2 year Service... how much??

[rivarama]

I just called my local Volvo dealer to get my 2019 T5 inscription serviced.

They quoted me £600 for it, which I find shocking. The car is 11k miles, and was only driven 4K miles since the last service in March last year. I was told it’s because it is the 2 year major service (or 36k miles).

Given that it’s more than what I pay to get my Ferrari serviced, and that this car isn’t really driven much (3-4K a year as it’s aime of 6 cars in our household), I am considering going to kwik-fit or halfords - both quoting me around £250 for the equivalent service (no idea whether the service parts are same as boesch oem). Am I nuts?

Alternatively- I could just get them to do a minor service for £300... but would they refuse to reset the service schedule light then?? Claiming I haven’t done the recommended service?

Thanks for your advice

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by rivarama

I just called my local Volvo dealer to get my 2019 T5 inscription serviced.

They quoted me £600 for it, which I find shocking. The car is 11k miles, and was only driven 4K miles since the last service in March last year. I was told it’s because it is the 2 year major service (or 36k miles).

Given that it’s more than what I pay to get my Ferrari serviced, and that this car isn’t really driven much (3-4K a year as it’s aime of 6 cars in our household), I am considering going to kwik-fit or halfords - both quoting me around £250 for the equivalent service (no idea whether the service parts are same as boesch oem). Am I nuts?

Alternatively- I could just get them to do a minor service for £300... but would they refuse to reset the service schedule light then?? Claiming I haven’t done the recommended service?

Thanks for your advice

In the nicest way possible, Halfords or Kwik Fit haven't got a clue how to service cars & they really are the last place I'd consider bringing my car to - So yes, that is a nuts idea! They won't use the right oil & claim to be experts... they don't even know how to put bulbs in. There's some good Halfords branches out there with staff that know what they're doing, but some are just clueless.

My Brother bought a bulb in a Halfords branch for his Range Rover & they asked him when he was paying if he'd like the bulb fitted for an extra £5. He thought that seemed reasonable, so agreed for them to do it. My Brother ended up showing the "mechanic" how to fit the bulb & basically did it himself. They still wanted to charge him £5 though, but he said why should he pay it when the chap that come out didn't have a clue. They agreed & didn't charge him for fitment. So would I let them service my car? Not a chance.

You can get a minor ("essential service") as they call it done at Volvo, based on the miles done since its last one & they'll reset the service light no problem... this wouldn't cost as much as a major service. I wouldn't dream of bringing it to Halfords or Kwik Fit.

Dealerships will be on the dearer end of the spectrum for servicing, but they can be competitive too. Another option is find an independent Volvo garage to service the car, as their labour charges are much less. Using a Volvo Specialist won't affect your warranty & they use genuine parts.

Personally, I'd either find a local Volvo Specialist & get them to do the work. Or, ask the dealership to do a minor/essential service for a fraction of what you've been quoted. The minor service literally is an oil & oil filter change, so don't be expecting all the other filters to be replaced.

[js90]

Personally, I'd be going to a main dealer with a car that's still in warranty. Check with other dealers though. A certain dealer that occasionally pops up on this forum offers the following prices for a 2 year service:

V40
£430

V60/S60
£510

XC60/XC70/XC90
£510

Assuming max 2L engine. And a 2019 T5 would be 2L

[DSK]

I never get why people whinge about driving a few thousand miles and thinking servicing is insignificant. But, I'd not use a dealer as most are con artists and charge you lots for doing sweet f**k all. Find a local independent Volvo specialist, ideally recommended by the forum and get what's required done at a more sensible price. Even a great mechanic that's not a Volvo specialist will get it all done properly but, if you have a warranty, I'd want to the them no wiggle in case you need to claim.

I have a couple of vehicles that pretty much only got to the MOT station and back annually and yet, I always spend a few hundred quid in parts alone and give them a MAJOR service whether they need it or not.

[Kev0607]

I also don't get why people winge at the cost of servicing when they're driving an expensive car, loaded with electronics & expensive parts.

If you can't afford to service/maintain it, don't buy it. Do your research first.

If you want a cheap runaround that you can run on a shoe string, then don't buy a prestige car. Simple.

[XC90Mk1]

I think the thing to remember is that you will get free software updates which halford won’t give you (or be able to) and will probably receive a good service and potentially good will from Volvo in future if something goes well outside of warranty).

I think also that’s been kind to Halfords and quick fit who as pointed out genuinely don’t have a clue!

I am interested in your Ferrari experience as that’s something I too consider. I really like the 348 but am out of by the valve stem issues, the 355 seems very costly for belts and such like and the 360 does seem to be where the smart money is however they have rocketed in value and are inaccessible now.

Which one do you own and how have you found running it?

[rivarama]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I also don't get why people winge at the cost of servicing when they're driving an expensive car, loaded with electronics & expensive parts.

If you can't afford to service/maintain it, don't buy it. Do your research first.

If you want a cheap runaround that you can run on a shoe string, then don't buy a prestige car. Simple.

Very helpful comment - thanks for you invaluable input!

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by rivarama

I just called my local Volvo dealer to get my 2019 T5 inscription serviced.

They quoted me £600 for it, which I find shocking. The car is 11k miles, and was only driven 4K miles since the last service in March last year. I was told it’s because it is the 2 year major service (or 36k miles).

Given that it’s more than what I pay to get my Ferrari serviced, and that this car isn’t really driven much (3-4K a year as it’s aime of 6 cars in our household), I am considering going to kwik-fit or halfords - both quoting me around £250 for the equivalent service (no idea whether the service parts are same as boesch oem). Am I nuts?

Alternatively- I could just get them to do a minor service for £300... but would they refuse to reset the service schedule light then?? Claiming I haven’t done the recommended service?

Thanks for your advice

I'd want a relatively new car to be serviced by Volvo. I have a full Volvo service history on my much older example. Like you I thought it was something of an extravagance to pay the full price for a service having done so few miles in lockdown and so my local dealer offered me an 'essential' service for only £179 (which was actually cheaper than the service on my ride-on mower conducted the same week). For that I got an oil and filter change, software updates, health check and the service booked stamped exactly the same as if I'd paid the full whack (about £370 iirc). Worth asking your local dealer about?

[Jsayers]

Originally Posted by rivarama

I just called my local Volvo dealer to get my 2019 T5 inscription serviced.

They quoted me £600 for it, which I find shocking. The car is 11k miles, and was only driven 4K miles since the last service in March last year. I was told it’s because it is the 2 year major service (or 36k miles).

Given that it’s more than what I pay to get my Ferrari serviced, and that this car isn’t really driven much (3-4K a year as it’s aime of 6 cars in our household), I am considering going to kwik-fit or halfords - both quoting me around £250 for the equivalent service (no idea whether the service parts are same as boesch oem). Am I nuts?

Alternatively- I could just get them to do a minor service for £300... but would they refuse to reset the service schedule light then?? Claiming I haven’t done the recommended service?

Thanks for your advice

If you are being quoted £600 for a single service, then I am definitely buying the 3 year service package offered for £599 when I get my new car later this year. Why more people don’t look ahead when purchasing, I will never know.

[techwatcher]

Originally Posted by Jsayers

If you are being quoted £600 for a single service, then I am definitely buying the 3 year service package offered for £599 when I get my new car later this year. Why more people don’t look ahead when purchasing, I will never know.

The servicing deal is an excellent deal but is isn't always available. It wasn't available when I bought my XC60 in September last year. However in January the salesman who sold me the car called to offer three services for £399. Given the normal cost of the first three services would be close to £1100 the decision wasn't exactly a hard one.