Factory vs Dealer fit options

[neilmanc]

Hi All

Thanks to all who have given me feedback on colours etc in my earlier posting. I've now narrowed things down to a 1.4 Sport in Punk Grey, Crossover Black or Pasodoble Red. My local dealer has in fact got a 1.4 Sport in Crossover Black due in a few weeks time and this has led me to another query since I am picking up conflicting advice ....

Obviously some of the options are factory fit (sunroofs, climate control, etc) but I was under the impression that a lot of the other options which are in the brochure and on the website, which you could loosely describe as "styling", can be dealer fitted. However the Sport which my dealer has due in has the standard Sport wheels and I was wanting the 2-tone 15" sport wheels but my dealer has told me that they can't change the alloys, but i have seen other dealers listing the alloys as options to purchase on their websites.

Does anyone know if alloys and stripes, stickers etc can be dealer fitted or if I really do have to specifiy all of these when I order the car ? A friend of mine back up in Scotland has bought a 500 Pop and his dealer put the side stripes on rather than it coming in from the factory like that.

Incidentally are there any members on here in the NW of the UK who might be able to share experiences (on or off list) of their local dealer as I'm not much impressed with the one I have been to so far

cheers

Neil

[Miss Bentley]

I had different alloys put on my sport. When I ordered my car I was told the alloys would delay the order - simple my wheels were taken off a demonstrator and swapped - don't worry they had only done eight miles.

The dealers can fit stripes etc - the dealer I used was a little reluctant to do so because it doesn't seem to be an easy job for them. My stripes and checks on the roof were done at the factory instead.

Good luck with your decisions - it isn't easy!

[Scrogg]

Your dealership is talking cr@p I'm afraid Neil

Swapping alloy wheels, especially when they are the same size as the ones already fitted to the car, is simple. I'm actually surprised they've said they can't do it, as it would mean more money (selling you the wheels and the cost of getting them swapped over) for them.

So far, I've swapped three sets of wheels on new 500s.

As for the stickers, they can all be ordered through any dealership Parts Department. Again, I've had two 500s so far where we have fitted stickers after delivery.

[neilmanc]

Originally Posted by Scrogg

Your dealership is talking cr@p I'm afraid Neil

Swapping alloy wheels, especially when they are the same size as the ones already fitted to the car, is simple. I'm actually surprised they've said they can't do it, as it would mean more money (selling you the wheels and the cost of getting them swapped over) for them.

So far, I've swapped three sets of wheels on new 500s.

As for the stickers, they can all be ordered through any dealership Parts Department. Again, I've had two 500s so far where we have fitted stickers after delivery.

Cheers Scrogg - I did sort of assume they were talking nonsense so is reassuring to hear from another dealer that it is possible, They said the only way they could swap em was to wait until a car with the alloys I wanted came in then physically swap the wheels over, but I know in the past when I got different alloys on my Alfa GTV from the factory fit they just whipped the car down to Kwikfit and swapped the tyres from the standard to new wheels (same size tyres, etc).

As you say it is more cash for them - if only there was a decent dealer like u up here in the North !!

Neil