Servicing - main dealer or independent?

[Jo67]

Hi

FYI - I've got a 2013 1.6 155THP Dsport+ with 10500 miles on the clock.

I've always taken my cars to the main dealer for yearly servicing within the 3 year warranty period, but I'm flabbergasted by Citroen's price for my second year service - £327! They couldn't even do me a deal, which is what I usually haggle for and hence use the main dealer (previously Renault, Volvo and Vauxhall). All my local indy garages have quoted me between £132 and £145 including the brake fluid change. I'm umming arring about taking it to Mark Lightfoot Citroen and Peugeot in Ilkeston.

Can I have some feedback please on what others of you do about your servicing? Any pitfalls I need to be aware of? Alternatively, any positives? Also if anyone else uses or has used Mark Lightfoot, I'd be interested in your feedback.

Thanks from a newbie.

[Jimbob]

I have mine serviced at Halfords and I have never had a problem.
82k miles and still going strong!
Oh and welcome by the way

JB

[Oli]

Hi

FYI - I've got a 2013 1.6 155THP Dsport+ with 10500 miles on the clock.

I've always taken my cars to the main dealer for yearly servicing within the 3 year warranty period, but I'm flabbergasted by Citroen's price for my second year service - £327! They couldn't even do me a deal, which is what I usually haggle for and hence use the main dealer (previously Renault, Volvo and Vauxhall). All my local indy garages have quoted me between £132 and £145 including the brake fluid change. I'm umming arring about taking it to Mark Lightfoot Citroen and Peugeot in Ilkeston.

Can I have some feedback please on what others of you do about your servicing? Any pitfalls I need to be aware of? Alternatively, any positives? Also if anyone else uses or has used Mark Lightfoot, I'd be interested in your feedback.

Thanks from a newbie.

Nice to see someone else around here and yes, I've used him when i had my C2 and was alright. TopGear on Abbey Street will do it too, tell him Oli told you and he'll sort you out a decent price

[Jo67]

Oh and welcome by the way

JB

Thanks. Nice to meet you.

[Jo67]

Nice to see someone else around here and yes, I've used him when i had my C2 and was alright. TopGear on Abbey Street will do it too, tell him Oli told you and he'll sort you out a decent price

Thanks.

[mikeandsazzle]

I'm the same .will take mine to citroen derby till the free servicing runs out next year then will be taking it to an independent.
Check with citroen that yours doesn't have free servicing.as mine is a 2013 dstyle plus and citroen were giving away free servicing with that year.the servicing stays with the car not the owner.

[Jo67]

Check with citroen that yours doesn't have free servicing.as mine is a 2013 dstyle plus and citroen were giving away free servicing with that year.the servicing stays with the car not the owner.

I saw this posted on another link and have whizzed an e-mail off to them. Thanks.

[mikeandsazzle]

No problem.
It's not something they tell you without asking as they sold me a servicing package when I bought the car.
I got the money back when I found out about the free servicing

[pete]

I would say independent every time

Citroen have this awful, centrally managed system whereby you bring the car into the dealer, and they have to have any work sanctioned by Citroen, Citroen will always use a 'cheapest option first' approach, which will invariably lead to you having to repeatedly bring the car back until you have worked your way up their sliding scale...all at your own expense (not to mention frustration)

I've been pranced around the mulberry bush by Citroen for up to 4 months to get a single under-warranty repair done, so much so I've decided never to buy a Citroen again.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say the Citroen Warranty is essentially worthless. It costs you more in time than it saves you in money. plus many main dealers seem to be at best very poorly trained / at worst generally clueless when it comes to the finer technical details of Citroen cars, I never had an ounce of trouble with mine until the monkeys in my dealer got their grubby, untrained, clumsy, recalcitrant, careless hands on it

If you live in Kent I'd recommend Mid-Kent Vehicle Services, if elsewhere, just avoid the Citroen main dealers altogether

[mikeandsazzle]

Never had a problem with my main dealer.warranty work done without any fuss and very quick.
I just can't justify paying main dealer prices

[Jo67]

As I suspected, my car hasn't got an active service package against it. Typical.

[BeefMasta]

As I suspected, my car hasn't got an active service package against it. Typical.

£300+ still seems very high to me, and quite familiar... This thread has a bit more info that might be helpful.

[Jimbob]

........until the monkeys in my dealer got their grubby, untrained, clumsy, recalcitrant, careless hands on it.

Don't beat about the bush Pete - say what you really think

[cyclone]

So much love you would think unicorns had pranced by blowing fairy dust farts in their wake.

[lfcrule1972]

Did someone say unicorns ?