Servicing question

Amouar

Hi all,

I'm thinking of only doing the yearly oil and filter change, and also making the necessary changes based on the intervals specified in the service book (Fuel filter, air filter, brake fluid, drive belt, timing belt etc) instead of paying for the standard service offered by dealers and other garages that usually include X points checks on the top of the oil and filter changes.

Am I going to miss anything by not going for the standard service with X points checks or yearly oil filter changes together with the required changes based on the manufacturer's guidelines will be enough?

Thanks

w211

All depends how many mileages you drive yearly. Not everything are necessary to do yearly. Example the drive belt, timing belt/chain have much higher intervals. Brake fluid can last too about 2 years. Coolant 2+ years (depend what type your car using). That is why are good idea to keep the records when something was done. You do not need for that the service and their fancy service book. You can take a small notebook or store that information on cloud. This is for you (the next car owner) only. All information are on your car user manual. If you like to keep your car really long time, cut manufacturer intervals bit shorter. I always said the oil are cheap compared the expensive repair bill. I know, most of boardies hate me if I say words "preventive maintenance". I changed recently the oil and the clock had only nearly 5000km from previous oil change, nearly 4 times less mileages than recommended. There is nothing wrong to do it early.

Amouar

What other things does the garages do in their services apart from checking the lights, car controls, tyres etc?

I just want to to know if it really make sense to pay 60€+ on the top of oil and filter change while I can do all these basic tests myself and would still need to pay extra in order to carry the necessary changes based on mileage/time (Fuel filter, air filter, brake fluid, drive belt, timing belt etc)?

_Brian

What year is the motor.
If it’s s fresh motor it will look Lillie services are missed in the service book which can put future buyers off.

Amouar

_Brian wrote: »

What year is the motor.
If it’s s fresh motor it will look Lillie services are missed in the service book which can put future buyers off.

The car is 2013 and has always been serviced in main dealers before I bought it last year. I replaced fuel filter and brake fluid when I bought it, but I still didn't service it as it's not due yet.

Also, can't garages/main dealers stamp the service book when doing oil+service change, especially when also carrying other changes like coolant, air filter etc?

Toyotafanboi

You wont get a garage to do an engine service without a multi point check, a visual health check of the entire vehicle is a legal obligation too afaik.

The bulk of the service cost whether main dealer or independent is made up in the oil and various filters. The "checks" are a tiny fraction of the costs.

Some checks that are very easy for a mechanic in a workshop can be very difficult on a drive too so you may not be able to check as good as a garage. When the car is on a lift it's a lot easier and more comfortable to inspect the chassis, braking components, rear of engine etc than say on axle stands in a driveway.

I think there are handler ways to save €50 a year than this, personally. Even if you could negotiate that level of discount.

Amouar

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

You wont get a garage to do an engine service without a multi point check, a visual health check of the entire vehicle is a legal obligation too afaik.

The bulk of the service cost whether main dealer or independent is made up in the oil and various filters. The "checks" are a tiny fraction of the costs.

Some checks that are very easy for a mechanic in a workshop can be very difficult on a drive too so you may not be able to check as good as a garage. When the car is on a lift it's a lot easier and more comfortable to inspect the chassis, braking components, rear of engine etc than say on axle stands in a driveway.

I think there are handler ways to save €50 a year than this, personally. Even if you could negotiate that level of discount.

Are these legal checks included in both interim and full service ? I'm asking because my car does a relatively low yearly mileage (less than 10k km) therefore an interim service would be enough. Also the full service is almost double the cost of the interim service.

