Hello
I've always had my MB's oil changed at the main dealer. Usually every 11/12 months. hopefully they are fully aware of torques for drainage bolts/etc.
our recently acquired jeep hemi - not quiet sure if its every 3 or 6 months or 3 or 6k miles, whichever comes first. i only drive the jeep on the w/e's and hols - so will do little mileage.
do you guys always go to the main dealer if you have a new or relatively new car to get oil and filter changed, and what has been your experience re main dealer V the fast fit type outlets/
thanks in advance BR's"
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I took my Ford Ka to the main dealer for its 1st service earlier this year - £130 for an oil/filter change and visual health check, check operation of all electrics, etc and whatever else they do at a minor service. Rather pricey if you ask me, but I guess I am paying for the dealer stamp in my logbook...
For your Jeep, why so frequent oil changes? If its semi or fully synthetic oil, then it shouldn't need to be changed as often as 3 or 6 months.
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Where you asking about extended warranty on the Jeep the other day?
If it's under any kind of warranty then you need to stick to the recomended service schedules. If not then you can get it serviced or the just get the oil changed whenever you feel appropriate. The short interval is a US thing where they are very anal about oil changing and oil used to be much lower quality than oils available in Europe.
Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near a fast fit place, although the price they charge is lower than you can buy the oil for. For one thing, they won't use a genuine oil filter, and there are numerous tales of filter housings and undertrays not being put back properly. There's also the underlying suggestion that these offers are used to get you in and then they "find" other work. I absolutely wouldn't go there unless I could watch them at close quarters.
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Where do you go to have your oil changed
Out the back door, into the garage. 10 minute job - 15 with filter.
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cheers - looks like i will have to stick to the main dealer.
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Off the top of my head you'll be paying around £80 to £120 just for the oil at the MB dealer.
Unless it's still under warranty i'd be finding a competent make specialist indy, or indeed supply your own correct oil to the dealer to put in, probably Mobil1, though there are many other makes that have the correct grading suitable..the MB recommeded grade will be in the small print on the can(s), you'll need 10 litres as your sump probably holds between 7 and 9 litres.
If i recall you have the 600 MB, i've seen several of these lumps stripped down in my indy's workshop suffering terminal black death, i think you are doing the right thing with very regular oil changing.
Purely out of interest my own excellent indy uses Fuch's 5W40 fully synthetic in 99% of MB's he services.
The Jeep, i too would be following your servicing regime given it's low mileage with presumably lots of cold running...again a good Make specialist indy would be my choice.
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This has been troubling me since I got my Audi, this time last year. The official Audi extended service schedule indicates (via the on-board computer) that the first oil change will be due at 19000 miles (or 2 years)! This is against my principles and I had the Audi dealer change the oil at 9500 miles - cost £150. The oil has to be low ash synthetic to protect the DPF (so I believe) - Audi use Mobil 1 5W30, which retails at about £45 for 4L. This means I'm not keen on trusting the job to a fast fit outfit, with oil out of a bulk tank. I can easily change the oil on any of our Fords myself on the drive, but the Audi has an undertray which makes this impossible without better access.
I'm thinking of investing in a vacuum extractor (e.g. Pela), which would pay for itself the first time I use it, though I'll be a bit nervous first time in case I get the thing stuck or break off the tip or whatever...
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I'm thinking of investing in a vacuum extractor (e.g. Pela) which would pay for itself the first time I use it though I'll be a bit nervous first time in case I get the thing stuck or break off the tip or whatever...
I wouldn't worry, I've used a vacuum extractor on several cars and it works fine.
Just feed the tube in gently until you hear it touch the sump, they do get all the oil out despite the reservations about "sludge" - on a nearly new car running 9-10,000 miles per year on synthetic oil there won't be any.
When I had the BMW I noted that the main dealers all used vacuum extraction (although a more sophisticated centrally linked system) and when I started taking it to a BMW Indy he also used a Pela. I used to change my own oil between manufacturers scheduled services and I also used to do the oil services myself - so usually would change myself every 8K , 16K(scheduled oil serv) 24K and then to the Indy every 32K for either Insp 1 or 2 as required , if that makes sense. Sold the BMW with 190K up and still running fine and using no oil.
CR
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I either do it myself or take it to the local National Tyre outlet, who have always done a good job for me (for around £30*) with branded filter and oil, and no teeth-sucking over the condition of tyres or shocks. I do buy the occasional tyre from them, so I guess it works.
*Possibly a bit more for your V8.. :-)
Edited by J Bonington Jagworth on 03/01/2010 at 12:20
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When the car got to 3yrs old i did the service myself all the parts from vauxhall inc oil for £45.00 a massive saving from a indie and even higher from vauxhall.
If you can do a basic oil and filter it would make it much cheaper to do it yourself.
Did grandads merc A class millers oil & filter less than £30.00 long life.
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I take it to my mate and he sorts it out for about £40 per visit, get a stamp in the book and everything. Supply my own filter as I only want an OEM and not a pattern part where that is concerned.
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thank you all.
i will take the car to my main dealer after the 6 months and try to negotiate a deal beforehand.
As our cars are usally less than 3 years old or slightly older before we sell, reason why we stick to the main dealer - but will weigh up the diff for the 6 month oil change with indy and get stamped as i would not want to pay approx 15/200 if i could get like for like at 120.
Years ago i used the national people when they did an oil and filter for approx 15 quid.
I do worry about the oil drain plug torques but feel the car manufactures lit is hyped.
cheers again - very helpful
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