Ist service

[Happy1]

I had my first 20 hr service, well it was 36 hours really but they say between 20 & 50, it was an eye opener to watch what they do for £70 plus vat per hour. Well I met the mechanic at the marina, he warmed up the boat £20, took off a panel to get at the oil filter £10, suctioned out the old oil £20, prepared a new filter for fitting and got the oil ready £5, changed the filter and put in the new oil (slowly) carefuly checking the dip stick every couple of minutes £20, cleaned out the bilge where some oil had spilt £10, took off the air filter to look under it £10, sprayed the whole engine and around the carbs with WD40 £10, put the oil filter back £10, put the panel back £10, flicked the belts to check tension £5, checked the revs, found it was idling at 400! Oh no it wasn't there was something wrong, investigation showed the dealer had the rev counter set for a V8 engine, so he used a small screw driver to change it from V8 to V6 £10 (shame that the PDI didn't show that it was set wrong, but there again they didn't run the engine so the PDI ticked check list in the service book is a load of b****cks). That was two hours work, Oh! plus parts & VAT, then took my warranty book to get stamped, easy really!

Is this what I am having to look forward to in the marine industry? I think that after my warranty expires in 8mths time, I will be doing this job myself, what RIP OFF!! Imagine if I had TWO ENGINES!!

You guys with these big multi engined boats must be rolling in spare cash!

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[tripleace]

name and shame.




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[hlb]

You'v got the wrong end of the stick. Guarantees are for ensureing that you stay with the dealer for at least twelve months. So he is assured of £70 per hour and enjoys super extorsionary rights. Once Volvo sentenced me to a three year waranty, but I had a lucky escape as I bought the boat off a none volvo dealer. So they reprieved me, from day one!

Now I pay £25 per hour for my two engines and dont have to buy Volvo oil. (Whatever that is?) so I am in pocket!!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[Happy1]

I don't think it is a matter of name and shame, as that was the standard price of a first service, in fact it would have been dearer in some other places. Oh! I forgot that you also get charged for travelling time, I will let you know what that is when the bill arrives. I guess if you do 4 jobs at the same marina and charge 1hr travelling to each person, it is a nice little earner /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

By the way the Volvo oils is really Esso re-badged, I know where my next lot of oil will be coming from /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

I think when it is time for the next service I will have a weekend away with hlb, use his mechanic and reward hlb AND the mechanic by getting them pissed big time, Oh! and take some carrots for Harry /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif I would still come out quids in!!

Anyone else care to let us know what their mechanics charge per hour, and the price of an average service! (just need to plan my trailering holiday at the next service /forums/images/icons/wink.gif)

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Moose]

Service it yourself, it really isn't difficult!

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Moose

 

[duncan]

25 p/hour

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[BarryH]

Don't know really, seeing as I do it all myself and save bundles on both parts and labour. I have been known to work for beer, but it normally takes me all day to do anything and I don't give any guarantees.

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[tcm]

Unfortunately, for warranty period you have to have a service with a dealer. And unfortunately for servicing medium-size 2 x MAN engines it's blimmin 3grand. They do replace the impellers though.

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[duncan]

yep and beer all day can be more than the service bill you are getting this time!

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[Happy1]

Well that's made me feel a little better /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I see now why Honda offer a 5 yr warranty on their little outboards, with the price of dealer servicing to keep the warranty valid you may as well buy a new one every two years !!

Maybe it is a blessing that Volvo only do a 1yr warranty now, I have 8mths left now on my warranty and after that I will certainly shop around. Goodness knows why or how those prices can be justified for a first service, which in effect is an oil change that I could have had done for a tenner at Kwik Fit! Now that would have been interesting turning up with the boat on a trailer /forums/images/icons/wink.gif But I guess I needed that very, very special secret Volvo oil, that is the only oil the engine can operate with. Oh! and the special way you put in a few dribbles at a time, b****cks to the lot of them, that's the end of my relationship with money grabbing conmen, it's DIY with BarryH from now on /forums/images/icons/wink.gif no wonder he can afford a bigger boat, he saves more money on everything than anyone I know!

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[BarryH]

Oivey!

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[Happy1]

What the hell are you drinking tonight? /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[BarryH]

Fiddlers Elbow, nah finished that, now with my mate JD and the bottles finished. Its 12 15 ish abd I'm off to bed.

Oivey, its a jewish sort of exclamtion, sort of, anyway stop moaning 'bout the cost of it all. Never mind the qwality, feel the width.

Night night.

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[Will_M]

Who charges £70 + Vat per hour?

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[Trevethan]

Both mechanics I have used on my engine (in Devon) charge £15 to £20, Course my engine is 30 years old and out of warranty just about..

Does the warranty say iservicing has to be carried out by Volvo marine dealer?

Maybe talk to local volvo truck/car dealership and drag the boat in for them to service and stamp.

Could have had mine service by local diesel fitter for £10 an hour cash, but boat had to be on his premises... bit tough for 15 tonne 40 footer.

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[gjgm]

reminds me of first service had on a previous boat, new mercuiser 3.0l. 8 hours labour. Er crickey what on earth was wrong. Well, nothing.Checked about, but unlike cars where the manufacturer defines a set time for each job, marine engineers can take as long as they like. And clearly do. Just glad he didnt fit a few days holiday during the job. He dosnt work there anymore, and I m (probably the only person on this forum who)doing better with Volvo.

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