Servicing low mileage car
Discussion
I've wrestled with this one for many years
My car tells me when it needs a service. My car also knows what the date is - and it knows when the service indicator was last reset.
Therefore if the engineers thought it needed a time based service, surely they would have added that to the logic that decides when the car tells me it needs servicing.
IMHO the annual thing is perpetuated by people with an interest in revenue from servicing......
My car tells me when it needs a service. My car also knows what the date is - and it knows when the service indicator was last reset.
Therefore if the engineers thought it needed a time based service, surely they would have added that to the logic that decides when the car tells me it needs servicing.
IMHO the annual thing is perpetuated by people with an interest in revenue from servicing......
Trevor555 said:
Servicing isn't just about changing the oil.
Having someone look carefully at your tyres once in a while could save your life.
The amount of cuts/damage I've seen on the inner sidewalls where the driver can't see is disturbing.
If you're not going to put it in at least once a year I'd recommend to at least get one of the "free winter checks" somewhere.
Surely that's what the MOT is for ?Having someone look carefully at your tyres once in a while could save your life.
The amount of cuts/damage I've seen on the inner sidewalls where the driver can't see is disturbing.
If you're not going to put it in at least once a year I'd recommend to at least get one of the "free winter checks" somewhere.
My Skoda Superb will be 6 years old in June
Was serviced @ year 2 & year 4, long life servicing, so around 20000/2 years between servicing
It’s done about 55k miles now, will get it serviced & cam belt around June
Less than £500 in servicing in 5+ years
I do keep it topped up & regularly check/rotate tyres occasionally
Was serviced @ year 2 & year 4, long life servicing, so around 20000/2 years between servicing
It’s done about 55k miles now, will get it serviced & cam belt around June
Less than £500 in servicing in 5+ years
I do keep it topped up & regularly check/rotate tyres occasionally
ro250 said:
SeeFive said:
This is where the missus’s SLC goes here at the south coast. Last “A” service, added windscreen wipers which were supplied and fitted cheaper than I can buy the blades at retail.
Not a chrome and glass place at all, but then again I only want to pay for the service not their prestige.
http://smercs.co.uk/servicing/
Cheers, I'm in Essex so that's a bit far unfortunately.Not a chrome and glass place at all, but then again I only want to pay for the service not their prestige.
http://smercs.co.uk/servicing/
I input a 2016 A250 reg in the classifieds into the click mechanic website to get the estimated dealer price (wouldn’t advocate using click mechanic - no experience). They reckon about £560 for my area. Your dealer seems to be taking the mickey, and the indie isn’t much better. It is a 2 hour or less service plus consumables.
SeeFive said:
I input a 2016 A250 reg in the classifieds into the click mechanic website to get the estimated dealer price (wouldn’t advocate using click mechanic - no experience). They reckon about £560 for my area. Your dealer seems to be taking the mickey, and the indie isn’t much better. It is a 2 hour or less service plus consumables.
You can't really do that with a Merc as the way the schedules work is the A & B services are pretty basic. What bumps it up is additional work required on a time or distance basis, and this is where the dealers really take the mickey - on my last service the car was due a coolant change due to age, the dealer price off MyService was £272. As it happens mine was done a couple of years ago when the indie I use changed the radiator - he didn't even mention the coolant cost, or anything about it being a complicated job.OP mentioned plugs need changing - I think the dealers always think they're doing the plugs on a V12 which is awkward and takes hours, whereas on his car there are just 4 of them. OK, on the A250 there is a bit of dismantling to do, but still only a few mins work for someone who has done it a few times.
Thanks for the follow up comments, really useful and has got me thinking.
I mentioned a Bosch garage I'd used in the past and looking at their servicing options, if I add the extra menu items I know the B5 service needs (e.g. air filter, spark plugs) it'll still be way cheaper than the independent 'specialist'.
I did almost laugh when MB said it takes a long time to change the spark plugs. I assume you need to remove a few covers but he made it sound like it was a major job. And unless things have moved on since I was tinkering about with cars, air filters are not expensive!
I mentioned a Bosch garage I'd used in the past and looking at their servicing options, if I add the extra menu items I know the B5 service needs (e.g. air filter, spark plugs) it'll still be way cheaper than the independent 'specialist'.
