Servicing a car at home - is it worth it?
02 December 2012, 08:45 AM
#1
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Servicing a car at home - is it worth it?
Just done an oil change on the Saab -
£48 for the parts plus a couple of hours fapping around with undertrays etc which in this weather was no fun lol
The wifes primera needs an oil change too £28 for parts...
Looking under her bonnet, the filter is a pig to get to, wich means axle stands or ramps to get upto the filer (back of the block up high)
Just got some prices from local factors to do said work
Mine £54
Hers £34
All with mobil or castrol oil as specified...
At those prices, its going in on monday
which brings the question, does anyone else still do there own servicing work these days or do they get others to do it?
Mart
£48 for the parts plus a couple of hours fapping around with undertrays etc which in this weather was no fun lol
The wifes primera needs an oil change too £28 for parts...
Looking under her bonnet, the filter is a pig to get to, wich means axle stands or ramps to get upto the filer (back of the block up high)
Just got some prices from local factors to do said work
Mine £54
Hers £34
All with mobil or castrol oil as specified...
At those prices, its going in on monday
which brings the question, does anyone else still do there own servicing work these days or do they get others to do it?
Mart
02 December 2012, 08:49 AM
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I wouldn't service my own car unless it was a run around. To me the service book is important when am looking to buy a car and if I was told it was serviced at home ad walk away.
02 December 2012, 08:55 AM
#3
I would rather service myself, you know it`s done right for one and you can keep a eye out for any issues, a split this or that or worn inverted popoid etc,
If you cant do it then fair enough but to me its a no brainer, but I do my own cambelts etc
If you cant do it then fair enough but to me its a no brainer, but I do my own cambelts etc
02 December 2012, 09:03 AM
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I service the Impreza mainly myself and keep all receipts, paperwork etc. for the folder.
02 December 2012, 09:11 AM
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Always done all my cars and trucks myself, as above its the only way of being certain that everything's been done the way I want.
Now do most of the family's cars too,
But that's just because their all too tight
Now do most of the family's cars too,
But that's just because their all too tight
02 December 2012, 09:44 AM
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I agree, doing yourself, means you know its been done properly and the way you'd like it.
But weighing up the cost against the time and faff factor, you have to admit its a tempting proposition
mart
But weighing up the cost against the time and faff factor, you have to admit its a tempting proposition
mart
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02 December 2012, 01:58 PM
#8
Too many garages are sucking the oil out via the dipstick, which I struggle to see as being as effective as allowing warm oil to drain under the forces of gravity. Undoubtedly it is quicker which keeps the costs down.
As a desk pilot during the week I find it very relaxing and satisfying to spend a couple of hours with the tools out changing the oil in my motors. As already said, it affords the opportunity for some preventative maintenance.
Couldn't care less about service history - Bought a used accord a few months ago, according to the service schedule in the book the gearbox oil,brake and clutch fluid should have been changed at the last service. The book is stamped to imply this. When I asked for the detail from the job card, these were just oil change and inspection services.
I am currently selling an 01 leon with a binder of reciepts and invoices which is almost 2" think. That is what I call a full service history.
As a desk pilot during the week I find it very relaxing and satisfying to spend a couple of hours with the tools out changing the oil in my motors. As already said, it affords the opportunity for some preventative maintenance.
Couldn't care less about service history - Bought a used accord a few months ago, according to the service schedule in the book the gearbox oil,brake and clutch fluid should have been changed at the last service. The book is stamped to imply this. When I asked for the detail from the job card, these were just oil change and inspection services.
I am currently selling an 01 leon with a binder of reciepts and invoices which is almost 2" think. That is what I call a full service history.
02 December 2012, 01:58 PM
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I have always serviced my own cars up to now, generally they are easier nowadays with less to do except any computerised control systems.
I have to admit though that I am not so adverse to getting it done by the local garage experts on my car now.
Les
I have to admit though that I am not so adverse to getting it done by the local garage experts on my car now.
