What a service actually does

A service is maintenance, not a test. Oil and filter, air and pollen filters, fluid levels and condition, brake wear measured rather than glanced at, tyres checked properly, and a look at the things that fail quietly — bushes, boots, hoses, belts.

It follows the manufacturer's schedule, which is by mileage or by time, whichever comes first. That second part is the one people miss. Oil degrades on its own, so a car doing 3,000 miles a year still needs an annual change.

Warranty, and the rule that protects you

Under Block Exemption rules a manufacturer warranty stays intact when an independent garage services the car, as long as the work follows the manufacturer's schedule, the parts meet the correct specification, and the service record is kept.

We do all three. The schedule is the same one the dealer uses, the oil specification is the same, and the book gets stamped. What you save is the labour rate and the parts margin, not the standard of work.

How it works

What happens, step by step

01

Tell us the registration

It gives us the engine, the schedule and the correct oil specification before the car arrives.

02

Which service it needs

Interim, full or major depends on mileage and what was last done. We will tell you which, and we will not sell you the bigger one for the sake of it.

03

Oil, filters, fluids

Oil and filter, air filter, pollen filter, and the fluids checked and topped or changed as the schedule says.

04

The inspection

Brakes measured, tyres checked across the full tread, suspension and steering looked at on the ramp, and anything heading for trouble noted.

05

The phone call

If we find something, you get a call with the cost and an honest view of whether it needs doing now. Nothing goes ahead without a yes.

06

Stamped and recorded

Book stamped, our own record kept, and old parts in the boot if you want them.

Included

What’s covered

Engine oil & filter

To the manufacturer's specification, not a generic grade.

Air filter

Replaced on a full service, checked on an interim.

Pollen filter

The one most often skipped. We do not skip it.

Fluid levels

Brake, coolant, screen, power steering where fitted.

Brake inspection

Pad and disc thickness measured, not estimated.

Tyres

All four across the full tread width, plus pressures.

Suspension check

Bushes, boots, shocks and drop links on the ramp.

Book stamp

Every time, plus our own record as a backup.

Questions

Servicing questions

Will servicing here void my manufacturer warranty?

No. Block Exemption rules protect you, provided the manufacturer's schedule is followed, the correct specification parts are used and the work is recorded. We do all three.

What is the difference between interim and full?

An interim is the shorter schedule, usually oil, filter and a safety inspection, aimed at higher-mileage cars between full services. A full service covers the longer list. Give us the registration and mileage and we will tell you which yours is due.

My car does hardly any miles. Do I still need a service?

Yes. Schedules are mileage or time, whichever comes first, because oil degrades by time as well as by use. A low-mileage car serviced only on mileage can go years without an oil change, which is worse than the mileage suggests.

Can I supply my own parts?

For some jobs, yes, but we cannot warrant parts we did not supply, and we will say so in writing before we fit them.

Do you do a service and MOT together?

Most people book them together and it is cheaper than separately. Anything the service finds can be fixed before the test rather than after it.

Servicing

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