Which place for car service?

Danye

Hi folks,

I want to get my car serviced and I'm shopping around for the best service at the best price. Below are the two places I'm thinking of going to but I cant decide which is best? If you had to go to either of them which would you choose?

Also if anybody has any suggestions of somewhere else that does a good service feel free to let me know.

Our 35 Point checklist includes:

Check all exterior lights, check interior light
Check seat belt operation and condition
Oil doors and hinges
Check horn, wiper blades and washer operation
Check and top up windscreen washer fluid
Check and top up power steering fluid level
Check and top up brake and clutch fluid level
Check and top up coolant/antifreeze level
Check battery operation and security
Check for uneven tyre wear
Check tyre tread depths/condition (incl spare)
Check and reset tyre pressures
Rotate and balance wheels, reset wheel torques
Check steering, suspension
Check ball joints, links, wishbones, bushes etc.
Check front brake pads and discs
Check rear brake pads and discs
Check rear brake shoes cylinders and drums
Check shock absorber condition and wear
Check drive-shaft and joints/gaiters
Check brake lines and hose for leaks and wear
Replace air filter
Check engine and gearbox for oil leaks
Replace engine oil filter
Replace engine oil
Check gearbox and axle oil levels
Inspect the exhaust system condition (incl mountings)
Adjust handbrake travel
Check and adjust all auxiliary drive belts
Replace spark plugs
Replace diesel fuel filter
Check cooling system for leaks and operation
Reset service light
Run engine diagnostic test and file copy of the report
Timing Belt needs replacing

€225

Full Service Checklist: (32 items including Road Test)

Check operation of instruments gauges all warning lights and horn.
Check operation of interior and exterior lights.
Check condition of front and rear (if fitted) wiper blades and operation of washers, top up fluid.
Check brake fluid level, top up or replace if due (if requested, extra cost).
Check clutch and power steering fluid level (if applicable), top up.
Check battery terminals and security.
Replace spark plugs. Extra long life / iridium spark plugs are extra cost.
Check operation and travel of handbrake.
Check brake pedal operation and travel.
Vehicle raised off the ground

Check (where fitted) power assisted steering belt or auxiliary drive belt for condition and adjustment.
Check engine and gearbox mountings for security and wear.
Check and inspect under body of vehicle for corrosion or damage.
Visually inspect radiator/cooling system for leaks and check condition of hoses.
Replace oil filter.
Renew engine oil (includes fully synthetic oil if required).
Replace air filter.
Replace Fuel filter for Diesel Engines.
Check front and rear brake pad discs and measure thickness
Visually inspect condition and security of steering rack: suspension, mountings and gaiters.
Visually inspect track rod ends,ball joints for condition wear and security.
Visually inspect drive shaft joints for wear and gaiter condition and prop shaft joints for wear and condition.
Visually inspect exhausts system condition,security and leakage.
Visually inspect security and condition of fuel lines, brake pipes, flexible hoses and handbrake cables.
Check for any visible signs of brake fluid leakage on front and rear back plates
Visually inspect front and rear shock absorber, suspension and mountings, for wear, condition and leakage.
Check all tyres for condition and wear, check and adjust all tyre pressures.
Check wheel bearings for excess play or noise.
Check and advice on timing belt replacement interval.
Final Checks

Carry out road test.
Reset service level indicator (Where applicable).
Stamp service book.

€199

AmberAmber

i would suggest both prices are irrelevant as parts and fluids are extra.

colm_mcm

AmberAmber wrote: »

i would suggest both prices are irrelevant as parts and fluids are extra.

What do you mean? Where does it say that?

AmberAmber

when i read the list of "checks" , if you need spark plugs you have to pay for them. if your you need the oil changed you will be charged per liter. if you need disks , breaks pads or shoes replaced those parts will cost you on top of the amount quoted.
car servicing is the most uncontrollably expense we all must face.
things like wipers you should be able to do your self.
is cost an issue to you ?
Perhaps a basic car maintenance course which is run by local night class groups may be of help to you over the winter , so that you would get basic familiarization with just what parts are called and where they are and what they are for.


i hate to see people suffer for lac of a little knowledge that could save them so much. New cars can be a nightmare cos its all computers.

colm_mcm

Are we looking at the same list?
Spark plugs are included, iridium plugs are extra
I can't see anything about oil being extra on either of them.

