Cost of habitation service at Lowdhams

[Makingtrax]

Just been given a quote of £349 for 1st habitation service on our Knaus Sun Ti. Includes damp and gas check, with underbody treatment (whatever that is).

Sounds steep but have no real experience of this. Any advice of normal prices much appreciated.

 

[Makingtrax]

Had ours done 2 weeks ago, first Habitation check incl Gas and electric £210 at Pilote dealership.

Damp as well? Very good price

 

[Makingtrax]

They are trying to take your pants down!

That's why I'm doing my research in order to tighten my belt and braces.

 

[Makingtrax]

Very similar price to Travelworld. Can't remember the exact cost for damp and hab checks combined, but it's well in excess of £300. We took our 1-year-od Hymer to them for a damp check in line with the warranty conditions. They tried to insist that the warranty conditions would not be met unless we had the hab check as well. We knew otherwise, and stuck with the eye-wateringly expensive damp check, at a cost of £170. We've going to Campirama for the next one.

Great if you make it part of your holiday, else all that travel and tunnel cost is somewhat defeating the object

 

[Makingtrax]

I know with N+B vans you can have the damp check done anywhere but they must get the spray stuff from the factory, I know Michael @sallylillian had his Flair done in Spain and will know more about it than I do

Martin

That's part of the problem, Knaus insist on an authorised dealer and there aren't that many about. N&B are obviously more enlightened, which is surprising considering the cost of them.

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[BGB]

Had a similar quote for my first habitation check on my PVC Autocruise Forte last year, also diabolical trade in price for a coachbuilt, didnt have it done there and sold on to Kimberly at Darlington with a £+5k better trade-in and habitation checks in the £180 range.......couldnt figure where Lowdhams were dreaming up their prices from!

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Lowdhams wanted £630 each service under their three year plan for our Hymer. This was for Hab and Vehicle. I rejected it and had it Hab serviced at a local NCC Approved Workshop for £140 and Vehicle serviced at my local Fiat Professional dealer for £130. No manufacturer can make you have it serviced by them to maintain the warranty so long as it is serviced to their spec. I've had warranty claims on a replacement wiper motor, new wheels due to peeling and a new locker door agreed, even though I have had it serviced elsewhere.

 

[Makingtrax]

Lowdhams wanted £630 each service under their three year plan for our Hymer. This was for Hab and Vehicle. I rejected it and had it Hab serviced at a local NCC Approved Workshop for £140 and Vehicle serviced at my local Fiat Professional dealer for £130. No manufacturer can make you have it serviced by them to maintain the warranty so long as it is serviced to their spec. I've had warranty claims on a replacement wiper motor, new wheels due to peeling and a new locker door agreed, even though I have had it serviced elsewhere.

Great to hear that. Think it's only the damp check that has to be done by an approved authorised dealer . . for Knaus anyway. Not sure about Hymer.

Unsure if authorised dealer = NCC approved. Is it worth the risk?

 

[Lenny HB]

Great if you make it part of your holiday, else all that travel and tunnel cost is somewhat defeating the object

Short return on Chunnel £56, its either 30 or 36 hours.

 

[The Wino]

I tried to get MMM interested in doing an article on the varying cost of hab services weren't interested I suspect they don't want to upset their advertisers same with poor dealer aftersales.

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[sallylillian]

I know with N+B vans you can have the damp check done anywhere but they must get the spray stuff from the factory, I know Michael @sallylillian had his Flair done in Spain and will know more about it than I do

Martin

N+B vans can only have their water ingress checks (compulsory annually within 3 month window to maintain 8 year water ingress warranty) at a N+B official dealer or service centre. Also ANY warranty work can only be carried out by said dealers or service centres. I have had warranty work completed at the service centre just south of Alicante. However my water ingress checks have always coincided with factory visits for warranty so they have done them. N+B will not even allow these tasks to be carried out at a Hymer dealer!

 

[Makingtrax]

I tried to get MMM interested in doing an article on the varying cost of hab services weren't interested I suspect they don't want to upset their advertisers same with poor dealer aftersales.

When your van is out of warranty it seems you have more freedom. Up until then they've got you by the short and curlies, if they stipulate who is allowed to carry out the damp checks.

Would have thought that an NCC approved dealer should be good enough. Not sure I want to test that out though.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Great to hear that. Think it's only the damp check that has to be done by an approved authorised dealer . . for Knaus anyway. Not sure about Hymer.

Unsure if authorised dealer = NCC approved. Is it worth the risk?

I still get the damp check done by Lowdhams at £135 until the warranty runs out, though this can be had much cheaper in France or Belgium if you happen to be over there at right time.
When we bought ours I clarified the warranty conditions with Lowdhams and they, after trying to sell their services, agreed the servicing could be elsewhere so long as it's by an NCC Approved Workshop and to the manufacturers specifications.
Being NCC registered is the only way you can be sure of the workshop and I think it would be a 'get out' for them if it wasn't serviced by one.

 

[sallylillian]

Surely at the end game it is the manufacturer who will choose to accept or not the water ingress checking centre rather than the dealer, as they will be funding the corrective work?

 

[Hettie's Crew]

With Hymer they insist only a Hymer dealer for the ingress test and only supply the stickers to prove it's been done to Hymer dealers.
I suspect Knaus do similar.
They can only legally do this because it's considered over and above a standard two or three year warranty, though some other manufacturers allow checking to be done by any service centre.
I think it's an attempt to get you to have the Hab and Vehicle service done by them too, knowing they can't enforce that.

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[funflair]

N+B vans can only have their water ingress checks (compulsory annually within 3 month window to maintain 8 year water ingress warranty) at a N+B official dealer or service centre. Also ANY warranty work can only be carried out by said dealers or service centres. I have had warranty work completed at the service centre just south of Alicante. However my water ingress checks have always coincided with factory visits for warranty so they have done them. N+B will not even allow these tasks to be carried out at a Hymer dealer!

Hi Michael

Thanks for putting me right on that I thought that they had allowed you the water ingress check out of their own dealer network.

Martin

 

[sallylillian]

Hi Michael

Thanks for putting me right on that I thought that they had allowed you the water ingress check out of their own dealer network.

Martin

Sorry Martin, I must have confused you in one of my posts.

 

[tonyidle]

N+B will not even allow these tasks to be carried out at a Hymer dealer!

Interesting, that.

 

[bellabee]

Great if you make it part of your holiday, else all that travel and tunnel cost is somewhat defeating the object

Yes we are. It'll be our first stop on the way to Germany from Calais. Not even out of our way.

 

[Makingtrax]

Yes we are. It'll be our first stop on the way to Germany from Calais. Not even out of our way.

We came back through Germany and Belgium last month after our Croatia trip. Germany was fantastic and want to go back.

The roads in Belgium

Also stopped at a great ASCI campsite in Luxembourg City. The washblock was stunning Nice cycle route to the city along the river.

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[Makingtrax]

Gone for the damp check only at £135 (for the Knaus) to get the warranty book signed. Lowdhams have agreed and booked me in.

Decided to have the Hab and Gas check at the end of year 2.

Going to Fiat Professional for an oil/filter change only and get the service done at the end of year 2 as well.

Thanks for all the advice which has helped enormously. This forum really is a goldmine.