First Jaguar Service Experience

scz4

New member
As my F-Type V6S celebrates it’s 8 birthday, thought I’d book it into my local Jaguar dealer. Last year I put into a local specialist.

Given the low miles I do each year and the car being new to me, I decided to split up the maintenance items. So last year I did the diff and brake fluid, this year I asked for air filters and spark plugs, plus the usual oil service and pollen filters (what’s the point, it’s a convertible and driven 90% of the time with the roof down). Quoted £515.

Dropped the car off at 8.15 yesterday, received a E-Pace (plastic fantastic), had agreed to collect car at 4pm. No call or anything by 4:30, so called to double check if it’s ready. Nobody available to take my call. Receive a call back by 5.15 to say the car is ready, but paperwork not done. They close at 6pm and I’m a 40 minute drive. Not happening. Then I’m told I’ll need to drop the courtesy car off at 8am as they they need it back. Cannot do as I have meetings and my two kids today (took yesterday as a holiday). Told them they’ll need to drop the car off at my house and collect the E-Pace. As of 10:15am this morning, I've still not received a call back, I called at 9am. Not received a link to the inspection video to review anything else which may need attention. I like detail on exactly what's been done. I’ve checked the online servicing and it only shows an oil service and pollen filter…. not the air filters or spark plugs. Be interesting to see what the paperwork says. I think I'll need to check if the spark plugs have actually been replaced, suspect the online history may magically just update itself once I mention it.

For the last 18 years I’ve owned 12 or 13 BMW’s and never had poor service like this. Have I just been unlucky, just my local Jaguar dealer, or is this a wider JLR problem? Such a pain they need serviced every year when the experience is like this. Every 2 years you could almost put up with it.
 
Well they just called back, their ears must have been burning.

No spark plugs or air filter. Final bill is £505.93 for oil service, pollen filter and screen wash!! Are they having a laugh!!! Absolutely fuming.

The Jaguar website has an offer of oil and filter service for £149, so effectively paying £350 for pollen filters I don't need, bloody joke. She's going to call me back.
 
Just looked at my local centre (jlc Chelmsford) and they have 3.4 out of 5 from 204 reviews. A fair bit around servicing.
 
Not good. My first service was £366 which was basically just an oil and filter change plus check over and road test but seemed ok to me. The second service will be the same plus cabin air filter, if that pushes the price over £500 it seems excessive to me, is there something else being done that’s not recorded? Also, if I’d asked for them to do spark plugs etc and they hadn’t I wouldn’t be happy as it’s another day lost and a 40 mins there, 40 mins back to work x 2. Hope they sort it out for you.
 
Update. Spoke to the manager, he apologised for the oversight\confusion.

Supposedly they don't have the spark plugs in stock (very surprising), so will order them and offer to collection and drop off at a later date. Taken £335 for the work done. Not too hopeful they'll get in touch.
 
I'll perhaps start a new thread, but been advised I need to replace a coolant hose (or two?)
Check for any signs of fluid leaks - front inlet water pipe to expansion tank leaking very dangerous - £109.28

I need to check if that's the price for all parts and labour.

This looks to be the part? T2R36979 DIY job? - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224271808090

Video here: https://youtu.be/L4CpNT8CnHU
 
Unfortunately it depends mostly on the people at the dealership. The service department at the dealer I used for the first 2 years (2 cars) was outstanding, until the dealer principal moved on and took a couple of people from service with him to Audi. After that it was just sloppy and disorganised. i.e. I don't want to hear excuses of how busy they are, because they chose when the car was booked in etc!

My Service history not updated for 2 services/ years, after 4 requests and even after going direct to the dealer principal the new service manager then input the mileage incorrectly!

Most interesting is that you'll only get an after service feedback survey when you're likely to give good scores JLR are not getting the proper picture of what is happening after sales.
 
Car returned. Was actually £324.73 for now..

I've ordered the above part T2R36979. Now I have the car back, I can see exactly where the has been leaking, boiling water melting the air intake plastic below :( That will need replaced too I suspect. Anyone know the part number?

PXL_20210721_115258551.jpg
 
Hi scz4,
Sorry, can't help with the Part No but your experience with JLR main dealers is exactly the same as mine so I go independent for servicing.

It's a shame, my F Type hasn't put a foot wrong in 4 years of ownership and I am considering replacing my Mondeo Estate and did think of a Jag XF, but honestly, the thought of going back to my main dealer just puts me off, so I think Merc E class may be considered. What makes it worse is Jaguar CRC has been fanstastic with help on OSH, so the failure in not getting repeat business is purely down to the main dealer.
 
