RT Mechanics, Liphook

[arbee]

i would certianly agree, plugs and ht leads etc are not items i would change every year (especially with me running <5000 miles per year!) but yeah, others - like the example of the fuel filter i'd want to replace more frequently than the stated interval. I know Volvo do their research etc etc and components last longer etc but I am sure a fair proportion of the service schedule is decided by the marketing men lol!

To be honest, generally speaking i have little trust in main dealers, however I must say that I have had no experience of Volvo servicing, only other makers. Personally I would put my trust in a mechanic/engineer (call it what you will) who I who has spent a long time with the marque rather than a faceless main agent where the mechanic could be just as knowlegable/experienced as the former, or - maybe just as likely could be on a YTS scheme with less than 6 months training.... I particularly dislike the what is normally experienced where everything is communicated via the 'service desk'.

there will always be comprimise between expense and recommended service intervals, however some (the sympathetic car enthusiast) would rather the balence tipped one way where as the cheque book toting fllet manager would prefer the other!

Just to throw in another spanner - our Mini has its servicing paid for for 5 years at the grand total sum of £100. I dont care how well it is/isnt serviced for that, as we will never keep it long enough to worry about the effects of insufficient servicing!

See my point?

[the great one]

on the other side you can go to a non franchise garage and get non volvo trained person who can work on your car, service it how they like fit non gen parts and work to no schedule.

all volvo yts are trained at volvo by volvo uk

[arbee]

its all about trust and building relationships IMO

[Oli]

Tried to edit, but couldn't due to 10 min time limit. Anyway, I see Darren has already defended himslef above. I wrote my post before realising I had a whole other page of posts to get through.

By the way, I had thought there were more specific service sheets for the mechanic to follow at the dealer. However, the last tick sheet seemed to cover every variant of V70.

Oli

Main thing is just to change the oil frequently, not changing air filter like every year isn't likely to cause damage to engine in the long run just to performance and economy. Anyway Mr. volvo main dealer will I'm sure do additional work if you are willing to pay additional dosh for it!!

One example IMO of doing things not on the service sheet which are beneficial is to change water pump at same time as cambelt, tensioner etc. if is timing belt driven pump. Again a decent main dealer could advise this to a concerned punter and make clear the additional cost.

I think the biggest thing the independent guy gives you over the main dealer is the saving in price (unless your name is VolvoT5 it would appear - you are the exception which proves the rule). Why? Because the dealership has a load of front end staff to pay as well as the back end mechanics who actually do all the work. Bloke who does the work still gets sweet FA still, its all the numpties that need paying though!

How come this is? It's because Mr. Rep doesn't want to talk to a greasy mechanic in car language when he comes in, he wants a suit who's going to promise the earth and use his own tongue to lick rep's bum clean for him. These front deskies are more than qualified in customer service.... RT Mechanic's responses earlier on should tell you that being a mechanic doesn't necessarily qualify you in customer service as well ... but why should it?

When you go in to pick up your car and they say, "yes sir, of course sir, and we've washed it for you as well sir" make no mistake you are paying for that! I never wash my car coz I'm a lazy b*gger, so I don't want to pay someone else to wash it for me either (although I do if it's a warranty claim coz then the manufacturer is paying for it!! ). I still remember the classic main dealer service I had with my skoda octavia, a high price but pre-arranged and as it was a 20k (first) service (car on VW variable service intervals) I thought they'd have done loads of stuff, plugs, filters, etc...right? Wrong! Lets see... well they changed the oil.. and ... err... that's about it! Still, when I got back in the car I saw they'd not only given me a litre of 'topping up oil' but they'd also given me a nice case to carry it in. "Given"? "Given"?! Do me a favour, no I paid for those 2 items (neither of which I wanted)... £11 for the oil (VAG super spec just 0w/30 fully-synth was all it was) and £6 for the poxy zip up case ("cheap at the price sir, VW approved leather oil case that one, Sir...").

Interestingly enough, note that parts is handled as a separate entity though so it is the labour you are saving on (unless your independant uses non-volvo supplied parts which might not be a bad thing as could be OEM parts from another outlet. Volvo dealers have to buy the parts for the same prices the rest of us pay).

This leads to the other things I think an independent gives you: quite probably more experience, but certainly more contact between the guy doing the work and the customer paying for it. If you go into the dealership you very rarely get to talk to the mechanic, frustratingly you get to talk to the front desk guy and the chinese whispers effect about your fault and what they did to fix it is in full swing.

Mr. independent will often by more experienced because they have to be as its their USP to attract business from the dealerships: plus word of mouth counts so much in any small business. Also, how many mechanics just starting out would be able to afford to set up their own business, clearly some experience is needed.

What's interesting is there is a third category of garage which is probably cheapest of all and could well offer the best service: the "any vehicle" mechanic. An experienced place will have experience not just of volvos but plenty of other cars too, which enhances the overall ability. If specialised work is needed a good place would be able to 'sub-contract' the work as needed. Problem is, you really need to know someone has the experience before entrusting your vehicle to such a place because in this sector there are a large number of potential cowboys out there.... too many "cheap and not so cheerful" places exist, unfortunately.

Or just DIY... at least then if you do f*ck it up, you've no-one to blame but yourself.....

But finally, there are the kwik-fit types who think being able to fit a tyre means you can do a full service... but let's not even go there... (although reading other posts on here, regrettably it seems at least some of you did ....)

Pete

[RT Mechanics]

PS RTMech - how familiar are you with the newer S60s or do you concentrate on the 850s? (I ask from a purely ulterior motive as I have one that will need an 84k service in a couple of months).[/QUOTE]

Hi Tony its no problem to service/maintain any volvo from old to new models.

RT

[arbee]

Great post Pete! wholeheartedly agree

[1997 t5 cd]

[QUOTE=the great one;146069]

Originally Posted by AdamskiC70

perhaps rt are fitting inferior parts to the ones volvo use so they need changing more often???

INFERIOR PARTS L.O.L

When the DEALER i work for runs out of basic things (disc's pads plugs etc), they dont call MR customer and grovel why his car wont be ready because of incompitance from the parts department oh no......
MR motor factors is called and MR customer gets charged genuine price for £2.50s worth of brake pads.
SO hands up who has been called to say their car wont be ready....and if by magic...................cars all done SIR................

[pyaap]

Originally Posted by 1997 t5 cd

When the DEALER i work for runs out of basic things (disc's pads plugs etc), they dont call MR customer and grovel why his car wont be ready because of incompitance from the parts department oh no......
MR motor factors is called and MR customer gets charged genuine price for £2.50s worth of brake pads.

So are you admitting to the fact that you are complicit with such fraudulent activity then? I certainly hope not.

[1997 t5 cd]

NOT BY CHOICE I MUST ADD

ITS all politics in dealers...ANY ONE who says different is lying..jobs in and out as fast as posssible
GET the figures up.bonus,,bonus etc etc.
I dont agree with it 1 bit but when the workshop controller or whoever tells you that this 'N' that must be done WHAT do you do,argue and get shown the F@*king door or get on with the job????????