Would you prefer a fixed price menu service that included brade discs and pads?

MarkR

As above, oil seems to be included in both. In the second one it mentions synthetic being included if required. They both replace the oil, air, and fuel filter. Cabin filter / pollen filter doesn't seem to be mentioned in either though.

Wheres My ForkandKnife

AmberAmber wrote: »

when i read the list of "checks" , if you need spark plugs you have to pay for them. if your you need the oil changed you will be charged per liter. if you need disks , breaks pads or shoes replaced those parts will cost you on top of the amount quoted.
car servicing is the most uncontrollably expense we all must face.
things like wipers you should be able to do your self.
is cost an issue to you ?
Perhaps a basic car maintenance course which is run by local night class groups may be of help to you over the winter , so that you would get basic familiarization with just what parts are called and where they are and what they are for.


i hate to see people suffer for lac of a little knowledge that could save them so much. New cars can be a nightmare cos its all computers.

Of course they cost extra.Why would discs or pads be included in the cost of a fixed price service. By that logic if a t/belt was due at the next service the price of that should be included.

AmberAmber

yes i see now the extra life and iridium spark plugs are extra on price. oil is included, all i am saying is just be aware , if you truly dont know anything about cars well give it in and they will check every thing for you. what i think if best is if you had a good idea your self that the car was safe to drive , lights working , tyres puped to right tyre pressure general things like that. many of the things on the list are quiet easily checked by your self.,

a list of checks is no reflection on the good workmanship of a garage.
is there any one local to you or friends or family who could give you advice on where to go to get your car serviced. word of mouth is worth so much more to you. i an no expert but i know my way around a car and when i sent it in for a service i tell my garage what i want done, and have a chat with the man and we have a look at the car together. I am lucky to have the quality of garage local to me that i trust.

loosewire

I am heading into get me car serviced today...searched boards to get some info and came across this page. I too am confused as to what to do. I had a look at other places and they just seem to look at the car and not really do anything (maybe change the oil at best!) I am heading to JSM City Garage today on Dorset Street. They offered my a 42 point service (!?) for a 1.4 Polo for €100 (the guy told it normally costs €115) I will let you know how it goes. I need to get the car NCT ready so I am hoping it wont cost extra.

Danye

AmberAmber wrote: »

yes i see now the extra life and iridium spark plugs are extra on price. oil is included, all i am saying is just be aware , if you truly dont know anything about cars well give it in and they will check every thing for you. what i think if best is if you had a good idea your self that the car was safe to drive , lights working , tyres puped to right tyre pressure general things like that. many of the things on the list are quiet easily checked by your self.,

a list of checks is no reflection on the good workmanship of a garage.
is there any one local to you or friends or family who could give you advice on where to go to get your car serviced. word of mouth is worth so much more to you. i an no expert but i know my way around a car and when i sent it in for a service i tell my garage what i want done, and have a chat with the man and we have a look at the car together. I am lucky to have the quality of garage local to me that i trust.

Well I'm asking on boards to see if anybody has any suggestions. That's pretty much the same as word of mouth yes?

Also would you care to pass on the details of the quality grarage that you trust so other people can avail of their quality through word of mouth.

Danye

loosewire wrote: »

I am heading into get me car serviced today...searched boards to get some info and came across this page. I too am confused as to what to do. I had a look at other places and they just seem to look at the car and not really do anything (maybe change the oil at best!) I am heading to JSM City Garage today on Dorset Street. They offered my a 42 point service (!?) for a 1.4 Polo for €100 (the guy told it normally costs €115) I will let you know how it goes. I need to get the car NCT ready so I am hoping it wont cost extra.

Yeah if you could let me know I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Anybody else have any suggestions of a good, reasonably priced garage in Dublin?

Which of the above would you choose for a service?

slavetothegrind

lookup nissan doctor, and george dalton, both contributors here and give them a shout.
Might as well give a little back for all the advice and help they give here, and me i would trust them!

Danye

slavetothegrind wrote: »

lookup nissan doctor, and george dalton, both contributors here and give them a shout.
Might as well give a little back for all the advice and help they give here, and me i would trust them!

Will do. Thanks.