Maybe, but for the sake of saving £200 on routine servicing, I don't care that much. For basic oil services it doesn't even go to an independant dealer, we do it in the driveway.

And bang goes the FSH...

Also - Cam belt change is down to the chassis number. Not all are needed at 60,000...

And bang goes the FSH...

I have recipet for all OEM products bought to do the service, my boyfriend is a qualified car mechanic and there is no difference between him changing to oil and a few filter to paying some grubby local mechanic or a dealer to do it.

I can see the car staying in the family as my mum is going to have it when she moves back to the UK. I am not asking you to buy it.

Maybe, but for the sake of saving £200 on routine servicing, I don't care that much. For basic oil services it doesn't even go to an independant dealer, we do it in the driveway.

In your situation then thats cool, Roo is perfectly competant i'm sure. Like I said my servicing is done at my unit so i'm not really one to comment...lol

But dont forget, although not in your case most dealers will price match independants if they can plus give out loan cars or we have even started paying for taxis rather than tie up a car all day.

The key to FSH is the stamp in the book, a car without a complete set of stamps come p/ex time will be difficult to sell and some garages may not even be interested.

Full main dealer servicing also helps resale value. For example, my previous car before the octy was serviced by both an independant and main dealer. Because it had independant specialist stamps in the service book, I lost more than 3K on the p/ex figure because it no longer had a complete dealer history.

In your situation then thats cool, Roo is perfectly competant i'm sure. Like I said my servicing is done at my unit so i'm not really one to comment...lol

But dont forget, although not in your case most dealers will price match independants if they can plus give out loan cars or we have even started paying for taxis rather than tie up a car all day.

As I said, I think my car is likely to be staying in the family for a while, and if I do sell it almost certainly it will be done privately. I can provide all the information to prove that the car has been serviced - just without a stamp in the book. The book is still filled in with dates and mileage etc.

Working shifts there is no real advantage for having a courtesy car. The garage is walking distance to my house and it isn't like I need a car to driver to work in - I just arranged for it to be done on a rest day.

Why pay £700 at the dealers for something that is costing me less than £300 for a car that is out of warranty. Work that out over 2 services a year and I am saving about £500. If the car drops in value because of it so be it. I am sure years down the line it will be less than the amount saved.

Dealer history's are a con. To the guy that lost 3k what an idiot! sell it privately...

I would rather trust my own independent mechanic rather than the dealers anyhow. I also keep every receipt for the materials and he stamps my service history book!Just as good IMO. Doubt Dealer service history is going to make a difference on a 7k Fabia. I'd consider it if the car was a Ferrari lets say

I do all my own servicing, timing belt changes and even the odd clutch or turbo swap

I dont give a rats ar5e about service history, my car gets an oil change every 5k and an inspection service at least once every 2 months. The timing belt was changed at 40k and the whole car is in exellent mechanical condition, apart from the overboost issue but I am on its case

I have all the reciepts for genuine parts from the dealer, and If i sell my car in the future Someone who knows anything about cars will see that the fabia is in exellent mechanical condition.

I dissagree with some of the comments about dealers being rip offs. They arnt really when you consider the amount of specialist tools they have to carry. I have the workshop manuals for just the fabia alone and the number of special tools listed is mind blowing. Imagine having to buy all those tools just in case someone comes along with a problem that requires one of them.

Some dealers are good some are poor, its all down to the mechanics they employ.