I was wondering what people views were about at what stage in a car's life is it a good idea to stop using a main dealer for servicing? We all know that you pay over the odds at a dealer but the resale value of the car is higher if you have dealer stamps in the book.
So at what point should you switch to indie servicing? We have both a 60 and an 11 reg in the family with 2 yr extended warranties and have had the first services done at the place where we bought them so that there is absolutely no argument about who is to blame if a fault arises regardless of the legal position.

Discuss......

I was faced with the same dilemma. In truth there isn't a right or wrong answer. Servicing with an independent over a five year period will probably save you about £1200. When it comes to trade it in, I am not convinced you will get that back if you opt for main dealer servicing. Age/mileage depreciation has by far the biggest effect on value.

The trade likes main dealer histories, but in my experience they are not put off by a quality independent. The last used approved FL2 I bought had the oil change service done by an independent and the main service done by Land Rover. The FL2 I have just bought has had one owner from new and has been serviced by one independent garage from new. I am a fussy buyer but that did not put me off. Every receipt had been kept so I knew genuine parts were used and the correct oil.

The only downsides I can think of are that software updates were not done and I may of lost some Land Rover goodwill if I have a major problem outside of warranty. Freelander engines are like every other diesel on the road though and everything else is either checked at MOT time or is non-serviceable. My opinion is use a quality independent-in my experience the best are at least as good as if not better than Land Rover!

I suppose it depends on the age of the car, how long you intend to keep it and how much warranty remains ,although if a service is done to spec then that shouldn't matter.
Looking at most of the items on the service sheet there isn't really anything that a competent mechanic should have trouble doing, so on an older car is it worth paying the higher prices.
It also comes down to how much you trust the garage you get to do the work, at least with an independent you can get to know the person who does the actual work.

My personal opinion is that I will always use the main dealer for servicing. Yes I agree that the Diesel engine is not too complex and is similar to all other diesels out there.

But the buyer who doesn't understand cars will see a Land Rover as a complex car and will/could be put off by non dealer servicing.

I sold my last FL2 in November 2013 and it was a 7 year old 56 plate with 63000 miles. Now I got just under £14000 for that car.

OK it had some positives, being the full facelift and exceptional condition inside and out, but the buyer was prepared to spend over the odds for it because he didn't know much about cars but saw the extensive dealer history that came with the car.

Some independents have bad reputations in the same way that main dealers can have bad reputations. But if you find a good main dealer and build a relationship with them, you will not be paying much more (if anything more) than an independent for servicing.

The fact is, cars can command a higher premium if it has a main dealer servicing history. Whether that is right or wrong, it is a fact. Even if I still had my old FL2, it would still be going to the main dealer. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

I tend to agree but not with the statement that the prices are similar. My dealer recently did a service for £450 a good local indie will do the same for about £300 using LR parts etc.

I know it's different now as LandRover have computerised records for each car but I recall back in the 80's buying a car and the dealer later sent me a letter enclosing a fully stamped up service book for my car saying that they had found it in the office and apologised for not giving it to me earlier. The problem was that the car already had a service book in the glove box which was fully stamped up by different garages! I should have gone to Trading Standards but was too busy but since then I have been wary of stamps from anybody.

I paid £395 for my second year service, and two indies I tried were only £50/£60 cheaper. Personally I would rather pay that little bit extra to get the dealer history.

It's also a lot easier to throw a car back at a dealer when there is a problem than dealing with an Indy. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

I bought my FL2 when it was two years old from a non LR dealer. The dealer (Perrys) did the second service themselves (even though they own the local LR franchise), so I decided to use an indy for my servicing after that. What really surprised me was the prices some indys were quoting, prices very similar to the local LR dealers. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

As above, I've tried the Indy near me, phone him first, then the dealer, usually £25 to £50 cheaper than the dealer, yet has the nerve to advertise that he's 50% cheaper on labour charges, he must treble the price on the parts.

I just took my D4 for 3rd service and first MOT

Service
MOT
Brake fluid change
Air con service

£473.70

A bit higher than an indie but I have a good relationship with my dealer and they've never gave me any reason to go looking elsewhere.

The DS thankfully has the option of 5 years servicing for £499 but the intervals are reduced to 10,000mls. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

That's a strange move, considering that a service mainly consists of oil and filter, make the DiscoverySport 10k intervals

I was wondering if it was something to do with some of the cars might be on HP so 10000 mile service intervals might help keep the mileage down when it comes to reselling the cars when the HP finishes? Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

Ok had another look at the service pack its 5 years or 50,000mls, so if you want the full 5 years 10,000 mls it is. I'll be fine I only do 8,000 tops and the next owner will get the benefit as its transferable. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Has anyone any idea on what the warranty on a DS will be? A lot of manufacturers are now offering 5 yrs or even 7 years and 100k miles.

TTold

Last edited by Legoman on 3rd Jan 2015 4:13 am. Edited 1 time in total

get a indi's to do brakes tyres etc etc then send it in to LR for a simple service and get a nice LR stamp in the book.

its worth it for the look on the receptionists face when you tell her the brakes are already done bulldog chewing a wasp At work
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