Dealer Service Stamps...

[CiderFex]

Is it honestly worthwhile getting the above ?

I’ve just called Stratstone MINI @ Donny to book in Rocky for a service and M.O.T.
It had a full service last January at Knights MINI @ Stafford, just before I bought it.
The young lass said “the price is £251 for a full service.”
Surely the details for Rocky would be on the MINI database as only needing a minor service not another full service ?
I explained to her that it would only need a minor service, which is £120 (engine oil, oil filter and cabin filter).
The young lass then quoted me £150 for a minor service which included engine oil, oil filter, cabin filter and “topping up of the screenwash” !!!
[emoji15]
She just couldn’t answer me as to why it was an extra £30 just to top up the screenwash and I said that it wouldn’t need doing anyways because I top it up myself on a regular basis !!!
[emoji35]
She did then try to explain but I’d lost my rag by then, said “thanks for your help” and then hung up.
I just do not that kind of grief when trying to get my car serviced.
I’m thinking that I may as well just go to my local mechanic, Jonno, who we trust with all four cars, and get Rocky serviced and M.O.T.’d without any B.S. or hassle.
I’m looking at keeping Rocky for many a year to come and I’m thinking that having the dealer stamps will not make much of a difference to a car that’s currently covering 15K miles per year.
I may get it serviced twice per year with Jonno just for my own piece of mind...


Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[M600-RKJ]

For me I domt really see any added value of a dealer stamp, as long as the car has regular services at a reputable garage I'm quite happy

On a more expensive mark that needs a special routine for servicing then yeah full dealership stamps would be what I would go for it.

But with the mini it's an incredibly easy car to service anyway. I've serviced both my minis at 5k intervals and then put it in to get 1 stamp at the 2 year marks, only for an oil change though since I've got the aem.

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[CiderFex]

In all honesty Mark I’ll just go to my local garage because I trust him to do a full and proper job.
I’ve never bothered about the resale value of any car that I’ve owned and I’m not gonna start with Rocky so having dealer stamps, for me, just seems like an extravagant and expensive exercise to get a specific stamp in the service book.
If I was only using it very occasionally, and was putting only 2-3K miles per year onto it, I’d be tempted for a book full of dealer stamps but it’ll get way too much use o’er the next few years for it to be worth much anyways.



Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[Mon the fish]

People seem to value dealer stamps, but I have no idea why. Dealer service departments are just parts replacement jockeys, and everything is timed to the minute. Also the standard dealer service intervals are woefully inadequate IMO - I was looking at an E90 330 the other day, 107k miles on it with 'full service history', which actually amounted to only 6 services!


I'd far rather someone took the time to look at my cars, let me know of any issues, and was a proper mechanic instead of a 'technician' who relies on the computer, and not common sense.


FWIW I'd go to your man, Pete - I do the same with 3 of mine, which go to a trusted mechanic friend. And the other? It doesn't go to a main dealer either - it goes to a trusted specialist, who probably costs more than the main dealer but keeps the car in far better condition. If you're keeping the car a reasonable length of time, the perceived value of a dealer service history becomes less.

The crucial thing for me is having a relationship with the actual person working on your car, not someone at a desk - invaluable.

[CiderFex]

The crucial thing for me is having a relationship with the actual person working on your car, not someone at a desk - invaluable.

Thanks for your input Gordon, it is appreciated.
[emoji1303]
The last part of your reply says it all to me.


Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[Craig]

I've been using the same mechanic for 28 years and trust him and his team to do exactly what is required. I know when my car goes to them that I don't have to worry about them a) doing work that isn't required and b) doing the work they are supposed to be to a high standard...

Simply when a car goes to a main dealer for a regular service, they just look at the brakes, where my local garage, strip them all down, inspect them properly, clean them out and put then back together with proper lubrication. And it costs less.

As Gordon says your dealing with mechanic, not a technician who just looks at a computer and replaces parts...

I actually don't put any value on dealer servicing as my current car is a perfect example of... (full dealer serviced and already needed a full timing chain kit at only 57k)

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[CiderFex]

Yeah Craig, I’ve never used a dealer for a service in the past and I’ve decided that I’m not gonna start wi Rocky.



Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[Twisterboy]

As long as the garage is vat registered, I would use my local independent.

Davy

[CiderFex]

As long as the garage is vat registered, I would use my local independent.

Davy

I’ve just had a recommendation of SuperMINIUK on FB.
I’ve bought stuff from them in the past and they’ve been faultless.
On a brighter note they are only 33 miles down the road from me.
[emoji4]


Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[EcosseGP]

Tbh Pete the dealer stamps for the first three years are something that is really only applicable now for lease cars I think. That’s only because some write it into the agreement.
I’ve never really used the dealer for services (other than the GPs) as they price themselves out of the running. As you and others have mentioned the small independent garages take more time and care on the car and it’s usually done properly as they know that if anything isn’t right they’ll be the ones fixing it next time it’s back.
The garage I use always uses genuine MINI parts (only because I ask) and the labour costs are far cheaper than the main dealers. Never had an issue with them over the years and if something doesn’t need sorting they say it doesn’t need sorting. Unlike the dealers who always seem to find something extra that has to be done (like the screen wash).

On a side note and screen wash MINI have been rejecting any warranty work on washers not working right due to people not using genuine MINI screen wash. That’s three I know of at our work alone.


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[CiderFex]

Aye Davy, I’m going back to my tried and tested method of only using independents.
I’m ringing Mat @ SuperMINI (he’s the guy I bought the GP3 posters from) at 10:30 this morning.
He’s only available by appointment only and I’m just hoping he can fit me in for Monday 28th.
[emoji1303]


Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[CiderFex]

Just booked in at SuperMINIUK.
Service (oil change (Castrol Edge Titanium), oil filter, micro filter) and MOT for £119.
[emoji1303]
I’ll be chatting to Mat when I’m down there to get some pricing for “various” other “things” as well.
[emoji4]


Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[Biggbn]

I will be using my own fella from now. My 40k old mini came with a 'full service history' from John Clark, but hadn't seen a garage for two years and 26k miles because of this 'condition based servicing'...car tells owner when it needs an oil change. Not on my watch, I do a lot of miles and car will be going to 10k intervals, I need it to cover another 100k in next five years, so false economy to do anything else.

Or am i just old and don't understand modern engines?

[CiderFex]

I will be using my own fella from now. My 40k old mini came with a 'full service history' from John Clark, but hadn't seen a garage for two years and 26k miles because of this 'condition based servicing'...car tells owner when it needs an oil change. Not on my watch, I do a lot of miles and car will be going to 10k intervals, I need it to cover another 100k in next five years, so false economy to do anything else.

Or am i just old and don't understand modern engines?

N’ah, that’s the sensible thing to do.
[emoji1303]
I’m gonna be averaging about 15K miles per year in mine and I’m very tempted to have mine serviced every 9 months.


Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

[goggs]

I’ve always had oil and filter changes once per year (4000mls) on all the TT’s I owned, the JCW will be no different


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