Was this a service - or not?

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JohnD
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Was this a service - or not?

Post by JohnD »

For the sake of the warranty, I put my one year old C5 in to a main dealer for the first service. I haven't yet had an invoice listing what's been done, but since it cost me £255, I would expect all filters to have been changed. I've had the air filter out and clearly it hasn't been changed since it has autumn leaves in it, but how about this fuel filter? My guess is that its been in there for its 10K miles. A new filter is alongside the one that's supposed to have been changed. What's your opinion on the fuel filter?
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/Fuel.jpg
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Post by dnsey »

Either it's the old one or you're using very dirty fuel ;-)
Complain to the garage that did the 'service', and if you have no joy contact Trading Standards.
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Post by Barbarian »

most of the main dealers are just crooks, they dont do half the things they say they will, Just change the oil and take air filter out and give it a quick hover and think you will be non the wiser :roll:
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Post by deian »

Thats f*ckin shocking isn't it!! When you pay stupid prices you expect them to do what they say to some standard, but missing out on essentials like that is not acceptable at all.

I'd take the car back and demand it to be done again... properly! And as dnsey said, if they can't do it well enough by then report them to head office with a copy of a letter you 'may' send to Trading Standards.

As I keep telling everyone, if u want something done properly, then do it yourself. Sod the stamps, not worth the hassle or the expense. Buyers will know a well looked after car when it comes to selling it, even with no stamps.
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Post by f00lzz »

And those are the items that you can spot...... what about all the safety check on brakes and steering etc etc what level of confidence can you have now? If you are in a motoring organisation why not get them involved..... I would try for your money back on the basis that you have lost confidence in their ability to carry out the task they were paid for and go elsewhere
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Post by bencowell »

The air filter and fuel filter aren't changed at the first service!
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Post by BonceChops »

So what is changed parts wise? How long does this first service take?
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Post by bencowell »

As I remember, my C5 got oil, oil filter and pollen filter. The whole car is inspected. Computers arent checked for updates unless you report a problem with them.

The fuel filter doesn't really look too bad to me. Mine was changed at the 2nd service. I now do my own servicing as the car is out of warranty. Its not hard!

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Post by Evodad »

Name them!

Another forum I use for pedal bikes has a "Fame or Shame" section.

People find it very useful.
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Post by fastandfurryous »

It strikes me that £255 for 2 filters, a sump of oil and a "look over" (yeah right), with a total parts cost of about £15 is a bloody rip-off. In fact, it's worse than that, it's just plain rude.

Get them to detail absolutely every single thing they did, and see if they really did spend £240's worth of hours looking over the car... which I seriously doubt.
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Post by reblack68 »

£240's worth of hours isn't really that many nowadays, possibly as little as two if that figure includes VAT.

I've a feeling garages charge the number of hours in the book rather than the real hours taken. I know of a SAAB owner who was quoted labour for changing the clutch AND the clutch slave, even though they both come out to do either. A mechanic experienced in SAABs could have it done in an hour. It's not unknown for an owner to be presented for a bill for more hours than the car spent on the premises.

It really is about time the shiny sector of the motor trade got a boot up the backside.
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Post by Kowalski »

reblack68 wrote:It's not unknown for an owner to be presented for a bill for more hours than the car spent on the premises.
I've heard that more than once. The excuse that goes with it is usually along the lines of "more than one mechanic worked on the car", sometimes two or three of them at the same time!
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Post by andmcit »

Kowalski wrote:
reblack68 wrote:It's not unknown for an owner to be presented for a bill for more hours than the car spent on the premises.
I've heard that more than once. The excuse that goes with it is usually along the lines of "more than one mechanic worked on the car", sometimes two or three of them at the same time!
There needs to be someone handy to hold the tea to stop it being knocked over!! Normally how it works is one guy gets his hands dirty actually doing the job while one or two of his mates lean against the car chatting over more mugs of tea...

Cynical, moi?

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Re: Was this a service - or not?

Post by howiedean »

JohnD wrote:For the sake of the warranty, I put my one year old C5 in to a main dealer for the first service. I haven't yet had an invoice listing what's been done, but since it cost me £255, I would expect all filters to have been changed. I've had the air filter out and clearly it hasn't been changed since it has autumn leaves in it, but how about this fuel filter? My guess is that its been in there for its 10K miles. A new filter is alongside the one that's supposed to have been changed. What's your opinion on the fuel filter?
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/Fuel.jpg
Have you not got a service book, it will list all the details for each servicing.
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Post by reblack68 »

I don't know the details but I am 99% certain that the law changed recently and manufacturers can no longer insist on servicing being done at a franchised dealer while the car is under warranty- as long as genuine parts are being used.

I am unlikely ever to own a vehicle new enough to have a warranty but it's worth investigating if you do. I don't suppose you can do the work yourself or go to a backstreet garage but a Citroen specialist should be acceptable.
Richard

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Care of a 1994 205 D.
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