w211

This is not DIY section but you can easily to do rest of yourself. Fuel filter these days are not easily replaceable because it locating inside the gas tank. It need to replace about after 150 000km (read from user/service manual) or you fuel pump will be toasted. Air filter you can to do it. Brake fluid, go halfords and buy the brake bleeder or take a helper (need to push/release the brake pedal until you open/close the bleeder screw). Check the brake fluid tank regularly, top up the new fluid. Drive belt have a long mileages, no need to worry about that if your mileages not overdue (read the user/service manual). Timing belt/chain, leave it for professionals. Yes you could replace it easily if you know how. Look form the youtube and ask the confirmation (read the comments) are this real or joke video. Too much fake videos are there. Do not forget the gearbox and axle(if you have a rear or AWD) oil replacement. These last about 80 000km.
The most check points they collecting from suspension check. That is too 100% possible to check by you. If you know your car handling and the sound well, you do not need to worry at all. If you are like *** and do not hear or feel anything until wheels fall off, then you should use only the professional service. Here was recently one thread where boards member fail the nct and almost entire rear suspension was on very bad condition. It does not happens over the night. If you feel or hear something different, you can any time lift your car by jack and check the bushings/ball joints condition. Only remember to use the axle stand - safety first. Looks a load of trouble but that way you learn more about your car the real condition. I do not push you for DIY, I suggest to do something yourself and leave rest of for professionals.

James Bond Junior

Ask on here for recommendations of decent independent garages in your area. Go there and ask them to give the car a once over when it on the lift.

Toyotafanboi

Amouar wrote: »

Are these legal checks included in both interim and full service ? I'm asking because my car does a relatively low yearly mileage (less than 10k km) therefore an interim service would be enough. Also the full service is almost double the cost of the interim service.

Generally its recommended to do an interim, followed by a full service and alternate back and forth like that, year on year for low mileage drivers.

Generally speaking, yes the inspection points will be the same on either.

For example for an oil change service, a technician in our workshop is allowed 1 hour to do the job. He has 45 minutes to do the oil and filter change, correct your other levels and make any adjustments to brakes/ suspension, replace bulbs, update service history etc.

Before this though, his first 15 minutes is spent doing a visual health check of the car, steering, suspension, chassis, tyres, brakes, lighting etc. We need to check this as we are the professionals and if you are killed in the car the following day due to mechanical failure, it'll fall back on us, even if the defect is unreated to the work carried out, we should have spotted it. The results are filled out on a customer friendly checklist, the customer gets a copy and we file a copy.

The customer pays for the 45 minutes and we charge ourselves/ absorb the 15 minutes.

With ourselves anyway, we couldn't drop the checklist even if we wanted and even if we did the price wouldn't change.

Amouar

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

For example for an oil change service, a technician in our workshop is allowed 1 hour to do the job. He has 45 minutes to do the oil and filter change, correct your other levels and make any adjustments to brakes/ suspension, replace bulbs, update service history etc.

Before this though, his first 15 minutes is spent doing a visual health check of the car, steering, suspension, chassis, tyres, brakes, lighting etc.

If i understand correctly, an oil change service is the same as the interim service?

Also what's included in the full service that is not included in the interim service?

Thanks

Toyotafanboi

Yeah an oil change service could also be called an interim service. A full service can also be referred to as a major service.

An oil change service is just changing the engine oil, oil filter, adjustments as necessary around the car and inspection. A full service would be engine oil and oil filters, engine and cabin air filters and spark plugs in a petrol or a fuel filter in a diesel combined with the same adjustments and inspection list as the oil change service.

Amouar

Thanks a lot for the details!

In the service book, I see that it's recommended to change the cabin filter every 2 years, fuel filter and air filter every 4 years, therefore I think that it makes sense for me to go for an interim service every year and ask for the necessary parts to be replaced when they are due.

Amouar

I found this deal from a main dealer which appears to be a good offer https://www.mongeyplunkettmotors.ie/web/99-euro-car-service-deal/

They say that a "A Full Health Check For Your Car" is included for the price, which I assume it's the same as an interim service checks.

Any opinions on this dealer?

Del2005

Amouar wrote: »

What other things does the garages do in their services apart from checking the lights, car controls, tyres etc?

I just want to to know if it really make sense to pay 60€+ on the top of oil and filter change while I can do all these basic tests myself and would still need to pay extra in order to carry the necessary changes based on mileage/time (Fuel filter, air filter, brake fluid, drive belt, timing belt etc)?

If you are only paying €60 for the labour on a service you are getting nothing but an oil and filter change, you might get some other fluids if you are lucky. The checks required for a proper service would take an hour or more so they are either not charging enough for their work or not doing the checks.