Les
02 December 2012, 02:25 PM
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Too many garages are sucking the oil out via the dipstick, which I struggle to see as being as effective as allowing warm oil to drain under the forces of gravity. Undoubtedly it is quicker which keeps the costs down.
As a desk pilot during the week I find it very relaxing and satisfying to spend a couple of hours with the tools out changing the oil in my motors. As already said, it affords the opportunity for some preventative maintenance.
Couldn't care less about service history - Bought a used accord a few months ago, according to the service schedule in the book the gearbox oil,brake and clutch fluid should have been changed at the last service. The book is stamped to imply this. When I asked for the detail from the job card, these were just oil change and inspection services.
I am currently selling an 01 leon with a binder of reciepts and invoices which is almost 2" think. That is what I call a full service history.
As a desk pilot during the week I find it very relaxing and satisfying to spend a couple of hours with the tools out changing the oil in my motors. As already said, it affords the opportunity for some preventative maintenance.
Couldn't care less about service history - Bought a used accord a few months ago, according to the service schedule in the book the gearbox oil,brake and clutch fluid should have been changed at the last service. The book is stamped to imply this. When I asked for the detail from the job card, these were just oil change and inspection services.
I am currently selling an 01 leon with a binder of reciepts and invoices which is almost 2" think. That is what I call a full service history.
This
02 December 2012, 06:37 PM
#11
Depends pon the age of the car but I would take a home serviced car over one with a service book as main dealers are generally hopeless, as long as there are receipts and the owner knows what they are on about. People put to much store int hat stamp, I have had cars come back that have patently not been touched, come back smelling of fish and chips so they went for lunch in it, a car that I saw the mechaincs do a burnout in.
02 December 2012, 07:07 PM
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Always serviced my own cars, garages are rip offs for this sort of thing and you never know it has been done right. Scooby on its 3rd service session, did al the Skylines, and my Disco when I had it. No brainier major cost saving and if you are into your cars what greater satisfaction.
02 December 2012, 07:30 PM
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I have no choice, my service book was lost 
. But I do my own fluid changes and have had the belts done recently by an ex-Subaru mechanic, saves money and as stated before, you have peace of mind knowing its been done how you want it.
Also, the money you save on labour charges can be pluoghed in to more regular fluid changes.
. But I do my own fluid changes and have had the belts done recently by an ex-Subaru mechanic, saves money and as stated before, you have peace of mind knowing its been done how you want it. Also, the money you save on labour charges can be pluoghed in to more regular fluid changes.
02 December 2012, 09:26 PM
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02 December 2012, 09:31 PM
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Serviced and repaired all my cars myself unless under warrenty or beyond my capability at the time. Paid a specialist to do the timing belt on the Scooby each time as it would be quicker.
02 December 2012, 09:50 PM
#17
I service myself, an 11 year old wrx is no ferrari classic and I feel I have plenty of experience in doing it and all of my previous cars once out of warranty. Why waste money paying a garage decent money when they get a 17 year old to do it anyway?
03 December 2012, 07:41 PM
#18
I do. But I have access to both a 2 post and 4 post lift
Modern/newer cars are becoming a right pain the **** to service. Oil filter locations are just getting stupider by the day. Undertrays without any hatches to drain the oil. Some cars don't even have dipsticks now (Renaults and Mercs to name a few). Great idea, presuming the level sensor works ok (the sensor on our BMW constantly thought it was overfilled - thankfully that still has a dipstick). Anyone who's done a airfilter change on a e90/e60 BMW diesel will understand the stupidty of it all. Thankfully they've redesigned it on newer generations - its now a pancake style filter, just like old cars used to have.
Then there is the magical art of resetting the service indicator....you'd think with over £10K worth of diagnostics equipment (plus support subscription/license contracts) all the bases will be covered; oh no, not on everything at least. Some cars need a bit of voodoo magic by pressing and holding various buttons on the dash or steering wheel or pressing the brake pedal etc - Autodata is usless for that kind of stuff (legal legit version). Instead I have a book the size of a phone directory dedicated to it.
