Expensive indies

[jimmy156]

Common internet wisdom suggests that using an independent garage or mark specialist will save you £££ on your servicing. Living on the Hampshire / Surrey border this doesn't seem to be that case. I have used a number of different indy's near me, and they all end up being more expensive then the dealer's fixed priced servicing.

The indy round the corner from me charges £94 an hour labour, they are just a normal small garage on an industrial estate.

Anyone find the same? Or know any gems?

[Caddyshack]

jimmy156 said:

Common internet wisdom suggests that using an independent garage or mark specialist will save you £££ on your servicing. Living on the Hampshire / Surrey border this doesn't seem to be that case. I have used a number of different indy's near me, and they all end up being more expensive then the dealer's fixed priced servicing.

The indy round the corner from me charges £94 an hour labour, they are just a normal small garage on an industrial estate.

Anyone find the same? Or know any gems?

A lot of indies were trained at main dealers and like to mimic the charging.

What car make are you looking for? I live surrey / Hants too.

[jimmy156]

Mines a golf, but my wife has a qashqai too.

[stinkyspanner]

Quite right too. As an ex-mechanic I've always thought it has to be one of the most undervalued trades out there and it was the reason I moved on. To set up as a decent independent garage needs a significant amount of equipment and hopefully knowledge and experience.

[Sheepshanks]

While it’s still not ‘cheap’ dealers’ fixed price servicing is a bit of a trap - it’s designed to get customers in there so they can be reamed on insanely priced “additional items” such as brake fluid changes that cost £100 and take 5 mins (assuming they do it at all) and pads and discs at £3-400 per axle.

[Kuwahara]

said:

My local MB specialist discussed what it costs to keep the MB Star up to date ,sure it was 20k at the time for the kit and software/annual fee to continue using it and any updates,he also does the VAG and JLR diagnostics so a considerable investment.

He’s booked months in advance and his reputation is gold,not something you always get at the main dealer…

[Percy Cushion]

I don’t know which Indie you’re using for the Golf but try The Phirm in Blackwater. They buy OEM parts but the labour is a bit cheaper and they are much more thorough than main dealers.

[Caddyshack]

jimmy156 said:

Mines a golf, but my wife has a qashqai too.

Was it a place in HASLEMERE?

[MikeGTi]

May be a bit far for you, but I've found VAS Motion in Guildford to be really good service and price wise.

[jimmy156]

Sheepshanks said:

While it’s still not ‘cheap’ dealers’ fixed price servicing is a bit of a trap - it’s designed to get customers in there so they can be reamed on insanely priced “additional items” such as brake fluid changes that cost £100 and take 5 mins (assuming they do it at all) and pads and discs at £3-400 per axle.

Which is why I have moved to using an independent with the car at 120,000 miles, but I still find it surprising that an indie will charge more. I think its a "south east" thing.

I will take a look at The Phirm, although they are not hugely conveniently located.

The place wasn't in haslemere, but I used to live there and have used a few garages there in the past (Barkers, ST Engineering) who were all good but similarly pricey for servicing.

[Sheepshanks]

jimmy156 said:

I think its a "south east" thing.

Sorry, I didn't realise this was in a regional subforum - just saw a new topic.

Anyway, it's the same here in the NW, Chester / Wirral area. There's a few highly regarded VW indies but their pricing is similar to dealers. I was using one for daughter's Golf and got them to do a cambelt change without asking the price and the invoice was more than the VW fixed price at the time. A gentle query and he said "oh, I've put an hour too much labour on" and changed the bill.

We have a Tiguan and an Ateca in the family and both are on the All In package, but that won't work for you. I have to say that the VW dealer we use seems pretty good, although I do everything through the service manager. The SEAT dealer is useless.

Kuwahara said:

My local MB specialist discussed what it costs to keep the MB Star up to date ,sure it was 20k at the time for the kit and software/annual fee to continue using it and any updates,

And re the earlier Mercedes comment - I've sold my Merc now but the indie I used for that is the only garage who have ever made me pay a diagnostic fee - and they did it twice - despite me spending a fair old chunk of money with them over a few years, and having the repairs done that the diagnostic was used for. They told me they pay £200/mth to keep their StarDiagnose system up to date.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Saturday 18th February 11:10

[Caddyshack]

jimmy156 said:

Sheepshanks said:

While it’s still not ‘cheap’ dealers’ fixed price servicing is a bit of a trap - it’s designed to get customers in there so they can be reamed on insanely priced “additional items” such as brake fluid changes that cost £100 and take 5 mins (assuming they do it at all) and pads and discs at £3-400 per axle.

Which is why I have moved to using an independent with the car at 120,000 miles, but I still find it surprising that an indie will charge more. I think its a "south east" thing.

I will take a look at The Phirm, although they are not hugely conveniently located.

The place wasn't in haslemere, but I used to live there and have used a few garages there in the past (Barkers, ST Engineering) who were all good but similarly pricey for servicing.

I went to school with Richard Barker and know Steve from ST although he sold up and RT too cover his business and premises.

[Monkeylegend]

A few years ago now but when I had my Mercs the local Robinsons dealership was cheaper than Derrick Wells for routine servicing.

[jimmy156]

Caddyshack said:

jimmy156 said:

Sheepshanks said:

While it’s still not ‘cheap’ dealers’ fixed price servicing is a bit of a trap - it’s designed to get customers in there so they can be reamed on insanely priced “additional items” such as brake fluid changes that cost £100 and take 5 mins (assuming they do it at all) and pads and discs at £3-400 per axle.

Which is why I have moved to using an independent with the car at 120,000 miles, but I still find it surprising that an indie will charge more. I think its a "south east" thing.

I will take a look at The Phirm, although they are not hugely conveniently located.

The place wasn't in haslemere, but I used to live there and have used a few garages there in the past (Barkers, ST Engineering) who were all good but similarly pricey for servicing.

I went to school with Richard Barker and know Steve from ST although he sold up and RT too cover his business and premises.

Used to take my Mini to barkers, but I’d get all the routine servicing done at Barons and everything else at barkers.

[Truckosaurus]

Sheepshanks said:

While it’s still not ‘cheap’ dealers’ fixed price servicing is a bit of a trap - it’s designed to get customers in there so they can be reamed on insanely priced “additional items” such as brake fluid changes that cost £100 and take 5 mins (assuming they do it at all) and pads and discs at £3-400 per axle.

Indeed. I too live in the Hants/Surrey borders and use a local garage with a seemingly high hourly rate, but they do only charge the labour they actually take not some 'book value' and if the job over-runs then it is capped at the original estimate.

They are also good at recommending cost saving alternatives, eg. using refurbished brake calipers rather than brand new OEM ones.

Also, the indie is within walking distance of home whereas I'd have to faff about going over to Guildford for the Lexus dealer.

(I think there is some merit on getting basic servicing done at the dealer if you have a newish car and the dealer is close by)

[Bannock]

Come up to Reading for your servicing. Labour is about half the price here and there are some good indies I can recommend to you, like these blokes:

https://bookmygarage.com/garage-detail/chilternaut...

More competition here, and fewer yummy mummies in expensive 4x4s to rip off than in your area.