Is there any point in 'servicing' the car?

[ganzoom]

Is there any point in doing an annual service? No mandatory warranty or PCP obligations to service it.

The car has only 3000 miles, am sure it'll fly through the MOT, but I just cannot see the point of a 'service' when its doing nearly less miles than my pedal bike!!

[NemesisUK]

Is there any point in not servicing it annually?

[ganzoom]

9 minutes ago, NemesisUK said:

Is there any point in not servicing it annually?

Save £200? Am that tight 🙂

[Mossypossy]

If you are going to return car to finance company anyway and there is no penalty for not servicing, then save some money.

Fastidious FSH only useful if privately selling, or benefit to next owner.

[Kermitpwee]

I believe fleet servicing is every 12500 or 2 years

[Malc]

Gang hi, your car is 7 years old ??

I would certainly get someone to look over the brakes, calipers etc for seizing etc ...........  just in case

maybe not an oil change or air filter tho' they should last 10k min whatever

Malc

[Paul Brooksbank]

6 hours ago, Malc said:

Gang hi, your car is 7 years old ??

I would certainly get someone to look over the brakes, calipers etc for seizing etc ...........  just in case

maybe not an oil change or air filter tho' they should last 10k min whatever

Malc

I check my callipers to settle my own mind. Lexus had it for a service in September as I wanted the hybrid warranty. Oil and oil filter will be fine for up to three years or 12,000 miles as long as you keep an eye on the levels. Lexus told me that the air filter schedule is 40,000 miles on the hybrid cars. I own mine outright though, so I'll spend a bit on servicing, if you're on a "Fleecing" deal, just spend on whatever they penalise you for. 

[ganzoom]

8 hours ago, Malc said:

Gang hi, your car is 7 years old ??

I would certainly get someone to look over the brakes, calipers etc for seizing etc ...........  just in case

maybe not an oil change or air filter tho' they should last 10k min whatever

Malc

Its 6 years old, serviced last year and the garage said the brakes looked almost new. 

I think am going to skip the service this year. 

[Shada]

3 hours ago, ganzoom said:

Its 6 years old, serviced last year and the garage said the brakes looked almost new. 

I think am going to skip the service this year. 

Well what was the point in starting a thread? Ask the question is there any point in servicing and when everyone suggests yes you decide not to anyway! 

[ganzoom]

7 hours ago, Shada said:

Well what was the point in starting a thread? Ask the question is there any point in servicing and when everyone suggests yes you decide not to anyway! 

??? Most people are saying its fine not to have an oil change every year if the car is doing barely 3k, that's mainly what a service is??

[Malc]

6 hours ago, ganzoom said:

that's mainly what a service is??

not at all, that's just one element of a useful annual check ( apart from the MOT ) over of the car that's a potential death trap on the road !

Malc

[ganzoom]

17 hours ago, Malc said:

not at all, that's just one element of a useful annual check ( apart from the MOT ) over of the car that's a potential death trap on the road !

Malc

Not sure if you are been serious or not.

My other car - 2.5ton, electric SUV that can do 0-60 in under 5 seconds hasn't been 'serviced' since I took delivery in Sep 2017 and its not covered 40k miles.

I better not offer a lift to you anytime soon for fear of exposing your life to the dangers of been in a car that hasn't been 'serviced' ever :).

[paulrnx]

A case of buying expensive cars but not having the means to keep them serviced perhaps? Servicing also spots things like broken rubber boots or gaiters over steering joints, rusty brake parts, leaks and other things. Especially on slightly older cars. Hybrid health check too. Always worth getting cars serviced in accordance with manufacturers recommended schedules I think.

Having said this, only doing 3k miles in a year would definitely make me think twice about paying a lot of money to have it serviced again. Mine is under warranty so I would. If it was outside of warranty possibly I’d leave it longer. I’d factor in what was due to be replaced at that service because it’s not just 3k miles of wear because it may be that for example spark plugs needed changing at the 6 year point. If it was only due an interim service I’d likely delay it. Got to factor in the potential impact to value at re-sale time of having missed a service too.

A personal choice then. Cars are expensive but on balance I think it’s worth paying to have them properly serviced. Like I said though - 3k miles in a year and out of warranty and only an interim service due, I’d consider delaying the next service.

[Mr Vlad]

Interesting thread. As for the IS having only 3k miles put on it annually then it is totally essential to have an oil change once a year. Yes it sounds weird but it's a fact. There's loads on YouTube about it. Lower mileage cars need more care than a high miler. A yearly Hybrid Health Check is a must too. 

What is your 2.5 ton electric SUV? 

[OldTrout]

Gang,

The MoT test covers most of the items that are visually inspected on a service. So if you have the MoT there is little point in paying again for service. If you want fluids and filters changed and a hybrid check then just pay for those.

John

[Stuart Aspey]

There are many arguments for and against. If you have any warranty (extended or otherwise) part of the terms and conditions so as to not invalidate the warranty, require the vehicle to have regular services. 

 

Once my extended warranty reaches its maximum mileage (150,000 miles) I'll then start using a local garage to service the vehicle. But for now, its service plans with Lexus to ensure the warranty remains valid. 

[200h]

surely in 3.5 yrs you'd of had at least the brake fluid changed once

since most brake fluids are hygroscopic

[ikeja]

Peace of mind, and the fact that it is an expensive vehicle ensures I will keep the warranty going even though - at the moment - my mileage is limited.

 

[JDM-Fiend]

If I was in this position, I would get the car serviced annually regardless. I'd have the same approach with a car, pretty much irrespective of the value.

 

It's peace of mind and in the grand scheme of things, it's not much money saving is it really? If you think saving money on a service is a good idea, wait until you think about owning a cheaper car and selling your current car. You'll get back thousands of pounds 😎

[EcoNut]

I would delay or postpone the interim service no more than 6 months, a reasonable compromise I hope.

Though, I am in the middle of selling mine, so I am have one last interim service with an independent Lexus Specialist shop, which I have been using since the 4th year, as I have decided to trust my faith on the Lexus reliability.

So, this has bene my servicing history prices through the year.  Hope this give someone a good reference on what they are getting/paying:

Year 1 - £285;

Year 2 - £ 485;

Year 3 - £ 335 (added the MOT);

Year 4 - £385 (went with the independant local specialist, brakes and callipers clean were included which dealer charge £185 extra)

Year 5 - £185 (dealer 5th year essential service).  Only have done 3000 miles in 2020, too.  Thanks Miss Rona.