Service pricing

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by EssexExile

Exactly, I can't imagine what sort of service you'd get for £70 that would include breakdown cover.

Surely £275?

[EssexExile]

Originally Posted by Zebster

Surely £275?

You're right of course. I was reading it as the £500 for 4 services offer. That price certainly shows what a good deal the offer is.

[TeamG]

Originally Posted by JC888

Reading the comments here I’m starting to have doubts having the extended warranty and continuing to service my car at Volvo.
Only reason I can think of is the software updates.

It’s £550 for 4 year service with MOT.
I can have this done at less than half of the price at local indie.

I’ve been quoted £60 for just the software updates - may do this once every 3-5 years or so and continue to service myself.

[TeamG]

Originally Posted by EssexExile

You're right of course. I was reading it as the £500 for 4 services offer. That price certainly shows what a good deal the offer is.

I think that was £500 for the fourth year service, rather than for four annual services. Four services would indeed be excellent value and even I’d go for that.

[Adrian888]

The benefit of dealer servicing can be argued to the cows come home but as cars become increasingly computers on wheels I am less convinced the independents will have access to manufacturer software updates. With Volvo there is the breakdown cover and if dealer serviced there is a stronger argument for a sympathetic response to out of warranty problems. I used to apply the rule of thumb rule to stick with the dealer for the warranty period and then find a good brand independent specialist. With my hybrid I am less sure that will be the best course for me so may stick with Volvo for the duration of ownership. The exception for me might be getting the transmission fluid changed by a an auto box specialist, a task I am not sure I would trust Volvo with given they couldn’t tell me when they had class carried out such a service and tried to convince me it was unnessacery (even though Volvo recommend a fluid change when used for towing).

[JC888]

Originally Posted by Adrian888

The benefit of dealer servicing can be argued to the cows come home but as cars become increasingly computers on wheels I am less convinced the independents will have access to manufacturer software updates. With Volvo there is the breakdown cover and if dealer serviced there is a stronger argument for a sympathetic response to out of warranty problems. I used to apply the rule of thumb rule to stick with the dealer for the warranty period and then find a good brand independent specialist. With my hybrid I am less sure that will be the best course for me so may stick with Volvo for the duration of ownership. The exception for me might be getting the transmission fluid changed by a an auto box specialist, a task I am not sure I would trust Volvo with given they couldn’t tell me when they had class carried out such a service and tried to convince me it was unnessacery (even though Volvo recommend a fluid change when used for towing).

That’s my thoughts as well. For example, I’ve went to my local garage to get new rear pads. This is a decent place with Snap On tools but he can’t get the rear brakes to disengage. Apparently he needs to pay Snap On £1000 for updated software. Fortunately there is a manual method if releasing the rear brakes.

This got me thinking, my S90 is coming up to four years old but there is so much tech in it. Not that I don’t trust my local garage but with a car like this you want things done right.

As someone mentioned Volvo servicing also comes with 12 months free road side assurance, which is a bonus.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by JC888

That’s my thoughts as well. For example, I’ve went to my local garage to get new rear pads. This is a decent place with Snap On tools but he can’t get the rear brakes to disengage. Apparently he needs to pay Snap On £1000 for updated software. Fortunately there is a manual method if releasing the rear brakes.

This got me thinking, my S90 is coming up to four years old but there is so much tech in it. Not that I don’t trust my local garage but with a car like this you want things done right.

As someone mentioned Volvo servicing also comes with 12 months free road side assurance, which is a bonus.

All the above is what i have been trying to say for several years now on here , Would you take your Ferrari to the local general garage around the corner ?

Today your volvo is yesterdays Ferrari , it costs as much as one did then and is FAR more complex than any Ferrari was only a few years ago ...
The only volvo specialist now is the Dealer .
It is surprising to see the incompetence of some of their customer facing staff too ,despite volvos very high training competency requirements ..

Staff turnover is the problem I suspect , They don't realise what they are taking on and how technical then MUST be these days to provide the services required .very few people see the same service staff from one service to the next ..

Technicians are VERY scarce these days too , BMW Have been trying since last year to recruit them in the south west area and despite a £35000 a year salary STILL cant get them ... for interest , BMW were paying some of their their Master technicians £35000 a year in 1995!! It was around then that the staffing problems began .

[Zebster]

Had service number 7 performed at Shrewbury Volvo yesterday. As previously mentioned - given the relatively low mileage covered since the last service (5.5k miles) - I arranged this as a bare minimum 'essential' service, which was described by them as an oil and filter change plus the annual breakdown recovery cover.

However I was very pleased to find that for the £179 I also got all the software updates, the health check and the washer bottle was topped up (had been getting the low warning message for months!).

As a further bonus, I received the R10029/'seatbelt' recall notification letter the day before and - without prior notice - they also fitted the replacement mountings, saving me another two hour round trip.