Should I Service My Car at the Dealership?

While you may want a car that reliably works forever, it’s only a matter of time before that vehicle needs service, maintenance or repairs done by a qualified professional. Sure, you may have bought your new MINI from the dealer, but years later that protective warranty is long gone, and that means having to pony up whenever there’s something wrong with your MINI or it’s time to get your vehicle serviced.

At this point, most drivers opt for an independent shop. They have cheaper parts and service, and that expired warranty won’t protect you from having to pay a small fortune every time your car needs service or repairs. But it’s still often easier to bring your car back in to the MINI Cooper dealership, get it fixed and be on your way. However, is it really better to go to the dealer for something like an oil change or another type of maintenance or service?

Some say you should service your car at the dealership because they’ve received the highest training and know exactly what to do to get your vehicle back on the road. But that doesn’t mean you won’t pay for it. In fact, the dealer is often more expensive than an independent shop. However, if you want the job done right, you should take your car to the dealer for repairs.

Let’s take a look at why you should go to the dealer for maintenance or other work, even if your warranty has expired.

Car Service Dealerships vs. Independent Shops

Before you consider bringing your MINI in for service at the dealership, it’s important to know what you’re getting. In addition to selling you a vehicle, most dealerships have service departments that can do everything from routine maintenance to complicated repairs. Their technicians are trained by the automaker itself, and you can typically expect the work to be done well and without issue.

On the other hand, independent shops provide much of the same services of the dealership for less. Not only are their rates more affordable, but they may be able to obtain parts for less than retail, helping to keep that older MINI on the road long after the dealership has moved on to newer models. At an independent shop, it’s also likely that you’ll be able to communicate directly with the mechanic working on your car or the owner of the shop itself, and that can help inform you on the exact repairs taking place whereas at the dealership they’re often preoccupied with completing the job and sending you on your way.

In the short term, servicing your car at the dealership makes sense if you’ve recently bought a new vehicle and all maintenance and repairs are covered by your car’s warranty. If the dealership is footing the bill, you might as well take them up on it. While repairs and other work will hardly be expensive this early in ownership, the cost of things like oil changes and other maintenance can still add up, and if you took it anywhere else you’d be paying for the same work that you can get for free.

However, if you’re trying to get a decade or more out of that MINI, especially if you’re working with a car that is no longer covered by its warranty, the dealer can still make sense. Instead of guessing and trying fixes that may not pan out — all while charging you for parts and service — the dealer will be able to get the job done right without issue. The mechanics often have far more institutional knowledge about your vehicle and what it takes to keep it on the road, and as the dealer they always have the scoop on genuine, OEM parts.

The Importance of Genuine Parts

Deciding on servicing your car at the dealership or opting for an independent shop is often a decision about the parts and the work to be done. You’ll often pay a bit more at the dealer, both in parts and labor, but that’s not a true, apples to apples comparison. Dealers will exclusively use OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts that are identical to the parts that were in your MINI when it rolled off the production line. Combine that with their advanced knowledge of the vehicle and it’s clear that you’re getting much more value for that maintenance or service.

At the independent shop, they’ll often use aftermarket parts that are cheaper and might not be made to the same spec as OEM parts. Indeed, most aftermarket parts will fail sooner and provide more problems over the long run than OEM parts.

Sometimes the savings can be significant, but it’s also important to note that the biggest cost in any car repair or service is labor — and the labor is often better at the dealer than the independent shop. Simply put, at the dealer you can expect the job to be done right with genuine parts, and that should give you peace of mind the next time you buckle up and head out on the road.

If you have a MINI that needs service or repairs, come see us at Otto’s MINI in West Chester, PA. We’ll ensure that the repairs are done right with OEM parts so that you can get back on the road without worry. Schedule service today!