Current experiences with car servicing?

[jj4091]

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

Like my old Chevette the oil passed through the engine too quickly to ever need replacing

 

[norseman]

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.

I know my local garage (family run concern) actually drains the engine oil as they've just re-cut the sump plug thread (alloy sump) as the new crushable washer wouldn't prevent an oil weep after the latest service.

I don't know their hourly rate but I've never felt overcharged.
10mins walk from home & they MOT on the premises.

 

[mikehammer69]

I was tempted at one stage to do my own oil changes
My mechanic who I trust said not to bother as I could easily make a mistake on it

 

[Koolpc]

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

Andy

No, 1:31 to be precise!

 

[Diver Fred]

Since we are talking about Oil (& filter) changes I'll mention what was the norm in the USA when I was there on company business for extended periods (1997-98) - There the Tyre 'shops' also did Oil & Filter changes for a reasonable sum - depending on the amount of Oil used the cost was between $40 to $60 parts and labour. There wasn't a need for the O&F change to be done by a dealership. Oil & Filter changes appeared to be every 5000 miles no matter what make; from what I saw every car's service book had separate pages for Lubricant service and other parts of the service.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Did the cars last longer with 5000 mile oil services?

Andy

 

[Diver Fred]

Did the cars last longer with 5000 mile oil services?

Andy

I couldn't say but with the distances driven in the USA - the chap I was working with his daily commute was 75 miles each way, as was many others in the project. I think the average car annual milage would be in the 50,000 miles region. There are/was a large number of 2 or 3 YO cars with over 100,000 miles on the clock.

From experience when I did my car own servicing (principally BMC A-series transverse lumps) I'd do O&F changes every 6000 miles with a garage service every 12,000 miles. When I sold the last car of that type the car had completed 150,000 miles and still had 60psi Oil pressure and ran as quietly as new. Did the same with the Honda Civic/Rover 416 (same car - different badges) that followed and completed 130.000 miles in that car without trouble.

 

[Mottie]

I was tempted at one stage to do my own oil changes
My mechanic who I trust said not to bother as I could easily make a mistake on it

A non mechanical minded mate of mine decided to change the engine oil on his Cortina about 40 years ago. Warmed it up, drained the oil, put the plug back in, put the oil in and found it was halfway up the dipstick. When he checked again, he’d taken the gearbox drain plug out and drained the gearbox oil!

 

[Avocet]

I rang a local indy garage, one with a good reputation, as I am fed up with the experience of the main dealer I have been going to.
Not so much the actual service, but the condescending attitude from the office staff.

I was surprised to hear that the price would be similar to the main dealer for a basic service.

All I really wanted was oil and filter. There are things like ancillary filters that I can do myself, but I don't want the hassle of an oil change, and also get the service book stamped in case I ever decide to sell it.

However, it seems that most garages consider a basic "oil and filter only", as something different from a basic service, in which they do additional checks in addition to the oil and filter.

Am I correct in this?

To clarify, my main dealer has a basic service (oil filter and checks) of around £215.
The indy garage is in line with this too it seems.

What do most people on here request for a garage service to get a book stamp?
What would you be happy to pay for a basic service.

Looking online, oil and filter only seems to come in around £125 ish

I'm not sure many garages would only do "oil and filer" if you wanted the service book stamping. They'd be liable if anything that was on the manufacturer's service schedule wasn't done and subsequently failed. Obviously, a lot depends on the car and its age and value. By the time they're 10 years old and well and truly out of warranty, there's a bit more "flexibility". Of course some cars (like my daughter's previous Mazda) don't even have service books. It's all online now!

 

[Mottie]

If you're really on a budget, have an oil and filter change the same time as a mot. In the mot you’ll get your light, brakes, steering, tyre, suspension, exhaust emissions, brake efficiency etc tested. Of course, a mot just tells you what it’s like at the time of the test whereas a service give an indication of what won’t last until the next service.

 

[dishman]

Rang another local garage (well regarded locally) and they will do an oil and filter only for around £120ish.
Happy to stamp the book to that effect too.

So, considering my options.

The car is in very good condition, it's only done 4000 gentle miles since it's last service. But I have always stuck to yearly services, mainly for the oil changes due to it being a diesel and shortish trips.

So, I have no worries about any mechanical elements. Hence this year I have felt like breaking the habit of just going back to the "main dealer", as well as taking on some service items myself (filters etc.)

 

[aveatry]

I have a crappy wet belt that actually passed the useless test they have for determining if it needs replacing on warranty. I argued the test result and because I have always had a main dealer service I had it replaced for free.
It needs a particular type of oil for the wet belt and a Halfords service do not use it and they are not that much cheaper than the main dealer.

 

[dishman]

My actual oil and filter service came to just over £140 in the end + the MOT. So just under £200 all in. They stamped the book to that effect too.

I still felt like this was slightly over the odds for just an oil and filter, but maybe that is the way things are these days. Although, I have a feeling the area dictates the cost somewhat. It happens to be a family run garage in a more affluent area. But it was a garage with a good reputation, so still went with that.

The one thing I really wanted to ensure was that they used the oil I specified, which they were confused by, but were happy to do it. They were however reluctant to allow me to supply the oil/filter. Which meant they would pay whatever their normal supplier charged even though I could have supplied the parts cheaper.

I think if I did a lot of searching I could probably find somewhere to do it for around the £100-£120, but there is the added challenge of knowing a garage are good at what they do.

I am doing my own fuel filter and air filter so I did not include that......I'm sure they would have added another £100 + parts if the garage had done it.

I might lean towards doing my own services in the future. Although next year is a big one with the cam belt, water pump etc etc....

I know my limitations.....

 

[mikehammer69]

I always supply the oil and filter although my mechanic would get the right stuff

He told me of another mechanic who used the same cheap oil on every vehicle didn't matter what it was

 

[Mottie]

Just had to 'Check in' with the Hyundai dealer for my first service next week. I’ve done just over 8,000 miles in it. I was given the option of booking a few extra services while it’s there: Air conditioning odour removal and freshener treatment - £40. Air conditioning Re-Gas and performance checkover- £175. Brake cleaning and anti-corrosion protection - £99. Brake inspection, cleaning and adjustment service - £199. Fùck off!

When I bought our new Tucson this time last year, I also paid up front for a 4 year servicing package. As above, it went in last week. It had one job to be done under warranty - the seat made a crunch noise a few months ago and a couple of ball bearings popped out. I suspect it needs a new runner. Anyway, I collected it after the service and they said they couldn’t see anything wrong with it (despite me giving them the ball bearings that had popped out) and they just told me to 'keep an eye on it'! When I drove it away from the dealership, the suspension felt very hard so I checked the tyre pressures on the dash - they were all over inflated. When I got home I had a look under the bonnet - the windscreen wash was practically empty and it took two kettles of water to fill it up. The service sheet showed tread depth figures that were nothing like they actually were and despite me emptying the boot out leaving just the spare wheel in there, it was marked as not checked because the 'boot was full'! It’s going back in next month for two days for a proper look at the seat runner, they are giving me a courtesy car while it’s in and a 'master technician' is servicing it again. Let’s see if they can get it right this time!