Manufacturers Warranty - New Car

[Fanriffic]

Do you have to take your new car to the same manufacturer to keep the manufacturers warranty valid?
Can you take it to an independent garage for a service and just get them to stamp the service log book?

[Fanriffic]

Thanks for all your answers and feedback everyone, greatly appreciated.

The reason I asked the question was because my new car dealership is 30 miles out of town and would be more convenient to use a local garage.
I also discovered that you can now buy a 'Fixed 3 Year Servicing Plan' when you buy the new car to help keep the costs down which appeals. You only pay for the parts if they need changed. I'll need to look in to this a bit more before I buy.

No further replies required, Thanks again :o)

[ToraToraTora]

if you really want to save money don't buy a new car.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

As above and also consider resale...the higher the car value the more you lose by using an independent as opposed to a franchised dealer for servicing.

[TWR]

How can that be the case Bright? should the Independent be VAT Reg, have Qualified Mechanics / Technicians, this would be a mine field, If I used an Independent & the resale was reduced by someone saying " Because you used an Independent, I would take it further, & I would win the case.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

TWR....so if you look at 2 identical cars..1 with dealer stamps and the other with jack of all trades stamps will you go for the latter.I only trust my M5 with a technically competent M dealership...and to be honest considering the car value and complexity the service costs aint bad....and they give me any BMW I want for the day.

[TWR]

I have seen / heard of people /Friends / BIL / Going to the dealer getting their car's serviced & coming back with more problems that the car had before it went in, I understand what you say regards the stamp, but it does not always work that way.

[bhg481]

I think BrightSpark is basically correct in that most people would prefer to see a main dealer stamp in a service book than that of a non-authorised dealer. Having said that, there are good dealers and bad dealers in both camps.
Let me give you examples. Many years ago, when I used to do most of my own servicing/repairs, I took my still-under-warranty car to a very small Vauxhall main dealer for a service (when you HAD to use a dealer). When I collected it they daid they'd had to replace the front disc pads because of wear. I'd checked the pads myself not long before the service and didn't think they needed replacement. When I asked to see the old pads they'd been "thrown away". I had little choice but to pay.
Some years later, when I'd replaced the Vauxhall with a Volvo, I took the car in for service. I got a phone call saying the front pads needed replacing, so I said that that was a job I did myself. "They really do need replacing urgently"; "It's OK, I like to do it myself", "we'll do the job for just the cost of the pads since we're doing the service"; "No, it's OK, I like to do it". I got the car back and, since I actually had the pads, I thought I'd better get them changed sooner rather than later. I stripped the brakes down and found new pads had been fitted, no charge. That's what I call an honest garage and I still use them 15 years on.

[TWR]

Tht same Vaux Garage was the one I mentioned in a post of mine Re/ My Daughters Friend Bhj.

[TWR]

Yes, you are right Bright, but there is different views.

[bhg481]

My Vauxhall garage was near Reading TWR, not the Clitheroe one.

[TWR]

ok