
Can I get maintenance service across different 4S stores? Regardless of where the car was purchased, it can receive warranty maintenance at any of the manufacturer's 4S stores nationwide. Maintenance overview: No matter where the car was bought, it's eligible for warranty maintenance at any of the manufacturer's 4S stores across the country. As for some 4S stores charging customers cross-region management fees, such practices are non-compliant. If forced to pay, car owners can call the manufacturer's toll-free 400 number to file a complaint. Maintenance method for cross-region car purchases: If purchasing a vehicle from another region, the owner should take the free engine oil and oil filter provided by the delivering 4S store along with the car, which helps reduce future maintenance costs. Secondary dealers generally only sell cars without warranty or repair qualifications/capabilities. Owners may also investigate local secondary dealers.

Of course you can get cross-shop maintenance services. Last time I was on a business trip in another city, I just randomly picked a same-brand 4S shop. Nowadays manufacturers are all networked, so maintenance records can be checked by any dealership nationwide. Just remember to bring your maintenance manual - the service advisor can scan a code to pull up your history. Though it's best to make an appointment in advance, as some shops get busy and you might have to queue. Prices may vary slightly - I compared three shops and found differences up to 200 yuan for basic maintenance, with varying labor fee discounts too. I recommend calling ahead to ask about promotions - some shops offer free AC cleaning, others have discounts on tire rotation.

Cross-shop maintenance is completely fine, but service details may vary between different shops. Last month when I got an oil change, Shop A proactively checked my battery life, while Shop B focused more on inspecting brake pad thickness—it feels like each shop has its own priorities. One thing to note is parts inventory; for example, air filters for certain niche models aren’t stocked at every shop. Also, follow-up frequency after maintenance differs—I received three follow-up calls after servicing at the southern branch, but only one from the northern branch. I’d recommend choosing established shops as their technician teams tend to be more stable.

You can visit different branches, but don't forget to bring your last maintenance receipt. Once I forgot the records, and the new branch couldn't access the historical data, almost leading to a duplicate throttle cleaning. The smart approach now is to have the electronic report sent to the manufacturer's app right after maintenance, so it can be retrieved from the cloud at any branch next time. Special reminder for owners who've modified parts, like switching to non-OEM wheels—mention it in advance to avoid issues during maintenance disassembly. While chain stores maintain uniform technical standards, the roster of experienced technicians varies by branch, so it's wise to ask around beforehand about which mechanic has the best reputation.


