That’s about £120 less than Seat charge me for a minor service. Same amount of oil.

BWM do have fancy service boxes though you’ll never see them, but they are cool little boxes with everything.l they need in including a pair of gloves and screen wash – they might even email you a video of them doing it.

What if you use your spare key?

Mine done that last time without me even asking, just got a text message with a link to a video showing the guy working on my car. Even done a walkaround with commentary pointing out things.

Main dealers do more. They check a load of stuff and actually maintain things that the manufacturer says like pollen filters and other consumables. Also they do things like lube door hinges.

I once called to book in my car at a local £100 place. I told them this time it was a major service, so they had more to do, and they said they didn’t bother with any of that, they just change the fluids.

Er ta, I can do that myself.

ATS Euromaster do an online quote for a service, you could try showing them that?

As long as it’s a vat registered garage and they use genuine parts (or at least part numbers on the invoice) then you get a stamp in your book. Check your paperwork but with other brands am sure it doesnt affect the warranty and it’s down to the main dealer to prove something was wrongly done .

Sorry for the daft question but did you not buy/get a service pack when you bought the car?

yep same thing and pretty much.
I’d play a couple of dealers off against each other regarding getting quotes, see how that pans out.
Why would they stop you using your oil? you could ask especially if you use the recommended branded stuff.

Marketing mainly it seems

My ’06 5 series does the same, massive oil capacity so high initial service price and everything else just based on what the computer says. I use an independent specialist but I would want to be sure that the right oil was used, regardless of car age.

Probably but if you can find a decent dealer that suits you will generally will get a good service. People get sucked in with Fred in the sheds (there are good and bad of these also) Cheap labour rates especially. Dealers however obviously have higher labour rates but generally will have fixed hours for jobs where you’ll find Fred has a cheap rate but probably will charge you 3 times the labour time of the dealer. You really have to check as with everything you buy.
This oil service is an example I guess the dealer will charge 20mins for the labour time. Fred will probably charge an hour.
At least the OP will get his car washed and a video for his 300 quid.

Check wiper blades is obvious. Check condition of CV joint boots, engine seals etc etc is beyond most people. Ok so MOTs do some of it but not all of it.

You can go on Ford ETIS, put in a number plate (of a Ford, obvs) and it will generate a service list for you. TBH, 90% of it is things like

“-visually check wiper blade condition
-Apply grease to door catches if necessary
-Check operation of handbrake, adjust if necessary
-Check all wheel nuts are present and tight
-check coolant level
-check washer fluid level
-Check power steering fluid level
-Check brake fluid level
“

It’s the sort of stuff that can be done within 30 seconds by walking round the car and having a quick look under the bonnet, it’s not all rocket surgery. Of course, you do sometimes need bigger things like timing belts changing.

edit: People above have said pretty much the same while I was typing.

I once called to book in my car at a local £100 place. I told them this time it was a major service, so they had more to do, and they said they didn’t bother with any of that, they just change the fluids.

Er ta, I can do that myself.
And if you can change the oil then you can change a pollen/air/fuel filter and put some lube on a hinge, surely?

nickewen If you bought it brand new then fair enough reference the service pack. If not get the dealer to check in case it has. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried to pay when the car already has a service pack.
Do any of your local dealer have any offers on service packs that you can buy that would include your current service that’s due?
Prices probably vary in different areas so might be worth checking if your in a different location for hols or business in the coming weeks.

Ford have a fixed price service plan at £150/year taken monthly so £12/month. The Mrs signed up for it as it seemed a decent way of keeping the service history of the car and a bit of perceived value as it was new.

Fords servicing is fixed at £150 these days anyway iirc

Ford also chuck in free breakdown cover if you get your car serviced with them.

As it’s new and in warranty I’d go with the dealer service but do ring around for a better price, this is where the dealer actually makes their money.

Makes me glad my main dealer – Skoda – is so good and cheap. Every time I’ve had my car serviced it’s been no more expensive than the independents around and usually cheaper than the stated price. Basic service is £125 but I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than £110. They also give the car a good valet – clean but no sticky dash treatments etc – and I get to see all the bits taken off when I collect it, can take them home if I want too! They’ve occasionally fixed little things they’ve found for free too, even out of warranty. The only time I’ve queried anything was when the first big, big service came up and the price was double what I was expecting but then they explained it was due to the cambelt change. I did ring round a few indies for that one but they wanted more or would only do fluids at that mileage so it went in the main dealer, I wasn’t risking the engine going pop for saving £100.

Don’t know if having a FDSH will have any value when it comes to selling the car as I plan to keep it a long time but it should make it easier to shift.

Just had a major service on my van , Peugeot expert 2.0 hdi – all fluids and filters £200.00 inc vat . Thwrs at a warranty approved indie .