What exactly is a "full service"?

Wanderer2010

My car needs a service in April. When I rang the dealer looking for quotes I was floored by all the terms "We can give you a bronze service- filter only, maybe upgrade to silver for the spark plugs. The best we can offer is the gold which also does the fluids and remainders". I don't know a lot about cars ill be upfront about that but I would like the oil and filter changed, the spark plugs changed, the air conditioning filter replaced, the wheels checked and the power steering/brake/windscreen/coolant fluid replaced, is that not standard for a full service?

I know dealers try and get the most out of you but whats the best way of asking for all of the above without seeming like a walking chequebook to be taken advantage of??

Kristopherus

Is the car new/ still under guarantee? If not, try your local Indy. Value-wise, check around. Price-wise, he'll probably beat the main garage hands down.

Veloce

One way you can understand what your car may or may not need is to read the service booklet - there is normally a grid that outlines the different intervals that components need to be replaced or changed.

Say for example, your oil is to be changed every 10k miles or every year, but your spark plugs may not need to be changed for 80k miles or 10 years. Therefore a "full service" varies depending on what your car needs at that point in time. Obviously, depending on your driving style and other factors such as mileage covered other components may need replacing a lot sooner (or later) like brake pads and discs.

As above, try find a reputable and honest independent mechanic (if not under warranty), That should be a good starting point at least.

biko

Good question!
No-one knows exactly, hence it's important to get an itemised quote.

Basic service is oil, oil filter and air filter, most would agree on that. Anything else is extra and then it's best to get itemised quote as it can differ between garages.

Tbh, what you should do is to know what you need checked for your brand and mileage. It will be in your service manual.

9935452

biko wrote: »

Good question!
No-one knows exactly, hence it's important to get an itemised quote.

Basic service is oil, oil filter and air filter, most would agree on that. Anything else is extra and then it's best to get itemised quote as it can differ between garages.

Tbh, what you should do is to know what you need checked for your brand and mileage. It will be in your service manual.

A lot of time the air filter is done around 30/40k miles , fuel filter too, pollen filter as well

CianRyan

In my garage we offer an A service and B service.
A service is oil, oil filter, fluids topped up, grease the batteries and door lock, full inspection, light check, adjust tyre pressure and a wash and hoover.
B service is the same but we add Air and pollen filters and clean the rear drum brakes if applicable.

Anything extra is advised and charged as extra work.
Coolant and brake fluid every 2 years, spark plugs every 100,000km or requested, pads and disks as needed and then you're just looking at repair work.

martinr5232

biko wrote:

Basic service is oil, oil filter and air filter, most would agree on that. Anything else is extra and then it's best to get itemised quote as it can differ between garages.

A basic service is oil and filter and a checkover.

Every manufacturer now has different service schedules some are done every 20k others 15k or 30k so its impossible to say do this that and the other.

Ford for instance do oil and filter every 20k and full service ie oil and fiter plus spark plugs/ fuel filter on the diesel and an air filter.