How do you service your car?
Poll: How do you service your car?
Total Members Polled: 416
Discussion
This question is not aimed at people who have a service agreement and/or lease hire type arrangement etc (sorry). I'm interested to know what the PH trend is. Thanks
Edit: This covers routine servicing only and not repairs, although of course repair work may be identified and completed as part of a service.
Edit: This covers routine servicing only and not repairs, although of course repair work may be identified and completed as part of a service.
Edited by stedale on Friday 5th October 11:28
300bhp/ton said:
stedale said:
This question is not aimed at people who have a service agreement and/or lease hire type arrangement etc (sorry). I'm interested to know what the PH trend is. Thanks
How are you defining the difference between independent and specialist?
A "Specialist" will do a pisspoor job and charge twice as much as a good independent double "
" as I was joking....perhaps 
Do both myself usually but if the car is in for something major that I can't be bothered to do myself (cambelt etc) I might pay them to service it at the same time. Been working on all my own cars for a few years now, bit bored of being rained on and covered in crap but at least I have a garage now and don't have to do everything in a roadside parking bay.
Service the Clio every 6k ish and the Pug every 10k ish. Keep an eye on both regularly.
Service the Clio every 6k ish and the Pug every 10k ish. Keep an eye on both regularly.
Lunablack said:
Mmmm.....the survey needs a few more option...
We have 4 vehicles and they all get done differently...
AM to schedule at an Indy specialist
Jeep every 10k mileage, by Me,
Camper Van annually at local garage
Yaris every 10 by me
You cn check more than one so for you i'd answer:We have 4 vehicles and they all get done differently...
AM to schedule at an Indy specialist
Jeep every 10k mileage, by Me,
Camper Van annually at local garage
Yaris every 10 by me
specialist to schedule
Myself
Indy when needs it
Don't do a great deal of miles, only 6-7k a year in each car.
Both get done yearly, oil and filters.. Sparks every other year and stuff like timing belts to schedule.
All done with genuine parts with a quality oil.. Do basic bits my self, air filter/sparks etc but leave the oil to my trusted independant as they'll dispose of the old stuff properly (I hope!) and stamp the book. Also give it a quick once over whilst in the air to see if there's anything I've missed.
Both get done yearly, oil and filters.. Sparks every other year and stuff like timing belts to schedule.
All done with genuine parts with a quality oil.. Do basic bits my self, air filter/sparks etc but leave the oil to my trusted independant as they'll dispose of the old stuff properly (I hope!) and stamp the book. Also give it a quick once over whilst in the air to see if there's anything I've missed.
What makes me smile is all those people who proclaim "Oh, I'll never use a garage as I always service it myself" which usually equates to changing the oil and thats it. When asked if they've checked the balljoints, the inner anti-roll bar bushes, the freeplay in the rear diff, hell even the state of the entire tyre tread and inner sidewalls... it's usually met with a blank expression. So on that basis, DIY is all well and good if you have the knowledge, ability and facilities to do it thoroughly but if not then really it should be getting checked on a semi-regular basis by somebody who does. Ironically, it's said people who then reel in shock when they're handed a three page MoT failure sheet "B..b...but I serviced it in June" Oh really, an oil change constitutes a service - though to be fair, in some dealers...
Generally speaking the Volvo gets its diesel filter changed every 5,000 miles and the oil and air, every 10,000 miles and at the same time it goes int he air, brakes are stripped, cleaned and checked, tyres checked inside and out, bushes checked, handbrake adjusted and any minor fettling carried out. Though given it's age and how much abuse it's subjected to, there's usually always something minor to sort which inevitably leads onto something else and before you know where you are you're sat at 3am surrounded by a million bits.
Generally speaking the Volvo gets its diesel filter changed every 5,000 miles and the oil and air, every 10,000 miles and at the same time it goes int he air, brakes are stripped, cleaned and checked, tyres checked inside and out, bushes checked, handbrake adjusted and any minor fettling carried out. Though given it's age and how much abuse it's subjected to, there's usually always something minor to sort which inevitably leads onto something else and before you know where you are you're sat at 3am surrounded by a million bits.
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