is a first service enough?

**dhallett1** · 16th April 2007, 10:28

hi all,

after giving my car its first service at 12 months old, i got a bit concerned that only the oil was changed. i know they didnt change the air filter becuase i use a k&n panel filter and i took this out b4 the service and put my oem back in to get that changed instead , but i got the same (half dirty) filter back.

in the serice book they have not mentioned changing the filter but have ticked that the spark plugs have been changed?

why would they change the spark plugs at 15k/1 year?

i am tempted to also change the fuel filter, and maybe the oil filter coz who knows if they change it when changing the oil?

has anyone else noticed old parts after a service?

**Ste** · 16th April 2007, 10:37

No. I always service my own. Always have. That way I KNOW what has actually been done and with what parts.

If a garage services it, all you have is a stamp and you have to go on integrity of the garage that everything has actually been done properly. Yes, the stamp gives you comeback, but at what cost? Has it actually been done, and what oil etc has been used???

Spark Plugs are 80,000 mile change interval.

Have a look in your service handbook, it describes change intervals for all filters etc.

**dhallett1** · 16th April 2007, 10:45

i know that some people change their standard filter around 5k-6k so i would expect a new filter in any service, even if it is the cars first one.

i would normally service my car but when i come to sell the car the service history is quite important.

as for the plugs, vx might have ticked the wrong box or something.

when should the fuel filter be changed?

**Ste** · 16th April 2007, 10:57

I change oil and filter at up to 20,000 miles.

At the end of the day, VX warranty this interval (on Eco-Flex and when the light comes on), so who am I to argue? I would have thought that VX validated this approach, and my car does mostly motorway work. This is good for an engine, as the temp is up, limited stop / starts mean lower oil contamination, = longer life. (There are numerous threads on here detailing to death oil life.)

The service book contains all info on change interval. Service history is just that, it doesn't matter who has done it. In my experience it counts for little at the time of trade, as long as it has been done. I stamp my own book. I do the work and stamp it. Why should I not claim benefit for doing the work ???

You do not have to have it serviced by VX (and pay over the odds) to retain warranty etc, EU law and all that.

**dhallett1** · 16th April 2007, 11:10

me thinks me's been silly then, paying £125 for some new oil and maybe a oil filter.

i thought the work needed to be done by vx.

**Ste** · 16th April 2007, 11:36

If you don't want to do it yourself (and there may be very good reasons for that) then buy the genuine VX parts and get a VAT registered garage to perform the work at the specified interval. This is well enough to retain warranty. VX cannot refuse if this has been complied with and can't even argue with you.

A lot of people on here prefer to use a good independant rather than VX, as they are invariably cheaper and a lot of time more flexible and perform the work to a higher standard. That is my take on what I have read anyway.

**dhallett1** · 16th April 2007, 11:45

i think you are right there m8.

i dont have a high opinion of my local vx dealers, ive had a few probs with my car and they dont seem to know what is going on.

wont be getting it serviced there (again) anyway.

**m8internet** · 17th April 2007, 11:30

You can carry out very simple checks to make sure the dealership (and it doesn't just apply to VX!) is performing the service correctly

On each can filter apply a small coloured sticker, as each is changed
For example for the first one use blue, the next one red, and so on
On each paper filter write the date discretely in a corner, as each is changed

I caught out a Ford dealer who claimed :
oil and oil filter
air filter
pollen (air con) filter
fuel filter

As always I ask for the key BEFORE I make payment
I opened up the bonnet
Yes, new oil filter
Yes, new air filter
No, original pollen filter
No, original fuel filter
OK, so it took 30 minutes to resolve their error
Removed the pollen filter and fuel filter, from the invoice, fitted them while I waited, then reprinted the service invoice with them on (as proof of completion)

The VX dealership I used for my previous Vectra even recorded on the first service worksheet they completed "dots found on filters, possible "Trading Standards"

**dhallett1** · 17th April 2007, 14:20

you paranoid person! lol but it worked.

i'm gonna do that from now on, everyone is out to rip us off!!!

they just want us to have more faults with the car so they can over charge us for the work that needs doing. its discraceful.