I had signed on for a service plan but when my car was stolen and I replaced it with exact same year and model but with only 6k mileage compared to my previous 20k - they would not transfer the plan. I was quoted £780 for 5 year service - so I asked for a breakdown of cost as site said £320 when I checked. It was explained that labour costs were now £220 and hour. I also was shown on the breakdown that they charge just under £5 for the water to top up your windscreen wiper bottle….
I went to a local Indy who came in at half the price and was exactly the same price for parts cost. (Indy labour @£80/h). During the service I asked about corrosion and a few other known issues - I was brought into the garage and given a tour of my car including the underside - I was also invited on the service test drive where I was given 20 mins of free advice on the specifics of the car. OSH was updated whilst I waited . Now on first name terms with my Indy and will go back there for future service.
Have a look at the actual list of tasks on the service which are required and see if it is value for money for the many ‘checks’ that are completed- and a serious question for cars like mine which was 5 years old with only 6k miles… did they really change the diff/oil/brakes on such a low mileage car ? The OSH will say that work was completed as per the requirements- but I have no way of knowing it was actually done ( do they keep service video for new owners to view a few years after service?)
JLR may be great but in my limited experience I trust my Indy more to do a good job and more importantly provide value for money. I love the car and would pay whatever is required for its upkeep but I do think main stealers shoot themselves in the foot with the prices they charge and forgetting the basics of customer service.

Apologies if this seems like a rant but I am really passionate about this car … will go lie down now …
 
CPBLondon said:
... labour costs were now £220 an hour. I also was shown on the breakdown that they charge just under £5 for the water to top up your windscreen wiper bottle….

Given the labour charge is £3.66 a minute, if it takes two minutes to fetch and top up the water it seems you're getting a bargain. :shock:
 
I noticed a diff or transfer box oil change - can't remember which off hand - was a requirement, and checked off as done in the service sheet. However there was no item charge for the oil on the invoice. When I checked, they admitted not done, so I paid some more to get the work done.
Well worth checking the invoice as well as the service check sheet.
 
scm said:
CPBLondon said:
... labour costs were now £220 an hour. I also was shown on the breakdown that they charge just under £5 for the water to top up your windscreen wiper bottle….

Given the labour charge is £3.66 a minute, if it takes two minutes to fetch and top up the water it seems you're getting a bargain. :shock:

I see where you are coming from BUT the £5 was the COST of the tap water....so you are paying for the labour on top of that!!! As I said at the time I hope at that cost the water has been blessed by the Pope and at the labour costs I hope he is also doing the actual service.....now go in peace to love and serve the lord...amen.
 
CPBLondon said:
scm said:
CPBLondon said:
... labour costs were now £220 an hour. I also was shown on the breakdown that they charge just under £5 for the water to top up your windscreen wiper bottle….

Given the labour charge is £3.66 a minute, if it takes two minutes to fetch and top up the water it seems you're getting a bargain. :shock:

I see where you are coming from BUT the £5 was the COST of the tap water....so you are paying for the labour on top of that!!! As I said at the time I hope at that cost the water has been blessed by the Pope and at the labour costs I hope he is also doing the actual service.....now go in peace to love and serve the lord...amen.

And it'll be the same cost whether the bottle was empty or full when you take the car in! I'd rather pay for the coffee than get it free at those prices .... ;)
 
My experience with Jaguar Inchcape Derby has been positive. Had service, MOT & plugs replaced in April. Came in approx £500ish. Car is bang-on 👍

Think, as with all things, some good & some not so.
 
All ends well. After another rescheduled appointment, Jaguar finally collected the F-type from my home address (25+ miles each way from dealership) yesterday and changed the spark plugs. They had to keep it overnight as one of the plugs was damaged (no idea how) and a new one was shipped overnight... car was delivered back this morning. They put all 6 plugs in the car for me to inspect which was good. No record of them ever being changed and the hexagon bit looked corroded, so believe they are probably original. Feel happier knowing they've been changed. Will be interesting to see if I notice any difference.

Will I use them next year... hmmm.. maybe. They did apologise and explained that the service advisor I was dealing with on the day had to leave urgently (perhaps Covid or family related) and that's what lead to the confusion. Still sceptical though... My lesson learnt is to check every detail on the job sheet before handing the car over.
 
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