What is in a service?

[Grant Barlow]

Hi
Just feel I may have been ripped off as the garage who did the 'service' on my Mk1 Berlingo and billed it as "Carry out 100,000 mile service to manufacturer's specification".
They claim that topping up the windscreen washers was NOT part of a Citroen service and they, later, advised that greasing the door catches and the bonnet lock catch etc is also NOT part of servicing.
I have been onto Citroen and they said they would send me details of what they 'think is in a service' - but nothing has come. (Surprised??)
So, anyone please, what is in the 'manufacturer's specification'?
Your help would be appreciated.

[andy-womble]

Standard service:- Couple of hymns, a few prayers, kick the tyres, that's your lot for £100.00 :whistle::whistle::lol::lol:

[j90xxx]

Servicing should include:-

Oil and filter change
Pollen filter
Check levels of,
Screenwash
Coolant
Brake fluid
PS fluid
Battery
Checking of,
Lights, tyres, pipes and casings(engine & gearbox), wipers, exhaust, drive belts, gaiters, brakes and clutch travel.
Bleed diesel filter.
Read fault codes.
Reset maintenance indicator.
Road Test.

If Main Service include:-
Brake calipers, discs and pipes
Rear brake linings
Damper seals
Drive belt tension
Hubs, link rods, ball joints and pivots
Replace fuel and air filters.

Think that covers everything....

[800HDI]

My view is a proper service is everything that needs doing at the mileage you've done.

At my local garage, if you take in you car or van for a service, you get the following

Oil and filter, fuel filter, air filter, pollen filter (if fitted), check and top up of fluids, wheels off and brakes checked over, (he even takes of the drums on the back!), full look over for any worn tyres, holes in exhaust etc. Gets plugged into the code scanner to check for any fault codes too. He always asks what mileage its done when booking it in then if needed advises of things like cam belt/drive belt renewal.

Not the cheapest in the area, but also not the most expensive, but you get a top notch service for your cash. Wipes the floor with any Citroen main dealer

[andy-womble]

When using main dealers in general and not just Citroen, for servicing, I have always been a bit dubious over what has actually been done.

Luckily, the cars I had serviced by main dealers in the past were on lease or contract maintenance agreements with my employers and the leasors.

Has that oil filter been replaced or has it just been cleaned up by "the hand of god and a clean rag"???

Perhaps I should put my faith and trust in other people and their honesty and integrity a bit more....

[800HDI]

I never have, always used to scuff the oil filter with a screwdriver before taking cars in for a service

[Ol'Jeffers]

My (privateer) garage recently gave mine the once over a few days after I bought it. They changed all lubricants
and fluids, filters and generally checked everything that was practical to check. They charged me £273 all in and I
had their loan car for two days. The car drives better than it did and in my opinion it was worth the expense. :-))

[corkgsxr]

i do all my own stuff and id never trust anyone with my brakes.

if it needs some internal engine or gearbox work i bring it to a local fella i know who is the bizz.

but most stuff i do myself.

im quite specific with the parts i use too and i feel that a dealer/mechanic trying to cut costs will use cheap stuff

i only use castrol oils and lubes.
and ebc brake pads.

[Coco]

When we moved back after a period of converting the heathen, all my old contacts had moved on. So, needing an MOT I took a chance and tried an independent garage near to me and 16 years later I won't go anywhere else.

I try to do whatever I can myself, but I'm not so keen or supple as I used to be.

He is not cheap, every job goes through the books with VAT etc, but his rates for comparable jobs are half that of the main dealer e.g. Xantia clutch was £250 all in, dealer wanted £520. If he does nothing, he charges nothing, a couple of times Mrs Coco has gone to him with " a funny noise" that couldn't wait until I got back and it's been done free of charge. Wouldn't have taken long to do, but she would have been none the wiser and would have paid whatever she was charged.

He is happy for me to supply the parts, or to source what I ask for and the price is never loaded.

If you can find someone like this, then hold on to them with both hands and remember them at Christmas !!

[andy-womble]

When we moved back after a period of converting the heathen, all my old contacts had moved on. So, needing an MOT I took a chance and tried an independent garage near to me and 16 years later I won't go anywhere else.

I try to do whatever I can myself, but I'm not so keen or supple as I used to be.

If you can find someone like this, then hold on to them with both hands and remember them at Christmas !!

At present mine is still under a used vehicle warranty with Citroen but come October I will be out there paddling my own canoe... I used to do all my own repairs but ill health prevents a lot of stuff these days. I used an independant garage for the Pug 306 and he never let me down and always kept me mobile but he is an unknown commodity with the newer electronic engines. Will probably be using him again for my repairs.