I'm trying to get a handle on the variation that seems to apply to the labour rates charged by main dealers depending on the make of car they happen to be working on. I'm aware that it varies depending on where the dealer is based eg London/major city. My dealer sells both Ford and Mazda (which are now one organisation, I understand) yet the fixed price menu for servicing is noticeably different.
I can't tell from my invoices what the hourly rate has been for servicing (although the last bill for £383, including timing belt, was a real shocker). Can anyone shed any light? I can?t believe that the parts for a Mazda 323 are that much more expensive that a Ford Focus on which it?s based. I intend to investigate labour rates before I choose my next car and would be most interested to hear which make of car is typically cheapest to service through a main dealer. And why are diesels dearer to service than petrols?
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I guess that there is more to do on a diesel? You are obviously saving on the cost of spark plugs but that doesn't amount to much! I had a first/12000 miles service done on a diesel 307 for £108 at the supplying dealer so I am well pleased (so far!) At 72K miles the particle filter has to be changed and this costs £700+ so I can see that diesels are likely to be more expensive over their whole life.
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The particle filter is a new one on me. I assume the part is £3.15 and the rest is labour? I think I'll try to avoid the main dealer for that bit of work. What does this filter do that's so specialised?
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Galad, this is a filter within the exhaust which takes out minute partcles of nastiness and which makes a diesel engine Euro 4 compliant. I think that all diesels have been required to be compliant since 1 Oct 2005. The filter is very expensive (contains exotic metals) and the system also uses 5 litres of a substance called EOLYS which is £25/litre! The labour is not the expensive part of this operation!
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Does the particle filter have to be changed as matter of routine at 72k on all diesels? If that's the case then I reckon I'll change back to a petrol engined car before then :-(
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No - some manufacturers use a self cleaning filter system. VAG for definate. It's certainly something worth asking about if you are considering a Euro IV compliant diesel vehicle.
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PSA filters are 'self-cleaning' but use this exotic and expensive fluid and need servicing at 72K miles. There is some thought that they can be removed and power washed. I am taking my car in for a service on Thursday next, I'll ask the question and post the answer. Meanwhile here is a link to an earlier discussion here in the BR re this subject. Plus you can always google 'EOLYS'!
tinyurl.com/h2sdo
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Sensible idea. Most people haven't got a clue what it will cost them until the time arrives, and then they complain (usually unjustifiably) that they've been ripped off.
When you've got your short list of cars, why not ring (or visit) the service department at local dealers for these cars and ask them what their hourly rates are and how many hours they allow for the various services? They'll also doubtless be able to give you the current total cost of the services. Ford dealers are usually totally open and above board and have prices on display.
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L\'escargot.
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. Ford dealers are usually totally open and above board and have prices on display.
As do Mercedes dealers, but make sure you are sat down when you read them!
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Be fair to Mewrc dealers, they offer 50% discount on labour for cars ''W'' and before so this is good. They also invite you to take your own engine oil too!
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Do you know if this applies to ther 'luxury' car maunufacturers too??? (I'm thinking of Lexus and BMW)And - how old is a 'W' reg car????
Thanks
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W prefix reg ran from 1 March to 31 August 2000. W suffix would be Aug 1980 to July 1981.
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Sensible idea. Most people haven't got a clue what it will cost them until the time arrives, and then they complain (usually unjustifiably) that they've been ripped off.
In the case of the PSA particle filter, there is a case for claiming, at the very least, that it's customers have been seriously misled. The maintenance schedule that came with our C5 merely states that the filter requires cleaning at 50K miles. We now know that this is not the case at all.
Although PSA are now offering an exchange system for a new filter, it is still a very expensive item, together with all the other very expensive items on these cars. Nobody is going to want these cars when they are worth a thousand pounds or so.
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Machika, I think you have done more miles in your car than I have in mine. Are you anywhere near having a service involving the particulate filter or, have you had a service done and what did it cost, please?
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Machika, I think you have done more miles in your car than I have in mine. Are you anywhere near having a service involving the particulate filter or, have you had a service done and what did it cost, please?
The C5 is due for its annual service next week (it has done just over 48K miles). I spoke to the garage proprietor about the particulate filter and he said that they can check the flow at both ends of the filter to see if it is in need of replacement. I asked about price and it looks like around just under £200+labour+VAT for a replacement. I don't know for sure how long it would take but he mentioned about an hour, I think.
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What did they charge you for replacing rather than cleaning the filter?
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I am nowhere needing a particulate filter but I have been quoted £700 at today's prices; this is filter, 5 ltrs of EOLYS and labour and includes VAT.
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I am nowhere needing a particulate filter but I have been quoted £700 at today's prices; this is filter, 5 ltrs of EOLYS and labour and includes VAT.
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I think you are being robbed at that price. I had the EOLYS fluid replaced last year (6 litres), by our local main dealer, and the cost was about £150. It would make the charge for the particulate filter a bit steep, I think, based on the quote you have been given.
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I'm trying to get a handle on the variation that seems to apply to the labour rates charged by main dealers depending on the make of car they happen to be working on.
I wouldn't get too fixated in the hourly rate - the cost of things like oil can vary hugely from one dealer to another, and some load the bill with allkinds of spurious extra items, like environmental charge etc. What matters is the quote (inc parts, labour and VAT) to perform the service that you request.
I can't tell from my invoices what the hourly rate has been for servicing (although the last bill for £383, including timing belt, was a real shocker).
You're easily shocked then! Is changing the timing belt on 323 unusually simple - I would imagine that on its own could account for £200 of the bill?
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>> been for servicing (although the last bill for £383, including timing >> belt, was a real shocker). You're easily shocked then! Is changing the timing belt on 323 unusually simple - I would imagine that on its own could account for £200 of the bill?
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Don't get an Audi or Merc then, cus the old ticker may not be able to take it !
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