Current experiences with car servicing?

[Belle427]

I overheard a conversation last week in a local small garage where labour was quoted as £70 per hour. I suppose they have staff to pay and overheads etc the same as any other business.
I think they have realised they can charge similar rates to the main dealers these days, I have heard some rates as high as £150 per hour in main dealers.
Always amuses me when our Merc goes in for a service as its on a service plan at the moment, they make a big thing of sending you an inspection video etc and updates by text message!

 

[Burnerman]

I'll not tell the full story but our Honda HRV 19 plate started a wheel bearing drone on the way to France last month. I borrowed a Kwik Fit ramp and diagnosed the rear OS bearing to be the problem. Phoned local Honda dealer in Newcastle and asked them to sort it on my return. New bearing fitted but they still charged me £180 diagnostic fee even though it was me who diagnosed it! Hmm.
John

 

[Koolpc]

Just paid £135 for MOT and a service. Garage next to me is owned and run by one guy. He has had the business for over 45 years. He is 70 years old and only works until 1pm.

He is a great guy. Has tons of customers. Not a bad work at all about him. He takes the car to another garage for the MOT.

He loves his job. A really decent guy.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Only works until 1pm.

Has tons of customers.

That's why, he only works half a day!

Andy

 

[johnny2007]

Always serviced my cars myself.
When I sold my A6, the guy who bought it was happy to see all receipts for parts and all recorded on the service book by me, no garage stamp.
I serviced the car in front of him as part of the deal as it was due and he was impressed at how many filters were there to change apart from the oil and how many little other things are there to check.
I don't trust garages because I have seen with my own eyes, a specialist mercedes garage, all singing and dancing, extract the oil with a pump so to avoid removing the under tray.
No thanks!

 

[Mottie]

I don't trust garages because I have seen with my own eyes, a specialist mercedes garage, all singing and dancing, extract the oil with a pump so to avoid removing the under tray.

I would do that if the filter was accessible from the top too, even on my own cars. Saves a lot of time and aggro.

 

[johnny2007]

I would do that if the filter was accessible from the top too, even on my own cars. Saves a lot of time and aggro.

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!
Mottie, you are on my ignore list from now on!

 

[Diver Fred]

So as has been said above about Honda deals - on the Jazz 5 years servicing (and warranty because I took the car on a HP deal - costume same as paying cash & buying the extra's). That completes next year. I'll extend the warranty package for at least 3 years or 5 if possible.
On th covic - bought at 4 years old - ex-Motorbility car, serviced at Halfords on their control. service costs are either £290 or £330 inc. filters & Fluids & VAT depending on service to do. The only exception was this year was the change of Transmission Fluid which I thought was a rip-off - £155 for Labour and fluid, the fluid was under £30...

To be honest I have little complaint about the prices at the main dealer, they always been very good and pretty fair.
I compare the dealers I use compared the one my mate uses; he has the same civic as me, when he bought his the car hadn't been serviced by the dealer as part of the purchase (he had the car for 6 weeks and the dealer rang him to say your car is due a service...). The dealers I bought mine from serviced mine as part of the deal.

I previously has a VW Golf (ex-LLoyds garage system), that was collected fully serviced. I had that serviced by a local chap, His hourly charge then was £40 per hour, usually the golf service took about 2 hours + parts and fluids so never above £200 including detailed invoice and service book stamped.
His charge for changing All disc's and pads on our previous Honda Jazz was £200 (Honda set price £290 just for either front or rear).

 

[Mottie]

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!
Mottie, you are on my ignore list from now on!

Doing it as a private individual I suppose you can see some sense of achievement in jacking it up, putting it on stands, removing the under shield, draining the oil, putting it into a separate can for disposal, changing the filter, refitting the under shield but when you’ve been doing it day in, day out for 40+ years, it’s nice to just stick a thin tube down the dipstick tube and suck it out.

On several occasions, after I’ve sucked the oil out, I have taken the sump plug out to see how much is still in the sump. I never had more than an egg cupful come out after leaving it dripping for half an hour so I’m happy that nearly all of it comes out. Some cars don't have a drain plug nowdays so it has to be sucked out anyway.

 

[securespark]

I gave up changing oil when I stopped buying Leyland cars!

 

[Mottie]

When I bought my Cortina Lotus for restoration, it came with the original owners book. It was recommended that the engine oil (Castrol 20w/50) was changed every 2,500 miles!

 

[Koolpc]

That's why, he only works half a day!

Andy

No, he used to work full time but he is 70! He has plenty of work....some days he is there longer obviously....

 

[Koolpc]

I would do that if the filter was accessible from the top too, even on my own cars. Saves a lot of time and aggro.

Reported!

 

[HERTS P&D]

No, he used to work full time but he is 70! He has plenty of work....some days he is there longer obviously....

Yes, I heard he is there to 1;30 some days.

Andy