main dealers. But the car manufacturers have got it all sewn up over the years. Nothing is built to last and while it is still serviceable, they are slowly creating vehicles which must be plugged in to a computer and specialist tools/jigs used. With the best will in the world, independent mechanics simply wont be able to afford to compete with the dealers before too long. My son uses a Toyota 'Indy' who has told him he doubts he will be in business in 10 years time. Another matter is that, (God forbid), if something serious happens while driving, plod should go through the car like a dose of salts and whoever has done work on it will have their work very closely scrutinised to eliminate mechanical failure. Paying main dealer prices puts the pressure on them, especially if they cut corners. Their service/job records have to be kept for a number of years. Peace of mind to me, I've done all I can.

[Dash300]

Originally Posted by Mick787

I loathe main dealers. But the car manufacturers have got it all sewn up over the years. Nothing is built to last and while it is still serviceable, they are slowly creating vehicles which must be plugged in to a computer and specialist tools/jigs used. With the best will in the world, independent mechanics simply wont be able to afford to compete with the dealers before too long. My son uses a Toyota 'Indy' who has told him he doubts he will be in business in 10 years time. Another matter is that, (God forbid), if something serious happens while driving, plod should go through the car like a dose of salts and whoever has done work on it will have their work very closely scrutinised to eliminate mechanical failure. Paying main dealer prices puts the pressure on them, especially if they cut corners. Their service/job records have to be kept for a number of years. Peace of mind to me, I've done all I can.

As a lovely irony to what you have written I have a 1962 Landrover S11a which I trailer to shows all over the country behind my XC60. A fellow member of our club does the same with a BMW X5 tug. You can imagine our delight when he arrived at the Stoneleigh 4x4 Show a couple of years ago with the X5 on the trailer towed by his old Landrover because his X5 had gone into 'limp mode' en route.

[Burundi]

Originally Posted by Mick787

Another matter is that, (God forbid), if something serious happens while driving, plod should go through the car like a dose of salts and whoever has done work on it will have their work very closely scrutinised to eliminate mechanical failure. Paying main dealer prices puts the pressure on them, especially if they cut corners. Their service/job records have to be kept for a number of years. Peace of mind to me, I've done all I can.

So long as you are using any mechanic/garage that has liability insurance and is interested in staying in business then quality of work is rarely a problem.

I've found those whose job it is to only service cars and not sell them as well tend to do a much better job at the servicing part.

There are also plenty of tools that can be used on modern cars to read and reset common settings that make servicing a car possible by independents, there are of course more esoteric settings that only a dealer may be able to access or update but should not be necessary to complete a service on a car.

Recently had an MOT offer come through from Volvo and as I needed to get it done quick I took them up on it, my £35 MOT ended up costing me £250 due to a broken spring and a £110 per hour labour rate. That was negotiated down from over £300! (The total not the labour rate)

[Toprivetguns]

Originally Posted by Dash300

he arrived at the Stoneleigh 4x4 Show a couple of years ago with the X5 on the trailer towed by his old Landrover because his X5 had gone into 'limp mode' en route.

Fantastic !

[nigxl]

No real special tools needed to do an oil change on a D4 or D5.
Just a 36mm socket to undo the oil filter housing and a T20 I think torx bit to take the engine cover off.
Probably one of the easiest and quickest oil changes I have done to be honest.
Castrol oil 0W 30 and filter came in to around £60.

[MuscleFlex]

Originally Posted by nigxl

No real special tools needed to do an oil change on a D4 or D5.
Just a 36mm socket to undo the oil filter housing and a T20 I think torx bit to take the engine cover off.
Probably one of the easiest and quickest oil changes I have done to be honest.
Castrol oil 0W 30 and filter came in to around £60.

Is there a guide to doing this?

[BobS]

Hi,

I have always changed the oil and filter between services and the engine on my V70 (215k mls) is still quiet and trouble free.

Now I also have a XC60 (2015) and although the dealer can't be faulted for the servicing on both occasions the bill is eye watering!

I too would like to know how to check the oil level when changing the oil?

A guide would be helpful.

Questions like how to trust the level shown on the display. Does it need ignition switched on and off to re-scan the level or does it constantly give a updated level?

How much oil to put in before checking the level?
A mechanic said that the level shown on the display can be reset electronically. So can this level be trusted?

The mechanics of changing the oil and filter hold no worries but the lack of a dipstick spooks me a bit.

Any tips or guides welcome.

Thanks
Bob

[Fimac]

The Indys for me!
A good one has all the latest tech.
Just looking at the rear spring cost above, my local guy did one for £70 recently. He is charging £35 ph labour.....

Bob, you may want to post your oil query as a new post. it won't get seen on this old post......