Ford Focus Servicing Costs

Bushboy

What's a ball-park figure for a regular service on a ford focus?
It's over-due by a few months but I've only added nearly 10k since last years service so it's about time it gets seen to ( shame xmas is on the doorstep )

Last time for its 40k "major" service I paid over 4oo quid, think they saw me coming! Needless to say I'm not going there again.
Also just out of interest is there a Nouth-South divide on this kind of thing?

I would love to be able to do this myself but motoring knowledge is severely limited.
Cheers :beer:

northstar23

I had a Focus for 3 years and did most of the servicing myself.

Regular service at 10k is the engine oil & filter, and depending on mileage it may also be plugs, air filter, fuel filter and pollen filter. If its knocking towards 40k miles think about changing the HT leads, and over 60k think about changing the cambelt.

Otherwise a regular service includes a lot of items that people get conned for eg topping up screenwash. Its also worthwhile just casting an eye over brake pads/discs and the exhaust.

Ball park figure? Steer well clear of a main dealer but depending on the type of service I'd say £80 for the minor, anything up to £250 for a major (inc cambelt). I'd expect to pay these prices at my local village garage, but Ford RapidFit labour must be about £90 per hour by now so its pretty much think of a number and double it if one insists on a dealer stamp

goldspanners

ford charge around £130 for a basic service,i would think you could get a full service for this at a decent independant garage.
i do my own servicing,my focus is almost 5 years old and got 56k on it, its been very relaible,i had the timing belt done at 50k,it cost £140 for this to be done.
its just had the intermediate shaft bearing done it cost £33 for the part from ford and £40 labour,i would have done it myself but dont always have use of a ramp and for £40 quid it saved me the hassle,apparently its quite common around this age/mileage.
also my fuel filter was leaking last week,cost £10 from halfords,ask for this to be done when you get it serviced its due around now anyway.

northstar23

Timing belt for £140 is great value... I got mine done for £174 a few years back. Booked it for 3 1/2 hours labour and I thought that was a decent price.

With the fuel filter... on the Focus Mk1 it sits just forward of the offside rear wheel and can be a total pig to change. Insist on seeing the old part to make sure a disreputable garage doesn't just claim to have replaced it... its nigh on impossible to check the work without a ramp or a pit to inspect it from.

fedupwithcrap

Bushboy,

I have a 56 Focus Zetec 1.6. Just had the 37500 service done. £126 at Tremona in Southampton. I know that is too far for you but gives an idea of what a small garage will charge. Ford parts fitted Oil and Air filters etc. This keeps my warranty valid.

My local Ford stealer wanted £230 for the 25000 service, Tremona charged £137

shop around

ps why the heck do Ford have such stupid service intervals? 12500 at a go

goldspanners

fedupwithcrap wrote: »

ps why the heck do Ford have such stupid service intervals? 12500 at a go

why is that so stupid? does it matter if its 12500 or simply 12000? at the time im guessing this made it longer service intervall than rivals possibly?

maniac886

My local Indie charged me £130 for a full service(3 year one) using genuine Ford Parts. He charges £80 for the Interim service.

jimbo_the_jetset

Most Rapidfit places do a 'value service' for ~£100. Change all filters etc and a visual all over 'health check'. Sometimes they also have offers giving back gift vouchers.

You could just ask for a price for all filters change and then get one of these free winter check up's if you are worried about anything. Unless you want/need the stamp of approval that is...

Bushboy

Some great info there, cheers guys.
Just had another look at my receipt form the last service (40k "major" ) and the car has done about 7.5k since then. ( HT leads were changed along with brake pads ) Does 450 quid still seem excessive?

Mileage seems pretty low for me but I was training for the London Marathon this year so substitued the car for loooooooong runs and getting public transport!

Like someone else mentioned, in my log book Ford recommend a max of 12500 between service intervals.
Since I've only done 7.5k I spoke to a friend's mechanic who said I'd leave it to after xmas if I was you. Sounds like good advice to me although I did want anti-freeze put in for this winter.

I'm determined to get more savvy with the car for the future though so will be buying a Haynes manual and will attempt to change an oil filter some time next year!

Viz_2

Just to say I have had my Y-reg Focus (120k miles on the clock) for 7 years and regularly use a Rapidfit. I haven't had any problems and find them good value. I use the 'Silver', 'Gold' or 'Platinum' services.

northstar23

jimbo_the_jetset wrote: »

Most Rapidfit places do a 'value service' for ~£100. Change all filters etc and a visual all over 'health check'. Sometimes they also have offers giving back gift vouchers.

You could just ask for a price for all filters change and then get one of these free winter check up's if you are worried about anything. Unless you want/need the stamp of approval that is...

Haha yes and while they are doing the "health check" they WILL discover several other things that are illegal/inefficient/need replacing.

Never trust a Ford/ Rapidfit dealership... ever. Not just based on my experiences with Invicta & Malcolm Waite in Kent, several other people confirm this opinion.

Quick story for everyone... my Uncle took his 04 Fiesta into Rapidfit for a MOT with a free voucher he had. The car was in great condition and would have passed easily... however the fitter failed it citing a headlamp being out of alignment. Oh and by the way Sir we can adjust it for £40.

When he produced the reciept from the previous year they hastily retracted their opinion... and for why? They'd tried exactly the same lie the year before. :rotfl: