[Trilux]

My presumption from Markis42's response was that he had tried the reset instructions but they hadn't worked for him rather than the link in the post didin't work. Perhaps he could confirm that.

Good point. That would seem to make more sense than my interpretation.

 

[Flintstone]

Sometimes takes 3-4 “goes” before the reset “takes”. Don’t give up if the first attempt has no effect. Just pretend it is Microsoft software. Re-boot and start agin.

 

[markis42]

Correct
I did try via the link but had no luck. I dont drive often as i cycle to work and walk most weekends so my car does few miles BUT when it does it gets driven a good distance so i have no worries about the engine oil. Not all of us want to or can afford to spend money every year on work that is not required.
Hence the original question still remains.

 

[Flintstone]

I refer to posts #2, #4 and #22.

 

[Avago]

This is an interesting post for me because it is timely. My Yeti had an oil and filter change one year ago and the light has just come up. I have done only a few miles since then and I don't think the engine really needs another oil and filter yet, but I have saved so much in petrol money over the year and I am an old fogey who used to feel a better man after checking the distributer cap, cb points and going over all the grease nipples, that a few bob spent in my local garage will cheer me up. And give me something interesting to think about and the car will run noticeably sweeter. Possibly.

 

[Ruari]

This is an interesting post for me because it is timely. My Yeti had an oil and filter change one year ago and the light has just come up. I have done only a few miles since then and I don't think the engine really needs another oil and filter yet, but I have saved so much in petrol money over the year and I am an old fogey who used to feel a better man after checking the distributor cap, cb points and going over all the grease nipples, that a few bob spent in my local garage will cheer me up. And give me something interesting to think about and the car will run noticeably sweeter. Possibly.

Had mine done yesterday, by my local team who have used for years, and had what you are saying, oil and filter change for just £70. well worth it, for those of us who don't do our own servicing,

 

[Trilux]

Had mine done yesterday, by my local team who have used for years, and had what you are saying, oil and filter change for just £70. well worth it, for those of us who don't do our own servicing,

That’s good value, the oil and filter alone would cost nearly half of that.

 

[Ruari]

That’s good value, the oil and filter alone would cost nearly half of that.

Yes, as The Hood's favourite service centre (Motest) were quoting £99.

 

[The Hood]

Perhaps you should name yours. Motest have got more expensive recently.

 

[Ruari]

Perhaps you should name yours. Motest have got more expensive recently.

I have used Steadfast Autos in Crowthorne for nigh on 16+ years and been very happy with them.

SteadfastAutos Vehicle Servicing

Vehicle servicing for all makes as well as MOT's and repairs

www.steadfastautos.net

Adam is my main contact there, so just mention me to him and he'll bump up the price!!

 

[The Hood]

The price quoted for MOTEST (£99) was for more than just an oil and filter change.

Here is a copy and paste of what Motest include, I have used them several times and afterwards got my hands "dirty" checking certain items had been done and if discrete marks had moved or been smudged. After which I have continued to use them. If an MOT is added the cost of that is reduced which is fairly common practice.

The first column is the £99 item

 

[Ruari]

The price quoted for MOTEST (£99) was for more than just an oil and filter change.

Noted and thanks.
Steadfast are closer to me, have a good track record with me, will do any little job (e.g. change light bulb) while waiting and without prior booking and talk to me about my car, which I didn't see when at Motest first time round.
OK - so its "horses for courses", as one says in equine circles!!

 

[spagley]

I thought "Horses for Courses" was a French restaurant.

 

[Urrell]

I thought "Horses for Courses" was a French restaurant.

I believe Spaghetti Bologneighs is a favourite there.

 

[Flintstone]

That's quite a commendable and comprehensive list a there, quoted by The Hood.
Quite a number would be part of the MOT anyway, like suspension, steering, springs a dampers, gaiters, brake balance roller check, visual check of pads, etc. Even the horn.
Quite a few more that would not though, such as a wheels off brakes check.
A few others that even an owner who doesn't possess a spanner should be aware of, like lights, etc. I have no doubts though that those checks are necessary in a large proportion of cases. Bulb failure being one of the common MOT fail items, etc.
Lubrication of all locks and hinges is a very unusual item nowadays. So commendable that's included. (Especially that is very unusual at a car sales dealership as those sort of items just don't fail under warranty. Hence illustrates again that work done by independent service centres can so often be more comprehensive and more aimed at prolonging the vehicle's life expectancy than the minimum scheduled work carried out by Dealers.).
About the only thing I can't see there (but may simply have missed it?) that I would normally do myself at approx six-monthly intervals, is lubricating/treating all the door seals with stuff like either gummi pfledge or red rubber stuff. I tend to do those same times as I swap the winter/summer wheels and tyres over. Along with all the same brake and suspension checks, etc. as in the list.

