Annual service at Doves Volvo Gatwick

[pdig]

My 12 year V50 service has just been completed by Doves Volvo Gatwick. The dealership was excellent. They collected and dropped off the car, sent through a video of the inspection with online approval of works option, they solved some pre-existing problems, did the service and MOT, and picked up a few other issues as well. The 12 year service was more expensive than normal at about £500. There were rear suspension bush replacements for about £425, and the A/C had packed up which they repaired for about £125. Then the MOT and a new set of mats. £1,230 including VAT. This is a good price and the service co-ordinator Andy was excellent.

[Welton]

Sorry but I think you've paid top dollar for fairly basic work, a dealer "service" includes paying them to measure all the tyre tread depths and go around "ticking boxes" I can't see the value in that myself.

All seems very expensive for what they've done, and I bet your a/c won't last long....£125.00 sounds like a regass but you probably need a new condenser which'd be a lot more at the dealer.

[pdig]

Dear Welton,

Thank you for your reply. Oh dear, I thought it was a good price overall.

Don't they have to do all the tyre measuring etc for the MOT?

[green van man]

Originally Posted by pdig

Dear Welton,

Thank you for your reply. Oh dear, I thought it was a good price overall.

Don't they have to do all the tyre measuring etc for the MOT?

No, provided the tread depth is more than 1.6mm you are legal and the blocker bars at the bottom of the tread are conveniantly 1.6mm high. Yes cracking and sidewall damage is also checked but tread depth is not measured unless it's an iffy yes no desision.

Paul.

[S60RDesign]

My first impression was ouch, that's very expensive. I do think you have to weigh up whether it's worth using a main dealer to service and repair a 12 year old car. I'd say mine is on the bubble at six years old, but on this occasion the next dealer service is slightly cheaper than my indy and it also throws in a year's breakdown cover. I imagine the balance could swing towards an indy next year

[steve 1550]

For what it's worth that is a lot of money to pay for a 12 year old car. MOT is around £54 and i got my air con re gassed for £45 ( a special offer at an indy garage). I get breakdown through work on an insurance scheme which includes UK and abroad (plus other insurances like holiday, phone, medical and others) for £22 a month.

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by pdig

My 12 year V50 service has just been completed by Doves Volvo Gatwick. The dealership was excellent. They collected and dropped off the car, sent through a video of the inspection with online approval of works option, they solved some pre-existing problems, did the service and MOT, and picked up a few other issues as well. The 12 year service was more expensive than normal at about £500. There were rear suspension bush replacements for about £425, and the A/C had packed up which they repaired for about £125. Then the MOT and a new set of mats. £1,230 including VAT. This is a good price and the service co-ordinator Andy was excellent.

If you’re happy with it then god bless you Sir. A happy car for another year, I love the V50’s.

TT

[Zebster]

How much is a 12 year old V50 worth?

[v50Dom]

As already stated, It is quite expensive, but as The Thong says, if your happy, then that's all that really counts.

Although, it might be worth seeking out a good local indy to do future work.

[DaveNP]

Is it expensive? Is it worth it for a 12 year old car?
An argument for having a new or nearly new car is the reliability one might expect, if you have a 12 year old car dealer serviced (by a good dealer) one might also expect that reliability. So then it comes to cost effectiveness, think about the depreciation of the lower maintenance new car against the cost of a service on an old car and suddenly that service with its peace of mind looks more than reasonable.