Non-Franchise TVR Servicing
Discussion
I have started to do a bit of research on servicing the five year old Griff, it isn't due a service for a few months yet so I am not in a rush. 
I have had all servicing done at the TVR Centre, 50 miles from home. I keep the Griff imaculate, last time they did a service, the car was returned to me in a mess.
I wrote a letter of complaint to the Service Manager 
and never even recieved a reply. 
I don't really want to go back there...
"Flasher" recommended that I take my Griff to TMS at Melton Mowbray.
I have checked out their website and they look like a proffesional outfit. However, as the service interval comes up in the midle of winter, I don't fancy the drive over there as I live near Saffron Walden. 
My nearest franchised dealer is Castle TVR but I reckon the service will cost the best part of a 1000 quid!
Ironically, the Griff is running really well and I keep a pretty close eye on everything...is it worth the money? 
I have had a quick look at: -
[url]www.worldcarp.com/joospeed/Default.asp[/url]
Joospeed will do the 12,000 mile service for 250 quid including VAT.
They are in Chesterfield but someone must know of a decent TVR specialist with realistic labour rates somewhere on the M11?
Any help would be appreciated
I have had all servicing done at the TVR Centre, 50 miles from home. I keep the Griff imaculate, last time they did a service, the car was returned to me in a mess.
I wrote a letter of complaint to the Service Manager and never even recieved a reply. I don't really want to go back there... "Flasher" recommended that I take my Griff to TMS at Melton Mowbray.
I have checked out their website and they look like a proffesional outfit. However, as the service interval comes up in the midle of winter, I don't fancy the drive over there as I live near Saffron Walden. My nearest franchised dealer is Castle TVR but I reckon the service will cost the best part of a 1000 quid!
Ironically, the Griff is running really well and I keep a pretty close eye on everything...is it worth the money? I have had a quick look at: -
[url]www.worldcarp.com/joospeed/Default.asp[/url]
Joospeed will do the 12,000 mile service for 250 quid including VAT.
They are in Chesterfield but someone must know of a decent TVR specialist with realistic labour rates somewhere on the M11? Any help would be appreciated
quote:
www.offord.com
Thanks "Petrol Ted"! I had a look at the website and 360 quid looks great, as they appear to follow the factory service schedule? It is not far from home so will get down there and have a look around..
Anyone with specific experience of Offord...good or bad?
Well, she's back from the Offords having had a 12000mile service with the following potential issues:
- aircon only giving tepid air
- oil spots from diff and gearbox
- oil drips from engine (somewhere!)
- first MOT (now three years old)
the report was that the spots are quite common and are of no issue. Oil drips from engine need monitoring (something about a sump gasket?). Aircon just needed recharging and now gives freezing air again! MOT passed with no issues.
They also picked up a faulty reversing light switch (they all do that sir!) which is now on back-order from TVR. My Trevor now runs noticably smoother and pulls away better than before the service.
The regular service worked out about 2/3 the cost of a dealer service (I can give you the breakdown if you want) which includes a (rather old) Saab courtesy car. It wasn't washed and valeted but then I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself.
Will I go back again? Almost certainly....
- aircon only giving tepid air
- oil spots from diff and gearbox
- oil drips from engine (somewhere!)
- first MOT (now three years old)
the report was that the spots are quite common and are of no issue. Oil drips from engine need monitoring (something about a sump gasket?). Aircon just needed recharging and now gives freezing air again!
MOT passed with no issues. They also picked up a faulty reversing light switch (they all do that sir!) which is now on back-order from TVR. My Trevor now runs noticably smoother and pulls away better than before the service.
The regular service worked out about 2/3 the cost of a dealer service (I can give you the breakdown if you want) which includes a (rather old) Saab courtesy car. It wasn't washed and valeted but then I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself.
Will I go back again? Almost certainly....
quote:
... Oil drips from engine need monitoring (something about a sump gasket?).
Basically, there isn't a sump gasket in the proper sense. The lower sump case is normally sealed using some sort of silicon based sealant around the rim and then attached. The sealant very rarely creates a perfect seal so minor oil leaks especially when hot are not uncommon ... Monitor the leaks and monitor the oil level; sheets of clean white paper (cheap wall lining paper) on the garage floor will help you to distinguish the new oil from the old if you suspect a problem!
As a newcomer I find this "dealer servicing" requirement a bit mystifying. One of my cars is an older '94 Chim with 19k on the clock and full dealer service was quoted as £620. I found Peter Beech's Service Item Checklist as per factory for the V8 on the net and realised that it was a simple and accessible engine to service so I took it to a qualified owner engineer who did a first class service as per checklist for under £300. It is a tuned Rover engine after all with a few quirks not a space capsule. I would certainly use a specialist for an AJP however as they have the diagnostic equipment.
Norwyn,
Most owners would agree with you re main dealer servicing, however although the engine is a rover V8 there is a view that you need someone who knows TVRs for servicing so that they will know where else to check for suspension / chassis / braking system / bodywork problems etc. There are also a number of items such as the otter switch which are not the standard Range Rover spec. The usual route for an older car is to use a recognised independant TVR specialist.
Most owners would agree with you re main dealer servicing, however although the engine is a rover V8 there is a view that you need someone who knows TVRs for servicing so that they will know where else to check for suspension / chassis / braking system / bodywork problems etc. There are also a number of items such as the otter switch which are not the standard Range Rover spec. The usual route for an older car is to use a recognised independant TVR specialist.
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