Bi-Annual Servicing
Discussion
My '06 Vantage was last serviced just before I purchased back in August 2016. Since then I've only managed to put 500 miles or so on the clock and will maybe add another 1,000-1,500 before this August. I was planning to get another service this autumn just to keep the annual stamps going in my service book, but now wondering if it's really essential given the low mileage since the previous service.
I can see why annual services are preferred on newer cars, but mine is over ten years old now and I've no intention of selling any time soon, so any possible effect on re-sale value doesn't particularly bother me. Servicing every other year would obviously save me some money, but just wanted to check first to see if there is any particular (mechanical) reason why an annual service is required?
I can see why annual services are preferred on newer cars, but mine is over ten years old now and I've no intention of selling any time soon, so any possible effect on re-sale value doesn't particularly bother me. Servicing every other year would obviously save me some money, but just wanted to check first to see if there is any particular (mechanical) reason why an annual service is required?
I'm not saying this is what you should do, but this is how i'm planning to do it with mine:
I bought my Vantage in late 2015, and I also haven't put that many miles on it.
I plan to do the service every 1,5 to two years. It uses 10w60 full synthetic oil, and when I last checked the oil level, the oil was still clear.
So, I know a fully stamped book is a plus when selling, but just like you, i'm not planning on selling anytime soon.
So, in my opinion, as long as the oil level is between min and max, I don't think it is bad to have it serviced every two years.
Porsche is also every two years. Don't they use full synthetic as well? Oil can deteriorate over time (full synthetic oil maybe a bit later?), but avoid doing small drives.
Just my two cents.
EDIT: do regular oil checks. To low on oil is worse than old oil.
I bought my Vantage in late 2015, and I also haven't put that many miles on it.
I plan to do the service every 1,5 to two years. It uses 10w60 full synthetic oil, and when I last checked the oil level, the oil was still clear.
So, I know a fully stamped book is a plus when selling, but just like you, i'm not planning on selling anytime soon.
So, in my opinion, as long as the oil level is between min and max, I don't think it is bad to have it serviced every two years.
Porsche is also every two years. Don't they use full synthetic as well? Oil can deteriorate over time (full synthetic oil maybe a bit later?), but avoid doing small drives.
Just my two cents.
EDIT: do regular oil checks. To low on oil is worse than old oil.
Edited by The_Orange on Tuesday 28th March 12:53
Edited by The_Orange on Tuesday 28th March 12:54
The_Orange said:
I'm not saying this is what you should do, but this is how i'm planning to do it with mine:
I bought my Vantage in late 2015, and I also haven't put that many miles on it.
I plan to do the service every 1,5 to two years. It uses 10w60 full synthetic oil, and when I last checked the oil level, the oil was still clear.
So, I know a fully stamped book is a plus when selling, but just like you, i'm not planning on selling anytime soon.
So, in my opinion, as long as the oil level is between min and max, I don't think it is bad to have it serviced every two years.
Porsche is also every two years. Don't they use full synthetic as well?
Just my two cents.
Porsche is curious, since if I remember correctly they went from 1 to 2 years without any major changes in engine design in between.I bought my Vantage in late 2015, and I also haven't put that many miles on it.
I plan to do the service every 1,5 to two years. It uses 10w60 full synthetic oil, and when I last checked the oil level, the oil was still clear.
So, I know a fully stamped book is a plus when selling, but just like you, i'm not planning on selling anytime soon.
So, in my opinion, as long as the oil level is between min and max, I don't think it is bad to have it serviced every two years.
Porsche is also every two years. Don't they use full synthetic as well?
Just my two cents.
OP. If your car is a keeper, then a stamp in the book is obviously of little importance. I am in the same position as you, keeper and low miles.
The important point to us, is to do what is correct to maintain the car properly.
I have owned a Mercedes for many years, and servicing intervals are not fixed, but are indicated on the dashboard as required. When used for say just 5,000 miles each year, the oil change service occurs only every 2 years, and therefore the more comprehensive service only every 4 years.
If Mercedes say the engine oil is fine for 2 years, are they wrong?
As with my Aston Martin, the oil has never needed topping up between services.
davek_964 said:
Porsche is curious, since if I remember correctly they went from 1 to 2 years without any major changes in engine design in between.
Mercedes have now gone the other way. MB service intervals for their recent cars, is now every 12 months irrespective of mileage.
Perhaps they do not like me only giving them money every 2 years.
Edited by Dewi 1 on Tuesday 28th March 14:10
Thanks for all the comments. My car is a keeper, so the stamps are not that important to me - just trying to save myself some money if there's no good mechanical reason why it needs a service every year given the limited mileage.
It's not like it's getting no use at all and standing in the garage all year - I just don't use it that regularly and when I do it tends not to be big distances. Oil level has not dropped since I bought it last year and I fully intend on getting a full service every second year, so I think the risks are quite small. Like others have said, plenty of other manufacturers do servicing every two years or related to mileage and it's not like the 4.3 engine is especially complex or known to be fragile.
It's not like it's getting no use at all and standing in the garage all year - I just don't use it that regularly and when I do it tends not to be big distances. Oil level has not dropped since I bought it last year and I fully intend on getting a full service every second year, so I think the risks are quite small. Like others have said, plenty of other manufacturers do servicing every two years or related to mileage and it's not like the 4.3 engine is especially complex or known to be fragile.
