New cars' first service

[Kazal]

I bought a brand new small car last January which was first registered with a branch of the dealer in November. It is used as a second car for running about town - shopping, medicals etc and has done less than 2k miles.
The first service is due at the end of November and they have quoted me nearly £200 to do it, which I think is extortionate to change oil and filter, air filter etc.
There is a 1 year warranty but there is unlikely to have anything needing replacing.
I am reluctant to pay this but I don't know what to do. Can I take it to any reliable garage in January (1 year from purchase) or will this cause future problems etc?
Advice please.

[jake-the-peg]

Manufacturers used to insist that you had cars serviced with their main dealers or they would invalidate the warrenty.

The EU gave them a slap over the knuckles for this and stopped them from doing that.

You can now have the car serviced independantly and as long as they follow the correct procedures and use genuine parts there's no problem

4th Item down here:

http://www.theaa.com/...-and-repair-faqs.html

[chas2008]

its usually only the oil filter on a 1st service,£200. is about right, at a guess £50.00 oil & filter, £115.00 labour (between 1 & 1.5 hours,depending on their labour rate) + VAT @ 20% soon becomes nearly £200.00. Obviously its more than just a filter change involved in this, out of interest what vehicle is it ?

[jake-the-peg]

Looks like it's a Ka

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1121335.html

In which case an oil filter should be about £10 I'd think say £25-30 for the oil ( and that's steep), Air filter say £10-15

The rest is just an exorbitant hourly rate to inspect brake wear and various other parts

Probably charging you £200 an hour for 30 minutes work at a guess

Ask around to get recommendations for local garages near you - the main dealers are trying to profit from your insecurity.

I'd be amazed if you couldn't halve that price

[TWR]

For your Warranty you MUST get it done at the dealers " BUT" you can supply your own oil / filters but they MUST be the approved by your car's makers, ask the garage for their price for their filters first then take it from there.

[ChuckFickens]

"For your Warranty you MUST get it done at the dealers"

Load of rubbish. it must be done at a VAT registered garage and they must use genuine parts, but it does not have to be done at the main dealer at all.

[Baldric]

Not true TWR, and has not been true since 2003.

[Nibble]

Never touched a main dealer since the EU slapped the manufacturers
"warranty" T&C's down afew years ago.. take to any VAT registered garage, no problem with warranties.

[TWR]

Its the first service!!!!

[chas2008]

block exemption is the correct term TWR, http://en.wikipedia.o...ption_Regulation_(EU)

[Baldric]

I was going to post a link as I know you like that, however Jake has already done so @ 15:44, just scroll to the section on services.

[TWR]

Stand to be corrected.

[chas2008]

one tip with a FORD is get the paint & body check stamped in the service book, without that Fords will reject any future paint/rust warranty claim...
not many people are aware of it and the dealers never bring it to the customers attention.

[craft1948]

I bought my new car from a main dealer in 2009, and I was definitely told that if they did not do the service during the warranty period then the warranty would be invalid.

[tonyav]

Toys R Us, doesn't count, crafty.

[craft1948]

Ahem it was from the Mercedes dealership..............

[tonyav]

Yes crafty, mmmmmm !

[Kacee]

I just paid £164 at the Ford dealership for my first service on the Fiesta I bought brand new last year.

[jake-the-peg]

That's really bad craft!

They straight out lied to you

If anyone ever tells you that again ask them to put it in writing and see what happens

[mjwman]

We were told that this Monday at a Renault dealer when we ordered our Dacia but my wife and I put the salesman straight on that!

[flitty]

I had this problem and you do now not have to take it to a main dealer so long as you use a vat registered garage and genuine parts for that make of car, ie if you have a ford thern you must use genuine ford parts. The garage you go to must do the service as per the manufacturers handbook. Dont let them fob you off with the old warranty not valid if we dont do it. You can go elsewhere so long as the above criteria is adhered to. I had the same thing and went to a local garage and saved nearly £80. The first service is usually just oil and check all fluid levels. Most plugs are now only changed after 3 years or high mileage.