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[Shackeng]

That does sound expensive Opti.  But is that classed as a "major" servive?

I know mine is a 3.2 Vx, not a Jaguar, but my last Vx main dealer interim service was £86.12 (with TC) and my last major service was £380 with everything, plugs, all filters, oil, battery check, etc., etc, done.

You seem to have bought a lot of etc's there.

I am quite prepared to pay it as it is my choice.  I could do it, but it is all too easy to let Vx technicians go ahead and give the car a thorough service, good inspection, and diagnostic checks, in a nice fully equipped garage, and then drive away knowing it is all fully guaranteed and done at trade prices

You must have had better experience than me. I could write a book on all the items not serviced/unnecessarily overserviced on my cars over the years. Admittedly I haven't let them since I've been retired and have had time to do my own.

[VXL V6]

Ditto

Only time I go into a VX dealers is to buy parts with the TC card. As far as servicing and repairs go if I can't do it then either Serek or Daz can and if I can't sort something out electronically then I know TB can, that and this forum thankfully means I don't have to take any of my cars to a dealer, just a local trusted garage once a year for MOT's.

[TheBoy]

Worth knowing Lord Opti

Not all Jaguar dealers offer 3+ servicing. A small number in the affluent south don't take part assuming if you like in Poshland and own a Jaguar you are dripping with cash.

Not even bothered looking where the dealers are around here.  I know there is one in MK (opposite side of the town to where I work though), doubt Banburyshire has one.  Will have to look them up when I can be arsed, and ring round.  Else, I suppose it might be worth ringing Jag specialists, see what they can do.  Ultimately, for the most part, I only want a sheet of paper annually saying its been serviced.

[TheBoy]

That does sound expensive Opti.  But is that classed as a "major" servive?

I know mine is a 3.2 Vx, not a Jaguar, but my last Vx main dealer interim service was £86.12 (with TC) and my last major service was £380 with everything, plugs, all filters, oil, battery check, etc., etc, done.

You seem to have bought a lot of etc's there.

I am quite prepared to pay it as it is my choice.  I could do it, but it is all too easy to let Vx technicians go ahead and give the car a thorough service, good inspection, and diagnostic checks, in a nice fully equipped garage, and then drive away knowing it is all fully guaranteed and done at trade prices

You must have had better experience than me. I could write a book on all the items not serviced/unnecessarily overserviced on my cars over the years. Admittedly I haven't let them since I've been retired and have had time to do my own.

I concur, I would not trust the service departments at any nearby Vauxhall dealers to touch my car again. Based on experience.

Things like they changed the oil and filter, yet the oil was still dark, and the filter still had the mileage and date when I previously changed it.

And they tested the brake fluid boiling point, said it was too low, and replaced it.  Funny, seeing as I'd changed it only 3 months earlier, so the argument broke out between parts dept (who I was trying to get refund from for clearly faulty brake fluid) and service dept, which was pretty amusing

Then the cambelt. To ensure they did full kit, I asked for the old parts back, including rollers and tensioner.  What they gave back was not off a V6 Omega.

[Doctor Gollum]

They really don't help themselves sometimes...

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Not too bad for a fast cat 

FatherT had his serviced recently, had a rather nice XE loan car for the day. 

And what was the opinion of the old boy regarding the XE?

I find it difficult to tell the difference between the new model XE and XF.......the XE appearing only slightly smaller.

[Doctor Gollum]

Especially with the new Xf tail lights...

[Lizzie Zoom]

That does sound expensive Opti.  But is that classed as a "major" servive?

I know mine is a 3.2 Vx, not a Jaguar, but my last Vx main dealer interim service was £86.12 (with TC) and my last major service was £380 with everything, plugs, all filters, oil, battery check, etc., etc, done.

You seem to have bought a lot of etc's there.

I am quite prepared to pay it as it is my choice.  I could do it, but it is all too easy to let Vx technicians go ahead and give the car a thorough service, good inspection, and diagnostic checks, in a nice fully equipped garage, and then drive away knowing it is all fully guaranteed and done at trade prices

You must have had better experience than me. I could write a book on all the items not serviced/unnecessarily overserviced on my cars over the years. Admittedly I haven't let them since I've been retired and have had time to do my own.

