Car Servicing costs

John424

Hi,

My car needs it's annual service and I'm a bit broke at the moment. I only do 5000 miles a year and have only kept up the service for resale reasons but now it's so old (06 Focus) I'm wondering if it's an unecessary expense as only worth a couple of grand. I looked at my last service and it was 300 quid for 2 hours labour, replacing all filters and an oil change and an MOT, just seems a bit toppy to me and I have to put it through again?

John

olias

Just do it yourself then!

Service kit < £20 on ebay, plus about the same for oil.
Even if you don't have the tools and have to buy a few, you're still quids in.
If you don't have a manual, then just search online for what else to check, and there are loads of online guides to show you what to do if you are a DIY novice.

Olias

mattyprice4004

Don't service it then, but don't come back complaining when your engine lets go and self-destructs due to old oil / lack of oil.

If it wasn't important, EVERY car manufacturer in the world wouldn't have bothered writing a service schedule tailored to EVERY car they make.

Common sense dictate things like oil need changing regularly.

gazfocus

With my last car, I went 2.5 years without a service and it did my car absolutely no good whatsoever. The car was problematic anyway with the engine using up loads of oil (no leaks or anything), etc, but I severely regret not getting a regular service.

In future, I will be sure to get my new car serviced as often as the manual suggests.

If you struggle with the big cost, go to your local garage and get signed up to a service deal.

gabitzul

Ford Value Service (they replace the oil, oil filter and check a few basic things) is only £99 and preserves the service history. I think you also get free breakdown cover with it. Not too bad value.

I have a 55 reg Focus MK2 as well and they are worth 2K upwards. Surely it is worth spending £99 to keep it in check for another year?

Alternatively, do just an oil change (£35 at National).

Final option as already mentioned, DYI. Not difficult, oil is £20 at ECP and a filter another £3.

Ultrasonic

John424 wrote: »

I looked at my last service and it was 300 quid for 2 hours labour, replacing all filters and an oil change and an MOT, just seems a bit toppy to me and I have to put it through again?

"toppy"?

You could get a minor service from an independent garage for a lot less than £300. I'd do that. If I was buying a second hand car of the age of yours I wouldn't be massively bothered if it was still getting serviced at a main dealer, but I would want to know that it had been serviced at least annually.

fivetide

If it only needs an oil change (check the service book) and is in decent condition, National will probably do an oil and filter change for less or the same as you could do it yourself.

So £40 ish

Westmead_Fan

If it only needs an oil change (check the service book) and is in decent condition, National will probably do an oil and filter change for less or the same as you could do it yourself.

So £40 ish

that's not a service then, is it?

small service at a independent average £100 & that keeps the service book stamped for future reference if you are going to sell it.

fivetide

Westmead_Fan wrote: »

that's not a service then, is it?

small service at a independent average £100 & that keeps the service book stamped for future reference if you are going to sell it.

I would disagree if that's all the car needs. The oil change is the most important element. Some 'services' are simply that with added checks like "brake fluid level"

If you can't check those things yourself on a regular basis (as you should) then car ownership probably isn't for you.

Of course a more intensive service, fuel filters etc then no, of course it isn't the same but that's why I quite specifically said to check the handbook and see what the next service should be.

mattyprice4004

If you're going to be a tightwad and are determined to cut costs on an essential part of owning a car, at least do the oil and filter changes.

That way you'll put off a major failure a bit longer, at least. Or you could do it properly and service the car fully.

If you're a DIY-er, servicing is very easy. For my car it costs £17 for a service (oil, air and fuel filter plus 5L of 10w40 semi), hardly worth thinking about.

gabitzul

Westmead_Fan wrote: »

that's not a service then, is it?

small service at a independent average £100 & that keeps the service book stamped for future reference if you are going to sell it.

Check the service items but you might find that most of the time a minor/value service is just an oil and filter change and not much else anyway (the rest is checks). So if you are reasonably car minded you could check the lights/brakes/seatbelts/tyres/fluids yourself and save £60.

Look up on ford etis online the service intervals for the car and checks needed.