Should I bother getting my car serviced?

pinkteapot

52-plate Mk4 Astra, 112k miles. Up until now it has a full service history (I've had the car since 2008/80k miles). MOT and annual service are due in May.

Thing is, as of last summer it's our second car and does a very low mileage. We plan to keep it until it goes to car heaven, so I don't think it's worth maintaining the FSH in terms of its value. Plus how much value does a FSH add to a car that's probably down to about £1k worth anyway?

If it was still the car we used for long runs/holidays then I would get it serviced but it's just a town runaround now and we have Green Flag cover anyway if it breaks down.

We check the oil, screen wash and tyre pressure/tread ourselves but that's all we do.

Pros/cons of servicing? I've never had a car and not serviced it.

fivetide

Worth changing the oil at least and making sure any belts are done, within a reasonable time if you don't want it to leave you at the side of the road but you can do the oil yourself for example. If you keep reciepts it still has FSH even if it isn't on the manufacturers schedule.

5t.

benjus

Depends how quickly you want it to go to car heaven, really...

Regular oil changes keep the engine happy. A full service should involve a decent check of the car (much more thorough than the MOT) which should alert you to any potential issues before they become critical or dangerous.

Just find a cheap local independent garage and get it serviced there.

pinkteapot

I'll check on the service history when the oil was last changed.

I think the cam-belt had been changed at about 70k miles as I remember noticing that on the history when I got the car....

So servicing is worthwhile in the sense that it can save money if problems are spotted before they become major and cause more damage? I wondered what the MSE view on it would be.

The garage we use gave us a rather lengthy list last year of things that would probably bite us on the asre at this year's service/MOT, so I was trying to be cheap about it, given that I'm expecting a bit of a hefty bill already.

Hintza

Oil change and visual inspection would be my route on a car of that age.

Gordon_Hose

Definitely carry on with oil and filter changes. Plus cam belt when required.

Notmyrealname

pinkteapot wrote: »

I'll check on the service history when the oil was last changed.

I think the cam-belt had been changed at about 70k miles as I remember noticing that on the history when I got the car....

So servicing is worthwhile in the sense that it can save money if problems are spotted before they become major and cause more damage? I wondered what the MSE view on it would be.

The garage we use gave us a rather lengthy list last year of things that would probably bite us on the asre at this year's service/MOT, so I was trying to be cheap about it, given that I'm expecting a bit of a hefty bill already.

I had my MK3 Mondeo serviced at the specified intervals by the local Ford dealer. Sold it a few weeks ago at 165k on the clock. Never had any major problems with it, it never broke down.

jase1

Cambelt is due again.

GM engines are very prone to cambelt failure if not serviced on time, so unless you plan on spending the money on the belt (and water pump/tensioner) then just run it into the ground; the belt will go before the rest of the engine does.

thefishdude

i would just go for regular oila nd filter changes, national garage chain do them cheap especially when booked online check em out for a price.

s_b

thefishdude wrote: »

i would just go for regular oila nd filter changes, national garage chain do them cheap especially when booked online check em out for a price.

waiting for the mot to pick up dangerous things is surely bad advice though
me?
i always prefer a 6 monthly inspection of cars irrespective of mileage and even if its just a glance looking up is better than nothing

captainawsome

Not servicing your car is the worst was ever to save money, yet so many people try it. Keep up the the oil and belt changes and get a basic safety check done so you can keeP an eye on any potential worries, that should keep the car running well for what it's used for.