'Variable' or 'Fixed'?

Missed the alert on this first time round so apologies. In the end i paid £120 inclusive for my first service at 18.5k on variable.

Thats the thing - there is no competition round by me - these are my nearest dealerships and they are 15 and 30miles away (well there is one within 5 miles but wouldn't go there )

If I had 3 dealers within 30 miles away I think I would be spoiled for choice (30 plus miles for nearest two )

If I had 3 dealers within 30 miles away I think I would be spoiled for choice (30 plus miles for nearest two )

Have Hull to the south (OK but pricey for service and they could be better at fault finding), Pickering to the North (technically incompetent) and York to the west (poor attitude, plus suspect competence).

Not much choice then in reality :S

TP

Is there really such a major requirement these days to go to a dealer for servicing rather than a decent independent? Surely as long as the correct service schedule is followed and genuine parts used, then warranty is maintained? There is no magic about main dealer servicing, indeed often the independents will be more competent because they need to be to maintain customer base.

The "antibacterial additive" thing I think is related to the amount of bioethanol which is getting added in fuel these days, which is prone to both water absorption and potential bacterial "growth" in the fuel system.

Is there really such a major requirement these days to go to a dealer for servicing rather than a decent independent? Surely as long as the correct service schedule is followed and genuine parts used, then warranty is maintained? There is no magic about main dealer servicing, indeed often the independents will be more competent because they need to be to maintain customer base.

Whilst you are correct that the EU Regulations do state that you can use an independent, using OE parts, the problem can come when you do make a warranty claim. It might not be refused, but you are going to be expected to PROVE what has been done, and correctly. At least if it is done at a dealers it is "on the system".

The "antibacterial additive" thing I think is related to the amount of bioethanol which is getting added in fuel these days, which is prone to both water absorption and potential bacterial "growth" in the fuel system.

With road diesel fuel there should be no need for an anti-bacterial. "Diesel bug" affects diesel fuel that contains some water, only when it is not being used. Any fuel supplier that has a high turn over will be very unlikely to be affected. The main people who are being affected by it are boat owners, mostly over the winter period, when their boats aren't being used, and their tanks haven't been filled, allowing condensation to collect. And to be honest, if you buy your fuel from a major manufacturers outlet, not a supermarket, the fuel will probably already contain it.

Petrol is not affected.

I think it is nothing more than a dealer trying to make an unscrupulous penny!

Is there really such a major requirement these days to go to a dealer for servicing rather than a decent independent? Surely as long as the correct service schedule is followed and genuine parts used, then warranty is maintained? There is no magic about main dealer servicing, indeed often the independents will be more competent because they need to be to maintain customer base.

The "antibacterial additive" thing I think is related to the amount of bioethanol which is getting added in fuel these days, which is prone to both water absorption and potential bacterial "growth" in the fuel system.

You're right, dealer servicing isn't the ultimate, but it does have a couple of advantages:

There may be some 'product enhancement' work that needs to be done when on a scheduled workshop visit.

Cars are expensive to repair and when that £1000 part fails shortly after the warranty has expired, who's going to get the biggest contribution from the manufacturer?, the customer who has been loyal to the dealer network or the customer who hasn't?