Help required on service decision?

[springfield]

Right Gents,
My car covers very low miles and i also tend to keep on top of it 12 months since last thorough service and i would now like to get some form of service stamp in the book.
I have recently checked the brakes which are nearly new anyway and give the car a good going over i basically want an oil change.new fuel filter and a pollen filter possibly plugs .

Do i go to the local stealer ££££££££ and tell him to do no more than stated..not even the "Road Test" or take it to my local independant BMW specialist who is very thorough and does a first class job at the fraction of the dealers price all this just to get a service stamp otherwise i would do it myself, values seem to be coming down so is it worth spending silly money for another Audi stamp in the book as i know the independant will actually do a better job than the franchised garage ????

[DavidT]

I reckon your enthusiasm and knowledge, coupled to your experience of the BMW specialist will be worth more to a potential buyer than a dealer stamp.

Plus, like you said, these cars are older now and service history matters less with age and the lower values.

[GrimReaper]

i want to keep up service history as well but i wont be taking it to a main dealer again its just doesn't make economic sense. Will go to a vag specialist that i know that does it for less than half what the dealers charge and as long as there is a stamp to say profesionals have looked at the car then its good enough for me. I also keep every receipt for things i have done in between annual servicing, when i do things myself. Like oil and filter change every 6 months. That way potential new buyers can see its been looked after if its been recorded.

[springfield]

Thanks for that looks like the independent,i also keep receipts for everything and tend to keep checking over and under the car myself,might be able to treat myself to vagcom with the money saved.
£95 an hour....their havin a larf!

[DavidT]

Thanks for that looks like the independent,i also keep receipts for everything and tend to keep checking over and under the car myself,might be able to treat myself to vagcom with the money saved.
£95 an hour....their havin a larf!

Yep, but an enthusiast will recognise another

As an aside, I have no proplem with dealers or what they charge. Mine (Crewe Audi) has been fantastic. The nice courtesy cars, big showroom and (in my experience at least) no quibble service has to be paid for somehow. I accept that not all dealers are the same though.

[springfield]

Cheers Dave,
Not trying to brag but my car is mint inside outside and underneath, and i know that if i was to sell any genuine buyer would buy the car if they inspected it.
So a good independent it is (Malcolm Moore,Brickworks Garage) who changed my last dodgy exhaust manifold last year.
£35 p/h not much of a place to look at and 10 year old courtesy cars but all the mechanics are enthusiasts(petrol heads)