My 2011 4.4 service costs were in the region of £850 each time in went into a main dealer. I don't think you paid any more than usual; whether you got value for money is a different question! Current MY2020
Gone: 1 x L405 and 2 x L322's

PaulTyrer wrote:

Zirconblue wrote:

wealy wrote:

I doubt if they would charge you for spark plugs and NOT change them? That's the first thing I would check!

But a lot of people wouldn't. I'm not sure of the arrangement on the ajv8 engine but on the BMW you have to remove two plastic bungs, two screws a plastic cover, and then 2 more screws and a coil pack from each plug before you can even get the plug out.

If you do check they just apologise and say they will discipline the mechanic, you won't know if they do or not. They just gamble that most people won't check.

It seems that the guy who is servicing the car now knows someone who works at the dealers that have serviced the car, the guy doing the car now noticed the condition of the plugs (it is the BMW V and he checked the records and could not find any spark plugs recorded, so only going on what I have been told!

It's now done 112k but I'm surprised that they are not changed at every major service! Always used to be when I was growing up! Used to take them out regularly on my old minis to clean and check the gaps with a set of feeler gauges and a wire brush!

tbh that's the main point of modern (and expensive) Platinum tipped plugs, they last longer.

Is there a service schedule available somewhere?

Because the three service types, Oil Service, inspection 1, inspection 2, suggest the plugs on the BMW 4.4 at least should be changed every 4th service (so about 60k). They;re listed to be done on the inspection 2 service.

sorry about the delay in replying.
after enquiring further this a ‘big’ service: oil/filters and brake fluid. no idea how much is labour.
my usual indie has quota me £450 for the job! with OEM parts/oil
this is the first time i have got a extended warranty, and was not aware that i could use an indie and still keep the warranty valid..
what about the paintwork warranty?
i have already had the tailgate replaced and can see in the next year to claim on the rear wheel arches.

thanks raj 2011 4.4 TdV8 Nara Bronze

If LR wont recognise the indie for the anti corrosion inspection then, you can take to an LR dealer just for the inspection, only takes about 15min so what ever the dealers min labour charge is - £50?

I'm fairly certain though that car manufacturers aren't allowed to demand you use their dealers for anything other than initial sale of the car.

It's all to do with European Competition rules, which basically bans manufacturers of products restricting who can sell their products and how much they can be sold for etc - Motor manufacturers argued because of the specialist and complex nature of their products (compared to say a dress or a pair of trainers), they should be allowed to maintain dealer networks who deal exclusively in their products. The EU agreed and gave them 'Block exemption' from the competition laws provided they agreed to certain terms. The terms being, that they had to make their technical data and specialist equipment available to any garage or mechanic the same as they do to their dealers and at a reasonable price. They were also banned from making it a provision of warranties that cars were serviced at a particular garage.

Phone or email JLR customer services and ask what their standpoint is on the anti corrosion warranty, they're pretty helpful. The dealer may try and word it that you have to use them for the inspection, either deliberately or due to poor training whether you have to or not.