First Service

[sasquartch]

Well , the Gal has done 10,100 miles from new and it's having its first service today.

 

Will report back later to say whether I recommend my local dealer, Evans Halshaw of Welwyn, Herts (used to be CD Brammall until recently)

 

Initial impressions good, service receptionist examined car with me and a few faults discussed. Was dropped off at work by their minibus and will collect me later so nice not to have to worry about organising lifts, public transport etc.

 

Still, we'll see what happens later when I pick up car. It seems hard to find many good reports about main dealers !

 

I'll report back !

[Guest blatters]

All the best - hope you get a good result.

 

Blatters

[Guest MATT]

well - it already sounds better than my garage!

 

just wait, you will get there and "er, hello sir, everything apart from the steering wheel wants replacing, that's

[sasquartch]

Update....

 

Minibus picked me up from work as arranged, car was waiting for me all washed and cleaned inside and out.

 

They'd adjusted the strikers on both rear doors as these had been difficult to close without slamming hard, seem improved although test will be whether the kids can close the doors from inside by themselves. The seatbelt retaining clip for the middle row of seats on the drivers side had been fixed and a new seat catch had been fitted where the original had broken off.

 

Was charged 169.00 which was what I'd been quoted. Only parts were oil and filter, no part numbers so have to assume correct oil had been used.

 

Service book stamped up, a 'visual check' checklist supplied which included thickness of discs and pads and tyre depth.

 

So, no complaints although there wasn't anything wrong mechanically before I took it in so wasn't really expecting to notice much difference, certainly seems fine on my 55 mile journey around the M25/M3 this morning.

 

Service manager mentioned Ford would probably be in touch soon to survey how satisfied I have been, and urged me to say 'completely satisfied' rather than just 'satisfied'. I said as long as nothing untoward came to light I would do this.

 

So, based on my limited, first-time experience of Evans Halshaw Welwyn I would give them the thumbs up so far, although on a 10,000 mile year old car you wouldn't expect much to be a problem. But certainly the customer service side of things was very good.

[greg_68]

After many hours of hard work their prayers were finally answered.

[Guest MATT]

:ph34r:

 

sounds like you got a good service then, unlike me! :huh:

 

MATT

[Guest heartburn]

That shocks me, that sort of money for a oil and filter change. Bloody hell.

 

Me thinks sod waiting for the mark 3 galaxy :lol: will get a 2 yr old mark 2 instead.

[sasquartch]

Well I think that it's a bit more than an oil and filter change, that's just the parts that were used.

 

The main reason for a Ford service was to make sure that in the event of any warranty claims there would be no problem if the vehicle has been service 'by the book'

 

But, yes,

[seatkid]

1st, 3rd, 5th etc services (i.e. not "major services") are little more than an oil and filter change. The "inspection" part rarely takes more than 5 minutes and is often skipped.

Servicing is the "cash cow" for the dealer - just look at the number of cars being serviced daily at a main dealer (mostly company cars...) Remember the mark up on oil and parts is pretty substantial too.

 

3 year warranties were invented to help support the dealer... :lol:

[sasquartch]

SK

 

I'm sure you're right, but at least I know things like my brake pads have been checked, it's really an insurance for me to make sure I can take advantage of the three year warranty should something expensive go tits up.

[sasquartch]

Well the Ford Dealer rang me back to see if I was happy with the service I had yesterday, have decided the drivers side back door still isnt quite right (passenger side seems much better now) so they said would be happy to look at it again.

 

Has anyone else had any experience of adjusting doors or striker plates ? The problem is with mine (and has been since new) is that door really needs a good slam or 'bounces' and only half shuts if that makes sense. Strangely it's much easier to shut with drivers door open so is either air pressure within car or something to do with rubber seal. I need to investigate further at weekend ! Hopefully Ford will sort it out anyway.

 

But at least dealer is being pro-active !

[Guest MATT]

i have that problem, rear left door - i adjust the striking plate, and it will shut perfect, but slowly over time, it gets worse and worse again, until you really have to slam it.

 

getting a bit sick of these niggling problems

 

MATT

[Davetheref]

I'm just down the road from Welwyn, in Stevenage and just took mine into Gates Fordfor its 20000\2 year service.

 

Maybe we are just lucky in this area (after reading all the horror stories on here about other Ford garages) as I cannot praise Gates highly enough.

Great customer service, courtesey car whilst mine was in and even a phone call during the day to let me know how they were doing.

I have just taken my son's Fiesta in there after a cowboy mate of his buggered the radio up fitting new speakers in and the guy at Gates diagnosed the problem after spending about an hour taking it out and testing it and at the end wouldn't charge at all for his services.

Thats got to be a first!!

[sasquartch]

Where is the Gates branch that you use ?

[Guest blatters]

I think the doors do need a slam - especially the back doors. I think it's the amount of soundproofing rubber around them. It's a quiet cabin, especially when you consider the external noise of the TDi engine.

 

You get used to it and, in my experience, folk quite like being given the green light not to worry if they pull the door hard to shut it.

 

Regards

 

Blatters.

 

PS. Agree, the servicing is a cash cow. Company car drivers don't care - been there, done that. If you can do it yourself then that's superb. Some of us are better at other things and have to console ourselves that we save our money and time elsewhere. But on this site DIY servicing is king & I know my place :lol: