First year service/warranty
Hi. I've Burstner motorhome approaching its one year anniversary (purchased new December 2016) and I'm trying to ascertain i) what servicing is required to maintain the guarantee/warranty and ii) what's best practice, being new to motorhome ownership.
Under i) the motorhome has a 2 year warranty and a 5 year water ingress warranty. To maintain the 5 year water ingress warranty, the guarantee booklet notes an annual check is required at a cost of one hour's labour.
I've called each UK Burstner dealer and have been told I need a full service (including mechanical/engine - that's from the dealer I purchased it from), have been told I need a habitation check and water check only, that I just need a habitation check as that includes water check and that I just need a water check. Pricing has varied from £200 to £400 for habitation check and £100-£200 for water ingress. I'm okay with price variation but would like to know what needs doing at the one year mark as no UK Burstner dealer agrees with another. No dealer's service department has given the same answer, or has heard / knows of the guarantee stating one hour's labour or provides a response that matches service schedule information held on their website.
Should I book in for a habitation check and water check with an authorised Burstner dealer to preserve/adhere to the Burstner guarantee/warranty and then I'm fine to get the mechanical side looked at after 2 years by any authorised Fiat dealer?
Many thanks.
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my van (Carthago) will be one year old in January, so i am doing a similar thing to you.....
first the easy bit....the Ducato servicing...
from Chelstons website...
FIAT 1ST SERVICE - 20,000 MILES or 24 MONTHS
Replace engine oil and filterReplace fuel filterCheck and clean air filterCheck tyre pressures and wearCheck front brake pad wear and wires (if fitted)Check condition of all pipes and lines (exhaust, fuel, brakes)Check condition of all rubber components (hoses, boots, bushes)Check condition and tension of all aux drive belts (adjust if necessary)Check and adjust handbrake lever travelCheck fluid levels and top up as necessary (screen wash, antifreeze, brake fluid etc.)Check washers and wipersCheck all lights (including side markers)Grease all hinges and locksGrease alko rear axleCheck engine on examiner (Fiat, Peugeot,Citroen only)Reset service indicatorRoad test
This Service does not Include timing belt Inspection or renewalthis is common thinking....2 yrs or 24k miles.
now the habitation side....
firstly, its imperative to understand the warranty conditions....
i was pretty sure (as ive been here before with our previous van) that (for Carthago) only a water ingress check is required to maintain the warranty, and a sticker is then placed in the warranty book....
Chelstons 'suggested' that a habitation service was also required....
their price was £349 incl £60 EACH! for the stickers.....hmmmm
Southdowns price £146 for the damp check incl 'sticker'.....
so, have a good look at your documentation and then you will be fully armed....
of course, you may want a hab check done.....i do mine every time we are in the van (around 30 weks a year) so i know when my drawers need lubrication
ill probably have one done 'when its convenient'.....down the line...
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Not sure what's required, but also have a Burstner which was a year old last May. Had a habitation service and an oil change service.
All done at the dealer who sold us the van, Heart of England, in the Midlands. My assumption is that getting the full service, they might spot something that I didn't, which didn't happen this time, but has on previous units. Also the books get stamped, which may help in the future. This did help on my last van as Fiat did repair items out of warranty as a goodwill gesture.
Not sure where you are based, so HoE may not be convenient, but they were competitive on price and also have a curteousy car which helps. We tend to combine the servicing with a trip out anyway.
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I guess all makes are slightly different but I should think that a full habitation check is essential to maintain the two year warranty. I believe Fiat and Peugeot are the same in only requiring a two year service for “normal” use. Our dealer was quite explicit that we would not need a one year service on the base vehicle but would require an annual habitation check to maintain the three year AS general warranty.
Damp warranty is different again but will need some kind of annual check to maintain it.
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Bear in mind that not many MH dealers are able to undertake the mechanical service. Chelston is one of the few. Some may take the MH to their pet servicing garage on your behalf but there is no reason why you shouldn’t get the mechanical service done yourself at an appropriate commercial garage.
It’s the stamp in the book that counts for the Fiat/Peugeot/Ford etc warranty in the same way it does for a car and there is no need to tie yourself to a MH dealer for the mechanical side of things.
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Is there no requirement with Fiat, as there is with Peugeot, to have an annual engine service if the total miles covered in that year is less than 6000 miles?
