Town-centre traffic, the summer closures and your Fiat 500
Around Wimbledon town centre and along the A238 Kingston Road, a Fiat 500, 500C or 500X spends much of its time in slow, bus-heavy traffic. During The Championships, from late June to mid-July, Merton Council closes Church Road and the streets around the All England Club to most vehicles from 8.30am to 11.30pm, and traffic across the area gets heavier. If your service falls due then, it makes sense to book either side of the fortnight or use collection and delivery, which avoids the closures altogether. Bookings outside the fortnight are simply easier for everyone.
Many of the newer 500s and 500Xs here are still under manufacturer warranty. Servicing with us to Fiat's schedule, using parts of matching quality and recording the work, keeps that warranty valid under the Block Exemption rules. On MultiAir and TwinAir engines we use oil to the Fiat 9.55535 specification, which matters because the MultiAir system uses engine oil to operate the inlet valves.
Older 500s with Dualogic are common too, especially around the town centre and Plough Lane stadium, where slow traffic keeps the automated clutch busy. We check the fluid and gear changes at every service and diagnose any beeping or failure to select a gear before recommending parts. A calibration is sometimes all that is needed. On 500Cs, we also check the roof drain channels, as blocked drains can let water into the cabin. It is a quick check, and cheaper than drying out wet carpets and electrics later.
Every job beyond the service is quoted in writing first, and repairs carry a 3-month workmanship warranty. The route to us runs down the A24 to Morden, then via Rose Hill and Wrythe Lane to Hackbridge, around 20 minutes and away from the closures near St Mary's Church. Collection and delivery can be arranged if you would rather not drive.