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Well this is my two cents worth into the issue. I am not an expert and my views have been frowned upon already. cefiroA33 the problem is that you are asking a difficult question which does not have one correct simple answer, although you are expecting one. from a personal viewpoint I would suggest that if you are going for a major repair it is better to do this through the agent. For example if your going for a timing belt change or a full gear box replacement. If it is a normal day to day issue I suggest you get hold of a good trustworthy mehanic close to your place. If this is your first vehicle there might be some difficulty in finding one. There is a great guy in Peliyagoda one Ravi Perera at No.595, kandy Road, Bulugaha Juntion, Kelaniya (this is opposite the cargills and just after the Peliyagoda flyover). He specializes in Nissans and his charges are very reasonable. If it is a major repair then normally a lot of people would expect you to get the repair done from a reputed place. A person who may buy the vehicle will presume that you have taken care of the vehicle. Besides a major repair will entail the use of a higher degree of knowledge which will be present if you go to the agents. Agents very rarely repair, they replace. For example when I went to A*W to check, why my check engine light is on they said that I have to replace the O2 sensor on Bank 1. The cost they were quoting was more than 25,000/=. I showed my vehicle to the aforementioned mechanic and he deduced the problem might not be in the apparent faulty sensor, but other factors as the Diagnostic Trouble Code was P0171, a lean condition (too much Oxygen).He did a full engine tune up and the check engine light is gone for now. Had I stuck with A*W I would have had to spend more than 25,000/= to replace the sensor and the check engine light would be lit again.

Okay..well the context is completely different but since checking electronics, wheel alignment was brought-up...in Japan I always took my RAV4 and probably will do so with my next ride, to the actual Toyota dealer (okay once it landed at a Nissan dealer because Toyota dealerships close on Mondays). For starters the dealership costs 6500yen whilst normal garages cost about 5000yen. So the price difference is not much of an issue. At the end of the service you get a report which is pretty much the same looking sheet no matter where you go (almost verbatim of what you would see in the maintenance booklet of JDM imports in to SL) . The report/check-list comprises of the usual oil/filter change, a check for error codes and a measure on wear of brake pads. Everything else is merely visual inspections for leaks, other fluid levels, uneven tire wear and they check for play in the steering wheel and shake the car from the wheels (which actually is pretty funny to watch), etc... I have never had them do wheel alignments or check of sensors etc...the latter probably because there were no errors to begin with ? The dealerships have a standard set of check they perform and I am pretty sure that is the case in SL as well ? Closer to 10K/15K they went a bit further and changed cabin filters etc...and the 25K (which was also closer to my shaken renewal) service was a bit more intensive. Once I wanted them to check the spark plugs it was only after they gave me a weird look and said spark plugs are okay till 75K that they went on and did it. I didn't buy the car from the dealership but went there for a good part of 5 years and they do not have a "file" on my car. It is just the service book with the service report attached to it.

cefiroA33, Your reply post is perfect;y correct. Sylvi Wijesinghe.

Cool your guns A 33, although how specific your external service people are, the best mechanic you can get for the job is a one who has been trained at the agents for the specific brand. and I am telling you with the experience i have had with my previous cars and as an ex fleet manager. Why? because the technology from one brand to another can differ significantly. You cannot find one size fits for all mechanics in the world. Look at Mr. Potato Farm for an example. How many blunders we hear daily from people going to this guy and screw themselves up? I'm not saying that agents give you teh divine remedy every time but, agents obviously have the information which initially went in to building that car / any other vehicle for that respect. I guess commenting more on this causes more deviation than helping the objective.

Enough aspects of 'agent maintenance' has been given on this thread thus far for an intelligent person to arrive at their own decision based on their preferences and budgets. You would be quite naive if you thought there was a 'simple' answer. You're just going around beating a dead horse here.... You're asking for a definitive answer to a subjective question. It's as good as asking "guys what's best looking colour, and i everyone's consensus on ONE colour."