I have had my "experiences" with Vx dealers, but I have always got to know the service manager well, then constantly asked questions on what they are doing, so got finally the right answer.  Sometimes I have directed them on what they should do. Like two years ago my cats needed replacing and they quoted me a not very nice price, even with TC. I then informed them of a company that supplied the cats needed at half the Vx price. They fitted them, and the service manager even ensured a record was kept of that supplier for other customers. 

It is the way you work with a Vx dealership that counts, and I have always used my managerial skills to "advise" them on what they are doing, asking questions when they are giving me a load of bull, which dealers have tried to do over the decades, probably because I am female, but also because it is their natural default.  Of course if things go wrong, as they did with an air con compressor they fitted, I managed to get full reimbursement of over £1,000, even when the part was "out of warranty" as I went into professional business legal mode and commenced legal action.

If you keep your dealer "under control" you will get the best results out of those who are fully trained to work on your make of car.

[2boxerdogs]

When I had my 2.6 I always had it serviced & MOTd by the supplying dealer (Taylors of Spalding) never had any problems whatsoever & the car never let me down once, they have an excellent reputation in town. I took the Mercedes there for the MOT last November & it sailed through they were quite suprised that I had sold the 2.6 but were very interested in the V8 Merc & commented on the excellent condition it was in,should it ever require any work after a test I would have every confidence in them, as Lizzie says it is worth building a good rapport with garage staff.

[Lizzie Zoom]

When I had my 2.6 I always had it serviced & MOTd by the supplying dealer (Taylors of Spalding) never had any problems whatsoever & the car never let me down once, they have an excellent reputation in town. I took the Mercedes there for the MOT last November & it sailed through they were quite suprised that I had sold the 2.6 but were very interested in the V8 Merc & commented on the excellent condition it was in,should it ever require any work after a test I would have every confidence in them, as Lizzie says it is worth building a good rapport with garage staff.

Yes, and I should add the General Manager of my major Vx dealership makes a point of saying hello to me and checking all is ok!

All the staff know me very well indeed!

[Lazydocker]

There's this misconception that dealerships have "mechanics" trained on the brand... This is (mostly) vastly incorrect - Most dealerships have fitters and occasionally a decent tech.

And this is the same for all brands

But if you feel you get value for money then that's all that matters

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

There's this misconception that dealerships have "mechanics" trained on the brand... This is (mostly) vastly incorrect - Most dealerships have fitters and occasionally a decent tech.

And this is the same for all brands

But if you feel you get value for money then that's all that matters

Most dealerships employ a grease monkey rather than a qualified 'technician' who takes pride in his work.

Most people don't yearn to be a mechanic they simply fall into it by pissing about at school and not paying attention. Leave school with no qualifications and you may well end up working for a VX dealer, or similar.

The same applies to plumbers.....builders....'the expert who botches your drive/guttering......etc..etc. All of these 'pissed about at school'

Technicians who work for NASA went to school to learn......not to piss about.

[Viral_Jim]

The same applies to plumbers.....builders....'the expert who botches your drive/guttering......etc..etc. All of these 'pissed about at school'

Technicians who work for NASA went to school to learn......not to piss about.

Agreed. I have met only a couple of people in my life who wanted to be "in the trades" from school and they have all turned out to be incredibly successful (read: worth 7 figures easily). They have thrived and turned it into big business. The jobbing plumbers and builders I've run across all fall into the CBA wiv skool category

[Lincs Robert]

Not too bad for a fast cat 

FatherT had his serviced recently, had a rather nice XE loan car for the day. 

And what was the opinion of the old boy regarding the XE?

I find it difficult to tell the difference between the new model XE and XF.......the XE appearing only slightly smaller.

I was a passenger in an XE on quite a long journey recently - we did about 200 miles.
It was a 2.0 diesel 180 engine auto. I was expecting to be somewhat underwealmed with the performance- but wasn't, she flew along with pretty decent acceleration. Not many options on this one though, but the drive was spot on. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

When I had my 2.6 I always had it serviced & MOTd by the supplying dealer (Taylors of Spalding) never had any problems whatsoever & the car never let me down once, they have an excellent reputation in town. I took the Mercedes there for the MOT last November & it sailed through they were quite suprised that I had sold the 2.6 but were very interested in the V8 Merc & commented on the excellent condition it was in,should it ever require any work after a test I would have every confidence in them, as Lizzie says it is worth building a good rapport with garage staff.

Yes, and I should add the General Manager of my major Vx dealership makes a point of saying hello to me and checking all is ok!

All the staff know me very well indeed!

Quick lads, run.......it's that bloody woman again.