Self-servicing ST220?
- Thread starter Makhaira
- Start date
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
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Local Ford dealer wanted around £120 labour to do the third service on my ST. That is plugs, pollen/air/fuel filters and oil.
If I had all the parts out in front of me, I could probably do all of that in about 10 minutes actual labour time.
That is why I'd do it myself, personally (Not on the ST as a service stamp is important here, but you get the idea)
But then I also like finding things to do - I did the Mondeo spring myself when I could have driven carefully to a friend's garage and had him do it for me for nothing.
If I had all the parts out in front of me, I could probably do all of that in about 10 minutes actual labour time.
That is why I'd do it myself, personally (Not on the ST as a service stamp is important here, but you get the idea)
But then I also like finding things to do - I did the Mondeo spring myself when I could have driven carefully to a friend's garage and had him do it for me for nothing.
I was talking specifically about oil. If you are going to ignore the service history element of the car then why not chuck a garage a tenner to drop the oil and pour some new stuff in. Heck, why not drop National Tyres £30 to do the job including some Castrol Edge..
I can see the appeal of doing other stuff yourself, but changing oil is just filthy and unrewarding.
I can see the appeal of doing other stuff yourself, but changing oil is just filthy and unrewarding.
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I doubt any garage will do it for those prices unless you're very friendly with them.
It's 15 minutes labour. Whats a typical backstreet place charge, 30-40 quid an hour?
My last oil service (Which includes a little bit more than just changing the oil) at a BMW main dealer was £43 labour!
Nationals prices are on the National website for you to check.
My last oil service (Which includes a little bit more than just changing the oil) at a BMW main dealer was £43 labour!
Nationals prices are on the National website for you to check.
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If someone is charging £30 an hour, I'd put money on them having a minimum charge of an hours labour.
So you are saying that under the arches backstreet places charge near BMW Main dealer labour rates for oil changes?
MikeHiow strikes again
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I'm saying I cannot see anyone willing to bother for the sake of a tenner. I will ask my friend who runs an Indy and has worked at many others, what he'd charge.
The two things that make self servicing on the Mondeo ST specifically challenging, are the subframe, you should not just use a normal jack. It should go on a ramp or by doing it with the jack that comes with the spare and the engine positioning makes changing your own plugs extremely difficult. It's not as easy as a plug change on the Focus.
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Thats the National deal - £36 including a full engine worth of Castrol Edge.
So thats my second option - but I still stand by my first of simply handing a tenner to a backstreet garage, handing them the oil and saying 'drop the oil and refill with that, ta'.
Thats the entire point of grubby cheapskate places like that.
They are not going to charge you BMW main dealer prices to drop some oil out.
The only thing I don't like about doing the oil myself is having to trek to the dump and dispose of it - the can ends up inevitably in the back of my van for months, slowly dribbling all over the place. All this because they won't allow commercial vehicles in the local dump so I have to park round the corner and walk it in myself.
On the other hand, the reason I like to do it myself is that the few times me or my friends have taken cars to dealers or backstreet garages, they seem to have just tipped the whole bottle of oil into the sump, overfilling in the process.
It takes time to do it properly, need to add oil slowly, wait for it to trickle down to the sump and measure the level with the vehicle on a straight, flat ground, repeating as necessary till the level is correct.
I like to get underneath, have a general look around while I'm under there, and wipe all the resulting oily mess off the block or wherever it has got to
If parts are included in a service or oil change, I also don't trust their quality or suitability.
- Cheap or non original oil filters (lack of effective NRV on some, inferior filtering)
- Some mechanics overtighten sump plugs and oil filters to the point you can't get them off without damaging yourself, your tools or the component in question
- Use the wrong quality or viscosity oil (even refilling large drums of expensive oil with cheap oil)
Its only a Peugeot Expert HDi van that I run, but at least I know its got the right amount of 5w40 Castrol Edge and genuine PSA filters which makes me feel a bit better about ragging the hell out of it, sometimes before the oil has come up to full temperature.
On the other hand, the reason I like to do it myself is that the few times me or my friends have taken cars to dealers or backstreet garages, they seem to have just tipped the whole bottle of oil into the sump, overfilling in the process.
It takes time to do it properly, need to add oil slowly, wait for it to trickle down to the sump and measure the level with the vehicle on a straight, flat ground, repeating as necessary till the level is correct.
I like to get underneath, have a general look around while I'm under there, and wipe all the resulting oily mess off the block or wherever it has got to
If parts are included in a service or oil change, I also don't trust their quality or suitability.
- Cheap or non original oil filters (lack of effective NRV on some, inferior filtering)
- Some mechanics overtighten sump plugs and oil filters to the point you can't get them off without damaging yourself, your tools or the component in question
- Use the wrong quality or viscosity oil (even refilling large drums of expensive oil with cheap oil)
Its only a Peugeot Expert HDi van that I run, but at least I know its got the right amount of 5w40 Castrol Edge and genuine PSA filters which makes me feel a bit better about ragging the hell out of it, sometimes before the oil has come up to full temperature.
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Sounds like the consensus is to look at getting a Ford dealer to do it, and I supply the parts. Many thanks for all the responses guys, I can tell some of you have spent a while typing stuff out, cheers 
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Have you thought about using Ford Rapidfit? Haven't used them myself but people on the Ford forums I used to lurk on used them and saved about £50 over a dealer and they used Ford parts as well and followed the Ford service schedule.
[TW]Fox;18129226 said:
Of course it's rewarding, you're saving money.
It's hardly a filthy job! If you think it's that bad then it's probably best to use a mechanic.
I too can't see someone charging less an hour to do an oil change, going by past dealings, but then I've never really looked or asked specifically for an oil change.
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Soldato
At the moment they are doing services for £99, This should include all filters and plugs too.
Its a bloody good deal if you ask me.
Also there is an option for an mot too with service for £129.
Soldato
Of course it's rewarding, you're saving money.
It's hardly a filthy job! If you think it's that bad then it's probably best to use a mechanic.
I too can't see someone charging less an hour to do an oil change, going by past dealings, but then I've never really looked or asked specifically for an oil change.
Ford labour time is approx half an hour to do oil and filter change. I know if we were asked to do this half an hour is all we would charge. Its not very often anyone asks for this, most come in for a service.
That sounds like a good deal to me.
£129 for MOT and service sounds pretty good too - any details of what the service includes?
Soldato
I don't mind changing oil personally, although I won't be doing it on my Mondeo, just because I want to keep up the FFSH and let them do the other necessities / checks as well. But for the MX5 I do that myself. I'd argue that it takes longer than 15 minutes as well, but a lot of that is just waiting for the oil to drain fully, so I just walk away. Then making sure it's filled with the right amount, everything's clean etc.