David
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David, I recently looked into this for my Peugeot and there is no reason for an annual service that I can see unless there is heavy mileage.
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I will have to try and scan the page in my book which mentions the less than 6000 miles and put it on my website so I can link it here. Might be a day or two as my eldest son is moving into a new house over this weekend and we seem to be involved!!!
David
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For our Knaus you have to have a damp check by a Knaus dealer each year to keep the water ingress warranty. This involves checking with a damp meter then applying some paint over the holes to seal afterwards. Each tin of paint comes with a barcode sticker that then gets put in the service book as proof. We did not bother with habitation service this year as like BB I know it all works however next year I will likely have one done as well as a gas check as a safety precaution.
Fiat base is 2 years or 20k miles for service so ours is due next June,
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David,
I checked again online at “myPeugeot” and it is very clear that it is a two year service and only increases for arduous conditions. I therefore conclude that this is all that is needed for the warranty. Maybe your warranty small print is different.
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I have just recovered my service book from the motorhome. Here is a copy of the Boxer Service page http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/PeugeotService%20001.jpg
Now hopefully I have understood it correctly but to me it seems pretty clear? BTW mine is a 2013 registered Peugeot.
David
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OK David. Mine Is a 2016. There doesn’t seem to be comparable information in my service book and I had to register online to get the service intervals. There is no mention there of minimum mileage so maybe they have changed the recommendation.
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Thanks, David. It’s as I suspected.
The annual oil change for low mileage vehicles is because condensation builds up in the oil with short journeys/low mileage. Long distance use will burn it off.
It's better to do the oil change too often rather than not often enough.
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The most I have managed to do in any one year is just over 5000 miles and I imagine that in the future I won't exceed that figure. Every year I have had at least an oil change service. OK it costs me a bit more each year than somebody doing more miles.
Going back to the OP post I do wonder what they do in their damp/water ingress test that costs up to £200? I would be interested to know what they do differently to a standard damp test?
David
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in respect of the base unit if you have a fiat check out Fiat Professional - should be in your handbook or you can do it online
they give two or three year cover, including breakdown, with the van and have one of the most helpful help teams ( for any problem)
make sure your mechanical service is going to be done at a Fiat dealers, some motorhome dealers use garages operating to 'the manufacturers standards,'
in respect of Habitation check have it done at a dealer for your make of conversion, not just the cheapest because i can tell you, from experience, that the converter will want proof that it has been done annually to specified standards
hope this helps.
Ps fiat also operate a free security registration service for their base vehicles
pps my dealer did not tell me any of the above !
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should have added in respect of my post that I am talking about new vans
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You need a damp check every year. Unless you are competent in motorhome matters, an annual habitation check is a good idea to give you peace of mind. Some of the accessories fitted to your van will have their own service schedules, which I ignore as I have the checks. I'd recommend using a Burstner dealer which is an Approved Workshop. This should give you a list of things checked, any issued found, and the necessary damp check.
If you have an Alko chassis, your axle nipples may require greasing every year. Check you AlKo handbook. My Fiat Professional dealer does mine every 18 months.
You do not need an oil change at 12 months unless you are doing low mileage [say below 6,000 miles a year], running in mainly urban areas or extreme weather conditions [highly unlikely]. An annual oil change is seen by some as good practice whilst others will say it is unnecessary. You won't get a definitive answer.
On the advice of Fiat Professional's Head Office, I have moved to 18 months+ service schedules for peace of mind. I do 6,500 miles pa, mainly on cross country main roads with little urban driving.
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David
I thought the same but if you see my post above a lot of the euro makes include a tin or paint to reseal the holes left by the prongs (or something) so includes cost of paint plus time for man to paint it on. Apart from that as usual its just the normal caravan/motorhome rip off culture by dealers (IMHO of course)
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A couple of thoughts;
Fiat dealers generally do not lub the Alko rear axle as a matter of course unless specifically requested. This item is not on their service schedule.
The better marque dealers who have knowledge of the mhome they sold generally have an idea where faults might occur, flagged up by the manufacturer. Or knowledge that gas, electrical or damp was at a standard that needs checking over time due to wear and vibration.
In my book, electric, gas, and damp inspection is sensible, as oil change on low mileage and chassis inspection if you tow.
Being charged £60 an hour to be told Windows don't open, doors creak and drawers stick is something I can do without.
rgds
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