Servicing your own car vs garage
Discussion
I hate the focus on 'stamps in the book'. Anyone can buy a book and a stamp. Also if you're trading your car in then servicing doesn't seem to matter in my experience. They offer you rock bottom price irrespective of service history.
I do the majority of my servicing diy. Things like cambelts I'll go to a good indie.
My experience of 'full dealer SH' cars is when replacing things like air filters they lose half the screws for the airbox and the ones they don't lose they strip the threads. Or the plastic clips on the fuel filter that were all mashed.
The things a DIY'er will take time over a main dealer tech rattles through as quick as they can.
I do the majority of my servicing diy. Things like cambelts I'll go to a good indie.
My experience of 'full dealer SH' cars is when replacing things like air filters they lose half the screws for the airbox and the ones they don't lose they strip the threads. Or the plastic clips on the fuel filter that were all mashed.
The things a DIY'er will take time over a main dealer tech rattles through as quick as they can.
Drive Blind said:
I hate the focus on 'stamps in the book'. Anyone can buy a book and a stamp. Also if you're trading your car in then servicing doesn't seem to matter in my experience. They offer you rock bottom price irrespective of service history.
I do the majority of my servicing diy. Things like cambelts I'll go to a good indie.
My experience of 'full dealer SH' cars is when replacing things like air filters they lose half the screws for the airbox and the ones they don't lose they strip the threads. Or the plastic clips on the fuel filter that were all mashed.
The things a DIY'er will take time over a main dealer tech rattles through as quick as they can.
Exactly why I do all the work I can and only leave those things I don't possess the equipment to do, or frankly after assessment, seriously don't like the look of. I have a great relationship with my local indy who groans, sometimes outwardly when he sees me as he knows it's going to be a pig of a job he's just lined up for.I do the majority of my servicing diy. Things like cambelts I'll go to a good indie.
My experience of 'full dealer SH' cars is when replacing things like air filters they lose half the screws for the airbox and the ones they don't lose they strip the threads. Or the plastic clips on the fuel filter that were all mashed.
The things a DIY'er will take time over a main dealer tech rattles through as quick as they can.
He regularly comments to me about the rubbish some people present him with having claimed to do a job themselves as well as commenting how nicely my vehicles are presented despite all of them being more than 10 yrs old.
So I suppose you have to know your limitations.
Edited by ajsphead on Thursday 23 July 14:53
I will always service my own car but keep any receipts of the parts i have purchased. I also make a note in the service book when things wheere done so I have a record.
I have a friends at a local workshop who will do anything tricky or i cannot do myself and normally I just provide the parts and pay for the labour.
I have a friends at a local workshop who will do anything tricky or i cannot do myself and normally I just provide the parts and pay for the labour.
StuTheGrouch said:
My thoughts exactly, plus I find it rewarding to plan the work (thinking about what bits you need to remove, what parts are needed etc) and then spending an afternoon doing the job.
+1 I get a sense of satisfaction out of doing a job properly and learning about my car.With modern cars it isn't too expensive to buy a cable and diagnostic software either. I prefer to try and track down a fault myself and resolve it rather than paying 90 quid to some disinterested muppet who'll probably start speculatively swapping out bits in any case (at my expense).
Perhaps there should be a distinction between 'servicing' and 'repairing'.
My understanding and experience is that modern cars 'servicing' requirements are pretty much limited to oil/filter changes and inspection of main operating systems. In fact, when I look at the service schedule for my current car (2015 Dodge Challenger) up to around 100,000 miles, that is all that is called for (other than a trans/diff flush at 75k.
My main concern regarding performing my own service work was potentially invalidating the manufacturer warranty - however I discovered that for routine maintenance, as long as I use genuine Mopar parts and keep the receipts, the warranty is protected.
My understanding and experience is that modern cars 'servicing' requirements are pretty much limited to oil/filter changes and inspection of main operating systems. In fact, when I look at the service schedule for my current car (2015 Dodge Challenger) up to around 100,000 miles, that is all that is called for (other than a trans/diff flush at 75k.
