Base vehicle servicing - new van

[ActiveCampers]

Hi. MY20 ducato 2.3 160ps. Has 3yr warrantee and 2yr service intervals, so was thinking of doing one at 18mths and one at 3yrs just to ensure its checked before wty expires. (mileage c. 5000/y)

Looking at the (naff) fiat website, seems to only be Johnsons in Swindon for servicing the van - which is odd as I can't believe all van drivers within 50 miles go there?!

I know you don't need to go to a main dealer, but they are the ones who will know the van best and (hopefully) fix any known issues and update any software which I guess most independents can't.

What does everyone else do - especially on newer vans?

(Outside of wty I'll go local or DIY)

Whats the rough cost of the services? £500?

 

[tony]

a lot of people are under the impression that the main dealers are the only ones who can do it right.
there are other garages who are just as good & maybe better.

tony

 

[Exwindsurfer]

a lot of people are under the impression that the main dealers are the only ones who can do it right.
there are other garages who are just as good & maybe better.

tony

I'll second that Tony.

 

[ActiveCampers]

a lot of people are under the impression that the main dealers are the only ones who can do it right.
there are other garages who are just as good & maybe better.

tony

lol. I don't trust any garages, sadly. My experience of Ford van specialist was below dire, both in terms of service and basic diagnostics (only went for them for diags, which they did badly, (15 min "test" would've found the fault, but they did it without thought and wrongly advised, and the fkd up two service items - broke the fuel filter blaming rust (it was a new filter 3mths before) and didn't clip the air filter house on (so it got wet and rotted in a few weeks). Took me ages to find the actual issue (good old internet help). The issue was *caused* by an independent swapping over something for no reason known to man. .

Nissan though, were spot on with the NV (5yr service plan and warrantee ) did everything well.

But new van, new brand, and they get more complex by the year, I don't think generic independents can keep up and IME they don't have access to software and updates or the specifics. For doing "jobs" then yeah, OK. Happy to hear if people use specialists for the vans? Used to drive half way across the country to get the Puma fettled by the counties top puma specialists.

I'm just *hoping* Fiat are the good guys and used experienced guys and not the apprentices! Thats why I'm asking to see if my expectations are likely to be met lol -or not


(edit: The car needed a service, and the quote from the garage included 4x spark plugs - they looked confused when I asked where the 4th went! The next garage gave a quote just stating "oil" - and would not say which - and as the engine has a wet cambelt it is quite specific - so no confidence there either. Gave up and DIY-d )

 

[mark61]

Pretty sure the service intervals will be expressed in miles and a time period, and you service when whichever comes first.

Do Ducato's tell you when they need servicing? On a Mercedes it's called service assist, could be wrong but I'd have thought all modern vans use something similar. Mine has never got to it's max of 2 year / 28000 mile service interval. Service assist giving me a warning well before.

Anyway, guess none of that is of any help. I'd probably get serviced at main dealer, if you don't know or trust any local independents.

My van came with a 5 year service contract, so has always gone to main dealer, not sure what I'll do now that's up.

My car is too old to worry about software updates, but gets serviced at an independent Merc garage, he also services new cars and has full access to all updates, so if you find the right garage you don't have to stick with main dealer.

 

[ActiveCampers]

Pretty sure the service intervals will be expressed in miles and a time period, and you service when whichever comes first.

Do Ducato's tell you when they need servicing? On a Mercedes it's called service assist, could be wrong but I'd have thought all modern vans use something similar. Mine has never got to it's max of 2 year / 28000 mile service interval. Service assist giving me a warning well before.

Anyway, guess none of that is of any help. I'd probably get serviced at main dealer, if you don't know or trust any local independents.

My van came with a 5 year service contract, so has always gone to main dealer, not sure what I'll do now that's up.

My car is too old to worry about software updates, but gets serviced at an independent Merc garage, he also services new cars and has full access to all updates, so if you find the right garage you don't have to stick with main dealer.

