Opinion: What do you consider a "full" service ?

Mister Jingles

Just thinking what does a full service consist of.

I'm guessing that with the amount of independent garages and franchised tyre fitters (who have went down this route) things have changed over the years and not to forget that there are more to cars these days physically.

FortySeven

Oil, air, fuel and pollen. (Diesel) Add plugs for a petrol.

Full vehicle inspection report.

Hachiko

there is not really more to cars, to diesels maybe for petrols its mainly oil and an oil filter. Pollen filter perhaps. Most of this can be done at home if you are so inclined and have the required skills.

Mechanic365

If you bring your car for full service they'll do whatever is due on the nearest service interval
And of course this will alter the cost
If you have 97,000 miles on your car and the timing belt is due at 100,000 they'll more than likely do it
If the service interval for gearbox oil is 50,000 miles and your car has done 40,000 or less since last changing it then they won't do it since its pointless and the next service interval is probably 10,000 miles so the gbox oil will be done then
They will change engine oil regardless, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter
And theyll do a full check, advising or replacing as they go
So there's no standard, you should watch the intervals in the service book

Del2005

Mister Jingles wrote: »

Just thinking what does a full service consist of.

I'm guessing that with the amount of independent garages and franchised tyre fitters (who have went down this route) things have changed over the years

Would that not depend on the mileage/age and what the manufacture has in the book? Vehicles have different requirement for each service depending on if it's mileage/age.

Mister Jingles wrote: »

and not to forget that there are more to cars these days physically.

There's way less to cars these days, they may be physically bigger but the work load is substantially less. With modern ECUs and electronic ignition there is very little to do with a car bar change the fluids and check items for wear. Back in the days of points and carbs you needed to set up both and hope that they stayed, then you'd have to adjust your timing which means that you might have to adjust the points/carbs again.

SpannerMonkey

Oil Change
Fuel Filter
Air Filter
Pollen/Cabin Filter
Spark Plugs if petrol
Full inspection on suspension / Brakes etc


Can go further wouldnt consider it part of a service but after say 60-80 k miles Gearbox oil change + Differential oil Change

Atlantic Dawn

SpannerMonkey wrote: »

Oil Change
Fuel Filter
Air Filter
Pollen/Cabin Filter
Spark Plugs if petrol

I think this is the best base full service, these are the most common consumables that would be replaced through regular servicing schedules.

The checks on the other items like brakes and suspension should form part of a minor and major service and the customer informed if they need replacing but the cost of such jobs would be outside the full service price.

Alanstrainor

The term full service is pretty open ended and is not something you can be sure of. If someone went to a garage and asked for a full service, I wouldn't think it was unreasonable to just do oil, oil filter and air filter. The reality is that the work required depends entirely on the car in question and it's service schedule. If unsure, you're always best to ask before you get any surprises.

Decka

A full light check should be done with a full service and any lights that are not working replaced.