Then we have brake drums. Seems they've come back into fashion with more and more daft auto adjuster mechanisms that never seem to work, and should you try and "exercise" it, it'll overadjust to the point the drum won't go back on, and when you try to override the adjuster tab, it falls apart (usually French crap). And of course, thats assuming you've manged to undo the big nut to remove the drum in teh first place, nothing new with that, but good luck to the DIY-er undoing that on the driveway (unless its a taper seat bearing) Not to say rear calipers are any better; Some cars with electric handbrakes need to have them reset via a diagnostics tool when the pads are changed, otherwise it wrecks the calipers (Audi/VW).
What else? Ahh yes hollow sump plugs....fine unless the previous person who worked on it overtightened it, then it shears off when you try to remove it!
Then we have brembo calipers with pad securing pins that weld themselves in the caliper (Porsche, VW, Merc). That'll makes a 15min brake job into one that takes several hours. Did I say I hate Brembo calipers?
I could go on. But I'm bored now
Modern/newer cars are becoming a right pain the **** to service. Oil filter locations are just getting stupider by the day. Undertrays without any hatches to drain the oil. Some cars don't even have dipsticks now (Renaults and Mercs to name a few). Great idea, presuming the level sensor works ok (the sensor on our BMW constantly thought it was overfilled - thankfully that still has a dipstick). Anyone who's done a airfilter change on a e90/e60 BMW diesel will understand the stupidty of it all. Thankfully they've redesigned it on newer generations - its now a pancake style filter, just like old cars used to have.
Then there is the magical art of resetting the service indicator....you'd think with over £10K worth of diagnostics equipment (plus support subscription/license contracts) all the bases will be covered; oh no, not on everything at least. Some cars need a bit of voodoo magic by pressing and holding various buttons on the dash or steering wheel or pressing the brake pedal etc - Autodata is usless for that kind of stuff (legal legit version). Instead I have a book the size of a phone directory dedicated to it.
Then we have brake drums. Seems they've come back into fashion with more and more daft auto adjuster mechanisms that never seem to work, and should you try and "exercise" it, it'll overadjust to the point the drum won't go back on, and when you try to override the adjuster tab, it falls apart (usually French crap). And of course, thats assuming you've manged to undo the big nut to remove the drum in teh first place, nothing new with that, but good luck to the DIY-er undoing that on the driveway (unless its a taper seat bearing)
Not to say rear calipers are any better; Some cars with electric handbrakes need to have them reset via a diagnostics tool when the pads are changed, otherwise it wrecks the calipers (Audi/VW).What else? Ahh yes hollow sump plugs....fine unless the previous person who worked on it overtightened it, then it shears off when you try to remove it!
Then we have brembo calipers with pad securing pins that weld themselves in the caliper (Porsche, VW, Merc). That'll makes a 15min brake job into one that takes several hours. Did I say I hate Brembo calipers?
I could go on. But I'm bored now
Last edited by ALi-B; 03 December 2012 at 07:43 PM.
03 December 2012, 07:50 PM
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I do it myself - that way i have piece of mind it has been done correctly & i know exactly what has been changed and when.
I keep receipts for everything, i think that holds as much credibility as a stamp in a book
I keep receipts for everything, i think that holds as much credibility as a stamp in a book
03 December 2012, 09:52 PM
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I do. But I have access to both a 2 post and 4 post lift
Modern/newer cars are becoming a right pain the **** to service. Oil filter locations are just getting stupider by the day. Undertrays without any hatches to drain the oil. Some cars don't even have dipsticks now (Renaults and Mercs to name a few). Great idea, presuming the level sensor works ok (the sensor on our BMW constantly thought it was overfilled - thankfully that still has a dipstick). Anyone who's done a airfilter change on a e90/e60 BMW diesel will understand the stupidty of it all. Thankfully they've redesigned it on newer generations - its now a pancake style filter, just like old cars used to have.
