Servicing your own car vs garage
Discussion
I do 95% of all the work on our 2 cars, normally on the side of the (admittidly very quiet) road. Partly because I couldnt afford garage prices, partly because my car would be laughed out of a citroen main dealer, and mainly because I enjoy spannering!
Stuff I've done in the last year are:
ZX -
Track rod ends
Drop Links
Lower Ball Joints
2x full services
rear beam bushes changed
Will get a new exhaust system this weekend hopefully
Stripped the interior out to find a stupid little water leak, dry the carpet out and fix little niggles with the interior, mainly with foam pads and longer self tapping screws.
Front discs and pads
Freed up the rear calipers, have new ones to fit too in the shed
Meriva -
Exhaust
Rear springs
Rear shocks
cambelt (that was fun, felt like a milestone)
Thermostat
Coolant flush
Rocker cover gasket
Sump drop, clean and re-seal (twice because I used the wrong sealent the first time...)
New discs and pads (fronts need doing again before winter tbh)
rebuilt the rear calipers as one seized
It needs the front lower balljoints and drop links doing too to cure a little knock it has, and an exhaust again as oil dripped from the leaky sump onto the flexi section and burnt through it...
I bought my car based on the lack of official paperwork, but bills for a clutch, cambelt and brake fluid change 18 months before I bought it. Bought the Meriva with no service history at all, did make it cheaper! I have learnt alot, feel confident that I know the cars inside and out (I diagnosed the Meriva based on the sound and when the sound happened, which was identical to the ZX which is now noise free!) and I have a s
t load of cool tools to show for it, I always like buying a tool or 2 for a specific job!
Did send the Meriva off for a new steering rack and cv boots though after a split cv boot let water fill the steering rack up, fking it fully. The quote we got for a new rack, cv joints, tracking and a few other bits replacing was £40 more than I could get the parts for, and I would have taken a chance on an ebay steering rack, so it made sense to farm that out, plus matey had access to a ramp, which would have made it 500% easier to do.
Drifted off a bit there, self service/work every time!
Stuff I've done in the last year are:
ZX -
Track rod ends
Drop Links
Lower Ball Joints
2x full services
rear beam bushes changed
Will get a new exhaust system this weekend hopefully
Stripped the interior out to find a stupid little water leak, dry the carpet out and fix little niggles with the interior, mainly with foam pads and longer self tapping screws.
Front discs and pads
Freed up the rear calipers, have new ones to fit too in the shed
Meriva -
Exhaust
Rear springs
Rear shocks
cambelt (that was fun, felt like a milestone)
Thermostat
Coolant flush
Rocker cover gasket
Sump drop, clean and re-seal (twice because I used the wrong sealent the first time...)
New discs and pads (fronts need doing again before winter tbh)
rebuilt the rear calipers as one seized
It needs the front lower balljoints and drop links doing too to cure a little knock it has, and an exhaust again as oil dripped from the leaky sump onto the flexi section and burnt through it...
I bought my car based on the lack of official paperwork, but bills for a clutch, cambelt and brake fluid change 18 months before I bought it. Bought the Meriva with no service history at all, did make it cheaper! I have learnt alot, feel confident that I know the cars inside and out (I diagnosed the Meriva based on the sound and when the sound happened, which was identical to the ZX which is now noise free!) and I have a s
t load of cool tools to show for it, I always like buying a tool or 2 for a specific job!Did send the Meriva off for a new steering rack and cv boots though after a split cv boot let water fill the steering rack up, f
king it fully. The quote we got for a new rack, cv joints, tracking and a few other bits replacing was £40 more than I could get the parts for, and I would have taken a chance on an ebay steering rack, so it made sense to farm that out, plus matey had access to a ramp, which would have made it 500% easier to do.Drifted off a bit there, self service/work every time!
The thing I wonder about is how servicing yourself affects resale value. I prefer to service and repair my cars myself but then that’s because I know I can afford to take the time and spend a bit of extra money on doing it more meticulously than a mechanic could justify. I’ll flush half a litre of clean oil through the sump when doing an oil change for example to make sure there’s less gunk left in there. To me that’s doing a better job than a mechanic would and having worked in garages, I know there’s also a lot of mechanics who aren’t even bothered about leaving the sump plug on the floor or cleaning around the filter thread.
So whilst there’s variability in how well a DIYer will service a car, there’s a lot in how well mechanics treat the car as well. But to the average non-PHer, I’d imagine all they care about is getting any old garage stamp, so where does that leave those of us capable of doing a good job and reluctant to take it to the main stealership when it comes to selling up time?
