Do you service your car yourself?
- Thread starter jsmoke
- Start date
Caporegime
If you had to ask, take it to a garage.
Soldato
All of my cars for the past 10 years have been under warranty either manufacturers or extended so a garage has to service it.
Don
Because that's not excessive in the slightest?
Lack of stamps would seem to be the least of the issues for a potential buyer
Soldato
Every 3k? I do mine every 5/6k and I thought that was a lot!
I've a VAT registered garage I get on very well with, I supply parts and they do the labour at mates rates.
Caporegime
It’s a Mazda MPS not a Ferrari. 2-3k per oil change?!
Soldato
Why the hell are you changing the oil every 2-3k?! 6k I could understand for a performance car, but 2-3k seems massively excessive.
Personally I service my car every 12k or year, whichever comes first. That includes oil and filter change, check over of air/cabin/fuel filters, changing as needed. Any repairs I do myself unless the weather is awful and it's urgent, or something like an exhaust repair which I can't do myself (unable to weld). Any repairs and servicing I keep the receipt for and keep in a folder - I note the mileage on them.
Soldato
Yep. Varies by usage of the car but I do oil & filter plus air and pollen filter every year.
In 6 years I've done the plugs and gearbox oil twice too but probably once only necessary in that time.
I use Genuine Honda parts where available and get the best deal I can on fluids with club discounts or ECP deals etc.
Brakes I also do, they're easy enough but always need to make sure to take my time as don't want to be in a position I can't drive it to a garage if there's bigger issue or I can't quite do it (seized caliper etc).
My car also needs valve clearances checking/adjusting plus timing chain inspection (can be done at same time). Something I need to do actually.
Costs me about £150 in parts for what the dealer would class as a major service, so £100ish saving from a Honda Dealer and I know it's been done and done right.
In 6 years I've done the plugs and gearbox oil twice too but probably once only necessary in that time.
I use Genuine Honda parts where available and get the best deal I can on fluids with club discounts or ECP deals etc.
Brakes I also do, they're easy enough but always need to make sure to take my time as don't want to be in a position I can't drive it to a garage if there's bigger issue or I can't quite do it (seized caliper etc).
My car also needs valve clearances checking/adjusting plus timing chain inspection (can be done at same time). Something I need to do actually.
Costs me about £150 in parts for what the dealer would class as a major service, so £100ish saving from a Honda Dealer and I know it's been done and done right.
Why do people deviate from the manufacturer schedule anyway (assuming that the car is remotely standard). 
I just do mine when the computer asks for it, to the schedule defined by the service type that it is asking for, why would you do it more often than that.
I just do mine when the computer asks for it, to the schedule defined by the service type that it is asking for, why would you do it more often than that.
Soldato
Nope local indie does it for me so I don't have to take any time off work, I'll buy the parts and leave him to it.
Why not?
Oils £15 a tub... I do the oil filter every 3rd change.
I don't care about the cost, I'm just happy knowing the cars happy on fresh oil.
A very large added cost to the warranty experience, which a lot of people fail to take into account. Mercedes servicing for my E-Class (and even moreso, my old SL classes) is absolutely extortionate to the point of it being a joke, yet would be required should i wish to extend the warranty on it.
Don
But yet as I understand it you put it through a "special" MOT rather than paying out and replacing the Cat?
/facepalm
Caporegime
It’s excessive, it’s like I can mow my lawn every day but why would I want to?
If you care about the car that much surely you would also take it to the garage for a service too for a stamp as well.
£15? What oil is it?
Still, you wouldn't want to put 5l of ASDA's finest engine oil in your prde and joy.
Caporegime
Where do you draw the line? Change the oil every week?
Or perhaps every morning before work?