Maintenance - difference between dealers
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2020
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From: Friendsville, Md. & Fairfax, Va.
Maintenance - difference between dealers
I bought my C8 from a dealer that sells ~150 corvettes a year. They are located about an hour away. There is a dealership about 2 miles away that probably sells less than 5 C8's each year. For normal maintenance and warranty service does it matter if you go with a high volume dealer or not? I assume that each dealership would need to invest in the tools and training to do basic maintenance, but wanted to get other opinions on whether to travel for basic service or stay local. Thanks.
Team Owner
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You can get good service at a small dealer IF, they have an experienced C8 certified tech. However, that's difficult because if they don't sell many, they probably don't service many. However, for normal maintenance like oil and fluid changes, it probably doesn't matter.
On the other hand, there were many stories of inexperienced small dealers consistently overfilling C7 dry sump cars, which could cause oil contamination of the air intake. Part of that was poor guidance from GM, which listed 10 quarts as the capacity. In the real world 9 quarts put the mark at the top mark of the dipstick because you can never get all the old oil out. Experienced Corvette shops knew that, but many small dealers didn't.
While that story may not be relevant to C8, it's illustrative of the "tricks of the trade" that shops with a lot Corvette experience possess.
Check with your local Corvette club if you have one.
On the other hand, there were many stories of inexperienced small dealers consistently overfilling C7 dry sump cars, which could cause oil contamination of the air intake. Part of that was poor guidance from GM, which listed 10 quarts as the capacity. In the real world 9 quarts put the mark at the top mark of the dipstick because you can never get all the old oil out. Experienced Corvette shops knew that, but many small dealers didn't.
While that story may not be relevant to C8, it's illustrative of the "tricks of the trade" that shops with a lot Corvette experience possess.
Check with your local Corvette club if you have one.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 1, 2021 at 03:44 PM. Reason: typo
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I bought my C8 from a dealer that sells ~150 corvettes a year. They are located about an hour away. There is a dealership about 2 miles away that probably sells less than 5 C8's each year. For normal maintenance and warranty service does it matter if you go with a high volume dealer or not? I assume that each dealership would need to invest in the tools and training to do basic maintenance, but wanted to get other opinions on whether to travel for basic service or stay local. Thanks.
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I have no experience with either, but I can tell you that forum dealer Criswell in Gaithersburg, MD is outstanding with multiple Corvette specialist techs. They also have a sister dealership in Thurmont, MD.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 1, 2021 at 03:41 PM.
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It really depends on your small local dealer. Nothing wrong with going to the service manager and asking if they have a certified Corvette tech, in this case one familiar with the C8. If not, I think I would be hesitant to have them experiment on my car unless it was for just very basic maintenance needs. Not to say they couldn't do a good job, but I would be hesitant.
If you have a local Vette club, ask who they recommend as mentioned by Foosh. I look at it this way, even if you have to drive an hour to get to a dealer that has more experience with the C8, it's a great opportunity for a road trip.
If you have a local Vette club, ask who they recommend as mentioned by Foosh. I look at it this way, even if you have to drive an hour to get to a dealer that has more experience with the C8, it's a great opportunity for a road trip.
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For us in northern virginia, Gaithersburg might as well be another country (lol ok slightly kidding). There's really nothing as good as Criswell here? I'm brand new to Corvettes and GM so I can accept it. I mean, coming from Audi cars, we all know to avoid audi of arlington like the plague, so it would be good to hear what places to avoid as well, for Corvettes.
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Wow, just did on Dealer Rater. 1.4 vs .4.8 (5 is best) at Criswell based upon a lot of reviews. Bonmin also does well at 4.6 on Dealer Rater.
Understood. On the right side of the Potomac, we generally try to avoid NOVA like the plague. However, I also saw Friendville, MD on OP's name tag. 
It looks like Bonmin is the best on that side.
For us in northern virginia, Gaithersburg might as well be another country (lol ok slightly kidding). There's really nothing as good as Criswell here? I'm brand new to Corvettes and GM so I can accept it. I mean, coming from Audi cars, we all know to avoid audi of arlington like the plague, so it would be good to hear what places to avoid as well, for Corvettes.
It looks like Bonmin is the best on that side.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 1, 2021 at 04:08 PM.
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Some of the members in my local NoVA Corvette Club report good service from Pohanka in Chantilly, but none of those are for C8s yet. Bomnin has only been in Virginia for a few years, so not a lot of experience with them. Their Florida dealerships seem to have a lot of complaints, though. At least Bomnin does sell a lot of Corvettes up here, so that might mean they have experience servicing them.
For anything much more complicated than oil and filter changes, mine will go to Criswell. Only about 45 minutes away, and I know they have experience with the cars.
For anything much more complicated than oil and filter changes, mine will go to Criswell. Only about 45 minutes away, and I know they have experience with the cars.
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I bought a C8 from a dealer who sells 10 Corvettes a year or less. Only got 4 Allocations for 2020. I got my car at the end of August. In late Feb I got it out for the first time since winter set in, it ran rough and threw a bunch of codes. It I took it to them and it was the first one they'd ever worked on outside an oil change. They replaced all the injectors and the fuel rail. They kept it about 10 days and did a perfect job. Asked me for a day or two extra to make sure it was done right, and I was happy to let them. I've had some damn fun in it since and runs perfect. So I guess one on the good side for the small guys.
Last edited by Spamburger_Hamburger; Apr 1, 2021 at 10:50 PM.
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I'm checking with my local Corvette club - even for the oil change. I bought my C7 at a small dealer near me and wasn't very happy with the questions I got asked the first time I took it for an oil change. Luckily I found a dealer about 20 miles further away who had a Corvette tech who was well versed in everything Corvette - and every Corvette that entered their service department went to him. Sadly he isn't with us any more so I will have to find a qualified tech.
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Maybe somebody can chime in, but when you get an oil change done, the person doing that job is no corvette specialist.
My mechanic friend laughed at me when I first brought mine in and asked that question. He said the best he could do is make sure the oil change guy is not an idiot. The trained and specialized mechanics are not doing a basic oil change.
The dealership I get serviced at probably sells about 30 corvettes a year, there are always corvettes in the service area as they have a special parking for them. I have had only basic maintenance done on my 17GS with no complaints.
I am interested in knowing everyone's else experience.
My mechanic friend laughed at me when I first brought mine in and asked that question. He said the best he could do is make sure the oil change guy is not an idiot. The trained and specialized mechanics are not doing a basic oil change.
The dealership I get serviced at probably sells about 30 corvettes a year, there are always corvettes in the service area as they have a special parking for them. I have had only basic maintenance done on my 17GS with no complaints.
I am interested in knowing everyone's else experience.
Le Mans Master
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From: Rural NW Georgia. GO DAWGS!
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I'll find a dealer with a great Corvette tech plus I need to see that they sell and service a lot of Corvettes.
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What worries me more than anything else, is does the oil change tech know he has to use, for example, the lifting pucks vs just lifting by the frame and destroying the body or letting it fall off the lift. Can't watch every move they make unfortunately.
