vauxhall warranty

Hi All,

Wondering if someone could tell me....

I have a three year warranty on my Corsa. It's a due a servicing... is it
true that if I have it serviced somewhere other then a Vauxhall garage (ie
Kwik Fit) that Vauxhall will no longer keep their warranty promise.

For example... I might take my car to be fixed under the warranty in a few
months for now and they may make a ho-ha out of he fact I didnt have it
serviced with them so may argue that the problem isnt fixable under the
warranty.

Has this happened to anyone? Thanks

 

No, it will not invalidate your warranty. Vauxhall cannot insist that your
car is serviced by a Vauxhall dealer.

Insurance companies cannot insist that you use their garage to repair your
car after an accident.

Printer manufacturers cannot insist that you use their cartridges.

For example, say Kwik Fit do the service, and the next week the suspension
fails. Nothing to do with Kwik Fit - it is a manufacturing defect that
Vauxhall must put right.

Vauxhall would also tend not to suggest that Kwik Fit are at fault - they
would be a nats whisker away from accusing them of incompetence if they did.
They would have to prove that the work was substandard and directly caused
the fault.

Ask Kwik Fit to do the serice with GM products - and any possible chance of
quibble from Vauxhall will fall by the way side.

 

The point to remember is only to use the genuine Vauxhall parts and the
recommended materials, and ensure you have the records to show that they
were used

 

Good point - the actual service procedure must also comply with that which
Vauxhall would have done - ie. if they would have changed the plugs - then
do likewise.

Using GM stuff is a belts and braces approach - as long as the parts are
'suitable' Vauxhall can't moan. They will never say their own products are
not 'suitable'.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated.

 

Why KwikFit? I don't even think I am knocking them by suggesting that
they don't have highly trained technicians. They may be fine for fast-
fit jobs but I would not be happy getting a car serviced at a fast-
fit.

A service is not just about an oil change and makign sure the lights
all work. It is also a safety check and I want a proper skilled
technician to do it.

I am biased being a Vauxhall dealer but not all of our prices are
excessive either. I would get a quote from a non fast-fit using
genuine parts and then talk to your local dealer. The odds are they
can match it if they are more expensive.

They should also check the car on the rework/recall register at the
same time. We do this for all customers and often ending up finding
missed reworks/recalls on 4 or 5 year old cars. If the car had gone to
kwik-Fit no-one would have checked it.

Alan

 

Not in my experience they wouldn't. I have just had my Zafira's first
service and had it done by a local independant for £94.00 including GM oil
filter, and the 'long life' oil, He also checked the VOSA web site for
recall info and swapped all the wheels around to distribute tyre wear. My
Vauxhall dealer wanted £155.00 for the service. They told me their labour
charge was £75 + VAT per hour! I asked them to reconsider their price to be
told more or less "No chance". I would imagine, as it was effectively just
an oil change with a few visual checks that an apprentice would be doing it
(we all have to start somewhere I know) with a "proper skilled technician"
overseeing it and signing the paperwork.

The problem with main dealers is the rely far too much on the company car
drivers that just book their cars in and do not worry about the bill, as
they are not paying it. If more people/companies did worry about the cost
then they would have to reduce their prices. I do not subscribe to the
argument that they have showrooms etc to pay for, sell it cheaper (cars or
add ons) and you will sell more! I have just purchased a genuine set of
roof bars for said Zafira for £84.00 which included postage from an
independant retailer and my main stealer wanted £115.00 and I had to collect
them! When I mentioned my quote the reply was word for word "So buy them
from there then"!!

Cheers

John

 

Under those circumstances I would have gone elsewhere too!

With regards price, we don't charge £75 but we are still expensive
compared to a poorly equipped independent who . Any garage that wants
to stay up-to-date with diagnostic equipment, training, tools and
equipment has to charge a decent rate now.

Having said that, we do not rely on company car drivers. 70% of our
business is private and a lot have over 3 year old cars

We are only a Vauxhall approved repairer though. We do not have a
showroom and dozens of demonstrators etc to subsidise!

I can't comment on the roof bars as I do not know what model/version
they are for but don't blame the dealer for that. We do not have much
of a margin on accessories. Having said that, they are reasonable
quality which is more than can be said of some of the aftermarket/one
size fits all accesories out there!

Alan

 

Under those circumstances I would have gone elsewhere too!

With regards price, we don't charge £75 but we are still expensive
compared to a poorly equipped independent who . Any garage that wants
to stay up-to-date with diagnostic equipment, training, tools and
equipment has to charge a decent rate now.

Having said that, we do not rely on company car drivers. 70% of our
business is private and a lot have over 3 year old cars

We are only a Vauxhall approved repairer though. We do not have a
showroom and dozens of demonstrators etc to subsidise!

So you are not a Vauxhall dealer as you first implied, only an approved
repairer, there is a difference which I am sure you will know/appreciate.

I can't comment on the roof bars as I do not know what model/version
they are for but don't blame the dealer for that. We do not have much
of a margin on accessories.

But I still bought a genuine Vauxhall accessory cheaper from an independent
than from a main stealer, there has got to be something wrong in that!

Having said that, they are reasonable
quality which is more than can be said of some of the aftermarket/one
size fits all accesories out there!

Excellent quality and product but still the same item I would have taken
away from my main stealer.

Cheers

John

 

I have to #say I feel more 'comfortable' using a Vauxhall dealer - yes they
might be a bit more expensive, but when critical work needs to be done for
example cam belt change or brakes - then in it goes in - and I feel more
confident that the work has been done properly. Just psychological but
there you go..


Under those circumstances I would have gone elsewhere too!

With regards price, we don't charge £75 but we are still expensive
compared to a poorly equipped independent who . Any garage that wants
to stay up-to-date with diagnostic equipment, training, tools and
equipment has to charge a decent rate now.

Having said that, we do not rely on company car drivers. 70% of our
business is private and a lot have over 3 year old cars

We are only a Vauxhall approved repairer though. We do not have a
showroom and dozens of demonstrators etc to subsidise!

I can't comment on the roof bars as I do not know what model/version
they are for but don't blame the dealer for that. We do not have much
of a margin on accessories. Having said that, they are reasonable
quality which is more than can be said of some of the aftermarket/one
size fits all accesories out there!

Alan