Fiat Ducato Dealership Service South East - any recommendations?

[Vintner]

I need to get its first service done and as it is in warranty needs to be a dealer service. I can see 3 options not far from me:

Tates Brighton
Barnes Shoreham
Eurovans Crawley

Couple more a bit further afield:
Adams Morey Portsmouth
Northern Commercials Tonbridge

Some of these say "Camper" Specialised centres - is that required or just advised? In which case choices are limited to Tates Brighton, Northern Commercials or Adams Morey.

Anyone have any recommendations or warnings on any of these? Or strong recommendations for a little further afield would be welcome as I like an outing.

Cheers

 

[Jane And Rog]

We used Northern Commercials for the recent Ducato brake recall. They weren’t awful but they weren’t great either: surly and forgot to look at an extra (slider) problem I asked them about. If I didn’t need Fiat approved, I’d much prefer my local commercial garage.

 

[TDub49]

I need to get its first service done and as it is in warranty needs to be a dealer service. I can see 3 options not far from me:

Tates Brighton
Barnes Shoreham
Eurovans Crawley

Couple more a bit further afield:
Adams Morey Portsmouth
Northern Commercials Tonbridge

Some of these say "Camper" Specialised centres - is that required or just advised? In which case choices are limited to Tates Brighton, Northern Commercials or Adams Morey.

Anyone have any recommendations or warnings on any of these? Or strong recommendations for a little further afield would be welcome as I like an outing.

Cheers

Whilst it might be prudent to have a dealer service, it is not necessary to do so to preserve your warranty. Provided whoever services the vehicle does so in line with the service guide and uses the fluids etc as recommended by the manufacturer, you can have it serviced anywhere. You will need an itemised receipt for the evidence of things being carried out in line with the manufacturers schedule.

 

[denisejoe]

And is vat registered

 

[Roger S]

We used Northern Commercials for the recent Ducato brake recall. They weren’t awful but they weren’t great either: surly and forgot to look at an extra (slider) problem I asked them about. If I didn’t need Fiat approved, I’d much prefer my local commercial garage.

I agree with your description, I wouldnt choose to use them.

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[davidroxburgh]

Adams Morey Portsmouth every time. Manager is Simon Potter. My impression is that when Fiat have a particularly troublesome warranty problem they send the problem there.

 

[Lenny HB]

Tates aren't a Fiat Professional dealer will only do panel vans.
Barns lost their Fiat agency over a year ago.
Eurovans very good but I don't think they do larger vans now but worth a phone call.
Adams Morey good but their labour rates have just gone up from £75 hour +VAT to £115 hour + VAT, have a haggle with Simon.

 

[Vintner]

Whilst it might be prudent to have a dealer service, it is not necessary to do so to preserve your warranty. Provided whoever services the vehicle does so in line with the service guide and uses the fluids etc as recommended by the manufacturer, you can have it serviced anywhere. You will need an itemised receipt for the evidence of things being carried out in line with the manufacturers schedule.

Didn't know that - good info. Though I think I would rather not risk it and go with dealer until the warranty is done at least.

 

[Vintner]

Looks like I will be taking a trip to Portsmouth then. Thanks for the pointers everyone

 

[Bramidan]

Adams Morey Portsmouth every time. Manager is Simon Potter. My impression is that when Fiat have a particularly troublesome warranty problem they send the problem there.

I had incredible problems trying to purchase the extended warranty for my Fiat based motorhome ( incidentally I only stumbled on the 14 day rule by chance)
Adams Morley the only people who seemed to know what I was talking about and they sorted it out for me.
I wish they were closer although Fiat Professional at Slough dealt with a recall and were very helpful.

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[Vintner]

I had incredible problems trying to purchase the extended warranty for my Fiat based motorhome ( incidentally I only stumbled on the 14 day rule by chance)
Adams Morley the only people who seemed to know what I was talking about and they sorted it out for me.
I wish they were closer although Fiat Professional at Slough dealt with a recall and were very helpful.

What is the 14 day rule please?

 

[Lenny HB]

What is the 14 day rule please?

You have to take out the 5 year warranty within 14 days of registration.

 

[Bramidan]

You have to take out the 5 year warranty within 14 days of registration.

Exactly but nobody told me about this and I only stumbled across it via the internet, might have been Motorhomefun before I joined!
In the end I phoned Fiat Assist, they transferred me to a really helpful representative in Albania. She gave me two dealers to approach, I had already spoken to them and they had told me they didn’t deal with it.
Adams Morley came up on my searches and were superb.
By the way the 14 day from registration seems to be sacrosanct, miss it and you are screwed.
That is the one thing I was far from happy with the dealer, I know they sell Motorhomes of all makes but I should have been told that this was a requirement for a Fiat.
For the first time in my life my anal attitude to detail paid off.

 

[Sapper520]

Exactly but nobody told me about this and I only stumbled across it via the internet, might have been Motorhomefun before I joined!
In the end I phoned Fiat Assist, they transferred me to a really helpful representative in Albania. She gave me two dealers to approach, I had already spoken to them and they had told me they didn’t deal with it.
Adams Morley came up on my searches and were superb.
By the way the 14 day from registration seems to be sacrosanct, miss it and you are screwed.
That is the one thing I was far from happy with the dealer, I know they sell Motorhomes of all makes but I should have been told that this was a requirement for a Fiat.
For the first time in my life my anal attitude to detail paid off.