AMDBSVNick said:
Nobody seems to be factoring in rubber seals and the like that may dry out and perish due to lack of use 
I doubt this degree of lack of use/servicing will be an issue on that front. Though that sort of lack of use generally is not great for cars.OP - if you don't care about residuals/ability to trade the car in later, do what you want to do. It's your car to be enjoyed how you want to
I personally wouldn't. Having someone who knows what they're doing look over the car once per year is good peace of mind. And whilst modern fluids should cope, the cost of them is peanuts compared to new engines/gearboxes should they not do. But it's up to you.
Big Ry said:
500 miles in 9 months......I hope you were either banned or in prison as I see no other valid reason for such tardiness 
I know - hanging my head in shame as I type. 
In my defence, I didn't buy until September last year and then was away a lot with work so not much chance to take it out before winter set in. Make no apologies for not putting in many winter miles as it was always intended to be dry miles only. I've kept it ticking over since then with the odd expedition out every 4-5 weeks and hopefully with spring now coming will be out a lot more. Would have loved to have been out last weekend as the weather was lovely. Unfortunately I was in Barcelona where it was pissing it down - typical...
+1 and to OP , its perfectly OK to adopt this procedure.
As long as you run the car up regularly and drive her around on the driveway regularly and keep a C-Tek connected and do regular driver checks between your 2 yearly services then all be be well.
I have been on 2 yearly service plans with all my classic cars for many years and NEVER had any issues at all and I average about 2k miles a year max.
As long as you run the car up regularly and drive her around on the driveway regularly and keep a C-Tek connected and do regular driver checks between your 2 yearly services then all be be well.
I have been on 2 yearly service plans with all my classic cars for many years and NEVER had any issues at all and I average about 2k miles a year max.
The_Orange said:
I'm not saying this is what you should do, but this is how i'm planning to do it with mine:
I bought my Vantage in late 2015, and I also haven't put that many miles on it.
I plan to do the service every 1,5 to two years. It uses 10w60 full synthetic oil, and when I last checked the oil level, the oil was still clear.
So, I know a fully stamped book is a plus when selling, but just like you, i'm not planning on selling anytime soon.
So, in my opinion, as long as the oil level is between min and max, I don't think it is bad to have it serviced every two years.
Porsche is also every two years. Don't they use full synthetic as well? Oil can deteriorate over time (full synthetic oil maybe a bit later?), but avoid doing small drives.
Just my two cents.
EDIT: do regular oil checks. To low on oil is worse than old oil.
I bought my Vantage in late 2015, and I also haven't put that many miles on it.
I plan to do the service every 1,5 to two years. It uses 10w60 full synthetic oil, and when I last checked the oil level, the oil was still clear.
So, I know a fully stamped book is a plus when selling, but just like you, i'm not planning on selling anytime soon.
So, in my opinion, as long as the oil level is between min and max, I don't think it is bad to have it serviced every two years.
Porsche is also every two years. Don't they use full synthetic as well? Oil can deteriorate over time (full synthetic oil maybe a bit later?), but avoid doing small drives.
Just my two cents.
EDIT: do regular oil checks. To low on oil is worse than old oil.
Edited by The_Orange on Tuesday 28th March 12:53
Edited by The_Orange on Tuesday 28th March 12:54
Car mad enthusiast said:
As long as you run the car up regularly and drive her around on the driveway regularly and keep a C-Tek connected and do regular driver checks between your 2 yearly services then all be be well.
Small point.
During the periods when mine is not used, I only do a 4 weekly engine start, if I can also immediately do a 20 to 30 mile drive. I have tried to avoid moving around the driveway. By taking for a drive, the car is put away for its next rest when everything is hot, brake discs are shiny and all startup moisture should have been cleared from the exhaust system.
I try hard to look after the beauty, and presumably I am doing the right things. Helpful suggestions though, are always appreciated.
When I was picking up my `07 from the local AM in 2015, my dealer without provocation suggested servicing every two years would be fine. After 11.5 months I had my first service done anyway, partly because I`d spun up 12,500km, but mostly as I wanted to have a once over while it was still within the 12 month warranty period, which I had no intention of renewing. From now on it will be a strictly 2 yearly service, or thereabouts!
Hi,
When I was looking to buy mine about three years ago, I noticed quite a few cars had services every 14 months thereby getting a stamp every 'year' i.e. 2005, 2006, 2007 but at 6 years they would miss a year (but be 14 months later), ironically this is what I did with my previous Porsche as a halfway house.
But I agree with you about greater periodicity, but I tend to see what the service says 'should be required next time.....'
You could always do / get the service inspection and only change the oil and filter based 'on condition' (some saving) and hopefully still get a stamp which is what the layman wants when buying a car he doesn't understand.
2 new pound coins worth!!!
Sean
When I was looking to buy mine about three years ago, I noticed quite a few cars had services every 14 months thereby getting a stamp every 'year' i.e. 2005, 2006, 2007 but at 6 years they would miss a year (but be 14 months later), ironically this is what I did with my previous Porsche as a halfway house.
But I agree with you about greater periodicity, but I tend to see what the service says 'should be required next time.....'
You could always do / get the service inspection and only change the oil and filter based 'on condition' (some saving) and hopefully still get a stamp which is what the layman wants when buying a car he doesn't understand.
2 new pound coins worth!!!
Sean
Based on all the advice I think I'll skip the annual service this autumn and do the next one April next year before the car starts to get more regular use after next winter. It's been garaged, hooked up to a battery conditioner and taken out for a decent 20-30 mile blast every 5-6 weeks this winter, so sounds like I'm doing the right things anyway to mitigate any possible issues.
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