The guy whom takes his to a garage and rents the ramp seems a good idea. But I don’t fancy lugging all my tools over only to realise I’d forgotten something. Shame there’s not a better way of showing a car’s been serviced right than a couple of stamps in a book that anyone could do. I’m undecided on whether it’s worth just writing your own details on those stamp pages and as long as you’ve got the full receipt history on all the parts, calling it full service history in the ad…
So whilst there’s variability in how well a DIYer will service a car, there’s a lot in how well mechanics treat the car as well. But to the average non-PHer, I’d imagine all they care about is getting any old garage stamp, so where does that leave those of us capable of doing a good job and reluctant to take it to the main stealership when it comes to selling up time?
The guy whom takes his to a garage and rents the ramp seems a good idea. But I don’t fancy lugging all my tools over only to realise I’d forgotten something. Shame there’s not a better way of showing a car’s been serviced right than a couple of stamps in a book that anyone could do. I’m undecided on whether it’s worth just writing your own details on those stamp pages and as long as you’ve got the full receipt history on all the parts, calling it full service history in the ad…
I haven't got the time or inclination to do this myself but then I differentiate between service and maintenance.
Perhaps conversely to the above I always get my service done at the main dealers so that the book has a nice neat row of manufacturer stamps plus supporting paperwork. I tend to buy 3-5 year old cars and run for 5 years and am of the view that I nearly always get my money back at sale time, particularly as there is now lots of menu based pricing for older vehicles. It's surprising the piece of mind someone gets when they can ring the garage and they say "yes we can support every stamp in the book".
This has the added benefit that I get lots of nice paperwork(and often a video sent to my phone in BMW's case) showing what might need doing in addition which I then get done at my local indy for considerably less than the dealer would charge.
I also ran an old 850R for over 10 years and bought genuine Volvo parts for that online and got my local one man band to fit them for £55 per hour - it never missed a beat and was serviced for an average of £200 per year over ten years.
On an aside, this will no doubt cause a bit of controversy but I would be very weary of anything owner serviced other than a classic. No doubt over cautious but for every careful professional mechanic doing a better job under his own steam that we see on here there are 10 Barry Sh*tpeas reading practical mechanics and fooling around with something I would be planning to put my family in. Some kind of home stamped book would make me run a mile.
Perhaps conversely to the above I always get my service done at the main dealers so that the book has a nice neat row of manufacturer stamps plus supporting paperwork. I tend to buy 3-5 year old cars and run for 5 years and am of the view that I nearly always get my money back at sale time, particularly as there is now lots of menu based pricing for older vehicles. It's surprising the piece of mind someone gets when they can ring the garage and they say "yes we can support every stamp in the book".
This has the added benefit that I get lots of nice paperwork(and often a video sent to my phone in BMW's case) showing what might need doing in addition which I then get done at my local indy for considerably less than the dealer would charge.
I also ran an old 850R for over 10 years and bought genuine Volvo parts for that online and got my local one man band to fit them for £55 per hour - it never missed a beat and was serviced for an average of £200 per year over ten years.
On an aside, this will no doubt cause a bit of controversy but I would be very weary of anything owner serviced other than a classic. No doubt over cautious but for every careful professional mechanic doing a better job under his own steam that we see on here there are 10 Barry Sh*tpeas reading practical mechanics and fooling around with something I would be planning to put my family in. Some kind of home stamped book would make me run a mile.
I always do my own servicing/repairs where possible, unless it's definitely an 'on a 4-post lift' kind of job. I've done this since about 1978, and must have saved 000s over those years.
One significant benefit is that I can spend a bit more time looking over the whole car - potentially catching nascent faults 'in the bud'. Such faults might easily be overlooked by a bonus-driven technician sticking rigidly to a service schedule (or specific repair).
One significant benefit is that I can spend a bit more time looking over the whole car - potentially catching nascent faults 'in the bud'. Such faults might easily be overlooked by a bonus-driven technician sticking rigidly to a service schedule (or specific repair).
personally its garages all the way, I would personally rather just take to an indy and pay them ... I really value my spare time as I work away from home 4 days a week and the last thing i would want to do is start messing on at a weekend with the car when I could be with the family (i appreciate many may say the opposite) plus it helps keeps small local businesses who employ local people ticking over (which we need more of as an economy)
delta0 said:
Specialist. Don't care about the stamp. The specialist can do everything to a higher standard and has more experience of the vehicle. They are also responsible for the work.
+1i do interim oil changes myself and specialist service every 2 years. all my cars low mileage so that's enough.
cheaper and better.
How many of you mark filters and screw caps before a service?
I think it is all to do with perception. I would not buy a car that had been serviced by me, I would buy a car that has been serviced by a garage that has been responsible for its work. On the same basis, I would not buy a car that hadn't been serviced by a professional garage- Why? because I have no idea of the standard of work done by someone in their own garage.
