Does my car need a service?

Stewboy1978

Hi

My wife's car is an 03 Ford Focus Zetec - It has done 27000 miles. When we bought the car it had 17000 miles (That was its 1st year) - Since then she is only doing 3500 (Or so) miles per year.

Can was serviced last Jan and we got a phone call yesterday from the garage saying that the car was due its annual service.

Does it actually need this as the car is doing so few miles? or can I get away with changing filters etc and taking advantage of the free brake check at Kwik Fit?

xzibit

Cars usually have a service schedule of every 10, 12, 18 thousand miles etc, or every year. The reason for this is to check many things on the car, that may corrode / wear / break etc over time.
Many people think a service is just changing the oil and the air filter. It isn't.

I only do about half the service milage every year in my car, but get it serviced every year.

saving_money_3

Normally services should be done every 10,000 miles or 12 months which ever comes first. (The intervals should be in your service book.) Most good garages should do an inspection of certain things on the car when its up on the ramps & warn you of anything thats worn or needs looking at.
You don't need to get it serviced at a main dealer though, any garage will know their way round a focus easily & no doubt shopping around you should find some better prices.
One thing to consider if the car has any warranty left; not having it serviced can invalidate the warranty if you need to use it. Oh one last thing.. having a fully stamped service history will add value to your car when it comes time to sell it.

Wig

IMO no it doesn't need serviced, but if you want to change the oil then places like national tyres (I think) will do it with a new filter for about £16.

I'm a car buyer who looks at the car rather than the service history, service history means nothing to me given all the stealers in this business.

xzibit

Wig wrote:

IMO no it doesn't need serviced, but if you want to change the oil then places like national tyres (I think) will do it with a new filter for about £16.

I'm a car buyer who looks at the car rather than the service history, service history means nothing to me given all the stealers in this business.

So, just out of interest, how will they know whether the brake pads are getting low, or possibly a brake line has corroded? Or perhaps a water/oil pipe has perished?
Sorry, but I ALWAYS get my car serviced every year at a garage I trust. Wouldn't you just be annoyed if you skimped on getting a service and a month or so later you didn't stop at a junction due to a fault that would have been picked up in the service.

Agreed, some places (usually main dealers) aren't very good at servicing cars, but when buying a car, if it hasn't got a service history, I wouldn't buy it. Not only does it invalidate the warranty, but it says to me that the person hasn't cared for the vehicle.

Wig

OP's car is older than 3 years, all those things you mention will come up at MOT. And a little bit of occasional self inspection under the bonnet is quite adequate.

And the OP can go to kwik fit for a free brake check, though he would be wise not to trust anything they say and go and look for himself if they say something is wrong.

Stewboy1978

Car runs well...Doesn't sound dodgy etc and is generally looked after well.

I was going to get the Oil and Filters changed and get the brakes checked.

Car is also up for MOT in June.

Just don't see why after only 3500 miles the car needs a service?

xzibit

Stewboy1978 wrote:

Car runs well...Doesn't sound dodgy etc and is generally looked after well.

I was going to get the Oil and Filters changed and get the brakes checked.

Car is also up for MOT in June.

Just don't see why after only 3500 miles the car needs a service?

No, I doubt car manufacturer's know much about the cars the make!

Happy_frank

Have to agree with Wig, if your not doing the mileage and the cars not in warranty then every year isn't really neccessary. I only do about 4000 per year and the oil is still like new after 1 year so it gets changed every 2 years.

Ian85

Would it not depend on the type of driving it's being used for? 4000 miles from town driving might have more of an impact on the car than 8000 miles motorway driving due to the stop-start nature of town driving.

espresso

xzibit wrote:

No, I doubt car manufacturer's know much about the cars the make!

But they certainly know how to rip off their customers when it comes to servicing!

I agree with Wig and Happy frank and have never ever paid to have a car serviced.