[Fireblade908]

Yes! Car washing seems to be the one thing UK main dealers do well.

I really would like to follow you and find a good independent service specialist - if you could let us know who you used please?

(Re: Fiat 500 - I was loaned one during my 124 service - the ride seemed incredibly hard? Made me realise how supple the 124 suspension is).

Hi John, I use http://www.intaservices.com/ the guy that runs it is called Dave and he really knows his stuff and most importantly he is honest. He uses genuine parts and shows you how much the main dealer will charge for the parts and how much he is charging you. I know he is moving the garage location before Christmas, but will be within 3 miles of current location.
The current address is 32 Southampton Street, Leicester, LE1 1SJ. Tel 0116 251 0899

 

[Greg]

Keep in mind that the routine service on this car just isn't that tough. With the help form this forum, I think anyone that's capable of driving a car will be able to do the routine stuff, like oil and air filter changes.


Greg

 

[jetlag]

Hi John, I use http://www.intaservices.com/ the guy that runs it is called Dave and he really knows his stuff and most importantly he is honest. He uses genuine parts and shows you how much the main dealer will charge for the parts and how much he is charging you. I know he is moving the garage location before Christmas, but will be within 3 miles of current location.
The current address is 32 Southampton Street, Leicester, LE1 1SJ. Tel 0116 251 0899

Link is not working for me, I don't need it mind you, just wanted to see a British ad for service. And did you mean 3 kilometers instead of miles??? Just kidding of course 00

 

[Fireblade908]

Link is not working for me, I don't need it mind you, just wanted to see a British ad for service. And did you mean 3 kilometers instead of miles??? Just kidding of course 00

It's not a link from a glamorous dealership, more like a dirty overalls kind of place And no, in new money it would be 4.8 KM

 

[John 124 UK]

Hi John, I use http://www.intaservices.com/ the guy that runs it is called Dave and he really knows his stuff and most importantly he is honest. He uses genuine parts and shows you how much the main dealer will charge for the parts and how much he is charging you. I know he is moving the garage location before Christmas, but will be within 3 miles of current location.
The current address is 32 Southampton Street, Leicester, LE1 1SJ. Tel 0116 251 0899

Intaservices - just the job - that link works for me - also Leicester is within my striking distance.
Looks an interesting place - he can drive cars onto the roof? A bit like the original Fiat factory!
Perhaps he could call his business "The Italian Job".
Many thanks for that link. Cheers, John.

 

[Fireblade908]

Intaservices - just the job - that link works for me - also Leicester is within my striking distance.
Looks an interesting place - he can drive cars onto the roof? A bit like the original Fiat factory!
Perhaps he could call his business "The Italian Job".
Many thanks for that link. Cheers, John.

It's so cool to see various original Spiders and GTV's in different states of repair in the workshop.

 

[Kentsmudger]

I think it's https://www.fiat.co.uk/mopar/book-a-service

Thank you! Just booked mine in using this, will see how it goes

It has not actually gone all that well ...
Booked online on Saturday for today, recieved automatic confirmation email immediately.

Thank you for booking online with Blahblah Abarth.

The details for your booking are confirmed as:

Work details
1. Major Service
Total £250.00 inc. VAT

Retailer details
Name: Blah
Address: Blah
Phone numbers: Blah
Email Address: blah@blah.blah

Booking details
Booking date: Thu 15-Nov-18
Opening times: 08:30 - 17:00
Drop-off: 09:00
Alternative transport: Courtesy car *

The above prices are guaranteed with this booking. etc etc small print blah...

Then nothing further ...

... so I phoned the dealer yesterday to check the booking and whether I would have a courtesy car, as this was 'subject to availability' on website.

Dealer has no record of the booking.

Says he has space in the workshop today, but no courtesy car.

So I have now rebooked on the phone, at £normal-dealer-price and with guaranteed loan car, so I don't have to sit on their (hard) sofas, drinking their (quite nice) coffee all day long

- IN THREE WEEKS' TIME

 

[John 124 UK]

It has not actually gone all that well ...
Booked online on Saturday for today, recieved automatic confirmation email immediately.


So I have now rebooked on the phone, at £normal-dealer-price and with guaranteed loan car, so I don't have to sit on their (hard) sofas, drinking their (quite nice) coffee all day long

- IN THREE WEEKS' TIME

Hmm. Is it rude to ask what your £service is now please?

At my 2nd service (£261) I was told that my brake disks were heavily corroded, and Piccadilly (official Fiat dealership) wanted £789.36 for disks & pads. My mileage was 7,082. I didn't take them up on that.

I love my 124, but am disillusioned with Fiat's UK Dealer network.

 

[Kentsmudger]

Hmm. Is it rude to ask what your £service is now please?

At my 2nd service (£261) I was told that my brake disks were heavily corroded, and Piccadilly (official Fiat dealership) wanted £789.36 for disks & pads. My mileage was 7,082. I didn't take them up on that.

I love my 124, but am disillusioned with Fiat's UK Dealer network.

Don't remember exact figures inc vat but a minor service is a bit over £200 and major was £400 and something. Having a minor this time, and will try and get the online booking sorted nice and early for next time, for the fixed price!

Are your discs Fiat or Abarth/Brembo?