AFAIK Ducato just has a service period timer, nothing clever. Its 2y or 30k - but no harm doing early (except wallet). The 5y service plan was £2k extra! Which on low mileage camper would cover 2 services..... So didn't go for it for some reason!)

(The NV200 service plan was £15/m for an annual service which was £300 minimum! No brainer!)

 

[Livotlout]

I'm using a trusted independant, wouldn't use Citroen Dealer (supplier), could not fit number plate correctly !!!

 

[SquirrellCook]

I'm doing our new Vito myself, but using genuine Mercedes parts. It's getting done annually regardless. We just phone the parts department and ask them to supply all the service parts.

 

[snapster]

When I took ours into our local Fiat Pro dealer, I was told that they recommend yearly services if the yearly mileage is low ( under 10k km ( 6200miles)) otherwise stick to the recommended service intervals. An early service can’t hurt, we had ours done when it was two years old and had covered 21000 miles.

 

[ActiveCampers]

I'm doing our new Vito myself, but using genuine Mercedes parts. It's getting done annually regardless. We just phone the parts department and ask them to supply all the service parts.

For the car, I bought a full service kit, from a ford dealer, oil/plugs/air filter/oil filter/pollen filter/sump plug/washer etc for £90 delivered from ebay! But from genuine ford dealer. Used to do the same with the tranny. But not when new

 

[Jenrai]

I get mine serviced every year irrespective of mileage by my main citroen dealer, they do an alternative interim and full service.

 

[Glass man]

I had my van serviced in The Netherlands at a ' Fiat Professional ' garage, saved more than £150.
Do consider this if you are going to Europe.
Also used a Spanish garage who did not charge for diagnostics.
Lisbon, Portugal charged €40 an hour for labour.

 

[Molly 3]

I have mine done at 2 years with oil and filter every year ,, being a believer in regular oil changers .

 

[TJBi]

I had my van serviced in The Netherlands at a ' Fiat Professional ' garage, saved more than £150.
Do consider this if you are going to Europe.
Also used a Spanish garage who did not charge for diagnostics.
Lisbon, Portugal charged €40 an hour for labour.

I suspect that since Brexit, HMRC would wish to charge VAT on such work when you return to the UK. Not sure how they would know...

 

[GMJ]

I have a yearly oil change service at an indie and then every 2-3 years take it to a Fiat Service Centre for a full/main service and brake fluid change. They can check for any updates/recall notices etc whilst its in.

Personally if I had a van from new I would stick to the service schedule so as not to invalidate it. If I wanted to use non Fiat garages I'd get it in writing from Fiat that that would be OK and would not invalidate the warranty. But that's just me...

 

[trevskoda]

I do all my own service repair work, then I know its done and dusted, oil changed every 5000 or yearly which ever comes first, just about to do full winter service,g box diff engine and al fluids/belts & brakes.

 

[ActiveCampers]

the supplying dealer managed to give me a quote for first service, after having reg number and asking engine capacity twice, which comes in at £610 "but could be more". 2nd service quoted at £850 but I'm sure that doesn't take into account waterpump/cambelt change Not a confidence inspiring phone call! Felt like sort of reception that filters information to/from the service guys so you could never get information across!

So, guess i'm seeking recommendations for approved independents (who can still check/access/update van software)

 

[Rec]

We used Desira when we had our new Fiat based motor home with all the problems. Never got as far as a service though, but they were not particularly good at solving the electrical problems we encountered. Our new Citroen van went to a local garage who dealt with council vehicles for its first service plus an interim one before we went to Portugal. They were great but closed during covid so have managed to find a different independent in Lowestoft.

 

[ActiveCampers]

We used Desira when we had our new Fiat based motor home with all the problems. Never got as far as a service though, but they were not particularly good at solving the electrical problems we encountered. Our new Citroen van went to a local garage who dealt with council vehicles for its first service plus an interim one before we went to Portugal. They were great but closed during covid so have managed to find a different independent in Lowestoft.

Shocking isn't it.
Its not a ££££ issue, its a value for money, and a service you can trust issue. Need somewhere where the "service manager" isn't bonused based on service revenue, rather customer feedback.