Should I get this car serviced?

jd87

Just over a year ago I bought a 55 reg Fiat Stilo from a second-hand car dealer. It had a full service history when I bought it, the last service was just before it was sold to me, and it's still in good condition now (MOT recently passed with no advisories). I've never really owned a car before, do I need to carry on with the servicing?

What exactly would I be getting for my money? Services look expensive! I don't plan on selling the car for at least a few years, so when the time does come for me to sell it on, it will be so old that presumably the buyer won't care about a few service stamps?

Is it worth all the expense or does it make more sense with a car this age to just keep running it and just get any MOT issues repaired as and when they appear? If I should get it serviced, where do I begin when it comes to choosing a garage?

althamon

Personally I would do a full service now that you have had it a year as previous experience with dealers shows they do not service it properly as it is usually an expense they don't want to undertake.

I tend to do a full service after owning a car 2 years and an interim just before winter so I can guarantee the car will run without issue, it is usually cheaper to do a service with an MOT as if you need any work done in the MOT you have already paid for a lot of the labour cost plus they tend to discount the MOT.

When it comes to a garage ask around people you know at home and work and get good recommendations and usually if there are a couple of people in agreement it should be ok.

Above all else if any work gets quoted don't be afraid to get a second opinion.

Also in theory if you keep it serviced well it will last you a good long time.

Westmead_Fan

full services can be expensive. shop around & look at you service schedules in your service book, some have long service intervals.

maintaining your car is very important, if you are racking up those miles its even more important as it will look after the engine.

forgotmyname

My cars older than yours yet it gets an oil change every 6 months and a proper service every year. Even though the mileage is probably only 6000 or so.

I want my car to start and stop when i need it and be able to jump in it and go anywhere without worrying that its been 2 years since its been serviced.

If your ready to scrap it now then dont bother with a service, But dont whinge when it seizes up in a few months.
Sorry to be blunt but it happens too often.

An MOT is not a service. Its only a check of some safety related items, That only need to pass at that moment in time. Check the posts where cars broke down on the way home and they want to blame the MOT station.
You can pass an MOT with a failed gearbox and no oil in the engine, As long as it can be driven in and out of the test centre and runs long enough to pass the emissions test.

My engines seized i cannot afford to fix it or replace it. If it had some oil changes every now and then it wouldnt have seized.

I worked on the breakdown trucks for sometime. And got many cars like that. Owners not knowing howto open the bonnet never mind check whats under there.

Better than collecting accident damaged cars though. That was not a nice job at times.

Your car your money.

StrongWork

jd87 wrote: »

Just over a year ago I bought a 55 reg Fiat Stilo from a second-hand car dealer. It had a full service history when I bought it, the last service was just before it was sold to me, and it's still in good condition now (MOT recently passed with no advisories). I've never really owned a car before, do I need to carry on with the servicing?

Of course. A car can pass an MOT but still not be running well.

jd87 wrote: »

What exactly would I be getting for my money? Services look expensive! I don't plan on selling the car for at least a few years, so when the time does come for me to sell it on, it will be so old that presumably the buyer won't care about a few service stamps?

Is it worth all the expense or does it make more sense with a car this age to just keep running it and just get any MOT issues repaired as and when they appear? If I should get it serviced, where do I begin when it comes to choosing a garage?

Owing (and maintaining!) a car is expensive. The alternative is the bus of course.

Annually, you should be looking at getting the oil changed along with the filters (oil/air +/-fuel) as well as the spark plugs (though you can probably do the latter alternate years).

If you're savvy with a spanner, you can do the above for less than £50 in half an afternoon. Otherwise a local indy mechanic should be able to do it for around £100 imo. Go for local recommendations to find a decent honest place.

No offence OP, but is it any wonder we get recurrent threads on here regarding epic car failure when this is the attitude of joe public on their cars.

taxiphil

StrongWork wrote: »

Annually, you should be looking at getting the oil changed along with the filters (oil/air +/-fuel) as well as the spark plugs (though you can probably do the latter alternate years).

If you're savvy with a spanner, you can do the above for less than £50 in half an afternoon.

I'm not sure how the Fiat Stilo compares, but on many modern cars it's now a beastly job to perform tasks like filter changes that used to be straightforward 20 years ago.

Car designers now seem to be going to some creative lengths to thwart user-servicability; I've heard of French cars where the whole windscreen wiper system, including the motor, needs to be removed to access the air filter housing, another one where the bumper and wheel arch need to be removed to change a headlight bulb, and another one where you have to remove the car's undertray (bolted on in 24 places) to access the oil filter.

The latter is a classic example of manufacturers deliberately making servicing more expensive/difficult, otherwise they would have put a small access hatch in the undertray like they do on some Japanese models.

I notice the fast-fit centres, who used to advertise a set price for oil/filter changes regardless of make or model, are now publishing small print saying "additional labour charges apply to certain vehicles".

Having said all that, I still agree that it's preferable to service your own car if at all feasible!

C_Mababejive

It depends on what you call a service. Do you mean a service in accordance with the manufs schedule as stated in the handbook? Do you mean a Fiat dealer service?

Being a diy mechanic the most critical thing for me is an oil and filter change every year using good quality oil and filter. Thats the most important thing. Now even if you book it into the local garage,can you be sure of what materials they use?

reeac

jd87 wrote: »

Just over a year ago I bought a 55 reg Fiat Stilo from a second-hand car dealer. It had a full service history when I bought it, the last service was just before it was sold to me, and it's still in good condition now (MOT recently passed with no advisories). I've never really owned a car before, do I need to carry on with the servicing?

What exactly would I be getting for my money? Services look expensive! I don't plan on selling the car for at least a few years, so when the time does come for me to sell it on, it will be so old that presumably the buyer won't care about a few service stamps?

Is it worth all the expense or does it make more sense with a car this age to just keep running it and just get any MOT issues repaired as and when they appear? If I should get it serviced, where do I begin when it comes to choosing a garage?

It's not easy to reply without knowing your annual mileage. If it's the average 10,000 p.a. then I would suggest an annual service.
Re. choice of garage be guided by recommendation. If you're lucky enough to have a local, old fashioned small garage manned by mechanics and with no "suits" hovering around then try them.

bluesnake

you have rubber timing belt, often expensive to change. Like all rubber bands they snap (or loose their teeth), which often leads to engine destruction. Make sure it has been changed, and always buy a quality replacement, don't skimp on saving £5-ish and buy junk.

this car gets 1 out of 5 stars here: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/fiat/stilo-2002/?section=bad

the above site is well respected and often points out faults common to your model.