Then there is the magical art of resetting the service indicator....you'd think with over £10K worth of diagnostics equipment (plus support subscription/license contracts) all the bases will be covered; oh no, not on everything at least. Some cars need a bit of voodoo magic by pressing and holding various buttons on the dash or steering wheel or pressing the brake pedal etc - Autodata is usless for that kind of stuff (legal legit version). Instead I have a book the size of a phone directory dedicated to it.
Then we have brake drums. Seems they've come back into fashion with more and more daft auto adjuster mechanisms that never seem to work, and should you try and "exercise" it, it'll overadjust to the point the drum won't go back on, and when you try to override the adjuster tab, it falls apart (usually French crap). And of course, thats assuming you've manged to undo the big nut to remove the drum in teh first place, nothing new with that, but good luck to the DIY-er undoing that on the driveway (unless its a taper seat bearing) Not to say rear calipers are any better; Some cars with electric handbrakes need to have them reset via a diagnostics tool when the pads are changed, otherwise it wrecks the calipers (Audi/VW).
What else? Ahh yes hollow sump plugs....fine unless the previous person who worked on it overtightened it, then it shears off when you try to remove it!
Then we have brembo calipers with pad securing pins that weld themselves in the caliper (Porsche, VW, Merc). That'll makes a 15min brake job into one that takes several hours. Did I say I hate Brembo calipers?
I could go on. But I'm bored now
Modern/newer cars are becoming a right pain the **** to service. Oil filter locations are just getting stupider by the day. Undertrays without any hatches to drain the oil. Some cars don't even have dipsticks now (Renaults and Mercs to name a few). Great idea, presuming the level sensor works ok (the sensor on our BMW constantly thought it was overfilled - thankfully that still has a dipstick). Anyone who's done a airfilter change on a e90/e60 BMW diesel will understand the stupidty of it all. Thankfully they've redesigned it on newer generations - its now a pancake style filter, just like old cars used to have.
Then there is the magical art of resetting the service indicator....you'd think with over £10K worth of diagnostics equipment (plus support subscription/license contracts) all the bases will be covered; oh no, not on everything at least. Some cars need a bit of voodoo magic by pressing and holding various buttons on the dash or steering wheel or pressing the brake pedal etc - Autodata is usless for that kind of stuff (legal legit version). Instead I have a book the size of a phone directory dedicated to it.
Then we have brake drums. Seems they've come back into fashion with more and more daft auto adjuster mechanisms that never seem to work, and should you try and "exercise" it, it'll overadjust to the point the drum won't go back on, and when you try to override the adjuster tab, it falls apart (usually French crap). And of course, thats assuming you've manged to undo the big nut to remove the drum in teh first place, nothing new with that, but good luck to the DIY-er undoing that on the driveway (unless its a taper seat bearing)
Not to say rear calipers are any better; Some cars with electric handbrakes need to have them reset via a diagnostics tool when the pads are changed, otherwise it wrecks the calipers (Audi/VW).What else? Ahh yes hollow sump plugs....fine unless the previous person who worked on it overtightened it, then it shears off when you try to remove it!
Then we have brembo calipers with pad securing pins that weld themselves in the caliper (Porsche, VW, Merc). That'll makes a 15min brake job into one that takes several hours. Did I say I hate Brembo calipers?
I could go on. But I'm bored now
I bet the designer sits there every day laughing his head off thinking about al the people who will be doing oil changes on that engine lol.
Mart
03 December 2012, 10:08 PM
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got 2 mates set up there own garages, an independat honda specialist and a run of the mill place - both cover my daily motoring needs.
for my beloved scooby, not a fcking soul gets near it, bar me or a recognised specialist ive whittled down by experience. a few "specialists" have been worse than my 4 year old boy changing the plugs with a hammer and chisel!!
for my beloved scooby, not a fcking soul gets near it, bar me or a recognised specialist ive whittled down by experience. a few "specialists" have been worse than my 4 year old boy changing the plugs with a hammer and chisel!!
