Servicing for electric cars?

AdrianC

ElefantEd wrote: »

How often do you reckon pollen filters actually need replacing?

Trial and error. Have a look at it, if you aren't sure.

fred246

It's down in the service schedule that my car has it's pollen filter changed every year. I went to GSF car parts for my first service items. The server said "you do know NOBODY changes these". I bought it anyway. It's a real pig to change. So obviously garages charge people and don't actually change it. I looked at the main dealer service website a few months ago. They charge less to service older vehicles?? Why?? They say they will check the pollen filter. It's so difficult to get out. The idea that anyone would spend ages getting it out take a look and then put it back again is hilarious

AdrianC

fred246 wrote: »

I looked at the main dealer service website a few months ago. They charge less to service older vehicles?? Why??

Reduce the hourly rate to get the business in - less profitably, but better than no revenue.

The newer car work is less price-sensitive.

gzoom

Goudy wrote: »

Tyres, brakes, suspension, drive chain and a whole host of other checks no matter what propels them and I presume most electric car will include some sort of battery health check.

As EV's get hooked up to mains electricity I imagine/hope some sort of recharging system safety checks would also be included, so the actual labour to do similar checks will be similar and more checks will naturally cost more.

Tyres is standard stuff, do you really need a garage to check them?

Suspension - what do you actually want to check? In the past MOT test stations have picked more issues with our cars than any kind of 'garage service'.

Any decent EV (pretty much all on sale now), have self diagnostic for battery, there is no need to 'check' battery heath, the cars know the battery health all the time. Again the same for charging systems, any fault and the car will report it, you don't need a garage to check anything.

Motor and drivetrains are all sealed units on all EVs, again all with built in self diagnostics.

Which leaves really only brakes, most EVs will hardly use the friction brakes, hence the need to clean/grease them to keep them working, but any garage can do that.

As EVs become more common I can see many dealers shutting down, as they simply wouldn't be able to charge crazy amounts for routing servicing, because its just not needed.

tacpot12

gzoom wrote: »

Tyres is standard stuff, do you really need a garage to check them?

Suspension - what do you actually want to check? In the past MOT test stations have picked more issues with our cars than any kind of 'garage service'.

Any decent EV (pretty much all on sale now), have self diagnostic for battery, there is no need to 'check' battery heath, the cars know the battery health all the time. Again the same for charging systems, any fault and the car will report it, you don't need a garage to check anything.

Motor and drivetrains are all sealed units on all EVs, again all with built in self diagnostics.

Which leaves really only brakes, most EVs will hardly use the friction brakes, hence the need to clean/grease them to keep them working, but any garage can do that.

As EVs become more common I can see many dealers shutting down, as they simply wouldn't be able to charge crazy amounts for routing servicing, because its just not needed.

Surely the dealers will just shut their service departments, rather than close all together. The sales lizards are still going to need somewhere to hang out.

I expect you are right about the service departments though. Perhaps the manufacturers will start to have regional repair centres where major repairs can be done to the drivetrain.

erfgyrh34

These are all helpful comments - thanks guys.


It feels as if the consensus here is that there really isn't much for garages to do with EV services and therefore I should expect the price to be much lower than quoted by Nissan.

Goudy

gzoom wrote: »

Tyres is standard stuff, do you really need a garage to check them?

Suspension - what do you actually want to check? In the past MOT test stations have picked more issues with our cars than any kind of 'garage service'.

Any decent EV (pretty much all on sale now), have self diagnostic for battery, there is no need to 'check' battery heath, the cars know the battery health all the time. Again the same for charging systems, any fault and the car will report it, you don't need a garage to check anything.

Motor and drivetrains are all sealed units on all EVs, again all with built in self diagnostics.

Which leaves really only brakes, most EVs will hardly use the friction brakes, hence the need to clean/grease them to keep them working, but any garage can do that.

As EVs become more common I can see many dealers shutting down, as they simply wouldn't be able to charge crazy amounts for routing servicing, because its just not needed.

Sure I want my tyres checked, then I know if any are worn or damaged and the alignment is correct, I can do simple checks myself, but I don't really want to remove them myself to do a more in depth check.
Having this done periodically builds up a picture of the condition of the tyes, suspension and steering components against mileage.
This actually saves money, a few quid paid at service to identify any issues is going to help make a set of tyres last longer and a set isn't cheap, it's not unusual for a set to cost twice an annual service, so knowing they are wearing evenly is important.

All cars have suspension and some sort of drive chain and it is misleading to state they are sealed on EV's, We know EV's have suspension and go around corners like all the ICE cars, the motor may be sealed, but the power it produces is linked to the wheels and those components just aren't sealed..

Checks for rusty or broken springs, leaking shocks, worn ball joints, steering play, split CV joints, worn bushes.
Again, it's cheaper to spot a split CV boot and replace that rather than not spot it and end up having to replace a driveshaft at a later date.
In fact due to how an electric motor produces it's torque, some of these suspension and drive chain components will be under considerably more stress than perhaps on an ICE powered car.

Sure you can do most of these checks yourself or have them checked individually but the history and recording of these checks that has the value in cost and safety, not just to the current owner but any future owners, so why not roll them all up together and get them done at the same place, it saves time and money.

I'm sure there aren't many that have bought a used EV with no, missing or sketchy service history and that those under the impression EV's perhaps don't need these checks haven't or wouldn't recommend buying any car without checking it's service history is complete and up to date.

In the spirit of money saving, sure you can save it not paying for servicing and checks, but is that really good value if it impacts reliability and value, escalates costs of repairs and just might compromise safety.

fred246

Soon you'll be paying hundreds of pounds just for the main dealer to stamp your book. Actually there'll be no change there then. That's the only thing you are guaranteed to get now unless they forget that bit as well.

NigeWick

erfgyrh34 wrote: »

This is "just" a 2018 Leaf

I had a Leaf. Rip off servicing charges were the same as you quoted.

£77.70 for my first year with a Hyundai Kona and looking at about £99 next year. Double that the following year.

AdrianC

Doesn't the service book state what's in each service, and what the labour time is...?