A very substantial number of us are post-warranty DIYers.

 

I agree, I do some things myself, others I take to a garage. I have a few that I always goto but if I need something doing away from home I just ring around.

I don't know what I'd do if I had a new car though. I would be tempted to goto a dealer as it would help a sale in the future if it has Full Dealer Service History with it.

 

Ill have to go with other, cos mines a citroen
Seriously using an independant garage shouldnt affect your warranty as long as you can prove that it has been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers service shedules, in theory you can service your own car and still not affect your warranty. Cant remember the EEC ruling but its out there

 

Well my espace will be 6 years old this Sept but i service it myself and do most of the other work myself unless its beyond me or i do not have the necessary tools then it goes to my local independent,cheers Donald

 

Had my Clio done by our mechanic friend - has done my Mum's for the last few years and my sisters car so I thought I'd give him a try.

Just need to get my cambelt checked/done...

 

Very much a DIYer due to general skintness. I wish I could afford the luxury of using either independant or dealer garage!

The Megane went into a local Renault specialist a few times notably on its maiden head gasket change And my local independant around MOT time.

The Cav is/will be all DIY except anything too demanding to do myself

 

Mine will be due its first service soon , and it is going to a good local garage .
My bro took his clio to the renault garage and it cost him a arm and a leg just for them to tell him what was wrong with it

 

Any car that I have that is under a manufacturers warranty will be dealer serviced.
I know it isn't strictly necessary under the new rules and regulations but if makes life a bit easier should you have any warranty claims, there is no way the dealer can claim that it hasn't been serviced properly.

Once its out of warranty its down to my local independant. I would recomend him to anyone. I've known him for 20 years and he is 100% trustworthy.

 

Mine always goes to an independant garage that I trust. I also have another garage that I use for things that my normal garage cant do (like air con, diagnostics etc).

I would never take it to a dealer for a service, way too pricey. Although I have used the dealer for changing my Xenon bulbs and fixing a fog light....why I dont know

 

Unless I had a car under 3 years old, I'd never use a main stealer.

My brothers boss has a 4 year old BMW 328, SPOTLESS, FBMWSH and its worth £100 more than a FSH BMW 328. £100 for that extra service work?!?!!?

Not worth it!

 

I agree its not worth it mate, not in the slightlest !

Makes no odds when selling / p/ex-ing a car to trader aswell ! (like I always do)

 

I use my local independant garage that have all the certs to say that their work will not affect warranty and never had any problems or loss of value!!

 

my car is 9 years old, has 2 stamps of service history, but i know it been serviced, as it got;

new brakes all round
new full exhaust
new oil
new oil filter
new air filter
new brake fluid

as there was a recipt in the cars paper work

and 30k under average miles, so not bad for £800 back in november

but always DIY them things (not exhaust)

gonna get cambelt done soon aswell

that WILL be a garage job.

they ¤¤¤¤ it up - i dont pay

but they are pretty good at what they do, and my dad was at school with the owner

 

I cant vote for both in th Poll, but the first service done by main dealer (cos it was free) and the second by an indy who serviced it to renault spec, so warranty not void

 

I think it all boils down to one word - trust.

If you trust the main dealer's expertise to be worth paying the extra for - then do it.

If, on the other hand, your local Renault dealer tries to sell you either a Megane or an Espace (when you want a Vel Satis) - one too small, the other has too many seats, and says that only 15 were ever sold in the UK...(out by a factor of 100)

Then you go to a tried and trusted independent. As I do.

I would rather entrust my car to a knowledgeable, passionate independent (who I can deal directly with), than an organisation where you need to double check that requested work has been carried out.

A bit cynical, but I've had some poor experiences to draw my conclusions on.

Paul

 

Is it just me...! :loser:

The Espace is dealer serviced as its still under the Renault/Harmony warranty .... (more of this when I can bear to write it up )

The Clio I do myself unless I havent the time or the special tools or indeed the inclination .... then it goes to a local "trusted" independant.

 

I could never afford £92 + VAT per hour for the local renault dealer to service our renaults...

 

I do it all by myself:d

 

I had a quote of Renault today for a 36K service, on the phone I initially spoke with a lady who quoted

£335!?!?

Rather

calmly, I later went down to Renault and spoke to one more senior staff there £335 was without hesitation reduced to £285.00

While there I noticed they had a number of pre registered 08 Meganes ranging from £9999 to £10,500 all with delivery mileage on the clocks I'm seriously considering buying one of these TBH it was a car I'd never previously never considered but what swayed me big time is it seems Megs now come standard fitted with cruise control, this I like. Trouble is like other garages even Renault want to give you all in PX for a 2.2 litre car.

I might well be cancelling the sevice I had planned for this coming Thursday no biggy though the Lag 2 almost 2,000 miles away from 36,000

 

Sounds quite tempting Hondo