I did almost laugh when MB said it takes a long time to change the spark plugs. I assume you need to remove a few covers but he made it sound like it was a major job. And unless things have moved on since I was tinkering about with cars, air filters are not expensive!
Sheepshanks said:
SeeFive said:
I input a 2016 A250 reg in the classifieds into the click mechanic website to get the estimated dealer price (wouldn’t advocate using click mechanic - no experience). They reckon about £560 for my area. Your dealer seems to be taking the mickey, and the indie isn’t much better. It is a 2 hour or less service plus consumables.
You can't really do that with a Merc as the way the schedules work is the A & B services are pretty basic. What bumps it up is additional work required on a time or distance basis, and this is where the dealers really take the mickey - on my last service the car was due a coolant change due to age, the dealer price off MyService was £272. As it happens mine was done a couple of years ago when the indie I use changed the radiator - he didn't even mention the coolant cost, or anything about it being a complicated job.OP mentioned plugs need changing - I think the dealers always think they're doing the plugs on a V12 which is awkward and takes hours, whereas on his car there are just 4 of them. OK, on the A250 there is a bit of dismantling to do, but still only a few mins work for someone who has done it a few times.
The CM estimated dealer price included filters, spark plugs etc by the way.
ro250 said:
I did almost laugh when MB said it takes a long time to change the spark plugs. I assume you need to remove a few covers but he made it sound like it was a major job. And unless things have moved on since I was tinkering about with cars, air filters are not expensive!
It could be that the official way has something daft like "remove the turbo". There's a description what's involved here - I assume yours would be the same although might be some differences for slightly different model and RHD: https://www.mercedescla.org/threads/cla250-spark-p...Dealer mechanics can usually do routine servicing in half to a third of the "book" time.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 21st February 12:58
A differential pressure sensor will tell you when the air filter needs changing (google ‘filterminder’) and Millers will tell you when your oil needs changing based on the samples you provide to them.
Adhere to the handbook through the warranty period for warranty compliance but use your brain in conjunction with your knowledge of science after the warranty period ends.
The manufacturer assumes all sorts of info regarding your climate and usage and environment without actually clarifying anything so their ‘recomendations’ are not specific to you or your car, and very often are not even close to appropriate.
Adhere to the handbook through the warranty period for warranty compliance but use your brain in conjunction with your knowledge of science after the warranty period ends.
The manufacturer assumes all sorts of info regarding your climate and usage and environment without actually clarifying anything so their ‘recomendations’ are not specific to you or your car, and very often are not even close to appropriate.
SeeFive said:
Agreed, prices can spiral that is why I mentioned that they had hit menu prices each time on A and B service. Luck of the draw I guess.
The CM estimated dealer price included filters, spark plugs etc by the way.
When I had a quick look on click mechanic, I couldn't see any main dealers, it all seemed to be independents.The CM estimated dealer price included filters, spark plugs etc by the way.
ro250 said:
When I had a quick look on click mechanic, I couldn't see any main dealers, it all seemed to be independents.
I just went on there as a result of a google search when I first bought SWMBO’s merc to get a dealer estimated price. So I put in my postcode and car reg (or the A250 I found on the classifieds) and hit the get quote button. I have taken a screenshot for you. Seems it doesn’t include plugs this time... a bit odd. I believe that the principle of this is that some random independent mechanic does the work, which is something that I wouldn’t want but the dealer estimate was useful for me when checking out well reputed indies.
Edited by SeeFive on Friday 21st February 13:33
SeeFive said:
I just went on there as a result of a google search when I first bought SWMBO’s merc to get a dealer estimated price. So I put in my postcode and car reg (or the A250 I found on the classifieds) and hit the get quote button. I have taken a screenshot for you. Seems it doesn’t include plugs this time... a bit odd.
I believe that the principle of this is that some random independent mechanic does the work, which is something that I wouldn’t want but the dealer estimate was useful for me when checking out well reputed indies.
Cheers, I don't think I clicked through enough. Looks like this is very much a dealer 'estimate' and probably not clever enough to know the details.I believe that the principle of this is that some random independent mechanic does the work, which is something that I wouldn’t want but the dealer estimate was useful for me when checking out well reputed indies.
