freelander2 service package from the dealer: is it good?

Hi, I'm about to get my first landy (fr2) a 1.5yrs old one with 31k miles from the local stratstone dealer (stockton on tees). They also offered me a service package of £1030 for three years (covering the 3rd/4th/5th services - it has got 2 services done so far) - to be paid monthly.

Does anyone know if this is a good package? Or should I go for an independent service like durham 4x4 (just got this from someone in this forum).

Thanks in advance!

lazylenny said:

Hi, I'm about to get my first landy (fr2) a 1.5yrs old one with 31k miles from the local stratstone dealer (stockton on tees). They also offered me a service package of £1030 for three years (covering the 3rd/4th/5th services - it has got 2 services done so far) - to be paid monthly.

Does anyone know if this is a good package? Or should I go for an independent service like durham 4x4 (just got this from someone in this forum).

Thanks in advance!

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It depends if your going to keep the car for a decent length of time,they sell better with dealer service history.
All there going to do is a basic oil and filter change and fill you with crap about this needs doing and that's on it's way out.
If you know the basics of servicing then i would do it yourself, my TD4 has full dealer servicing from Dutton forshaw in Durham and not once did they replace the crank case breather filter (which is a service item) i would buy yourself a haynes manual and coupled with the information from guys on here do the servicing yourself. If you have a repair to do wich is beyond your skills then ship the job out.

Thanks Skoda169. I suspect I can't do the service myself at least for the first 3 years (even if I can do it myself) due to warranties restrictions (it has to be done by a VAT garage?) I'm thinking to keep it for at least 3 years, but who knows whether it'll change or not. So from that point of view, maybe I should get the dealer to do the service. I went to the dealer (1mile away) today, managed to bring the discount from 15% to 20% - apparently their quotation system only allows 20% maximum to be applied. This bring down the total cost of 3rd/4th/5th service to £970. The price from durham 4x4 (which is 30miles away) is about £615.

if you are unable to do the work yourself then it is all about finding someone you trust to do it for you.

Thanks Freelance. I don't have a garage that I trust unfortunately. I used to trust a local garage, but I spent 1500pounds on my 9years old Citroen Picasso within a year in that garage...

Now I have two options: either have service done by the main dealer (who offered a pack of £970 for 3 year services(3rd - 5th); or have service done by a garage recommended by someone in the forum (called Durham 4x4 which is 30miles away). Since this is my first landrover (freelander), I hope to hear what people would suggest here. Thanks again.

Main dealers give out an allegiance card. Mine cost £25 some years ago but they refund that when you have yer first service with them. What does it do? Gives yer discount on servicing and service items like brakes un tyres etc. Only applies to land rovers 3+ years old. It’s the car that joins, not you. wonder if they still does this sort of thing. My main dealer still accepts mine when buying parts.

£970 sounds like a big price but for three years service stamps and peace of mind on warranty claims for an 18 month old car you should go for it. If you have a problem in the future it could cost a lot more.

Stratstone , is my nearest L R dealer their service department put a single new tyre on my td4 , i asked if that would cause any problems with the drive train and was frowned up on for asking and told NO , i have learnt a lot since then , one cause of drive train failure on the freelander 1 is MISMATCHED TYRES all 4 must be the same size/make/model Be very aware of stratstone stockton on tees

new allegiance card gives discounts once vehicle is over thirty months old.

Thanks to Hippo, Davidspect, Ian jones and freelance for all the comments.

I've collected my fr2 today and had a test drive for about 30miles. It's quite different from my old citreon picasso or my small bmw 116d.

My drive is not level - leaning down to the garage; so when I first parked the fr2, it slowly knocked to my garage gate - I had applied handbrake, but maybe not high enough. Not sure if I should ask stratstone to adjust it?

Re the service pack, I've not taken it yet - I have 4 weeks to consider it and as they
said I don't have to take it: the other way I was advised is when a service is needed, call them and negotiate a discount. Also if I join the service pack, I can withdraw anytime with a full refund (minus any service cost that might have spent).

Hi Ian Jones: I suspect you can only fit tyres of the same size/model? But you don't have to have the same make for all 4 tyres? I understand there are tyres in different price ranges. For 18 inches ones in my fr2, it can range from £120 to £190 per tyre depending on the brand.

I didn't know that you cannot mix tyres of different brands.

lazylenny said:

Hi Ian Jones: I suspect you can only fit tyres of the same size/model? But you don't have to have the same make for all 4 tyres? I understand there are tyres in different price ranges. For 18 inches ones in my fr2, it can range from £120 to £190 per tyre depending on the brand.

I didn't know that you cannot mix tyres of different brands.

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Hello , firstly enjoy your new land rover , the tyre choice on the fl2 wont be a problem , as it is with the fl1 , stratstones staff did not have a clue or were not bothered so be warned , New same size tyres differ in height/width etc , brand to brand

find you self a good vat registered garage and it will not cost half as much as for tyres my stratstones let me take my car out with 2 miches on the front and 2 import car tyres on the back not even 4x4 tyres and only a summer tyre I am running them until next month then changing then

I was pursuaded to purchase a tyre and alloy wheel insurance: £249 for two years, where I can replace up to 5 tyres (not incl. wear and tear), and can repair alloy wheels for 10 times. In the vehicle I got, only 1 tyre is in a very good condition, the other three are half or more than half worn.. I wonder if I can place a nail in when the tyre needs to be replace?

I think that's a reasonable price for 3years main dealer servicing.
We used main dealer for the three years ours was in warranty and it cost a lot more than that, then a indie for the next service. Since then I just do it myself.
If you use an indie and then have to put a warranty claim in......you'll have to prove they serviced it to Landrover spec if they want to be funny.
The main service on the fl1 cost more than a ranger rover at guy salmon near us

Thanks Mjrimmer. That's also what I'm concerned about (in case I go for independent garage and there is a warranty claim). Maybe I should get the next two services done in main dealer at least before the warranty runs out. The service pack subscription can be withdrawn at any time - that is what I've been told.

lazylenny said:

Thanks Mjrimmer. That's also what I'm concerned about (in case I go for independent garage and there is a warranty claim). Maybe I should get the next two services done in main dealer at least before the warranty runs out. The service pack subscription can be withdrawn at any time - that is what I've been told.

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I'd get that in writing if I were you.

sijwhite said:

I'd get that in writing if I were you.

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I will if I go for the subscription. Thanks for the reminder.

Just an update: at the end I purchased the service pack. However, it is worth mentioning what've found here: the service package price calculated by an independent company is based on some kind of price they set, not the service price from the local dealer. Although I got 20% off the package price, it is only 10% cheaper than the service price from the local dealer! So not a big saving. I may cancel it after manufactor warranty runs out in 1.5 years..