Servicing at a main dealer

[almcl]

Just had a bit of a shock; the main dealer has just quoted £852 for the annual service on my XF Sportbrake 2.2D 200PS. I am guessing that won't include any parts that are discovered to need replacing.

Although it is now 7 years old it has only covered 32,000 miles and what I think bumps the price of this service up is the requirement to:
Renew camshaft drive belt, tensioner and idler pulley.

This would normally be done at 112,000 miles, presumably based on wear, rather than age.

My dilemma is that I don't know of any reliable independent Jaguar specialists around here (Telford) where I could possibly get a better deal.

Anyone know somewhere in the West Mids/Shropshire that might give a better deal?

[BrianG]

Is the the dealer's suggestion? What is the recommended age limit for the 2.2D cambelt in the handbook? The XJ 2.7 diesel is 10 years or 110,000 miles from memory. You might be able to go a few extra years?

[3.8etypephil]

The Jaguar 3 +
https://www.jaguar.co.uk/owners/servici ... icing.html
price for a major service and cambelt change for your car is £770, if your dealer participates in the scheme (worth asking them); not much cheaper, but £82 better in your pocket than theirs.

[almcl]

Is the the dealer's suggestion?

Yes, the receptionist (who had no idea why it was that expensive, couldn't answer the question of why an oil and filter change would take half a day and didn't manage to find out while I was on the phone) asked the service manager and who said that it was the 112,000 mile service and had to be done.

What is the recommended age limit for the 2.2D cambelt in the handbook? The XJ 2.7 diesel is 10 years or 110,000 miles from memory. You might be able to go a few extra years?

I can't find any reference to cam belt changes in the handbook, but the annual service assumes (or appears to) 16,000 miles a year so this interval (which seems pretty unrealistic to me) 7 years would be 112,000 miles, which matches the XJ figure.

[almcl]

The Jaguar 3 +
https://www.jaguar.co.uk/owners/servici ... icing.html
price for a major service and cambelt change for your car is £770, if your dealer participates in the scheme (worth asking them); not much cheaper, but £82 better in your pocket than theirs.

Thanks for that link, Phil. As you say a major service (which I/it does need) is £385 and a cam belt change (which it probably doesn't) would be a further £385. Armed with this I might ring the 'other' local main dealer (I am halfway between them) and see if they will do 'just' a major service.

[davidr]

If I were you I would find a good local independent whose labour rate will be half that of a main dealer. The person you talk to on the phone probably won't be as good looking as the lady you spoke to at the main dealer but they will know what they're talking about!

[J44EAG]

.....and you won`t be told that your car also needs another £3k spent on it when you pick it up!!!

Main Dealers are ok for corporate sized cheque books but often charge excessively high prices for a private owner. At least you can talk to the guy doing the work at an Independent. You might not get a "free" coffee, bacon roll or get to sit in the latest Jaguar model, but at least your wallet will stay intact with an Indi!

Mike K

Mike

[almcl]

If I were you I would find a good local independent whose labour rate will be half that of a main dealer.

If only!

The last decent one (XJK in Newcastle under Lyme) closed down to servicing 3 years ago and I can't find anyone here abouts who looks even half way competent.

[3.8etypephil]

As a retired independent, I have to point out that there are poor independents, as well as good ones, and that the main dealer 3+ deals for servicing are good value. While I do everything to my 146,000 mile XJR myself, and any ad hoc jobs on the the XFR, the latter goes to Taylors in Dunmow (who honour the 3+ prices on that) for its services; it's barely worth getting my hands dirty for the labour element of the major service (C £72), and the FJSH is kept up, which can more than pay for itself at resale time.
Unfortunately, diesels require much more servicing than petrol cars, hence it is rather more expensive.

[almcl]

Main Dealers are ok for corporate sized cheque books but often charge excessively high prices for a private owner. At least you can talk to the guy doing the work at an Independent. You might not get a "free" coffee, bacon roll or get to sit in the latest Jaguar model, but at least your wallet will stay intact with an Indi!

Agree with everything you say, Mike. We just don't have (or at least I don't know of) any competent independents near here.

[almcl]

Unfortunately, diesels require much more servicing than petrol cars, hence it is rather more expensive.

I can quite accept that, but being fobbed off with a ridiculous quote by someone who couldn't even begin to tell me what items were on the service schedule never mind justify the enormous price tag made me wonder why I should bother trusting a vehicle to a firm who clearly don't give a monkeys?

[3.8etypephil]

Unfortunately, diesels require much more servicing than petrol cars, hence it is rather more expensive.

I can quite accept that, but being fobbed off with a ridiculous quote by someone who couldn't even begin to tell me what items were on the service schedule never mind justify the enormous price tag made me wonder why I should bother trusting a vehicle to a firm who clearly don't give a monkeys?

I am surprised that even the recepionist couldn't tell you what you would get for your money; certainly better to look elsewhwere.
I probably have a printed copy of the service requirements; if I can find it, I'll post it here for comparison with any quote you get.

[rosemary]

Hello Folks
For information,I've just had a Cam Belt change at 97000 miles and a Major Service on the 3+ Maintenance system, my car is coming up 11 years old in Nov this year. The cost at Lookers JLR Aston Clinton Aylesbury was £606.62p for the Cam belt ,Aux Drive belt, Idler etc. and £0 on the day for the Service. I have been on the 3+ scheme at £24.44 per month for 24 months so far and have had 2 major Services and 1 Minor Service, the total cost of the period being £586.56p. I elected not to have the Fuel Pump belt changed at the same time, the one at the rear of the engine which, a bit awkward to do, doesn't need special cam locking tools, so I am going to do this one myself in the summer. Already bought the kit at £65 in preparation. I would recommend Lookers although they are very busy all the time, a reflection of satisfaction perhaps.
Dave

[PPV]

Have you asked the local JEC club members where they get theirs serviced? I would have thought someone would have used an independant locally.
Best of luck,

[almcl]

I am the guy that gets the questions from newly arrived JEC members about where to get servicing done and at present we don't know of anyone we could recommend since the demise of XJK.