At 11,000 miles, I am showing no rust on mine yet, but do wonder how much Brembo will be charging for consumables ...

Lipscomb Abarth in Aylesford have been OK so far, dealing with a warrantee replacement on boot hinges fairly efficiently - They had the new parts repainted, before fitting to my car, because they weren't impressed with the finish from the factory - They are still in my good books for now!

 

[Kentsmudger]

So I have now rebooked on the phone, ... with guaranteed loan car, so I don't have to sit on their (hard) sofas, drinking their (quite nice) coffee all day long

- IN THREE WEEKS' TIME

Three weeks later...


Oh dear. Message left by dealer yesterday - He has a problem with loan cars, so will not have one for me for Monday as arranged



:|


So tomorrow I have to go, and sit, and wait, while car is serviced.

 

[kennedylanduk]

An add on to this thread.


UK based, I've just been quoted £376 for the 2nd service. A search online brought me to Halfords Autocentres, they do a 2 year major service for £245.
https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/servicing-advice/car-servicing-whats-included


Has anyone got any experiences with these? The one in Southampton (Millbrook area) to be precise.


I'm really tempted to just bring the car to the independent garage round the corner that I've been using for my other cars for the past 15 years.

 

[Hotspur]

I'm really tempted to just bring the car to the independent garage round the corner that I've been using for my other cars for the past 15 years.

If you trust them that's what I would do.
I supplied my local independent with 4 litres of oil (Castrol Magnatec 5W-40) which I had bought online from Euro Car Parts for £22.25.
They did all the listed 2nd service work (inc. Pollen Filter replacement, which I forgot to tell them wasn't necessary).

Breakdown:

Oil filter £13.66
Sump plug & washer £4.60
Pollen filter £25.76
Labour 1.5 hrs. £63.75
Total: £129.32​

Add the cost of the oil: Total cost £151.57

Hotspur

 

[Jessica Smith]

Seems crazy to me. I always do my own maintenance, and usually you don't have to replace brake fluid until 50K miles, and really those are just suggestions as you can see if your fluid is bad or not just from a visual inspection.

For engine oil, that's also SUPER easy to do from what I saw in the dealership, as it looks like you can get to the oil filter from on top of the engine easily without the need to jack up the car. You can then use a vacuum pump excavator (with warm but not hot oil) into the dipstick tube to suck the oil out.

Every air cabin filter I've ever replaced took mere minutes, so I'd watch a youtube video on that, and the filters should be dirt cheap. But to replace those at 7K miles seems insane, usually its 50K or so when it is visibly very dirty.

Spark plugs also don't care about age, only mileage, and 7K miles for new plugs, jesus! Make sure you replace them with iridium tip so you aren't putting new plugs in that often as that's crazy.

For the air filter, I've never seen a vehicle where that's difficult, but again at 7K miles? The filter doesn't care how many months have passed, only how much air is sucked through it, and that's not enough mileage to be worthy of replacement. Its super easy to do, but I'd replace it with a K&N serviceable one that will last you the life of the vehicle.

Whoever your service guys are, they may be over-charging you.

 

[4713]

Cabin/pollen air filter, from info on this forum is a really time consuming ordeal. Begs the question, for 25 sterling plus labor, did they really do it?? I would have asked to see the old one.

 

[kennedylanduk]

Thanks all, I'm going to head to the local garage today to get mine booked in.

 

[Jessica Smith]

Cabin/pollen air filter, from info on this forum is a really time consuming ordeal. Begs the question, for 25 sterling plus labor, did they really do it?? I would have asked to see the old one.

I just checked youtube, and not a single video. Might be a worthwhile upload next time someone does it. That's pretty crazy though, as usually they just take a few minutes, accessible from the passenger glovebox area. Is it maybe just difficult for people in the UK that drive on the wrong side of the road, because the glove box is on the wrong side of the car messing up the designed access point?

The interior seems to be all Mazda design, and Mazda filter replacements were always so super easy. Hmmm...

 

[BillaVista]

Mod Note:

I edited post #34 due to language. Let's keep it PG-13.

 

[Kentsmudger]

... will try and get the online booking sorted nice and early for next time, for the fixed price!...

So I booked a major service online yesterday, for 3 weeks' time, and got auto-email reply from Fiat UK last night - This morning the local dealer actually sent me a text, so looks more promising this time - We shall see!

 

[Kentsmudger]

Well it worked perfectly this time, so I can confirm that you can get a major service from a UK dealer (Lipsombe Abarth, Aylesford Kent in this case) for a total of £250 if you book online -

https://www.fiat.co.uk/mopar/book-a-service

I even enjoyed the courtesy car much more than I expected to - The Fiat 500 TwinAir is actually pretty good fun to scoot about in, despite the engine being more-or-less the 124 engine cut in half - Literally, 2 cylinders and 86 BHP!

Not sure about the sticker job though -

 

[68wooley]

OK - UK / EU warranty question - can a manufacturer deny a warranty claim if you are not using a main-dealer for servicing? What if you use an independent garage or - heaven forbid - do it yourself, but keep receipts to show you used the correct parts?

Is it legally allowable for them to deny a claim for - say - an electric window not working, because your last oil change was six weeks late?