Car maintenance - how much do you spend?

maskerade

I'm just curious because I've spent a fortune this month... not spent anything for a year before that though so its not a surprise.

I had to have a whole new exhaust unit at £210 (£150 part, £60 labour)
Three new tyres £160 total (stupid unusual sized tyres).
It's MOT and service will be in August and I think I can get that combined for £99...

It's 5 years old.

How much do you spend?

Alter_ego

I have driven 98000 miles in my present car without having any routine services. I change the engine oil and filter regularly.
Other items eg tyres, brake pads and discs, exhaust, battery are replaced when necessary.
I have had 3 problems that would not have been any different if servicing had been done- Dead glow plug, jammed starter motor, another dead glow plug.
On this basis I could consider routine servicing a waste of money, however I was an aircraft engineer and take notice when problems arise.

maskerade

Interesting. I was wondering what the point of a service was - I change everything when they need it. Would it be better just to pay for an oil change and filter? It's out of its warranty period.

Alter_ego

maskerade wrote: »

Interesting. I was wondering what the point of a service was - I change everything when they need it. Would it be better just to pay for an oil change and filter? It's out of its warranty period.

As long as you check fluids, take notice of problems arising etc, I think regular oil and filters should keep things running OK, especially if it's diesel.

maskerade

It's petrol but I do keep an eye on things. Might save myself £60 then - thanks!

Rolandtheroadie

maskerade wrote: »

I'm just curious because I've spent a fortune this month... not spent anything for a year before that though so its not a surprise.

I had to have a whole new exhaust unit at £210 (£150 part, £60 labour)
Three new tyres £160 total (stupid unusual sized tyres).
It's MOT and service will be in August and I think I can get that combined for £99...

It's 5 years old.

How much do you spend?

Thats £69 more than I paid for my car. ALthough I HAVE just spent £4 on parts and will need a couple of tyres over the next couple of weeks.

Spent around £50 for oil/filter/fuel filter/air filter for the wifes, and it's MOT is due 21st June so will go in tomorrow. £40 plus whatever it needs.

maskerade

I think its just been a bit of a shock to me cos all its had have been new brake pads and one tyre in the five years preceding this!

I changed the air filter myself and did the oil myself last time.

alastairq

'Ongoing servicing'....is simply, regular oil/filter changes, and repair/replacement as and when necessary.

Some people simply ignore everything until the annual service..then frequently get hit by a large bill.

I prefer the other way...at least I only pay relatively small amounts now and then.....and the costs are purely replacement parts costs.....I don't like paying labour charges....so I do pretty much everything myself......

maskerade

I pick things up as they go but then have been having services anyway... which based on this would appear just to be a very expensive oil change!

bengalknights

Mines just a yearly service & mot £120 and the occasional tyre changes at about £45 each.This year only just the service & mot so far touch wood.

grizzly1911

Diesel - Oil and filters at specified intervals. (Plugs on petrol)

Keep an eye on the rest but I have a pretty good idea when things need looking at. A lot of people don't.

Most parts are replacement only these days not really sure what the garages do apart from charge you for washer fluid, even when it was full when you took it in;)

My MIL still has her 1.2, 4 year old car serviced religiously at 4000 miles (max) per year- because the man at the garage is so nice and calls her up:)