Vehicle mechanical service.

[Fisherman]

Well my van is due it’s first service being two years old in June.
So I think let’s give the nearest fiat dealer a chance to quote.
Well they did and at £546 I had to go and sit down for ten minutes to recover from the shock.
I then phone the Glasgow Motorhome repair centre who I used on my last chausson.
Well they quoted £198 inc vat. Booked in for middle of June.

 

[Wully]

This area around the west of Scotland is terrible for MH repairers or servicing. I had a recall and the main fiat agent in Glasgow said they couldn’t do it on an a class because fiat didn’t pay them enough absolute garbage so they will never see a penny from me under any circumstances.

 

[Obanboy666]

Just booked my Pilote in for its 2 year service in June. £240.00 for Hab service, £300.00 for Fiat service at local Fiat Professional dealer. Insurance and road tax also due so rather an expensive month. Toying with the idea of having a Fiamma awning and bike rack fitted when it’s in for hab service so that will be another £1,100 + if I decide to do both.
The joys of motorhoming lol.

 

[alcam]

Well my van is due it’s first service being two years old in June.
So I think let’s give the nearest fiat dealer a chance to quote.
Well they did and at £546 I had to go and sit down for ten minutes to recover from the shock.
I then phone the Glasgow Motorhome repair centre who I used on my last chausson.
Well they quoted £198 inc vat. Booked in for middle of June.

Was quoted £580 jokingly asked them for pensioners rates . They quoted £550
Went elsewhere and paid £280

 

[trevskoda]

There are services and then there are services, some places change oils and filters etc and others do a proper service which includes, brakes and flued change, door hinges oiled, steering rack oiled or greased, all suspension parts lubed with molyslip, ie bushes etc, coolant checked toped up or replaced, seat runners dry lubed, need i go on, but many garages charge you but skimp.
From my days in the trade i would not let 99% of them within 100 miles of anything I drive.

 

[Fisherman]

r

This area around the west of Scotland is terrible for MH repairers or servicing. I had a recall and the main fiat agent in Glasgow said they couldn’t do it on an a class because fiat didn’t pay them enough absolute garbage so they will never see a penny from me under any circumstances.

Wully recalls are done for reasons of safety, and monitored and controlled by the DOT. It is the responsibility of the manufacturers to notify you, and to offer free from charge the required works. I would have contacted Fiat using the emergency number if any Fiat garage refused to carry out the work.

 

[alcam]

r

Wully recalls are done for reasons of safety, and monitored and controlled by the DOT. It is the responsibility of the manufacturers to notify you, and to offer free from charge the required works. I would have contacted Fiat using the emergency number if any Fiat garage refused to carry out the work.

Fiat in Edinburgh (Seafield and Sighthill) won't touch vans

 

[Fisherman]

Fiat in Edinburgh (Seafield and Sighthill) won't touch vans

Alcam does that include van conversions and coachbuilt.
I have an A class and have had a problem with the drivers window.
But the dealer will deal with that.
But they did do a recall.

 

[GMJ]

There are services and then there are services, some places change oils and filters etc and others do a proper service which includes, brakes and flued change, dorr hinges oiled, steering rack oiled or greased, all suspension parts lubed with molyslip, ie bushes etc, coolant checked toped up or replaced, seat runners dry lubed, need i go on, but many garages charge you but skimp.
From my days in the trade i would not let 99% of them within 100 miles of anything i drive.

That's an important distinction.

I had our MH serviced last November which was a basic oil service, as it use to be called. It cost around 100 quid. I used an indie garage to do it

The next service will be a full one at a Fiat Service Centre which will be the full 'bells and whistles' service with brake fluid change and nipples greased on the ALKO chassis. I think they are around 400 - 500 quid these days.

 

[trevskoda]

Time I got back into servicing, two vans a day would make me 5 grand a week less cost of parts of about a grand, where did I go wrong.

 

[harrow]

There are services and then there are services, some places change oils and filters etc and others do a proper service which includes, brakes and flued change, door hinges oiled, steering rack oiled or greased, all suspension parts lubed with molyslip, ie bushes etc, coolant checked toped up or replaced, seat runners dry lubed, need i go on, but many garages charge you but skimp.
From my days in the trade i would not let 99% of them within 100 miles of anything I drive.