Yep. The dealer we purchased our van from registered it with DVLA on 1st September 2020….we’d arranged to collect on 16th……too late to get the comprehensive Fiat warranty….but they said ‘we’ve given you an extended warranty as part of the deal’…….RAC warranty with so many exemptions and labour costs fixed at £45 per hour to a max of £500…..any work as to be authorised first….not worth the paper it’s written on.

 

[Lenny HB]

with so many exemptions and labour costs fixed at £45 per hour to a max of £500….

That won't go far, our local Fiat Professional charges £115 +VAT per hour.

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[Cyclewalkbob]

I used Eurovans Crawley for 10 years to service our 6.9mtr Burstner. Good work but all Fiat Proffesional garages are expensive £450-£550.

Butitsa cost of owning a Motorhome so you just suck it up!

 

[GMLS]

Used Adams Morey a couple of times without issue but then used SES Water fleet depot in Redhill who were always ace

 

[GerTee]

Adams Morey highly recommended. Used them for years and they have always been most helpful and professional.

 

[grasscutter]

Adams Morey highly recommended. Used them for years and they have always been most helpful and professional.

Gave Adam’s Morey a call for a full service on my A class Exis i588.
She asked if I was sitting down £740.
Spitfire Garage Southampton quoted £750 to include cambelt change.

 

[DDJC]

I used Northern Commercials in Tonbridge for a safety recall. Quite quick, but like someone else above, their people skills could be better.

Few months later, I asked them for a quote for a service and they asked a ridiculous price, more then £700. I then got one for under £300, but I can't remember where. Might have been the motorhome workshop in Goring, near Worthing. Long drive, but they were doing work for me anyway.

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[TDub49]

Gave Adam’s Morey a call for a full service on my A class Exis i588.
She asked if I was sitting down £740.
Spitfire Garage Southampton quoted £750 to include cambelt change.

We use Spitfire - have tried Adams Morey (in Southampton) and not over impressed with the customer service experience.

 

[RGR723]

Exactly but nobody told me about this and I only stumbled across it via the internet, might have been Motorhomefun before I joined!
In the end I phoned Fiat Assist, they transferred me to a really helpful representative in Albania. She gave me two dealers to approach, I had already spoken to them and they had told me they didn’t deal with it.
Adams Morley came up on my searches and were superb.
By the way the 14 day from registration seems to be sacrosanct, miss it and you are screwed.
That is the one thing I was far from happy with the dealer, I know they sell Motorhomes of all makes but I should have been told that this was a requirement for a Fiat.
For the first time in my life my anal attitude to detail paid off.

Very useful information, taking delivery of a new Fiat based Autotrail in January and will be straight on board with this. I have been able to see most details of it on the Fiat web page terms etc but not cost did you find that anywhere If not would you be willing to give me an indication (if you know it), of it please.

 

[Keep Right On]

I need to get its first service done and as it is in warranty needs to be a dealer service. I can see 3 options not far from me:

Tates Brighton
Barnes Shoreham
Eurovans Crawley

Couple more a bit further afield:
Adams Morey Portsmouth
Northern Commercials Tonbridge

Some of these say "Camper" Specialised centres - is that required or just advised? In which case choices are limited to Tates Brighton, Northern Commercials or Adams Morey.

Anyone have any recommendations or warnings on any of these? Or strong recommendations for a little further afield would be welcome as I like an outing.

Cheers

Adams Morey Pompey are simply brilliant - looked after my Fiat Ducato

 

[stevewagner]

I use Visicks in Eastbourne. Very professional independent garage that has room for most motorhome. Also offer a free courtesy car.

 

[Bolti]

Very useful information, taking delivery of a new Fiat based Autotrail in January and will be straight on board with this. I have been able to see most details of it on the Fiat web page terms etc but not cost did you find that anywhere If not would you be willing to give me an indication (if you know it), of it please.

Bought my 5 year warranty in 2018 cost then about £860. At year 3 needed recovery in France and new alternator fitting.

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[RGR723]

Bought my 5 year warranty in 2018 cost then about £860. At year 3 needed recovery in France and new alternator fitting.

Thanks for the info, may I ask a couple of further related questions please;-

Do you rely only on the Fiat recovery cover, or do you take insurance cover ( which for instance L.V. offer it as an extra in their policies) as well?

Also when you needed recovering, was it by Fiat, reasonably fast and were their operators English speaking. I suppose what I'm saying was it efficient.

Thanks

 

[Sapper520]

My experience with Fiat Camper Assist has been positive. I’ve only had to call them out once, and RAC Commercial turned up. As I was at home I told them I wasn’t stranded and I could wait, so can’t comment on how long if you were roadside.

All dealings with Italy have been positive, and they spoke better English than me.

Taking out a second policy would be money wasted. I wish I’d have been able to take out the Fiat Extended Warranty……now in year 3 of ownership, no warranty cover, but Fiat Assist is for 3 years.

 

[Bolti]

Thanks for the info, may I ask a couple of further related questions please;-

Do you rely only on the Fiat recovery cover, or do you take insurance cover ( which for instance L.V. offer it as an extra in their policies) as well?

Also when you needed recovering, was it by Fiat, reasonably fast and were their operators English speaking. I suppose what I'm saying was it efficient.

Thanks

Only used the fiat assist whilst in warranty for the 5 years. Fiat great to deal with unfortunately you have to go through RAC for the breakdown cover who refused point blank to deal with us. "as we only deal with the vans upto 3 years under warranty " took a phone call to Italy for someone to kick their a##e and get us recovered.