03 December 2012, 10:37 PM
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I can get as many service stamps in the book, for free, as I could possibly want, plus know where a MOT consists of a tap on the bonnet.
Surely a 1987 Fiat Uno would be worth less than the price of a service at a dealership,
whereas on say a Veyron, I'd expect to see Bugatti stamps, receipts, invoices etc.
Surely a 1987 Fiat Uno would be worth less than the price of a service at a dealership,
whereas on say a Veyron, I'd expect to see Bugatti stamps, receipts, invoices etc.
04 December 2012, 09:48 PM
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Why ?
Depends pon the age of the car but I would take a home serviced car over one with a service book as main dealers are generally hopeless, as long as there are receipts and the owner knows what they are on about. People put to much store int hat stamp, I have had cars come back that have patently not been touched, come back smelling of fish and chips so they went for lunch in it, a car that I saw the mechaincs do a burnout in.
Depends pon the age of the car but I would take a home serviced car over one with a service book as main dealers are generally hopeless, as long as there are receipts and the owner knows what they are on about. People put to much store int hat stamp, I have had cars come back that have patently not been touched, come back smelling of fish and chips so they went for lunch in it, a car that I saw the mechaincs do a burnout in.
04 December 2012, 11:49 PM
#25
Make sure they DO service it though.
I've seen some shockingly neglected Minis that were supposed to be on the TLC package. Got some pics of an air filter off one which is probably the most badly clogged air filter I have ever seen on a car.
Not saying all dealers are like this but I think some decided to cut corner on some cars, and there's no excuse on the newer cars as they know exactly when they should be changed as it says so on the dash, or even if you take the key into the dealership! (along with plugs, oil, cabin filter, etc) So they've reset the mileage counters, but didn't bother checking the filter on more than one occasion! The oil didn't look much better either.
Last edited by ALi-B; 05 December 2012 at 12:44 AM.
05 December 2012, 07:34 AM
#26
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I would not let someone else service my wife, so would defiantly not let someone else my car
You are never quite sure what has been done, especially fluid changes
A bit of minefield
You are never quite sure what has been done, especially fluid changes
A bit of minefield
05 December 2012, 07:56 AM
#27
^^ Thats why i don't let them near my cars^^
You can't trust them as far as you can spit.
I'd sooner spend the money for labour on tools and then i have the tools for other stuff, perfect example is my mig welder, cheapest quote i got for doing a bit of MOT welding on my transporter was £250, one was £400, so i toddled off to machine mart and bought all the gear required for about £270, which included 2 rolls of wire, fancy lid, gloves, apron, 4x mole grips of various types and a load of spare tips for the gun.
Did all the welding required for mot and made up a new bottom inner skin for the rear door and did a couple of other bits.
Now have a mig welder that stands me at zero and it just saved me £500 because i made my garage door and a work bench for my garage i've just finished building (myself) out in croatia.
I hate with a passion trades people of any description, thieving ***** for the most part.
You can do anything you put your mind to, especially in this day and age with the internet at your finger tips, how to guides on everything from wiping your ar$e to building a rocket ship.
You can't trust them as far as you can spit.
I'd sooner spend the money for labour on tools and then i have the tools for other stuff, perfect example is my mig welder, cheapest quote i got for doing a bit of MOT welding on my transporter was £250, one was £400, so i toddled off to machine mart and bought all the gear required for about £270, which included 2 rolls of wire, fancy lid, gloves, apron, 4x mole grips of various types and a load of spare tips for the gun.
Did all the welding required for mot and made up a new bottom inner skin for the rear door and did a couple of other bits.
Now have a mig welder that stands me at zero and it just saved me £500 because i made my garage door and a work bench for my garage i've just finished building (myself) out in croatia.
I hate with a passion trades people of any description, thieving ***** for the most part.
You can do anything you put your mind to, especially in this day and age with the internet at your finger tips, how to guides on everything from wiping your ar$e to building a rocket ship.
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