Servicing on heavily used cars?
Discussion
How do the PH population approach servicing?
I have a 1.9 diesel SAAB 9-3.
Service interval is 18k or annual whichever comes first yada yada.
However I currently do a minimum of 830 miles a week. So as you can imagine my service intervals pop up fairly regularly.
I have a SAAB specialist who has been doing my services at £200 a go.
However some of the nationals offer "major services" for £124 (F1 Autocentres) or Halford for £195
At the end of the day all they're all doing is changing oil, filter, giving it all a good look over.
I have the AA parts warranty so have to keep upto date with servicing of some sort, so need a stamp which rules out doin it myself (not that i'd be bothered anyway)
What do I do - stay with the specialist - as he knows Saabs? try one of the nationals and expect to have to reject all the remedial work that is "required"?
I have a 1.9 diesel SAAB 9-3.
Service interval is 18k or annual whichever comes first yada yada.
However I currently do a minimum of 830 miles a week. So as you can imagine my service intervals pop up fairly regularly.
I have a SAAB specialist who has been doing my services at £200 a go.
However some of the nationals offer "major services" for £124 (F1 Autocentres) or Halford for £195
At the end of the day all they're all doing is changing oil, filter, giving it all a good look over.
I have the AA parts warranty so have to keep upto date with servicing of some sort, so need a stamp which rules out doin it myself (not that i'd be bothered anyway)
What do I do - stay with the specialist - as he knows Saabs? try one of the nationals and expect to have to reject all the remedial work that is "required"?
Why not Change the oil and filters yourself at 10, 30, 50k intervals, and on the 20, 40, and 60k intervals take it in to the specialist for a service and good check over. Best of both worlds imo.
This assumes that you'd be able to spot any obvious issues yourself, and change oil and filters.
This assumes that you'd be able to spot any obvious issues yourself, and change oil and filters.
For something like a basic service I really wouldn't both with an expensive specialist.
Personally I would just do it myself but failing that, would use a local garage with a good reputation. A car is a car. Any garage can change the oil and sparks regardless what brand or model it is.
Something more complex like a cam belt/chain change would be worth letting the specialist do, but not swapping out a few basic plug and play parts.
Personally I would just do it myself but failing that, would use a local garage with a good reputation. A car is a car. Any garage can change the oil and sparks regardless what brand or model it is.
Something more complex like a cam belt/chain change would be worth letting the specialist do, but not swapping out a few basic plug and play parts.
If you have a warranty on the car and wouldn't be bothered to do the work yourself anyway, I get the impression you're not concerned about saving a few quid.
Even if it's only five months between services, it must be using around £2k of fuel in that time, so I don't think a £50-100 saving on the service itself would be hugely significant to your running costs. I'd keep paying your specialist, because (assuming he's a good'un) he won't try to sell you crap you don't need, will find potential issues before anyone else, and will come in very handy if you have a big job that needs doing.
Most of the chains are cheap for a reason. Pay peanuts, get monkeys. My favourite example of ineptitude at a Halfords Autocentre was watching a "mechanic" buzz wheel nuts in with an impact gun for a good five or six rattles each, then get the torque wrench on them. Obviously it clicked immediately, which he took as "they're correctly torqued". Nice...
Even if it's only five months between services, it must be using around £2k of fuel in that time, so I don't think a £50-100 saving on the service itself would be hugely significant to your running costs. I'd keep paying your specialist, because (assuming he's a good'un) he won't try to sell you crap you don't need, will find potential issues before anyone else, and will come in very handy if you have a big job that needs doing.
Most of the chains are cheap for a reason. Pay peanuts, get monkeys. My favourite example of ineptitude at a Halfords Autocentre was watching a "mechanic" buzz wheel nuts in with an impact gun for a good five or six rattles each, then get the torque wrench on them. Obviously it clicked immediately, which he took as "they're correctly torqued". Nice...
I am the opposite - my mileage is fairly low and it is an older car. I get the oil and filter done every 5,000 - 6,000 miles (so once or twice a year) and tend to do it myself. However I took it to a National garage last time and it was only about £45 so pretty much the same as it would be for me to buy the bits and do it myself. No problems at all and I would happily go back.
Other service items I do myself with the help of a couple of mates
Other service items I do myself with the help of a couple of mates
I don't really have the time or inclination to do the servicing my self - or the tools or suitable access. (no garage at home, poor off road parking etc)
Plus as part of the AA parts warranty I'm required to keep upto date with the servicing and stamps in the service book.
Cam belt & water pump are due in about 10k (which i'll use the specialist for) but service was due last week.
The 80 quid saving is a tank of fuel......
Usage is all motorway - up and down and 75mph so probably little "wear" on things.
Plus as part of the AA parts warranty I'm required to keep upto date with the servicing and stamps in the service book.
Cam belt & water pump are due in about 10k (which i'll use the specialist for) but service was due last week.
The 80 quid saving is a tank of fuel......
Usage is all motorway - up and down and 75mph so probably little "wear" on things.
Dan_1981 said:
I don't really have the time or inclination to do the servicing my self - or the tools or suitable access. (no garage at home, poor off road parking etc)
Plus as part of the AA parts warranty I'm required to keep upto date with the servicing and stamps in the service book.
Cam belt & water pump are due in about 10k (which i'll use the specialist for) but service was due last week.
The 80 quid saving is a tank of fuel......
Usage is all motorway - up and down and 75mph so probably little "wear" on things.
fair enough.Plus as part of the AA parts warranty I'm required to keep upto date with the servicing and stamps in the service book.
Cam belt & water pump are due in about 10k (which i'll use the specialist for) but service was due last week.
The 80 quid saving is a tank of fuel......
Usage is all motorway - up and down and 75mph so probably little "wear" on things.
Although if it were me i'd still siphon the oil out at halfway point. 9k is enough.
My own approach is simply to do the intermediate oil changes myself and put the car into a dealer/specialist for proper attention.
I never go to "the all makes bloke under the railway arches", even if his name is Halfords. If an oil change is worth doing it's worth doing properly - i.e. drain the oil and change the filter.
I never go to "the all makes bloke under the railway arches", even if his name is Halfords. If an oil change is worth doing it's worth doing properly - i.e. drain the oil and change the filter.
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