Edited by SeeFive on Friday 21st February 13:33
I agree, I don't want some random mechanic servicing it. I know they may be very good but I prefer knowing where my car is and that they will be there tomorrow in case of issues.
ro250 said:
Cheers, I don't think I clicked through enough. Looks like this is very much a dealer 'estimate' and probably not clever enough to know the details.
I agree, I don't want some random mechanic servicing it. I know they may be very good but I prefer knowing where my car is and that they will be there tomorrow in case of issues.
Exactly that. But with a well reviewed Indy coming in at half that dealer estimate price and not impacting warrantee, that was my decision made on where I was going.I agree, I don't want some random mechanic servicing it. I know they may be very good but I prefer knowing where my car is and that they will be there tomorrow in case of issues.
Now I guess it is a case of finding the right indie in your area. I used a combination of searches on the MB forums and google to find my local.
Carbon Sasquatch said:
I've wrestled with this one for many years
My car tells me when it needs a service. My car also knows what the date is - and it knows when the service indicator was last reset.
Therefore if the engineers thought it needed a time based service, surely they would have added that to the logic that decides when the car tells me it needs servicing.
IMHO the annual thing is perpetuated by people with an interest in revenue from servicing......
What car? The service indicator on my Octavia definitely tracks both mileage and time and decides it needs a service when one of them is reached. My car tells me when it needs a service. My car also knows what the date is - and it knows when the service indicator was last reset.
Therefore if the engineers thought it needed a time based service, surely they would have added that to the logic that decides when the car tells me it needs servicing.
IMHO the annual thing is perpetuated by people with an interest in revenue from servicing......
Carbon Sasquatch said:
I've wrestled with this one for many years
My car tells me when it needs a service. My car also knows what the date is - and it knows when the service indicator was last reset.
Therefore if the engineers thought it needed a time based service, surely they would have added that to the logic that decides when the car tells me it needs servicing.
Many cars do this, including the car the OP is talking about...My car tells me when it needs a service. My car also knows what the date is - and it knows when the service indicator was last reset.
Therefore if the engineers thought it needed a time based service, surely they would have added that to the logic that decides when the car tells me it needs servicing.
RobM77 said:
Firstly, the oil in the ground is crude oil; the stuff you put in your car is either highly refined, or entirely synthetic. The oil in your engine picks up contaminants during use, which compromise its effectiveness (why it's honey coloured at first and then goes black over time) and the heat in your engine causes it to chemically break down over time, losing its lubrication properties. Crude sits at about 40 degrees C in the earth, maybe 60-70, but temperatures inside an engine far exceed that, especially around the combustion chambers.
https://www.mobil1.co.uk/learning-centre/car-care/...
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/thermal-breakdown.h...
I concur with your posts re servicing.https://www.mobil1.co.uk/learning-centre/car-care/...
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/thermal-breakdown.h...
I have a variety of cars, some that are quite old with mileages that vary from huge to very low, and some newer with equally varied mileages. Some are stored for winter, some used frequently. My experience is that proper preventative servicing is hugely beneficial. I have never had a catastrophic failure. In a few cases where the car does less than 2500 miles a year, I still service it fully annually at the dealer, have an annual inspection, and change any time-related items.My highest mileage car, a 2008 Cayenne has 270,000km on it , a quarter of that trailering another car behind. Still has its original transmission, and the only engine-open item was worn cam lifters. When they opened it the tech asked if I had always used premium fuel ,. ( I had). Said the engine had zero sludge in in it after 220,000 km at the time. Not sure still why premium fuel mattered though I invariably use ethanol-free fuel,
I am aware of all of the discussion abut long-life synthetic oils etc and have no quarrel with any of it. I just prefer the peace of mind sticking to manufacturers specs. When I store a car for a long period I usually do an oil change just prior tp storage.
Carbon Sasquatch said:
Thanks - I wasn't aware
If the question were - would I continue driving for another year with the car telling me it needed a service, the answer would be likely not
Mine came on 2 or 3 months ago. I probably should get it serviced before Easter as I'll be doing a few miles then. If the question were - would I continue driving for another year with the car telling me it needed a service, the answer would be likely not
SeeFive said:
Major service, which is exactly the same scope of work, on daughter's SEAT Ateca, is £299 using SEAT's fixed pricing. OK, it's not the same car, but no reason the work / costs should be significantly different, and I doubt the above system has the detailed data to know anyway.
I would imagine their dealer price is a complete guess.
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