Interesting story. When I bought my new car,
I also purchased a 3 year service plan (£300) to match the 3 year warranty.
On the 3rd year I again took it in for service (all at the same dealer) and when I collected it I was presented with a 6 foot long paper list of items and a huge financial bill. I explained it was already paid.
Did they skimp the service if it was in for a prepaid service ?

 

[wildebus]

The BIG problem is that while a van is still in warranty you need to go to the main dealer and, if you want any warranty work, even more so.
They got you by the short and curly's
Then the other thing is that some of the main dealers are Truck dealers where mechanics might not be quite so clean .

That is not actually correct. You can take it to any garage for service work within the warranty period. The only time there is a requirement for approved dealer servicing is if it is a stipulation of an EXTENDED warranty.

 

[trevskoda]

Interesting story. When I bought my new car,
I also purchased a 3 year service plan (£300) to match the 3 year warranty.
On the 3rd year I again took it in for service (all at the same dealer) and when I collected it I was presented with a 6 foot long paper list of items and a huge financial bill. I explained it was already paid.
Did they skimp the service if it was in for a prepaid service ?

Yes to that, my new to me car with 27 th miles came with all paperwork, when i went over it I found it had never been serviced at all.

 

[Fisherman]

That is not actually correct. You can take it to any garage for service work within the warranty period. The only time there is a requirement for approved dealer servicing is if it is a stipulation of an EXTENDED warranty.

David I think ***** is referring to warranty work to the conversion side.
When you buy a Motorhome from a dealer and you say have fridge problems, the other dealers nearer you are not bound to carry out the work. You will most probably have to go back to your dealer. I have had an issue for a year now with my drivers window. Fiat won’t touch it because it’s an a class. And I am having to head to catterick to have it fixed. The mechanical side is different. Most dealers don’t deal with the vehicle side at all.
You can ask another dealer, but they can, and most certainly will refuse to assist.
Although I have heard in desperate circumstances when far away from home some have, but that is purely voluntary.

 

[wildebus]

Fair point. I was thinking in base vehicle terms

 

[Fisherman]

If you think that is expensive try the Hymer Centre a Travelworld
Last year first service, hab and damp check was over £1300
This year which I did not have because I sold it £330 for damp check, mot and Alko chassis grease

PS, don't forget the Alko greasing!

You see ***** that’s one reason why I won’t buy one. In my honest opinion they are overpriced, alongside carthago and Malibu. I am thinking of a van conversion in 2023 to replace my a class. And I looked at the Malibu charming. Their option prices are a joke, and some of what they deem as optional are surely required.
The van started of at £52,000 by the time I added what I had to others I was looking at it rose to £76,000 for a fiat van conversion. And no oven was made available, and the fridge was far to small. I am looking at two now the Adria supreme plus SLB, and the dreamer D68 select. All of these vans are based on the fiat Ducato so no difference there, and the dreamer comes with air suspension, under floor heating, Truma duo auto cylinder change, and a great layout. And it’s £13,000 less than the Malibu.

 

[witzend]

The BIG problem is that while a van is still in warranty you need to go to the main dealer

That requirement was dropped many years ago you can have anyone carry out the service as long as it's done as the schedule & compatible parts and fluids are used and listed in detail on the invoice

 

[caledonia]

There are services and then there are services, some places change oils and filters etc and others do a proper service which includes, brakes and flued change, door hinges oiled, steering rack oiled or greased, all suspension parts lubed with molyslip, ie bushes etc, coolant checked toped up or replaced, seat runners dry lubed, need i go on, but many garages charge you but skimp.
From my days in the trade i would not let 99% of them within 100 miles of anything I drive.

It’s called kidology in the trade Trev. As long as the bits the customer can see ie door hinges greased, battery terminals and bonnet catch and give the plastics under the bonnet a a wipe over with duck oil and a rag the customer will think everything else has been done.

 

[trevskoda]

It’s called kidology in the trade Trev. As long as the bits the customer can see ie door hinges greased, battery terminals and bonnet catch and give the plastics under the bonnet a a wipe over with duck oil and a rag the customer will think everything else has been done.

Yep a chap i know was put wise by me and marked everything, when on collection he had a look to find no work done, told the receptionist he was going over the road to a legal eagle, all work was done in front of him there and then, when they ask him to pay his reply was no its now free or he would mention the garage to his mate the car correspondent in the Belfast telly, end result no charge.

 

[Nabsim]

If its a mechanical service can you not get it cheaper at a commercial van and truck place?