after peoples opinions please-

my car (focus st) is due its third year service next month. i've been told that the service consists of oil & filter, pollen filter & plugs.

now my local ford dealer want £300 for the service. i used to work there and have many concerns as in most of the fitters are not ford trained & i doubt that they will do the pollen filter or plugs.

i would prefer to service it myself using ford oil filter, pollen filter & oil and uprated plugs and air filter

or i have the option of a decent independent garage.

the two previous services were carried out by the above ford dealer but they were just oil & filter changes.

also i am thinking of selling it after christmas, so would a potential buyer be put off it if didn't have the dealer stamp in the book?

which route would you guys take?

thanks Neil

 

as far as i would be concerned, you would not get the 300 notes back for doing it by ford, so i would do it my self, show the recepts and your credentials

 

does being specifically ford trained matter for filters and plugs? even a basic spanner monkey could surely manage that without much trouble?
i think not having the dealer stamp will effect value but not by that much id have thought.

 

It depends who buys it when ya sell it.... If it's a fellow enthusiast then it won't matter.....If it's an ordinary person the missing stamp might just put them off.....
I'd personally do it myself so I know it's been done properly!

 

[quote=fuzzy;4435122]does being specifically ford trained matter for filters and plugs? even a basic spanner monkey could surely manage that without much trouble? quote]

surely ford trained technicians justifys charging a premium.

when i worked there alot of the staff were fresh out of apprenteships from back street garages.

 

do it yourself or go to a well respected specialist just for the stamp

 

I would use a reputable back street garage mate. if your car is still under warranty then so long as the garage is vat registered then it won't affect your warranty. main dealers are a rip off. to be honest for what your car will depreciate by using a back street garage you would get it back in what you saved not going to the dealer. so long as it has a full service history it wouldn't put me off not being a dealer stamp.

 

to a punter off the street a main dealer stamp is a reasurance tbh. But 300 notes!! I would go for an independent garage so that at least you have a stamp.

My mechanic says many of the ford cars he services hav'ent even had the panel filter in them when they have been done by a main dealer previously, been removed and not bothered putting one back!!

 

I get my g/f's and her sisters fiestas serviced my a mechanic i use and he stamped the book and staple the ford reciepts into it for the genuine parts used. Dont see why that would make alot of difference. Wouldnt bother me buying a car if proof of genuine parts used and saves so much money.

Ford 3 year service on my mums diesel was £350, i got the parts which was £90-100 and did most of it myself. Local mechanic changed oil and filter for £15 and stamped the book. Saved around 200 quid

 

Although the price is a piss take, it will look a bit odd that they are all up FORD apart from the last one, it will make them suspicious, and wonder whether you are having problems with the car and want rid, that's the way I would see it, but I am suspicious person anyway, I could see this being the difference between a sale or not.
tabetha