Servcing your own car, the ironic truth?

Flying-High_2

I get where your coming from but when buying stuff I prefer to have some proof its been looked after properly.. Fist full of receipts from a Motorfactors for el'cheapo bits means nothing when the previous owner was a chimp with not much idea...You can usually get the general idea from what the owner says... If they dont know they'll spout !!!! and will easily be caught out...

Once I have a vehicle its a different story I tend to run it into to the ground... I do all my own maintenance... Servicing Cambelts whatever it needs..... 95% using genuine bits aswell for which receipts are kept..

cyclonebri1

For me it's not an issue. I buy nearly new cars now, so service history is largely irrelevant.
Previously had cars at 1st change of company ownership, so usually good history.

What happens to them after that? To be absolutely honest I just don't care. They get serviced by me. I know that that is at least equal to the dealer standard and only then if done to the letter of the law.

To boot, I know my cars have been treated properly, but only because I do it myself.

Maybe more folks should take advantage of the viewing facilities offers by some dealers, and if they don't get what is happening, take along someone that does:A

Just a thought.

vaio

cybergibbons wrote: »

I think most people get their cars serviced by garages, so you are bound to see a lot of complaints. On the whole though, they probably do an OK job......

I think the last "secret shopper" test I read about showed that 90 or 95% of garages didn’t do everything they had charged for, most omissions were trivial but there were some dangerous ones in there too

vaio

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

......Maybe more folks should take advantage of the viewing facilities offers by some dealers, and if they don't get what is happening, take along someone that does:A

Just a thought.

What?

Spend the day at the dealers waiting for them to get round to doing your car?

And them watch them whilst they do it?

I’d much rather do it myself

cyclonebri1

vaio wrote: »

What?

Spend the day at the dealers waiting for them to get round to doing your car?

And them watch them whilst they do it?

I’d much rather do it myself

So your point is????

Look, it doesn't matter what "you do your self" or what you watch them doing.

cyclonebri1

vaio wrote: »

What?

Spend the day at the dealers waiting for them to get round to doing your car?

And them watch them whilst they do it?

I’d much rather do it myself

Yes. Unfortunately unlike me and you vaio, some folks can't "do it them selves"

Any further suggestions from you are of course welcome chap,;);)

cybergibbons

vaio wrote: »

I think the last "secret shopper" test I read about showed that 90 or 95% of garages didn’t do everything they had charged for, most omissions were trivial but there were some dangerous ones in there too

I'd be interested to see the results of tests like that - I haven't ever seen any (not being confrontational here, just interested). The only people I know who work on cars work for small specialist independents.

Kilty_2

TiTheRev wrote: »

Not in a Dealership i'll bet.

They all use tanks which can measure the delivered quantity of oil to 50ml, and there are very few 'cans' that are only 4ltrs these days unless you've bought something from Halfrauds in a special bottle, useless to all but the inept & uneducated.

Pretty much all Castrol oil comes in 4L tubs now - probably the aforementioned inept and uneducated that buys that based on brand power, mind

I'd much rather have a car with an epic pile of receipts detailing everything than a few stamps in a book (which qualifies as a full service history nowadays)

vaio wrote: »

What?

Spend the day at the dealers waiting for them to get round to doing your car?

And them watch them whilst they do it?

I’d much rather do it myself

Depends what's being done - I can't be @rsed getting dirty doing an oil change, having to take the oil to the tip instead of pouring it down a drain etc. Local garage will do it for a very reasonable price whilst I watch and usually not a long wait for them to get started either because it's a quick job

gilbert_and_sullivan

If the competent home mechanic is selling the car, an equally competent buyer and the seller can talk shop over the car and the seller can point out all he's done...that's great and we're all on a winner there, the car's been done, money's been saved and the buyer's got a car that's good.

I'd sooner buy a car that's had an old school home mechanic looking after it with his 5000 mile oil change intervals, than a car serviced under a dealer's long life regime.

Problems arise when car gets sold again, or traded, then with no proof and many sellers are about as believable as a politician.

vaio

cybergibbons wrote: »

I'd be interested to see the results of tests like that - I haven't ever seen any (not being confrontational here, just interested). The only people I know who work on cars work for small specialist independents.

It was a Which secret shopper survey "dramatically reported" here……..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1305298/Which-survey-reveals-garages-fail-repair-car-faults.html