PT

There are quite a few threads re servicing / dealers in the south. I am interested in peoples experiences in using dealers in the West Midlands, especially the following (in no particular order) :-

1. Differences in price
2. Friendliness of staff
3. Attitude to parallel imports (esp from Belgium).
4. Quality of work performed.

Anyone willing to share their experiences?

IDRIS

West Midlands Dealer, Showells Garage.

1. Paid £85 for 7500 service, I haven't used another dealer to compare!
2. Always calls me by surname as soon as I walk thorugh the door!
3. Mines Dutch, so no problems there!
4. 2 services, CAT 1 alarm installed and a CD changer installed, and they recommended me to a specialist who knocked a dent out the wing, which was a good job for the price!

Had no problems with them so far!

PT

Idris,
Thanks for the response - Showells - are they in Storbridge?.

I made a point a while ago of calling all the scooby dealers I could find in the West Midlands and I asked one simple question :

"I am importing an Impreza from Belgium and would like you to service it for me, would you be happy to do this?"

I got three different responses :

1. Well I suppose we will have to!
2. Yes.
3. We would be delighted to and we can also etc,etc,etc...

Reply #3 was from the dealer furthest away from me, but guess what - looks like he will get the business!

The conversation in all cases took less than 2 minutes, but in that 2 minutes I made a decision which earnt one dealer my servicing business for perhaps the next 4 years (high mileage driver so worth a fair bit) and cost the other two the business. It just shows you should put your most customer friendly and aware member of staff on answering the 'phone - they could make you a fortune!

Peter L

Showells is near Stourbridge - Lye to be precise.

I work up in that area during the week, and although I haven't been around when I have needed a service, I have had to take in mine a couple of times for other bits and pieces.

They seem nice enough there and one plus point is that they seem to always accommodate a car at relatively short notice. Not sure how they are on servicing costs or imports, but based on my experiences I am considering taking it to them for my 15K mile service.

Peter

ids

Folks

Can't comment about servicing as I have an import WRX and live near-ish, BUT they are always helpful and get me parts when I need them.... (and when my missus is buying me presents !!!)

For servicing - I do it myself (with a bit of help from Bro-in-law who works at the Bham Cop Shop garage) - for anything major I have used ABP up in Crewe - again these are fantastic and the owner is a real scooby nut !

Pete - where U working at - somewhere up on the Waterfront ??

Ids

Neil Reay

PT

I have had my first service on my Dutch import at Carstins in Balsall Common. No complaints at all.

They completed the service while I waited and the Service Manager was genuinely interested in the importing experience.

I have also heard good reports on Showells but for me Carstins is more convenient.

Neil.

Peter L

IDS

How did you guess?
I do work by the Waterfront, but tend to avoid driving along on it on a Thursday night with the Max Power brigade

Are you around this area? Can you recommend any decent roads around there?

Peter