Should I use a Renault dealer for servicing my car?

[alex1047]

My Clio has a three year Renault warranty, and it's due for its first service very soon. I'd rather not pay the extortionate prices that the official dealers charge for servicing, however will I invalidate my warranty if I go to an independent garage? Nobody will give me a straight answer anywhere!

[andy hughes]

You will invalidate your warrenty if your service is done by anyone other than an approver Renault dealer. That said, you have to weigh the cost of 'formal' servicing which keeps your warrenty, and costs a fortune, against breaking a warrenty which you may not actually invoke over its timespan. If your car has gone for a year with no major problems, i'd be inclined to go independent, and take your chances. Independent garages stand or fall by their workmanship, so they will often do a better, and certainly quciker job, than salaried mechanics who have nothing to gain or loose by getting your car back on the road. It is a generalisation, but that doesn't mean it's not true.

[Gnu]

The Sunday Times had an article on car servicing on Sunday, in which it stated that 'new European Union legislation that came into force in May forces manufacturers to honour warranties even if independent garages have done the servicing'

Independent garages should be cheaper, and the chance of getting a dodgy garage is about the same whether you use a franchised dealer or an independent.

The tips to get a good value service seem to be - get recommendations from friends, get written quotes including VAT and the cost of routine parts and ask beforehand that any parts changed are kept for you to inspect.  Oh, and if you are a woman, take a man with you!  (Not my idea, but the issue of women being charged more is mentioned in both Which? and the Sunday Times)

I don't agree with andy hughes about the warranty being invalidated, but obviously make sure it is the sort of garage where you get detailed receipts of the work done.

Hope this helps.

[THFCUK]

the warranty will be invalid i have a clio sport, a few things went wrong with it so i took it to the renault dealer and they said because it has not been serviced by renault the warranty is void

[Hgrove]

If the warranty expires after three years, I would use a Renault dealer during the warranty's lifetime, and then an independent mechanic afterwards.  I bought a 6 year old car 4 years ago and the guy told me he had always had it serviced by Vauxhall.  I tried them but they were awful - long story - so I have used an independent mechanic ever since. 

[Jenny Tools]

I can categorically say that by using independent servicing will not invalidate a manufactures warranty in itself. That said, you need to make sure that the servicing is carried out at the correct time and mileage intervals as per the manufactures recommendations. Also any failure that results by the use inferior materials i.e. wrong spec engine oil or filter and any work / inspections that have not been carried out that is stipulated in the manufactures service schedule

[Jenny Tools]

To clarify my answer slightly, if after a couple of years of independent servicing your clock stops working for example, the manufacture has a duty under the terms of the warranty to repair it because buy have non franchise servicing would have had no detrimental effect on that part. However if after having independent servicing the engine seizes, the manufacture could refuse on the grounds that the oil/filter used is not up to the standards required and therefore has invalidated the warranty.           

[Jenny Tools]

Mechanics are paid a hourly rate not salaried and one of the major causes of poor servicing is nearly all major franchise pay mechanics a bonus scheme and despite common belief that mechanics are paid a fortune (possible because of the extortionate fees dealers charge) their hourly rate is often quite low which necessitates them too earn bonus.
Most bonus schemes work on time saved bases. All work has a manufactures repair book time i.e. a full service = 3.00hrs if the mechanic does it in 2.00 hrs he gains 1.00hr if the next 2.00hr job takes him 2.50hrs he looses 0.50hr  leaving him 0.50hr. This goes on for the rest of the week and is added up at the end, if then he has say 6 hours in front, he is paid the hours he worked in that week i.e. 40 + the 6 hours he gained.
This is a basic explanation and there are many variants and combinations. The trouble this causes is that it encourages the less scrupulous worker to rush his work and skip tasks to gain bonus.

 

[alex1047]

Thanks to everyone for their advice - it's very much appreciated. Luckily I've just spoken to someone 'in the know' who can get me a special deal on servicing at a local Renault dealer, so I'll probably opt for that. Thanks again tho. :-)

[antleeds]

I have just collected my car from the main renault dealers in leeds after its first service .Its a 53 clio dynamic and it cost a extortional �187.00 . this was to included nothing other than , oil & filter , air filter, screen wash, which at max would have been about �35 . iI feel really cheated . The only reason i took it was to maintain the warranty , but after reading the info , the warranty is so subjective they could refuse to do anything just about . Take this mans advice , get it done privately but with gen renault parts . Hope this helps , and stops any one else been ripped off