No doubt there are many people who are far more competent than some garages, indeed I know one or two (and by return which garages I would avoid). But if I want the office windows cleaning I could do them myself or I could (and do) hire a window cleaner who has all the right tools and equipment for the job. Same (for me) applies to fixing and servicing cars.
No doubt there are many people who are far more competent than some garages, indeed I know one or two (and by return which garages I would avoid). But if I want the office windows cleaning I could do them myself or I could (and do) hire a window cleaner who has all the right tools and equipment for the job. Same (for me) applies to fixing and servicing cars.
I am strongly of the opinion that 'main dealer service histories' are a total and utter waste of money.
What happens on a service anyway? Oil and filter change, plus a once over. Hardly difficult.
In the US no-one really bothers. Just keep the oil/filters changed and fix things as they go wrong. I ran my LS400 for 60k miles that way, just like everyone else. And come sale time no-one even asked to see a book of stamps.
Personally, I just take our cars into a local and trusted garage for an annual oil change. They will tell me if anything is wrong. To be honest, decent ears and knowing how a car works mean that you tend to notice things anyway.
What happens on a service anyway? Oil and filter change, plus a once over. Hardly difficult.
In the US no-one really bothers. Just keep the oil/filters changed and fix things as they go wrong. I ran my LS400 for 60k miles that way, just like everyone else. And come sale time no-one even asked to see a book of stamps.
Personally, I just take our cars into a local and trusted garage for an annual oil change. They will tell me if anything is wrong. To be honest, decent ears and knowing how a car works mean that you tend to notice things anyway.
I service (and repair where possible). For what I lose in part ex value by having no stamps, I more than gain on the servicing savings.
Last weekend I part ex'd my partner's car and lost £500 by not having fsh. It's a 2004 SLK which I've been looking after for the last 65,000 miles. I was quoted around £300 from Mercedes back in 2007 when we bought the car for a basic oil change and brake pad change, so I know I'm quids in this time around.
I shall be doing the same with her replacement CLK.
Last weekend I part ex'd my partner's car and lost £500 by not having fsh. It's a 2004 SLK which I've been looking after for the last 65,000 miles. I was quoted around £300 from Mercedes back in 2007 when we bought the car for a basic oil change and brake pad change, so I know I'm quids in this time around.
I shall be doing the same with her replacement CLK.
My TVR is serviced at a good indy. I also get a good discount at the local main dealer for the everyday car, from memory its £95 for an interim service and that includes breakdown cover for the year. By the time I have got the parts it's not worth doing it myself.
However, I have done in the past and used to keep all the bills with the date and mileage that I changed them at written on them.
I have bought a few second hand cars like this privately. The last one for my brother, It doesn't put me off at all, you can normally tell by the condtion of the car and what the owner is like to be honest. I have also been to used car dealers in the past and they have said it has full history, only to mean they have the V5 document and the MOT history printed off the web.
However, I have done in the past and used to keep all the bills with the date and mileage that I changed them at written on them.
I have bought a few second hand cars like this privately. The last one for my brother, It doesn't put me off at all, you can normally tell by the condtion of the car and what the owner is like to be honest. I have also been to used car dealers in the past and they have said it has full history, only to mean they have the V5 document and the MOT history printed off the web.
sanguinary said:
I service (and repair where possible). For what I lose in part ex value by having no stamps, I more than gain on the servicing savings.
Last weekend I part ex'd my partner's car and lost £500 by not having fsh. It's a 2004 SLK which I've been looking after for the last 65,000 miles. I was quoted around £300 from Mercedes back in 2007 when we bought the car for a basic oil change and brake pad change, so I know I'm quids in this time around.
I shall be doing the same with her replacement CLK.
i wonder if you had walked in with fsh he would have offered you 500 more? or whether that was just his pat line for a lower trade-in offer?Last weekend I part ex'd my partner's car and lost £500 by not having fsh. It's a 2004 SLK which I've been looking after for the last 65,000 miles. I was quoted around £300 from Mercedes back in 2007 when we bought the car for a basic oil change and brake pad change, so I know I'm quids in this time around.
I shall be doing the same with her replacement CLK.
anyway, i agree that 500 'loss' is still better value over 65k.
ingrowtn said:
I think it is all to do with perception. I would not buy a car that had been serviced by me, I would buy a car that has been serviced by a garage that has been responsible for its work. On the same basis, I would not buy a car that hadn't been serviced by a professional garage- Why? because I have no idea of the standard of work done by someone in their own garage.
You have no idea of the standard of work done by a professional garage either. I've discovered far more bodges by so-called professionals, where time is money and they just want to get through the jobs as quickly as possible, as I have from amateurs who are happy to spend all weekend doing a minor job but doing it right.I bought my E46 with full service history so felt the need to keep that going, it goes into a specialist for the oil change (essentially for the stamp) and I do filters, plugs etc myself. All other work is carried out by me on the drive including radiator, thermostat, CCV system and some mild electrics.