My main concern regarding performing my own service work was potentially invalidating the manufacturer warranty - however I discovered that for routine maintenance, as long as I use genuine Mopar parts and keep the receipts, the warranty is protected.
Challo said:
I will always service my own car but keep any receipts of the parts i have purchased. I also make a note in the service book when things wheere done so I have a record.
I have a friends at a local workshop who will do anything tricky or i cannot do myself and normally I just provide the parts and pay for the labour.
The only receipt I tend to keep is for a cambelt if required, as it'll be the one that if anyone asks, you need something to back it up with. Filters and oils etc, not bothered, you can see by looking at what's been done, and any suspension changes or problems (as an example) should be felt on a drive as to whether they're knackered or not. I have a friends at a local workshop who will do anything tricky or i cannot do myself and normally I just provide the parts and pay for the labour.
Do most of my own servicing to be honest.
I do have 1-2 local garages I trust if i need something outside my abilities / tooling such as rear wheel bearings on my E30 (requires a special tool, no point me buying one for 1 use), things like clutches and gearbox out jobs, again garage gets the work.
But for things like suspension replacement, most engine servicing and brakes, I do myself given I use quality products (Lemforder, Castrol oils, ATE Superblue / TYP200 brake fluid) and tend to service it every 6 months regardless of mileage.
Found despite it having 'FSH' from BMW, the pollen filter wasn't new.. infact it was clogged.
I do have 1-2 local garages I trust if i need something outside my abilities / tooling such as rear wheel bearings on my E30 (requires a special tool, no point me buying one for 1 use), things like clutches and gearbox out jobs, again garage gets the work.
But for things like suspension replacement, most engine servicing and brakes, I do myself given I use quality products (Lemforder, Castrol oils, ATE Superblue / TYP200 brake fluid) and tend to service it every 6 months regardless of mileage.
Found despite it having 'FSH' from BMW, the pollen filter wasn't new.. infact it was clogged.
Sf_Manta said:
Found despite it having 'FSH' from BMW, the pollen filter wasn't new.. infact it was clogged.
One of my cars had a full main dealer and specialist SH (renowned as the de facto specialists for this model of car-b
ks!) - I saw the pollen filter charged for 3 times in the invoices/schedule.I went to change the cabin filter and it was stamped 'West Germany' (which stopped existing a decade earlier) and didn't look like it had ever been changed.
I won't even get into the rest of the bulls
t I saw in the history other than a couple of comments stating the car required a new rear view mirror at a cost of 190 quid+vat (nut needed tightening to stop vibrations) and advice about the engine mounts needing replacement (inspected on a ramp and not sagging or leaking fluid) another 500 quid+vat for the shysters andy-xr said:
Challo said:
I will always service my own car but keep any receipts of the parts i have purchased. I also make a note in the service book when things wheere done so I have a record.
I have a friends at a local workshop who will do anything tricky or i cannot do myself and normally I just provide the parts and pay for the labour.
The only receipt I tend to keep is for a cambelt if required, as it'll be the one that if anyone asks, you need something to back it up with. Filters and oils etc, not bothered, you can see by looking at what's been done, and any suspension changes or problems (as an example) should be felt on a drive as to whether they're knackered or not. I have a friends at a local workshop who will do anything tricky or i cannot do myself and normally I just provide the parts and pay for the labour.
When I self-serviced mine, I took a photo of all of the stuff I bought from ECP, printed it out and stapled it to the back of the invoice for the stuff, I also took photos of the old and new sparkies. Overkill perhaps, but then the owner knows that they were changed.
Service stuff, oil, filters, coolant, and suspension work i'll happily tackle myself, but things like brakes, tyres and gearbox out jobs and cambelts I'll leave to a garage. It's worth paying the labour for peace of mind, and knowing that the job was done by someone who has done if before. I know the basics of changing a belt, but i'd still let a mechanic do it. Even if it's because there are come-backs if it screws up.
