Independent vs Dealership for car service?

Where's the best place to get your car serviced? For years I've only trusted the dealerships but when you look at what they've done it's usually only an oil change with a visual inspection? Do you lose much by going to a local independent?

DIY is always the best. What would you be looking for at your service and how often do you get it done? If you are only looking for an oil change with fuel, oil & air filter changes then DIY is the best option.

When you start getting spark plugs changed etc then I would recommend picking a garage with a good reputation, they aren't all b*stards

I'd never have the skill to do one myself, I'd just expect a service to be up to the standard the manufacturer recommends.... Does a dealer do it better as they only work on that particular brand and does it mean you can sell it for more when you need to change cars if it has a dealer service history?

You can get independent specialist garages around for any particular make and model of car.  I don't think they would do it any better or worse, but I guarantee the labour charges will be significantly cheaper at independents.

I can only speak subjectively, but If I was to buy a car the service history would play a part but my main concern would be the overall condition of the car at the point of purchase, and that would involve how it looks, how it sounds, and feels driving it etc.  On selling with a full service dealership history would certainly look good but its not the be end all.

And as mentioned above from aberdeen steve, you could do certain things yourself, you can save your self cash in your pocket and you'll have the comfort of knowing you have done a good job.  Oil changes for example doesn't require much skill, just the right tools, and theirs plenty of online mechanical advice you can look up.  Eric the car guy is one of the best on you tube if you do consider giving it a go, which imo is worth doing. And when it comes to selling you can say you have done a lot of diy work to it, (keep hold of receipts of parts as proof etc) which can come across well as you have shown you car has been well looked after.

My car has three years free servicing but once that's up I'm taking it to the lad who does our other car. He gives value for money, doesn't do anything that doesn't require doing and as a result, I'm happy to pass his name on to others looking for a decent mechanic.

Used to have a Ford and their servicing was shiiiiiiite...discovered one year that they'd "topped up" my screenwash by replacing it with tap water...also charged me for new wiper blades when I'd just put new ones on a month earlier!!!

Like tattooists, get someone to recommend a good one.

Dealership for a service? No thanks. They charge a small fortune for the most basic of checks and maintenance. They'll do little if not anything and try to con you into having parts changed that don't need to by the way of a 'visual inspection'. If you know a decent mechanic that can do a hobble of an oil and filter change ( basically a service) and you buy your own parts then thats the best and cheapest way imo. A good independant garage the next option

Ask your local taxi firm/drivers. They normally know a lot of decent garages. Quite a few round manchester way seem to do a service and MOT bundle.

We use reliable independent - someone we can trust, and much less expensive than dealerships.

Does it vary with brand of car ie are some makes more easy to service then others like Audi's mercs bmw's may be more complex to service and best taken to dealers? Or it really makes no difference and a car is just a car and any one can do it with the right know how?

A service is a service Sikhloin whatever the car. Might be a different layout but doing the same jobs. Worked in a garage as a kid so service the cars for the family myself. Wouldn't even consider going main dealership if I couldn't do it. Its a robbery the prices they charge.

Very easy to learn how to do it yourself. Loads of videos on line. Look for Micks Garage etc. If you don't want to the taxi tip above is a great shout for finding a reliable decent priced mechanic.

Depends on the car.

If you drive a higher grade car and care about sell-on value then a dealership service history is important.

For example, I got my old astra serviced every couple of year by a local independent business. But my 5 Series I go via BMW for their full service package to ensure when I sell it in 3 years it has a 'full BMW service history'.