Auto Service: Dealerships vs Independent vs DIY Which should you choose?

In this video we go over the biggest pros and cons associated with all your service options: the dealership, independent, DIY, or corporate chains (e. g. Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys, etc)
We also discuss how to pick a good independent shop if that is what you decide to go with.
At Hollywood Mechanic, we service, repair, and tune high end sports and luxury cars. If you have a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, McLaren, Rolls Royce, Maserati, Bentley or Bugatti, we have dealer computers and manuals. We also hold ourselves to the highest standard of service in the automotive industry.
Call to set up an appointment to see if we are a good fit for each other.

[@piercetibma4321]

Thanks for the info, I will have to remember this in the future.

[@MrRager-ve2th]

Good info man thanks!!

[@nunyabeezwacks1408]

I'm sure Hollywood Mechanic is a prince of a mechanic, but I don't want to have to kiss a bunch of frog mechanics to find my own Prince Mechanic.

[@cybercyphon8813]

Great vid 👍

[@motomike14]

Subscribed! Great advice. Looking forward to more!

[@HollywoodMechanic]

Thanks! Got some good stuff coming and you won't be disappointed. Check back every Monday for a discussion from the "Inside Line" playlist and at least one how to every Friday!

[@welldonepro1]

Thanks Micah! Great advice!

[@prohazeyt9242]

Michal not micah

[@vcmdpropulsion126]

that xj220, my dream car, *sigh....

[@1978mackdaddy]

I always go to the dealer no matter what model or how old the car is. You will pay alot more yes, But It will be fixed right. My experience.

[@HollywoodMechanic]

Dealer doesn't techs don't even understand oil, knave no idea where manganese means even if they were doing oil analysis.. Most dealers are even selling the wrong oil. It's rare that a dealer gets the maintenance schedule correct. Just look at BMW, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin: all say their ZF fluid is lifetime and never to be changed while ZF says at the latest 60k miles. It's not like it used to be. The secret indies are the way to go

[@andy_182]

Or you could just go to an independent shop that advertises a “speciality” such as Ford or Chevy etc. Usually master techs make their own shop anyway

[@AldermanFredCDavis]

You are absolutely, "paying" if you are doing it yourself. That is time that could otherwise be used curing COVID, solving the situation in the Middle East, taking your kids to an amusement park, sleeping, etc. etc. etc. Would NEVER even consider the national chains on general principle. By FAR, the worst automotive work I've ever had done was at an, "independent" shop, in a wealthy zip code, that had an overall "4.8" or it might have even "5" star reviews. Absolutely horrendous work. Place has been in business for something like 15 or 20 years. In addition to the whole, "loaner car" thing, (though, since COVID, I find that unless you are at a luxury dealer, like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc., dealerships I have been to, are more likely to RENT one of their vehicles to you, than provide one for 'free'). Either way, it is a convenience. However, it's worth noting, IF you have to wait for the vehicle, and it's going to take multiple hours, "Would you rather be waiting for 3 hours where they have clean bathrooms, WiFi, a bunch of power outlets, and, most importantly HVAC? OR Joe's Garage, with the dirty chairs, no A/C, and in a room the size of a phone booth?"

[@Ricosuave91596]

I'd rather take my new car to a dealership and pay a bit more than going to these independent workshops, I have a lot of bad experiences with these mechanics, and they take forever fixing the issues.

[@blackvulcan100]

I am the completely the opposite all my experiences with main dealers ( I am 76 ) have been mostly negative it's all about the money with main dealers and do they lie and over charge massively. Find a good independent that could could be a challenge of course.