Servicing - Dealer or Specialist

OK Guys, need some advice.

It's time for the 10k service on the 330s, but I can't decide on main dealer or use one of the many fine specialists that we are blessed with in the North West.

Not had the best experience in the world with my 2 local Subaru dealers, but was very happy with Cotcomp who did my 1k oil change and fitted my mudflaps and would have no qualms about trusting them with my pride and joy.

But bearing in mind the delicate state of our pistons would I be better off sticking with main dealer servicing?

Be glad to hear your opinions please.

Thanks

Jude

I work for a subaru dealer, I can assure you that warrenty have clamped down on things allot we had an engine claim rejected due to slight issues with the service history

Rob wrote:I work for a subaru dealer, I can assure you that warrenty have clamped down on things allot we had an engine claim rejected due to slight issues with the service history

I thought that might be the case. What about using a different oil i.e. Millers as opposed to the Shell that Subaru use?

dont think oils are an issue, never heard that crop up. we use mobil oils for every car and not shell so wouldnt worry to much about that

Did anyone get a letter off their dealer pushing their service, and offering finace packages for servicing!!!

Bit surprised with the prices quoted though, even with the £80 / hour labour charges!!


10,000 mile service
Engine oil and filter

20,000 mile service
Engine oil and filter
Change brake fluid


Guess how much for the simple jobs above??


£520 !!!


Hmmm...


Neil

Thats a rip off
Our's arnt that dear at all

Yeah, I did wonder, and Dealer even phoned 2 days later asking if I wanted the service contract / finance!!!

He was the salesman not service dept so couldn't answer how long it took to change oil & filter twice and brake fluid once for the £520.


My guess - oil and filter - £50-60 each time( full ester synthetic oil and subaru filter ) and 2 litres brake fluid - £25. Plus labour say 1 hour for each of 3 activities.


But, in case of warranty, will go for oil and filter change etc. at dealer.


Rob - can other garages still do this and give the service stamp?


Thanks

Neil

My local is that bad too
For 12k service which is oil and filter

£220!!

24k is £320, plus what evers needed above that.

Celtic Dragon wrote:My local is that bad too
For 12k service which is oil and filter

£220!!

24k is £320, plus what evers needed above that.

I suppose that's how they made up the offer price to me!

WOW!

Well I have 3 service stations that I can use within 40 miles of me, so I'll ring all 3 and get a price.

1 of 2 wont cost me a day off work, although the other will. Mind you, dispite it being feezing in Jan, I had a nice day out in Cambridge last time. I can say with authority, there is alot of posh totty at those colleges

vulnax wrote:Yeah, I did wonder, and Dealer even phoned 2 days later asking if I wanted the service contract / finance!!!

He was the salesman not service dept so couldn't answer how long it took to change oil & filter twice and brake fluid once for the £520.


My guess - oil and filter - £50-60 each time( full ester synthetic oil and subaru filter ) and 2 litres brake fluid - £25. Plus labour say 1 hour for each of 3 activities.


But, in case of warranty, will go for oil and filter change etc. at dealer.


Rob - can other garages still do this and give the service stamp?


Thanks

Neil

As far as i'm aware after recent goings on, as long as its genuine parts that are used then its ok for other garages to do this.

dont quote me on this but a 24k service is around £250 and no more than that. its a basic service roughly 2.5 hrs labour. Clutch & brake Fluid Change, Engine Oil/Filter Change. Perform Wheel Rotation, inspect all operation of all componants. check and topup other fluid levels. Road test. Air Con service is extra is asked for as is full 4 wheel alignment

If your car is still under warranty getting it serviced at a Subaru dealer is a no brainer really
However if you are out of warranty or heavily modded its a different question.
I am very fortunate in that as a member of Cumbrian Scoobs we are very well supported by our local dealer Stan Palmer Subaru @: Carlisle who give all Cumbrian Scoobs members a 20% discount on parts and labour , as well as supporting all our events , so proper dealer services are a bargain for us anyway. The £10 annual subs. give us £100`s in discounts every year. I recently had my 20K service which cost £195 after discount all in. This then brings us to another benefit of Cumbrian Scoobs membership in that Rob did the work on my car and I`ve known him for years and he is also a fellow Cumbrian Scoobs committee member.So I know that the technician working on my car knows what he is doing and that he will tell me if anythings wrong or needs doing etc. personally. Rob is a very good mechanic who knows Subarus inside out and that coupled with the excellent service all round from Mike Griffiths and the Stan Palmer team makes me and all my fellow CS members happy Subaru owners .

I totally agree with Captain as above

I had my 2 year , 20K service yesterday at Stan Palmers in Carlisle yesterday for a bargain price of £208 after my Cumbrian Scoobs discount , superb job done by Johnny as always , the car is running like a dream

I wish I lived nearer to Carlisle!! You lucky guys get great prices and someone you know and trust doing the work which is great.

My local dealer wanted £225 for the 10k service but I did some ringing around for prices and was quoted £170 which my local dealer decided they could match. Seemed to do a good job apart from sticky fingerprints all over my paintwork!!

Jude

Oh yeah - a set of new alloys on order due to corrosion after just 1 year? Anybody else had this problem?

My Lustic silver rims on my 08 are fine.