Self-servicing ST220?

Iceman · 3 Jan 2011 at 10:19

sigma said:
That sounds like a good deal to me.

£129 for MOT and service sounds pretty good too - any details of what the service includes?

Its just a complete service from what i have seen on the service sheet, Like i say includes all filters and plugs, general check over of the car.
Will check when im back in work tomorrow if its still running. Im pretty sure one of the guys i work with got his car serviced this way and got breakdown cover too. Not sure the exact details to be honest.

Iceman · 3 Jan 2011 at 10:22

Sorry my mistake they dont do plugs looking at this chart. Found this on the ford website.

A host of checks for just £99
While not as comprehensive as our full scheduled service option, the Ford Value Service offers an impressive range of checks for such a competitive price.
The Ford Value Service includes checks on:

Handbrake
Clutch
Windscreen
Washers, wipers
Exterior lights and fascia illumination
Instrument gauges, warning lights and horn
Heating system, blower motor
Air conditioning
Seat belts
Bonnet catch
Wiring, pipes, hoses, oil and fuel pipes
Engine, vacuum pump and cooling system
Coolant expansion tank, windscreen washer, power steering and brake fluid reservoirs
Coolant
Auxiliary Drive Belts
Battery
Automatic transmission
Steering, suspension linkages, ball joints, driveshafts, gaiters
Front and rear wheel bearings
Engine and transmission
Exhaust
Underbody
Braking system
Tyres including spare wheel
Wheel nuts
Air Filter
Oil & oil filter

[TW]Fox · 3 Jan 2011 at 10:28

sigma said:
Of course it's rewarding, you're saving money.

A tenner, tops. Or even costing yourself money versus the National deal, as you cant actually buy 6 litres of Edge of 36 quid..

Joshy · 3 Jan 2011 at 11:50

[TW]Fox;18130800 said:
A tenner, tops.

This still remains to be seen. And even if you do find a place willing to do it for that money, 15 minutes from getting the car into the workshop to drive it back out again is not doing the job properly.

[TW]Fox;18130800 said:
Or even costing yourself money versus the National deal, as you cant actually buy 6 litres of Edge of 36 quid..

I do have the say that the National deal seems very good if there are truly no hidden catches. The only arguments for doing an oil change on your own in these circumstances is that A) You know you've done it properly with a decent amount of draining time and B) If you don't mind working on cars it is arguably more convenient - For me booking the car in for an appointment, driving there, waiting and then driving back is more hassle than a bit of spannering that I could probably get banged out in 5/10 minutes (plus adequate time for draining).

[TW]Fox · 3 Jan 2011 at 12:07

Joshy said:
This still remains to be seen. And even if you do find a place willing to do it for that money, 15 minutes from getting the car into the workshop to drive it back out again is not doing the job properly

So if what you say is true and they'd charge an hours labour at what, 30-40 quid, what is the point in backstreet cheap places even existing?

As I said, I was charged £43 in labour for my last 'Oil Service' (Which basically includes an oil change, cabin filters change, oil filter change and a check of various bits and bobs) including a nice cup of decent coffee in a nice pleasant main dealer showroom.

You are saying that a grubby railway arches place wouldnt be any cheaper?

Why would anyone even use them?

Edit: Infact come to think of it I just dug through some of the paperwork for the Mondeo - RapidFit charged me 10 quid to drop the oil and refill it with supplied Ford oil, which must be where the figure in my head was coming from.

MikeHiow · 3 Jan 2011 at 12:09

This £43, did this include VAT, how much time was it actually for and is this something that can be repeated at any BMW main dealer?

[TW]Fox · 3 Jan 2011 at 12:27

MikeHiow said:
This £43, did this include VAT, how much time was it actually for and is this something that can be repeated at any BMW main dealer?

Of course it included VAT. It was also at a dealer I'd never viisted before and have not visited since.

Would you like a photograph of the invoice?

Joshy · 3 Jan 2011 at 12:27

[TW]Fox;18131358 said:
So if what you say is true and they'd charge an hours labour at what, 30-40 quid, what is the point in backstreet cheap places even existing?

I'm not saying that they'd charge an hour's labour, neither am I saying that they wouldn't do it for a tenner but I'd be surprised if they would be willing to do the job half as willingly as you make out - It is not a lot of money. I'd imagine that unless the place was an absolute ghost town they'd tell you to do a runner or at the very least try to sell you a 'proper' service.

[TW]Fox;18131358 said:
You are saying that a grubby railway arches place wouldnt be any cheaper?

Why would anyone even use them?

I think you are underestimating the value of having a mechanic that you can trust

.

Another problem is misinformation. I'll admit to not knowing that deals like the National one existed and I'm in the trade.

(And to answer your question the back streets places I know seem to keep their heads above water mostly on MOT work/repairs. Servicing labour costs might favour a dealer but repair costs don't

)

[TW]Fox;18131358 said:
As I said, I was charged £43 in labour for my last 'Oil Service' (Which basically includes an oil change, cabin filters change, oil filter change and a check of various bits and bobs) including a nice cup of decent coffee in a nice pleasant main dealer showroom.

[TW]Fox;18131358 said:
Edit: Infact come to think of it I just dug through some of the paperwork for the Mondeo - RapidFit charged me 10 quid to drop the oil and refill it with supplied Ford oil, which must be where the figure in my head was coming from.

That is incredibly good value. If you can get deals like that then I agree, why go to a backstreet garage

sigma · 3 Jan 2011 at 13:40

Iceman said:
Sorry my mistake they dont do plugs looking at this chart. Found this on the ford website.

A host of checks for just £99
While not as comprehensive as our full scheduled service option, the Ford Value Service offers an impressive range of checks for such a competitive price.
The Ford Value Service includes checks on:

Handbrake
Clutch
Windscreen
Washers, wipers
Exterior lights and fascia illumination
Instrument gauges, warning lights and horn
Heating system, blower motor
Air conditioning
Seat belts
Bonnet catch
Wiring, pipes, hoses, oil and fuel pipes
Engine, vacuum pump and cooling system
Coolant expansion tank, windscreen washer, power steering and brake fluid reservoirs
Coolant
Auxiliary Drive Belts
Battery
Automatic transmission
Steering, suspension linkages, ball joints, driveshafts, gaiters
Front and rear wheel bearings
Engine and transmission
Exhaust
Underbody
Braking system
Tyres including spare wheel
Wheel nuts
Air Filter
Oil & oil filter

Hmm so an oil change and air filter change and some checks, average deal then really, I guess. Still, for the average motorist I guess that's still worth it.