As the title implies any advice and opinions on whether to stay with main dealer for servicing or to employ a specialist. Ours will be 5 years old in April, and to date has a full main dealer service history at a not inconsiderable expense. I know and was aware that these are in our instance, £100k+ vehicle with commensurate running costs. But as the car is now out of warranty I am interested as to whether this will affect any future resale to a greater or lesser degree, or maybe🤞 not at all? All opinions greatly appreciated.

My AB 4.4SDV8 is now 7 years old & due a service, emailing around the dealer was the same price as the independents, so an easy choice for me.
Worth pricing up the options before you decide? 2013 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previous:
AMG C Class
AMG GLA
AUDI RS6
NISSAN GT-R x 5

How many miles has yours covered and how long do you intend to keep it?

I ask because you may be within the realms of ongoing preventative maintenance? That would then make more financial sense to go with a specialist who would have a greater knowledge of preventative schedules...

And, even if you only keep it for a shorter period? When you sell it, it may be easier with a more indepth service reigeme?

Thats how i see it sir

No single answer.

THere's a kind of snob value in MD history IMHO - and when selling a nearly new one, people seem to expect it. I've never been convinced the premium is worth anything - in fact I'd rather have someone I trust than just whoever gets assigned to it.

I tend to keep mine & do a decent mileage - so I was pretty much straight to an Indy for me.

Maths also comes into it - how much extra will you pay each service & what's the impact on your resale price.

main dealer work is preferable if you have a warranty or want the service to be included in the LR online service info... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

What Craig and Alistair said! Main dealers can no longer be relied on to do a full and proper job in my experience. I have always gone to indies at the first opportunity unless it required specific LR items such as software etc.

The problem comes when you look for a good Indy and end up reading reviews where 50% of folk rant and rave about how good they are whilst the other 50% post up horror stories.

I know that this is also the case for Main Dealers but if things go wrong most MD’s will try their hardest to put things right. If I had the same price for a service from a MD and an Indy I would go for the MD service.

Just my thoughts.

Jim

Thanks all. We’re only doing around 7k pa which is making the service an annual one. The reason for originally posting was at the end of last month I took the car for its annual service at our local MD. It was the 5 year 80k service although the car has only done 42k. The long and short of it was when I had the car back it was groaning from underneath at the back when at low speed and on full lock. Anyway the dealer tried to make out that it was because I had used low range on the terrain response and that they were charging an additional £250 to reflush and program the transfer box on top of the £800 I’d just paid for the service, which when I checked on this forum included the change of transfer box oil! When questioned what exactly they had done three days prior they backed down and stated on this occasion they would do it as a gesture of good will. So cutting a long story short, I’m not overly enamoured with main dealers at this time and although I plan on keeping the car for another 18months at least without tempting fate, the whole dealer experience has left me less than impressed really.

you should have asked for the 'over 3 years old fixed service prices' Matt..

i paid half of the standard £800 for my 60month/80k mile service..

although my local dealer forgot to include the diff oil info on the online service information the service went ok..

many main dealers are suffering with furloughs and staff reductions which doesnt help... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

So I just state next time when booking it in I want the over three year plan? Didn’t know it existed but that’s my fault🤦‍♂️

yep....same stuff done for half the cost.... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Thanks Stan I’ll remember that for next time.

as you have said that yours is out of warranty and if you dont mind not having the LR online service info then consider a indy such as CAM-TEC in Cam nr Dursley.. Craig is one of the best mechanics about and will certainly look after you ... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

I’ve just PM’d him. 😊

I think the over 3 years old fixed price servicing was abolished earlier this year. Even when it was in place not all dealers participated in it.

I'd be very happy to be corrected. 2017 SDV8 Autobiography