200: View on non main dealer history

[ashtons99]

Up to now my AG 200 has dealers stamps for all its services. The car has done about 25k as I recall although I didn't use it last year, it's been in heated storage albeit that's not relevant to my question.

It has come to the point where it's of the age that it will need the belts doing. I used to take it to the dealer in Lincoln for service as I knew the guys there but they have closed. So I'm undecided on whether to try and find another main dealer, my local dealer I wouldn't give a pushbike to service.

So I'm left with travelling to a recommended main dealer, finding an independent Renault specialist or I have a friend who has a Kia dealership with some really good mechanics who I know do a good job. They would buy the genuine parts and fit them for me for next to nothing but then it would have a non Renault related stamp.

The car is a perfect example with every factory option and it's likely will probably be very appealing to any future buyer so I'm conscious of maintaining a good pedigree.

I just wondered what views were, is it worth pushing the boat out regardless of cost to keep it dealer serviced

 

[DS197]

Find a renault specialist to do the work done. Any serious buyer would appreciate and I would even go as far to say prefer the car had work done from a specialist as opposed to a main dealer

 

[Dystant]

Yeah I'd go for a specialist, especially for such an important service.

I'm currently in your situation and I'll be taking mine to a specialist!

 

[LOCKE]

For me belts would be a specialists. Any other work I do myself with genuine parts from Renault dealer (RPD) with invoice. Most dealers in Scotland are Arnold Clark which I do not trust at all.

 

[///M]

Depends what you want to do with the car. If it's a keeper and you don't mind personally, the top specialists are WAY better than a main dealer in every way imaginable.

Get your point about the very low miles and the main dealer stamps being important, but that's only important to the person you sell it to...

 

[Ade T]

Specialist would be more desirable to the enthusiasts but if you purchased all the genuine parts from say RPD and had the work carried out and stamped by a KIA dealer who you know are good mechanics it wouldn't put me off.

 

[Jimmy]

Depends what you want to do with the car. If it's a keeper and you don't mind personally, the top specialists are WAY better than a main dealer in every way imaginable.

Get your point about the very low miles and the main dealer stamps being important, but that's only important to the person you sell it to...

This sums it up perfectly IMO.

A main dealer stamp looks good in the book, however from personal experience a stamp is no guarantee of the quality of work being carried out on your car. It obviously varies from one garage to the next and you can't tar them all with the same brush, however to the mechanic at any given dealer working on your car, your pride and joy could be just another item on the list of jobs for that day....

Whereas an indy specialist wants to maintain a good reputation (among forums such as this) and hopefully foster an ongoing relationship with their customers, therefore they'll arguably look after your car a lot better.

 

[///M]

This sums it up perfectly IMO.

A main dealer stamp looks good in the book, however from personal experience a stamp is no guarantee of the quality of work being carried out on your car. It obviously varies from one garage to the next and you can't tar them all with the same brush, however to the mechanic at any given dealer working on your car, your pride and joy could be just another item on the list of jobs for that day....

Whereas an indy specialist wants to maintain a good reputation (among forums such as this) and hopefully foster an ongoing relationship with their customers, therefore they'll arguably look after your car a lot better.

Bang on Jimmy.

Moreover, the specialists are often bang into the cars. They actually WANT to look after them, plus they tend to work on the top spec cars all the time so know them well. Perfectly possible that you get some kid working on your pride and joy who has only ever seen a 1.2 or an mpv before and doesn't have the knowledge to deal with the sports versions.

The service and attention our little R27 gets from Sean at Jade Developments is exactly my point. Even the best dealers aren't as good as that. And he's cheaper than a main dealer.
No brainer.

 

[john_walker74]

Bang on Jimmy.

Moreover, the specialists are often bang into the cars. They actually WANT to look after them, plus they tend to work on the top spec cars all the time so know them well. Perfectly possible that you get some kid working on your pride and joy who has only ever seen a 1.2 or an mpv before and doesn't have the knowledge to deal with the sports versions.

The service and attention our little R27 gets from Sean at Jade Developments is exactly my point. Even the best dealers aren't as good as that. And he's cheaper than a main dealer.
No brainer.

Sean is a top guy, and certainly worth the travel.

 

[Glenn_Adam_Doble]

no i wouldn't be spending the money on main dealer service, the experience i have had with renault main dealers, every time i go in has been shocking, mistreating my car, loosing parts, breaking parts and not owning up, missing nuts and bolts, incorrect torquing, not changing filters on services, i could go on, people may say I'm picky, but at the end of the day its your car you have paid good money for it, you would hope they had the same respect for your car as you do

if possible i do all my own servicing, at least i know i have put the correct type/amount of oil in, changed all the relevant filters, brakes, bleed fluids ect,

only thing i have let Renault do is put a new clutch in whilst they replaced my gearbox (warranty work)

for anything else out of your mechanical ability find a good specialist, there reputation is there livelihood so they going to be a lot more enthusiastic than some monkey on £9 a hour

 

[jasonlovesfrench]

Northampton Motor Sport did mine among other engine work and they are excellent. I chose them as they work on track and super cars generally.

 

[930Tech]

I've used the main dealer network but with poor results, I use mark black at midlands Renault specialists.

Not sure which part of Yorkshire you are from but if you normally travel to Lincolnshire he might be nearer.

 

[shells2074]

You'd think a RS specialist would be better and look better in the history too but as in my case, not the case. They were cowboys looking to cut corners, do shoddy work and try find other faults that weren't there.
I've since found a non specialist garage but know their stuff, I trust them and they don't rip me off, doing a top job.
What's worth more to you? The job done well or a specialists stamp?
Good garages are hard to find in my opinion

 

[Ade T]

You'd think a RS specialist would be better and look better in the history too but as in my case, not the case. They were cowboys looking to cut corners, do shoddy work and try find other faults that weren't there.
I've since found a non specialist garage but know their stuff, I trust them and they don't rip me off, doing a top job.
What's worth more to you? The job done well or a specialists stamp?
Good garages are hard to find in my opinion

Which specialist have you had trouble with?

 

[shells2074]

Which specialist have you had trouble with?

One in Accrington. Absolute cowboys.

 

[Ade T]

Sounds about right for Accrington

 

[PAUL JA]

Specialist - and another vote for Mark Black @ Midlands Renault

https://www.facebook.com/Midlands-Renault-Specialists-215840185272327/timeline/