Current experiences with car servicing?

[dishman]

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

 

[HERTS P&D]

I paid £330 for an oil and filter service where they told me I needed a new gearbox, which was an extra £5K.

Andy

 

[flameport]

When I had diesel vehicles, servicing was £200-£300 including the MOT.
Never had any vehicle serviced at a main stealers, so nothing to compare there.
Never bothered with books or stamps either.

 

[Mottie]

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

There’s a bit more involved than just an oil and filter change on a basic service. Checking tyres, exhaust, antifreeze, under bonnet fluid levels, auxiliary belt, lights, suspension and quite a bit more. Okay, you say you can do the other things yourself but many can’t. If you asked me for an oil and filter change, that’s what you’d get and that’s what you’d get a receipt for, not a service of any kind no matter how basic.

Our new car comes with 5 years guarantee as long as it’s serviced in line with thev manufacturers spec and 'equivalent quality' parts are used. I could do that myself but TBH, I can’t be arsed. As long as it’s serviced by the manufacturer, you get full updates and roadside assistance and recovery too along with a load car if it has to be repaired. I paid just over £1k for 4 years of servicing that will take it up to the end of the warranty period and I think that’s a good deal.

 

[Old Salt]

Always do my own and stamp the book. I did have a brake fluid change and mot yesterday from the garage I use, if I don't fancy doing the work, which cost £96 which I thought was reasonable.

 

[Murdochcat]

We’ve used the same independent garage for 27 years for most of our vehicles. They are so trust worthy and reliable.

Exceptions were my VW transporter which I had on a really good VW service agreement, a new Ford we had many years ago which was covered by Ford during its warranty and now my Honda which has a 5 year service agreement as part of the buy price

 

[Stivino]

I've just checked to see what it would cost me to have my oil and filter done at Halfrauds.

Oil and Filter Change £194.99​

That's all that's listed, no level checks or anything.
I'll do that myself, thank you very much.

 

[Old Salt]

Halfrauds by name, halfrauds by nature. My last oil change cost me about £65 and I still have 3 litres of oil left over.

 

[cdbe]

Bought a car at the weekend that hasn't been serviced since 2017.

Runs lovely.

I reckon it could have done another year - the oil looked nice and oily when it came out.

Haven't checked the valve stems yet but tyres seem to be staying up ok.

In my opinion, most problems with cars seem to be a result of inherent design faults (ingeniboom ecoboom, stellantis stuff etc), occasionally exacerbated by inadequate oil changes.

On newer cars, main dealer servicing seems to be more about consolidating your warranty than anything else (if you pay us loads of money every year we'll fight your corner with a warranty claim).

And if it's that bulletproof old Ka you're working on you'd be absolutely crazy to pay anyone to change the oil.

 

[Mottie]

I've just checked to see what it would cost me to have my oil and filter done at Halfrauds.

Oil and Filter Change £194.99​

That's all that's listed, no level checks or anything.
I'll do that myself, thank you very much.

£219.99 for an oil and filter change on my Tucson. Nah!

 

[Mottie]

Bought a car at the weekend that hasn't been serviced since 2017.

I reckon it could have done another year - the oil looked nice and oily when it came out.

Haven't checked the valve stems yet but tyres seem to be staying up ok.

I get it, others may not!

 

[Stivino]

£219.99 for an oil and filter change on my Tucson. Nah!

I wondered why yours was more expensive than mine. So I changed my location a couple of times. I can get it for £179.99 if I was in the Glasgow area, and £219.99 if I was in the London area. That's a difference of £40 based on the location. I'm sure I could change my oil for £40.

 

[Stivino]

Bought a car at the weekend that hasn't been serviced since 2017.

I've got some bits and pieces for that car. I think I have a set of rear pads and a caliper repair kit. I might have a couple of filters, too.