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-   -   CARNATION Multibrand Car Service - Initial review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-dealerships/72295-carnation-multibrand-car-service-initial-review-3.html)

@ibcool- that was a nice review. Just got a news from my friend that they have started the service. I think it might be that 25 point service. For all those who have finished the warranty can go here and check it out

I had been to Carnation on 6th march 2010 in Bangalore. Here are my views/Observations.

- They got a huge facility, can accommodate 36 cars. Washing bay can wash 2 cars at a time.
- I met the guy who worked in Lathangi Ford so they let me in and see around.
- He told me that unlike Ford, in Carnation we get child parts so the parts price would be really cheaper but for some not so moving fast parts we need to give a days notice.
- The washing was done very professionally (They normally charge Rs. 230 for washing)
- Accessories not started yet.
- The Billing process takes lot of time.
- They were kind enough not to put the carnation sticker on my car.
- I met almost 10 service mechanics there, they are from Maruti, Ford, Honda & TATA. But all of them are pretty young (below 30)
- They gave 3 coupons to me, if someone is going for a paid service, they will get a Free Wheel Alignment & Balancing, so anyone is interested, let me know. I will give them to you.
- One of my fried got a paint job done on his Car and it is too good. Though the bill was on par with market.(His car got hit in our company parking and the rear bumper boot everything was gone and had to replace the rear glass. Bill was Rs. 21000/- . )
- Good tie-ups with the Insurance companies, offering cashless for all major insurance companies.

My new tyres were due of rotation and balancing/alignment as they have completed 10K kms. So this time I decided to check out Carnation, as this is near to my place.
I asked them to do the alignment/balancing for all the 4 tyres, and also rotate them amongst themselves, as my spare tyre is the old used one. Now what they were supposed to do is take out all the tyres for balancing and then fit the back tyres in the front and v/v. Also since my tytes were already taken off, so I asked them to swap my left/right brake pads as the right ones were causing lot of screetching sound, and I wanted to be sure that this was only due to faulty pads as visible inspection revealed everything is fine.
They took almost 2 hrs for this, and when I went for the test drive, these idiots had tilted my steering to right. Now while the car is going straight, the steering would be tilted to the right by say, 10-15 degrees :Frustrati. When I complained them about this, they said that it will only be done next day as it was already closing time. Then they asked me to pay the bill then and the fault would be corrected next day free of cost. I just had a look at the bill before paying. They had levied Rs.100 for tyre rotation and Rs.250 for brake pads cleaning and adjustment, and this was other than 540Rs for balancing/alignment. I was totally infuriated after looking at these ungenuine charges. I blasted them badly, and they started arguing that this was due to system and they had to levy these charges. But I simply refused to pay. After blasting their manager, they agreed to cancel the extra amount, and I only paid Rs.540. Next day I had to give the car to them for full day and to cool the things down, they gave complimentary wash and checkup. But still the car steering has problem, and now the steering is tilted to the left, though not so much.
Now I've decided to avoid going to Carnation, at least this particular workshop.

Has anyone tried 3M car detailing in Carnation?

Heard from a Friend that Carnation stopped servicing Ford Cars - This is an update from Bangalore

I had a really bad experience getting my car(2006 Maruti 800) serviced at the Guindy outlet of Carnation in Chennai. My advice is please: stay away from them.
But since I had escalated the matter, the Ambattur branch did quite well to solve my problems!!!
At the end of the day, I had to waste a lot of time, money and effort to get things sorted out, which should not be the case with a brand that screams out 'Customer is King'!
Maybe some other day I will post the entire episode on T-BHP.

Maybe thay face difficulty in procuring the spares for Ford cars, thereby bringing up the need to stop taking them in for service.

I tried to use their services to source the ignition coil for the Ikon, but was unsuccessful in this regard. Finally, got it from another spares shop.

Please do put up the experience you had with them, so others are also aware of the same.

Hi, here is my experience with multibrand car service place called "Carnation" at outer ring road Bangalore. I was etching to try out some place other then the GM authorize service center since long and once i saw jagdish khattar as the promoter of Carnation, decided to try out this place on my March 2005 Opel Corsa Sail which has clocked 56K and now a days driven by my wify. The list of problem at the time of giving for servicing -
1. Last year got the clutch plate change at Kropex but it was not smooth even after sending the vehicle to them multiple times.
2. Floor at driver side getting wet no clue how.
3. While driving Car was giving jerk in second gear as if fuel supply is cut off (Again this was the problem highlighted to Kropex and Sundaram multiple time without any solution)
on the morning of 19th Ap dropped at carnation and met with service advisor Mohammad Aslam (found him a knowledgably and polite), patience fully he heard me and made the job card. Receive the call from him around 1 PM and he explain that the changing clutch cable will resolve the issue related to clutch, the floor is getting wet due to A/C outlet, could not find any reason of jerk and he may need one extra day to try out a new distribution coil, as he suspect the problem with that. I gave my consent for one more day but made it clear that if distribution coil is not an issue then i am not going to pay for that.
Next day he got the car deliver to my home and i was surprised to see all problems has been resolved. Total cost was 3500/-(for service and repair)+ 3000/-(Engine Oil used Castrol Ace). One interesting observation was the availability of parts and pace with which they can get the parts from their Chennai and NCR office. I recommend carnation for those who want to try something reliable outside the dealer network. Go try and post your opinion.
Observation-
1. Billing process takes lot of time (may be as much as Sundaram)
2. Before Delivery they escort you inside for a quick view
3. Good follow up after service
4. Accessories shop is opening on 21st May
5. Pickup facility started

I have tried Carnation for a small paint job for the rear bumber yesterday.
Job is decently done, it was just a part painting, rates reasonable, colour matching good.