Service stuff, oil, filters, coolant, and suspension work i'll happily tackle myself, but things like brakes, tyres and gearbox out jobs and cambelts I'll leave to a garage. It's worth paying the labour for peace of mind, and knowing that the job was done by someone who has done if before. I know the basics of changing a belt, but i'd still let a mechanic do it. Even if it's because there are come-backs if it screws up.
I service all my vehicles myself but I was a pro-mechanic for umpteen years. However with the advent of the Net/web whatever you want to call it, Nearly all answers to even the electronics are out there in forums/youtube. OBDII readers are cheap and not that difficult to read if you're competent. Dealers, particularly main dealers tend to employ youngish staff who don't have the experiences. I had a new BMW diesel with 3 years free servicing/warranty. I took it to 3 different BMW dealers and each one of them could not sort an exhaust rattle even when the replaced the entire system. I sorted in 10 mins with 2 spanners amongst other items they failed to resolve.
However if you are all thumbs and lack tools space equipment etc... there are plenty of good honest independent specialist out there. Get a good recommendation.
Cars with warranty always go to the main dealer, it's one of the prices you pay for a new car.
However if you are all thumbs and lack tools space equipment etc... there are plenty of good honest independent specialist out there. Get a good recommendation.
Cars with warranty always go to the main dealer, it's one of the prices you pay for a new car.
I used to take my cars to dealers/specialists get the stamp in the book, but more recently I've just done it myself and filled in the service book (I hoard receipts anyway).
The only thing I won't do is a brake fluid change, mainly because it's just a pain in the arse to do it on your own without the equipment.
The only thing I won't do is a brake fluid change, mainly because it's just a pain in the arse to do it on your own without the equipment.
Many years ago me and a mate changed the timing belt and clutch on a 924. The clutch change was quoted as 24 hours labour! What a joke we thought ... until we started, with no ramp.
He still has the scar on his head from when a bit of rust fell into his eye while he was under the gearbox, he flinched and hit his head on the gearbox, then the floor - repeated a few times, like a pinball machine.
It was hilarious at the time ...
Also it's worth pointing out we were lucky the head has non-interference valves!
The cracked manifold which we had to get custom honed and welded by a local engineering college professor took a while. He had to fabricate a bracket to hold the manifold before working on it !
Now I just throw the car in to the garage ... the most I have done to my BMW is to read error codes and call up the garage - plus change the halo lights to LEDs ...
He still has the scar on his head from when a bit of rust fell into his eye while he was under the gearbox, he flinched and hit his head on the gearbox, then the floor - repeated a few times, like a pinball machine.
It was hilarious at the time ...
Also it's worth pointing out we were lucky the head has non-interference valves!
The cracked manifold which we had to get custom honed and welded by a local engineering college professor took a while. He had to fabricate a bracket to hold the manifold before working on it !
Now I just throw the car in to the garage ... the most I have done to my BMW is to read error codes and call up the garage
- plus change the halo lights to LEDs ...My cars 16 years old so normal service items I always do myself, BMW made it so easy to change the oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs and service indicator reset I'd be a fool to pay someone else to do it. However, annoying / fiddly items like the pollen filter I pay a garage to do as I cant be arsed with the hassle.
I do use genuine BMW service parts though and add the BMW invoices to my paperwork as proof for any future buyer.
Obviously a jack and some basic tools are required, the ones I bought have certainly paid for themselves in multiples over the last decade.
I do use genuine BMW service parts though and add the BMW invoices to my paperwork as proof for any future buyer.
Obviously a jack and some basic tools are required, the ones I bought have certainly paid for themselves in multiples over the last decade.
Sf_Manta said:
Do most of my own servicing to be honest.
I do have 1-2 local garages I trust if i need something outside my abilities / tooling such as rear wheel bearings on my E30 (requires a special tool, no point me buying one for 1 use), things like clutches and gearbox out jobs, again garage gets the work.