Ruari - the only thing that I would want to verify in your £70 oil & filter change quote - is the brand and spec. of the oil and filter being used.
Otherwise that's a fair quote. Considering as Trilux said, that the materials cost (for top brand and spec. products), would be around £35-40. Plus a little under half an hour's labour, including several of the visual checks mentioned in the Hood's list. It still makes The Hood's "Motest" list look good value mind. Given that anything that came out of the inspections as needed (e.g. Brake Fluid refresh) would likely be charged extra?

 

[The Hood]

I am probably the customer from **** as I go around checking that items have been done, the parts they use come from TPS. One blot on their copy book was when they replaced my rear springs, they moved the headlight sensor out of the way and forgot to put it back in its original position I had a car with aircraft searchlights.
I may give steadfast a call and see if they do Haldex oil and filter changes, if they do, I will request that the old filter is made available to me afterwards. I will also ask if they could do it whilst I waited.
Censor test.... the customer from he11

 

[Flintstone]

Not all of us want to or can afford to spend money every year on work that is not required.

Depends to some extent what the "requirements" are aimed at achieving!

For example:

- Manufacturer and Sales Dealer "recommendations" are often aimed more at minimising warranty claims and fleet owner servicing costs over the period the car remains under warranty. Rather than maximising the car's economic life expectancy. Hence tend to err towards the doing the minimum possible to prevent the car from self-destructing during its warranty period. After all, it's in both the manufacturer's and the dealer's interests to see you coming back for a new car every 3-4 years, or perhaps less?

- Whereas Independent service only garages and competent DIY owners tend to be more focussed on maximising the car's life. In the garage's case, so they see you back again (with the same car) every year.

I'm regularly slightly perplexed at the economic (or environmental) logic of owners who say they can't afford a £40 oil and filter change every 12-months. Then happily shell out several £1000s or even £10,000s for a fresh car every 3 years or so. or the monthly lease equivalent of £250-350/mo. "Now't so queer as fowk!" - as they say where I live.

 

[Flintstone]

I am probably the customer from **** as I go around checking that items have been done.

You and me both! During the period of 25 years or so that I drove "Company Cars" as part of my job, regularly travelling the length or breadth of the country, I was obliged to use dealers who held manufacturer franchises for servicing and maintenance work. As a condition of the car's fleet lease. While it was nice to take the cars in and say "fix it". I also used to check what had been done. Like yourself. Caught Vauxhall, Renault and Citroen dealers doing oil changes without changing the filter. Despite itemising that as a part supplied on the invoice. A Renault dealer who knowingly fictionalised the "24 point health check". Same one who had failed to order in the specialised parts (a new dash display module) until the day I arrived to have it replaced - despite me quoting the part number to them 10-days prior when I booked it in. ("Can you leave it with us 2-3 days" was their initial response at the time. For a swap job that took 20-25 minutes, including the computer reset of the previous mileage.).

I genuinely like the guy we bought our Yeti from. He does jokingly describe me as his "worst customer" though. As we bought it from him 7.5 years ago (when it was 3 years old). But apart from the odd things like new struts and wheel bearings, or parts I can't source from ECP, etc. then I haven't been back again to buy a replacement. I would go back, and have recommended quite a few others locally and on here to check him out. Just haven't perceived a need for a replacement myself yet though. Yeti still does everything I ask or want of it. So why swap it?

 

[Llanigraham]

I'm regularly slightly perplexed at the economic (or environmental) logic of owners who say they can't afford a £40 oil and filter change every 12-months. Then happily shell out several £1000s or even £10,000s for a fresh car every 3 years or so. or the monthly lease equivalent of £250-350/mo. "Now't so queer as fowk!" - as they say where I live.

And when they do sell their car they come out with words like "one careful owner"!!
Sorry, but they aren't that at all.

 

[Dutchman]

That’s good value, the oil and filter alone would cost nearly half of that.

£40 for me , (notes)