I believe the majority of drivers are 'car key owners'.

I'm sure we're all aware of stories of owners depending on MOT stations to replace blown bulbs. Where else would these types get their windscreen washer bottle filled? It also means they think they get a free car wash and valet!

I've always serviced my own cars, the only garage servicing i've ever paid for was when i bought my only new vehicle, a Hilux in 2007.

Toyota at the time with that vehicle operated alternate minor/major services, every 9k or annually, minor was oil change and inspection basically, major was the same plus both diffs and transfer box oils changed, plus check autobox level (30 seconds via dipsitick) but all importantly it also included a full brake strip check clean and lube up, all for around £300 if you didn't supply your own bulk bought engine oil (i did).

This proper brake servicing is what is missing from most services and why so many calipers are seizing up leading to wallet emptying bills for new brake hardware on so many cars.

By the way the Toyota dealer did fully service the brakes, i checked.

Edited by gordonbennet on 30/01/2017 at 15:21

Brakes need a service, rear calipers are prone to getting sticky from lack of use and dirt build up. Rear disks are prone to corrosion and pitting if not worked hard. Why you wouldn't want a safety critical item like brakes checked and cleaned annually is beyond me.

Did anyone see the pictures of the brakes on the HGV that killed 4 people near Bath?

A modern car 'service' is mainly inspection that everything works OK, which is what the MoT test does. I have never ever booked a car in for a 'service' because the things I do to prolong a car's life are never done by the garage. They are.....

Every 2 yrs clean and grease brake pipes, disassemble brake pads and discs, thoroughly clean and derust with hammer, screw driver and carborundum wheel for any lipping. Paint old engine oil underneath on subframes and anywhere else that looks as though might get rusty. I inspect belts (listen and look), ensure no grit/debris in poly v channels, clean with toothbrush if necessary and squirt a bit of belt dressing on them.

Garages obviously like to do as much as possible, e.g. changing oil and filter annually even if only a few thousand miles since last time, changing brake fluid when in modern sealed systems it will last almost indefinitely, changing coolant which should last the useful life of the car, changing 'sealed for life' auto fluid, (ooh, we know better than the manufacturer), changing perfectly good long lasting belts (disreputable garages might scandalously replace them with cheap inferior items knowing no-one can tell the difference just by looking), changing brake pads and discs with thousands of miles of wear left (ooh, won't last till the next 'service', squire), regassing air con even though the system is working perfectly, and anything else they can think of.

Our 17yr old Focus has never had a garage 'service' in its life, neither has my 37yr old TR7. Brake pipes and belts all original.

This is not advice - I am all for people spending as much on their cars as possible so that the vat and tax on profit goes towards the public service in which I used to work. It is merely what I do......and don't do.

interesting responses-provided all is running well and I keep my receipts-I'm tempted to just have an annual oil change etc--plus the MOT , then combine that with a sensible test drive, feel and walk round. Might save me £££££££'s !

Edited by SLO76 on 31/01/2017 at 13:04

Hi there, I am seeking services for BMW car in Kitchener have you any recommendation for me. please share any service provider who have experience of particular.

Good Lord, is that Kitchener of Khartoum ?

What sort of brake "service" are people looking for on little used brakes which have some rust and pitting? A mechanic to take the car up to 60 and do a few emergency stops for you?

Cleaning them out can help a bit but only at a point in time. If the car is going to sit over the winter they will still be prone to seizing up.

Honestly the best thing you can do is, to quote Basil Fawlty, take it out for the odd good thrashing.

Apart from change fluids and check everything is free and working there isn't actually much irregular servicing to do one modern cars except one offs like cambelts unless and until something goes wrong (which is what the checks are for).

That said, auto fluid is one thing which is always worth considering outside of the service schedule.

Edited by pd on 21/07/2020 at 11:11

Car manufacturers have service schedules to follow. A s****** will often print one out if you don't thave one. Just follow this and take any advice from a trusted independant mechanic and your own knowledge if anything extra needs doing.The servicing regime doesn't necessarily align with the MOT test. If you are prepared to risk a retest just MOT and fix whats required afterwards, especially if you use an MOT test only location. -These are just my opinions from experience ;-)

You have it there. I get an oil and filter done when needed and my indie does a safety check. Like you say it's all check check check, the MOT does all the safety bits again so how is mega bucks for a 'service' arrived at?

Between £50 and £100 per hour or part thereof, depending upon the establishment's overhead costs. And if every couple of years or so you want them to do stuff that they ought to do, but don't, e.g. clean and grease brake pipes; chip, scrape and grind rust off brake discs, ensure brake pads can move freely in their mountings, apply rust prevention to incipient areas of corrosion, you will pay a lot more. That's why our cars never have a garage 'service' - I do it myself. And if the oil, coolant and brake fluid don't need changing, I don't change them. That way I expect our cars to last for at least twenty years. And they do.