MOT & Service

petemc · 10-06-2010, 11:02

I've got my MOT next month. Normally I'd book the car in with Lookers, its a Corsa, and get the MOT and service done. They called me up and said it would be £222 for an interim service & MOT or £303 for a full service and MOT. Ouch! I was ok paying this before hand but then I was living with my parents so I had a bit more cash.

My gf has suggested a local guy who'll do it for a lot cheaper. My only issue is that I want the service book stamped for when I sell the car. I've always gone with Lookers so I have no real experience of anyone else. Do they do this? How important is it really?

My other question is do I need a full service now or will just the cheaper one do? I'm fully expecting the MOT to cost me more than it should. The car is 8 yrs old so theres got to be something up with it.

Zirax · 10-06-2010, 11:09

TBH I would just go with a local garage. They will stamp the book for you (granted it won't be a main dealer stamp). The kind of value of an 8 year corsa put's it in the buyers market where any service history is a bonus.

petemc · 10-06-2010, 11:13

Its got low mileage for 8 years. Around 35k I think. My plan is to one day get something new so I'm keeping it around in the hope I get a decent price for it. Its in good condition for its age.

Burble · 10-06-2010, 11:34

Stamps in the service book become much less important as the car gets older. At 8 years old there's no way I'd be paying the main dealer premium just for a stamp.

Go for an independent, you'll save money and most likely have a better quality of workmanship.

Del Lardo · 10-06-2010, 12:15

At 8 years old it's important for proof that the work has been done i.e. a receipt but a stamp from a main dealer will only appeal to a very small number of potential buyers and really isn't worth the cost. My Mondeo hasn't been main dealer serviced since it's first MOT at 3 years old and interestingly under EU law so long as the work has been carried out according to the Manufacturers guidelines servicing at an independent in the first 3 years cannot invalidate the warranty.

petemc · 10-06-2010, 14:27

Cool. I'll go indie and save some pennies

LeperousDust · 11-06-2010, 01:56

Wouldn't worry about major things going wrong at 8 years old either! Thats young in the grand scheme of things. My almera is just about handing in there at 14ish now. Although theres another story there entirely

Tysonator · 11-06-2010, 13:52

I did have my vauxhall stamped by a main dealer when I purchased my two & half year old car. TBH once it goes over 5+ years the main dealer stamp is not worth as much.
If you trade it in to a main dealer it will count for nothing, only condition and small adjustment for mileage i what really matters. If you sell privately it will be a tick for you over some ones elses car they may have looked at.
All main dealers have large over head costs which they need to cover.
Only if some thing goes wrong is there advantage for going with a main dealer. As they more support to put a mistake right.
Small indepentant garages tend to get out of any rectification work if they can as it is all money out the door for them !

10-06-2010, 11:02	#1
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	MOT & Service I've got my MOT next month. Normally I'd book the car in with Lookers, its a Corsa, and get the MOT and service done. They called me up and said it would be £222 for an interim service & MOT or £303 for a full service and MOT. Ouch! I was ok paying this before hand but then I was living with my parents so I had a bit more cash. My gf has suggested a local guy who'll do it for a lot cheaper. My only issue is that I want the service book stamped for when I sell the car. I've always gone with Lookers so I have no real experience of anyone else. Do they do this? How important is it really? My other question is do I need a full service now or will just the cheaper one do? I'm fully expecting the MOT to cost me more than it should. The car is 8 yrs old so theres got to be something up with it. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

10-06-2010, 11:13	#3
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Its got low mileage for 8 years. Around 35k I think. My plan is to one day get something new so I'm keeping it around in the hope I get a decent price for it. Its in good condition for its age. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

10-06-2010, 14:27	#6
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Cool. I'll go indie and save some pennies __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

11-06-2010, 01:56	#7
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Wouldn't worry about major things going wrong at 8 years old either! Thats young in the grand scheme of things. My almera is just about handing in there at 14ish now. Although theres another story there entirely __________________

11-06-2010, 13:52	#8
Tysonator Vodka Martini Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ESSEX Posts: 874	I did have my vauxhall stamped by a main dealer when I purchased my two & half year old car. TBH once it goes over 5+ years the main dealer stamp is not worth as much. If you trade it in to a main dealer it will count for nothing, only condition and small adjustment for mileage i what really matters. If you sell privately it will be a tick for you over some ones elses car they may have looked at. All main dealers have large over head costs which they need to cover. Only if some thing goes wrong is there advantage for going with a main dealer. As they more support to put a mistake right. Small indepentant garages tend to get out of any rectification work if they can as it is all money out the door for them ! __________________ Will think of some witty to say, well when I think of it

10-06-2010, 11:09	#2
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	TBH I would just go with a local garage. They will stamp the book for you (granted it won't be a main dealer stamp). The kind of value of an 8 year corsa put's it in the buyers market where any service history is a bonus.

10-06-2010, 11:34	#4
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Stamps in the service book become much less important as the car gets older. At 8 years old there's no way I'd be paying the main dealer premium just for a stamp. Go for an independent, you'll save money and most likely have a better quality of workmanship.

10-06-2010, 12:15	#5
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	At 8 years old it's important for proof that the work has been done i.e. a receipt but a stamp from a main dealer will only appeal to a very small number of potential buyers and really isn't worth the cost. My Mondeo hasn't been main dealer serviced since it's first MOT at 3 years old and interestingly under EU law so long as the work has been carried out according to the Manufacturers guidelines servicing at an independent in the first 3 years cannot invalidate the warranty.