My new car (Nissan S14) I can't see ever going into a garage. All servicing will be done by me and I've been cracking on with bodywork for the first time ever, I reckon I'll learn a lot with this one!
For me it depends mainly on the type of car, the E46 is very much a "normal" car so most buyers will look for a complete stamped history file. On the other hand the Nissan is more of an enthusiasts car so a buyer/owner will be just as happy with receipts/invoices etc and a good in depth chat (as was the case when I bought it).
My new car (Nissan S14) I can't see ever going into a garage. All servicing will be done by me and I've been cracking on with bodywork for the first time ever, I reckon I'll learn a lot with this one!
For me it depends mainly on the type of car, the E46 is very much a "normal" car so most buyers will look for a complete stamped history file. On the other hand the Nissan is more of an enthusiasts car so a buyer/owner will be just as happy with receipts/invoices etc and a good in depth chat (as was the case when I bought it).
Edited by AM7 on Tuesday 4th August 13:52
Cars don't really seem to be designed to be serviced these days. I don't know how the mechanics get on with them really. So I get mine serviced, mainly because:
- I don't ever seem to have enough free time anyway
- I don't have the specialist tools (OBD reader, manufacturer specific tools)
- If there is a TSB issued on my car I'm usually the last to find out about it
- I quite like the skin on my knuckles
OK, if I'm honest I don't really have the skills either. But I did service my own car once. It was satisfying, but I was also left with the niggling doubt that I'd missed something, not torqued up a bolt correctly etc.
- I don't ever seem to have enough free time anyway
- I don't have the specialist tools (OBD reader, manufacturer specific tools)
- If there is a TSB issued on my car I'm usually the last to find out about it
- I quite like the skin on my knuckles
OK, if I'm honest I don't really have the skills either. But I did service my own car once. It was satisfying, but I was also left with the niggling doubt that I'd missed something, not torqued up a bolt correctly etc.
Robert Elise said:
sanguinary said:
I service (and repair where possible). For what I lose in part ex value by having no stamps, I more than gain on the servicing savings.
Last weekend I part ex'd my partner's car and lost £500 by not having fsh. It's a 2004 SLK which I've been looking after for the last 65,000 miles. I was quoted around £300 from Mercedes back in 2007 when we bought the car for a basic oil change and brake pad change, so I know I'm quids in this time around.
I shall be doing the same with her replacement CLK.
i wonder if you had walked in with fsh he would have offered you 500 more? or whether that was just his pat line for a lower trade-in offer?Last weekend I part ex'd my partner's car and lost £500 by not having fsh. It's a 2004 SLK which I've been looking after for the last 65,000 miles. I was quoted around £300 from Mercedes back in 2007 when we bought the car for a basic oil change and brake pad change, so I know I'm quids in this time around.
I shall be doing the same with her replacement CLK.
anyway, i agree that 500 'loss' is still better value over 65k.
Interesting topic 
I always service my own cars and have done for years, either scrabbling on the ground under cars or borrowing a friends ramp. If I had to pay main dealer prices for parts, diagnostics and servicing I would never have been able to own the Z4M, 911 and Boxster S and certainly never been able to race the Elise and Caterham. From my experience the fact I have self serviced the cars has actually been a benefit come re-sale time. I keep a photographic record of the work I complete, write detailed notes in the service book and sign it myself (I don't pretend to be a business/use a stamp), keeping every single printed receipt and invoice. I look with great caution before buying a self-serviced car where the seller has no receipts or proof of what work has been done.
I draw the line at complex engine or gearbox rebuilds but most other work I'll take on with the help of the many forum guides and YouTube videos. Changing the clutch on the 206 shed last year did have me questioning the self-servicing approach, a ball ache of a job that took up two weekends!!!!
Dave
I always service my own cars and have done for years, either scrabbling on the ground under cars or borrowing a friends ramp. If I had to pay main dealer prices for parts, diagnostics and servicing I would never have been able to own the Z4M, 911 and Boxster S and certainly never been able to race the Elise and Caterham. From my experience the fact I have self serviced the cars has actually been a benefit come re-sale time. I keep a photographic record of the work I complete, write detailed notes in the service book and sign it myself (I don't pretend to be a business/use a stamp), keeping every single printed receipt and invoice. I look with great caution before buying a self-serviced car where the seller has no receipts or proof of what work has been done.
I draw the line at complex engine or gearbox rebuilds but most other work I'll take on with the help of the many forum guides and YouTube videos. Changing the clutch on the 206 shed last year did have me questioning the self-servicing approach, a ball ache of a job that took up two weekends!!!!
Dave
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