I've just booked my car in for a service under a pre- paid service plan at 21,000 miles The fast talking chap on the phone started talking about putting additives into the oil to flush the old stuff out and additives into the fuel. I brought the conversation to a halt, saying that such additives were not recommended by manufacturers. No idea what the brands were and I certainly did not wish to pay for them. He said they were "recommended" additives.

Then talk of a complimentary vehicle inspection. I asked about this. Apparently checking tyres and brakes condition is not part of the service but is a complimentary extra. Words fail me. What have I paid for then under my service plan..

Main dealers, don't you love them.

 

I have never bought extended warranty due to the bathtub curve trend.

I have never bought unnecessary insurance.

I have never bought any extras offered by car rental company.

I have never bought anything the sales person is desperately trying to sell me.

I have only bought premium fuel when on heavy discount (eg. £5 off paypal Shell promotion)

 

In short, it's same as gap insurance and extended warranty, he was selling you their promoted products so the dealer themselves make more money.

 

IMO The sooner we switch to EV and 10 year service interval the better.

Ten year service interval?  That’ll never happen. It’s nice to dream though. 

I would get the person you spoke to to put in writing how the visual checking of the brakes and the measuring of the tyre treads and visual check of the sidewalls is not part of the service / service plan.

Then have then put their name and sign it.

 

That Service Desk person needs more training than just what they got on Up-selling and bull Sh!ting.

1 hour ago, wyx087 said:

I have never bought extended warranty due to the bathtub curve trend.

I have never bought unnecessary insurance.

I have never bought any extras offered by car rental company.

I have never bought anything the sales person is desperately trying to sell me.

I have only bought premium fuel when on heavy discount (eg. £5 off paypal Shell promotion)

 

In short, it's same as gap insurance and extended warranty, he was selling you their promoted products so the dealer themselves make more money.

 

IMO The sooner we switch to EV and 10 year service interval the better.

 

 

Occasionally you will get stung, but over your lifetime you are on a winner.

22 minutes ago, Jono said:

 

 

Occasionally you will get stung, but over your lifetime you are on a winner.

Indeed, it's hard work maintaining on top of these things. Often it's way too easy to say yes.

 

Also, one must having sufficient savings if not buying extended warranty/fancy insurance. *touch wood* I've not needed to use those savings yet.

 

1 hour ago, SC03OTT said:

Ten year service interval?  That’ll never happen. It’s nice to dream though. 

I'm buying a 3 year old Nissan Leaf as second car. After the PCP free servicing, if I were to keep the car, I plan to service it myself: every 2 years change the cabin air filter and take to garages for free brake and tyre inspection. No other work is needed on these EV's. Zero maintenance powertrain.

Brakes, steering, tyres, wiper blades and just all your usual safety Servicing & Maintenance, and remember that Wash & Vacuum.

Lube those locks and hinges etc etc.

2017-LEAF-service-maintenance-guide.pdf

flushing the oil isn't in and of itself a bad idea. The problem will be that they don't empty via the sump, so it won't flush fully anyway.

 

As far as rental cars are concerned... ha, have fun with that. Do the real insurance which reduces your excess or you *will* get stung at some point when you haven't taken it. With a cracked windscreen, for example, or a door opened onto a high kerb. Or something on the motorway you couldn't avoid. It's saved me quite a few time to the point that I want to pay the €9 per day and I'm annoyed when I can't just have it in the standard from my frequent rental card.

 

Fuel additives shouldn't be necessary on new cars. Older ones may well benefit from a tin of injector cleaner now and then. 

 

 - Bret

If you are sucking oil out via the dipstick tube at main dealers you still replace the sump plug so the last oil / flush is drained.

If doing it as it should be done. 

Oil removed at near operating temperature.

Drain off or suction off engine oil.doc

Edited 4 October, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

17 hours ago, Headinawayoffski said:

Brakes, steering, tyres, wiper blades and just all your usual safety Servicing & Maintenance, and remember that Wash & Vacuum.

Lube those locks and hinges etc etc.

2017-LEAF-service-maintenance-guide.pdf

Apart from the brakes and tyre, all easily done by DIY and no mess. No drivetrain maintenance.

(Assuming you are okay with the range as age increases. The Leaf won't do more than 30 miles a day as secondary car with us)

 

13 hours ago, brettikivi said:

As far as rental cars are concerned... ha, have fun with that. Do the real insurance which reduces your excess or you *will* get stung at some point when you haven't taken it. With a cracked windscreen, for example, or a door opened onto a high kerb. Or something on the motorway you couldn't avoid. It's saved me quite a few time to the point that I want to pay the €9 per day and I'm annoyed when I can't just have it in the standard from my frequent rental card.

Far cheaper and cost effective way is to buy annual rental car excess insurance. £42 covers me for a year, I've rented ~6 times so far and buying full cover would have cost in excess of £500 because rental company is per-day rate. Per-day rate doesn't sound much, but it some times almost doubles the cost of rental.

As long as you are competent then fill your boots, as you know those vehicles doing low miles are than ones that can need most attention paid to bearings, steering components etc,  if only everything in life was as simple as lasting for ever with little servicing. 

An unexpected video of the 'health check' was sent to me and made the service process more elaborate than usual. Don't think it adds anything to my confidence but at least I heard  from a mechanic/technician.

The STOP/START system  checked out with no faults to the battery or charging system recorded. An alternator fault was 'cleared' however- no explanation.

It was revealed that there was a black mushroom shaped thing in the tailgate causing the rattle. It was not a loose number plate as they claimed. I can tell the difference between the two and the car went back into the workshop.

I declined oil and petrol additives,  the manual says no additives, in several places. And I also declined an aircon overhaul at only 18 months. And If I’d decided to replace half worn 'amber alert' tyres as well then it would have been quite an additional sum to the prepaid service plan.

I was prepared for such upselling and didn't expect anything less from a main dealer. However they were very polite and courteous. And the coffee was good.

Edited 18 October, 20178 yr by gregoir

I quite like the videos, nice to be able to see the underside of the car. Never spent any money as a result yet.