My observation -
1) Access to service bay is good, you can see what happens - good or bad.
2) My service advisor seemed to be lethargic, though he keeps promising everything.
3) They openly discuss and blame each other. Needs a lot of training in this aspect.
4) Said a lot of freebies like washing, interior cleaning, polishing etc..None done ( I asked then why promise it the first instance, they said no people, etc.. )
5) Sourcing components, that are not normal service items can take longer.
6) Cost of a component I have asked was costlier than even the dealerships.


I have given the feedback, and had a chat with the bangalore operations head. Seems thay are open to the changes.

Wish them all the best.
I would like to see Carnation as my friendly neighbourhood service centre whom I can rely. Though tha'ts a far fetched dream I am ready to give them the needed feedback - not just complaints.

Went to Carnation again today. I wanted to give them a chance to diagnose the rattle and the small ac problem I had.

Service advisor takes inventory and keeps the car in the bay. A lot of guys want to drive the car from this bay to that bay. I wouldn't blame them, after all they get a civic to play with. I walk inside and suddenly the car is with the guy who is nominated to check it.

They do some removal of glove box and some checks. Decides the entire Dash to be removed for further checks. The guy seemed confident - so far so good.

I ask how long will it take. Two days. Then comes the best part - Its a civic, the ac parts are very slow moving parts, if at all after two days they see a part is defective they cannot source it. This means I waste two days only for a diagnosis and not rectification. I am happy the technical guy told me the truth atleast rather than keeping the car and those buggers driving around in my absence.

I say pack up, no further things required. Suddenly I see there is a wheel alignment machine. Asked the guy to do an alignment and balancing. The guy takes the car, fits all those thingies and start. Finally I was told the alignment is done. I check the readings and none of them is in any band recommended. I ask him - he says that's it. Its done. Ok - no hope here, asks for a printout of the reading - he says no printout as it is not working. Great!! in just 3 months the machine is in this state - imagine your car! I say no balancing required. I am scared now.

By this time wifey brought the swift as its ABS warning lamp was on. I get an answer from the Service advisor - it will take some time. I said Ok, but atleast bring that handheld OBD scanner and tell met the DTC. I get an answer - it will take 2 hours for it to be free. Wifey takes the car and quits.

Meanwhile the Civic gets a wash and it comes out gleaming. Washing guys are good at their job.

The small paint job they had done on my bumper last visit was good. The colour matching was good.

I was very much irritated with the alignments, and also the 2 hour time to just get a OBD too to diagnose. I told them this is simply not it.

I took the delivery of the car, and got out to the ring road. Holy Crap - the car is pulling to the left. Alignment is all screwed up. Immediate visit to the tyre center nearby. Some money gone, alignment back to normal.

My observations :
1) Paintshop seems good
2) Washing is good
3) The technician was honest to tell about the non availability of spares
4) Wheel alignment and balancing -AVOID from here.
5) Too many vehicles coming in - everyone seems to be confused
6) Delay in attending to problem a big detterent.
7) Guys are enthused with the variety of cars - god forbid they learn on your cars.
8) Confidence level still not achieved.
9) Mostly maruti guys - for whom rattles are order of the day, and not an issue.
10) A lot of management phrases all around - but never ensured.


Mean while I took Swifty to my favourite MASS - 20 minutes, issue diagnosed rectified and delivered the car. No charges for the same.

Took Civic to my Honda Service. Diagnosis guy also expressed the open of the dash near the odo to check. Seems a vent block. Decided to give on a lean week as the car needs to be in for 2 days. Spares are not an issue, an air order should get the item in max 2 days.

From this if I have to be visiting Carnation back
1) Components should be readily available, or atleast with in two days.
2) I need the same level of service and care that I get with the dealers
3) Costs should be less, and Quality should be high

I listened to CRM telling me, customers are willing to pay if they get good quality. Agreed - then go ahead, deliver quality.

So my feedback to Carnation as of today is

Quality and Satisfaction is mine. Ensure it - then the price is yours!!

Good feedback lalu. I stay quite nearby and was thinking of using them for regular/long drive checkups and wash jobs. I dont think they are yet up there to really troubleshoot a Civic or any such modern cars. Its sad that they cant even do a good job of WB/WA. If they don't get the right expertise, they may soon deteriorate into just a washing and accessories station.

@benbsb, I have started a new thread about my frustrating experience at Carnation Chennai so that no one else makes the same mistake!

Had my NHC 40k major service due and talked to carnation they said will be able to do it in two days time.
After two days got a call from SA, asked him what all will be done, he got a little rattled and said some general checkup. He did not even mention throttle body cleaning etc which is mentioned in manual at 40k.
So, i chose to not take a chance and got service done from harmony honda.

Has anyone got their car serviced from them ?
Any update on experience with Carnation Chandigarh ?

Lalu, nice summary on the whole experience.

This is the part from your writeup i liked the most :
They have a whole lot of flyers in the reception as well as customer area which mention and promise big things. However, as you mentioned the practicals seem to be tangential to the theory.

Lets hear more experiences from other users.

In a city like Bangalore 2 days should be the outer limit for getting parts. As for quality of service all claims are fine, but at the end go the day it is the grease monkey on the ground who matters.