I fell into the iDrive trap where 'Inspection' warning was displayed, which I mistook to mean 'Vehicle Inspection'. How stupid of me to be confused
Anyway, car booked into Rybrook Shrewsbury where I've had all other work done via MainDealerDiscount (I wasn't advised a check wasn't due).
Arrived, keyfob in receiver advised it was MOT due. Now I usually get these done a few minutes down the road from where I live at Barrs (Aston Square / nr Oswestry) for £25 only. The service advisor kindly offered the discounted price of £30, OK not worth the hassle of rebooking elsewhere and kind of Rybrook to fit me in.
I was offered a 'Maintenance Check' for £35, and since the car's used car warranty is shortly about to end and my battery had run almost flat after being left 2 weeks, I thought I'd go with it (service advisor was making out that the AUC warranty was not as good as standard warranty on a new car..?). Natasha told me 'a whole load of things not covered by the MOT would be check' (it later transpires, it is only a few basic things like fluid levels and brake discs).
So I waited 2.5 hours and job done, including a new wash and vac (which I'd actually told them not to bother with since it'd been done two days earlier), but hey ho.
I was told the battery was low as something was draining the battery from inside the car?? The only thing plugged into the cigarette lighter in the armrest is my USB iPhone charger with no phone plugged in (I suppose this could drain the battery, though the phone doesn't charge when the ignition is off, so I don't understand how the battery could be drained with the phone plugged in).
I asked the service advisor, who was not growing irritated with me (presumably she didn't know the answer and didn't want to find out such trivia), then she said I'd been using the car only for short journeys and proceeded to quote figures from a log (I'd contested this as I frequently drive 15miles, and quite often drive 50plus miles though granted I do a lot of short journeys also).
I asked for some kind of printout for my records regarding what the 'Maintenance Check' had shown. I was advised since the car had already been in for recent work, all the items would have been checked already anyway
OK, the manner was, get your bill paid and get out. I was told there was a printout with my receipt (which there wasn't, other than the item of 'Maintenance Check specified), leaving me to feel like the £35 was a complete waste of money
If they were being paid to check the brake discs, why didn't they printout what the measurements were and and advisory. Plus if they were checking the tyre depth, why not a printout saying what mm remaining on each tyre (that I can simply check myself anyway)?? NOT GOOD.
OK, not a lot of money, I paid up and left. I was happy they'd fit me in for the MOT at such short notice, and I was kept occupied on their WiFi, though I will not be paying for any further maintenance checks, particularly as their is nothing tangible I can see they have done. I guess in life, we have to choose our battles, just thought others might like to see my experience (probably pales in comparison to many others).
Lesson to self, don't believe bolt on extras are worth while... ever!