But for things like suspension replacement, most engine servicing and brakes, I do myself given I use quality products (Lemforder, Castrol oils, ATE Superblue / TYP200 brake fluid) and tend to service it every 6 months regardless of mileage.
Found despite it having 'FSH' from BMW, the pollen filter wasn't new.. infact it was clogged.
BMW Pollen Filters always seem to get ignored. Either because the mechanic doesn't know there is one there or no one can be arsed with the hassle of dismantling the cockpit to get to it. I had mine changed in 2012 after doing the research myself to prove to my mechanic that there actually was one fitted. To say it was clogged was an understatement from the sound of it It hadn't been changed since 1999 (certainly no records in the history). I do have 1-2 local garages I trust if i need something outside my abilities / tooling such as rear wheel bearings on my E30 (requires a special tool, no point me buying one for 1 use), things like clutches and gearbox out jobs, again garage gets the work.
But for things like suspension replacement, most engine servicing and brakes, I do myself given I use quality products (Lemforder, Castrol oils, ATE Superblue / TYP200 brake fluid) and tend to service it every 6 months regardless of mileage.
Found despite it having 'FSH' from BMW, the pollen filter wasn't new.. infact it was clogged.
Something of a theme here:
A friend had her car booked in for a service at the same place, and despite my trying to persuade her to go elsewhere, she took it in and it came out with someone elses wheelnut on one of the wheels. I don't know what car it was from, but I've never seen a wheelnut like it, and I'm sure it wasn't safe. That's not the sort of thing even a really thick mechanic could do without realising they'd made a mistake.
My suggestion to anyone who isn't too skilled with the spanners would be to find an independent/specialist garage that lives by its reputation, and where possible to carefully inspect any work done before driving away.
I've also learnt that anyone in the motor trade who boasts about how long they've been doing the job is likely to be conceited, complacent, and just about to royally cock up! If they roll that one out it's probably best just to walk away.
Motorrad said:
I prefer to try and track down a fault myself and resolve it rather than paying 90 quid to some disinterested muppet who'll probably start speculatively swapping out bits in any case (at my expense).
Sounds familiar. My parents Omega had ~£1000 of wiring, airbag etc. replaced under warranty. In the end Dad demanded to be there when the mechanic pulled it apart for the umpteenth time and solved the problem by freeing up part of the wiring loom beneath the steering column.Motorrad said:
I went to change the cabin filter and it was stamped 'West Germany' (which stopped existing a decade earlier) and didn't look like it had ever been changed.
Drive Blind said:
My experience of 'full dealer SH' cars is when replacing things like air filters they lose half the screws for the airbox and the ones they don't lose they strip the threads. Or the plastic clips on the fuel filter that were all mashed.
We also find that things get broken off or cracked - engine cover clips (Vauxhall), fuel pump housing (Mitsubishi), etc.Spannerski said:
Dealers, particularly main dealers tend to employ youngish staff who don't have the experiences. I had a new BMW diesel with 3 years free servicing/warranty. I took it to 3 different BMW dealers and each one of them could not sort an exhaust rattle even when the replaced the entire system.
I find that every other time my car goes near a mechanic they **** it up. Last time, I put it in for wheel alignment and headlamp alignment and it came out with damaged airbag wiring (they'd removed the steering wheel), witness marks on the wrong part of the headlamp adjuster, and a damaged door card. I was absolutely livid.A friend had her car booked in for a service at the same place, and despite my trying to persuade her to go elsewhere, she took it in and it came out with someone elses wheelnut on one of the wheels. I don't know what car it was from, but I've never seen a wheelnut like it, and I'm sure it wasn't safe. That's not the sort of thing even a really thick mechanic could do without realising they'd made a mistake.
My suggestion to anyone who isn't too skilled with the spanners would be to find an independent/specialist garage that lives by its reputation, and where possible to carefully inspect any work done before driving away.
I've also learnt that anyone in the motor trade who boasts about how long they've been doing the job is likely to be conceited, complacent, and just about to royally cock up! If they roll that one out it's probably best just to walk away.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff