48k TD4 Service: Dealer v Specialist

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I just bought a 55 Plate TD4 with 39K on clock. It had a receipt with it for a main dealer service in November. It consisted of Oil (£60!), 4 filters (Pollen -£28 / Element(oil?) £10 / Filter Assy (Air filter ?) £28 / and another air at £2.93 (breather?), a bit of Screen wash and labour (£202.50) and it came to £392.18. I think i will be doing it myself. Does anybody know where I can get the Service Schedules for TD4.
They don't like changing coolant or brake fluid. I wonder why? Both are specified as a change at 36K miles.
 
Jon

According to the service book these were ticked off on the 24K done at 27K ! but i have no receipt for that one. I have been checking the parts used on the last one. They changed both Cabin filter and Pollen filter. I didn't know there was a cabin filter.
 
I just bought a 55 Plate TD4 with 39K on clock. It had a receipt with it for a main dealer service in November. It consisted of Oil (£60!), 4 filters (Pollen -£28 / Element(oil?) £10 / Filter Assy (Air filter ?) £28 / and another air at £2.93 (breather?), a bit of Screen wash and labour (£202.50) and it came to £392.18. I think i will be doing it myself. Does anybody know where I can get the Service Schedules for TD4.
They don't like changing coolant or brake fluid. I wonder why? Both are specified as a change at 36K miles.

Very true, should be done at 36k or 36 months.

I've got one word for you, BONUS

Techs at a lot of dealerships these days are on bonus, the faster they do it the more money they get.

Always the danger with a bonus scheme in the workshop because it rewards time rather than quality.

We don't use it at our because in the long run you lose money because it's counter productive. You get the cars finished quicker but the chances of things being missed and the car coming back for mistakes to be rectified are so much higher.
 


Very true, should be done at 36k or 36 months.

I've got one word for you, BONUS

Techs at a lot of dealerships these days are on bonus, the faster they do it the more money they get.

Always the danger with a bonus scheme in the workshop because it rewards time rather than quality.

We don't use it at our because in the long run you lose money because it's counter productive. You get the cars finished quicker but the chances of things being missed and the car coming back for mistakes to be rectified are so much higher.

They are also on Bonuses for "add-ons"..................

48K miles, Sir - It will need new disks, sir.
Like fook, it does, they havent even looked:mad:

I always tell em - dont do anything extra, just tell me what it needs and I will consider it.
 
We don't get bonuses for "add ons". Selling hours goes towards our bonus but in all honesty, the targets are so high they're impossible to hit.

I wont replace or report anything a car doesn't need.

Service times are generous and I can easily complete a service within the time and REPLACE EVERYTHING that needs doing for that particular service. I know how expensive main dealers are and I for one will NEVER rip a customer off for bull**** work that isn't needed.

Pussyeater, DON'T tar us all with the same brush, sure there are techs that will stitch every customer up but not all are like that and I definately aint.

The question i ask myself if I see something a little worn that will last till next service.......Would I replace it if it was mine, the answer is usually no! I will just write and advisory note on the job card, balls in the customers court then, do it now or leave it till its ****ed? Up to him/her

I don't like being ripped off and I wont do it to other people.
 
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Anyone doing a very low mileage, and especially if a high proportion of journeys are short ones, should pay attention to servicing by TIME, and then perhaps be even more careful if they intend to keep the car a long time.

Short runs don't last long enough to let the engine heat up fully, which means that condensation (that's water) builds up inside the engine along with the fumes that have come past the pistons. The fumes and the water make ACIDS, and that is bad news. NO water means NO acids, and that is good news. If the engine heats up enough anf for long enough, the water will evaporate when the oil gets good and hot, and the water vapour and fumes will leave the engine through the breather, and get fed into the inlet manifold, and then the cylinders, and get fried and sent out the exhaust pipe.

There are two best ways to get rid of the water from the crankcase.
1. drain it out by changing the engine oil and filter every 6 months more or less regardless if how few miles the car has done since last time.

2. take the car for a decent drive, meaning about 100 miles cruising along at 50-ish. It will take about 50 miles for the engine to heat up fullly, which many owners will notice happening on their long runs - after 40 to 50 miles, the engine seems to be running very nicely.

So the consensus answer to the enquiry seems to be he should DIY his servicing, he should avoid FikQuit like the plague, and he should learn as he goes along how to do brake pads, and how to check all the things that need checked.

The money he saves can go to his Disco.

CharlesY
 
If you do the servicing yourself wouldnt that mean you have no service record in the book, as any joker could fill in dates and comments. I personaly would be very cautious of buying a used car with no service stamps, isnt that partly peace of mind?

If the service book is stamped by a main dealer then atleast the vehicle should have been well looked after or (may be not)
 
Service History?
Works of fiction every one!

When you buy a used car you should be less interested in its past HISTORY, and a lot more interested in it's condition NOW. Get it inspected thoroughly, and if it is apparently OK , and you buy it, give it the big once-over service. Go through every single service item, and sort everything. This could take you a month on and off, but by the time you've done it you'll know your car inside and out.

Relying on service records? Naaahhh.....

That's only for people who don't have spanners or the guts to get some and learn how they work.

CharlesY
 
We don't get bonuses for "add ons". Selling hours goes towards our bonus but in all honesty, the targets are so high they're impossible to hit.

I wont replace or report anything a car doesn't need.

Service times are generous and I can easily complete a service within the time and REPLACE EVERYTHING that needs doing for that particular service. I know how expensive main dealers are and I for one will NEVER rip a customer off for bull**** work that isn't needed.

Pussyeater, DON'T tar us all with the same brush, sure there are techs that will stitch every customer up but not all are like that and I definately aint.

The question i ask myself if I see something a little worn that will last till next service.......Would I replace it if it was mine, the answer is usually no! I will just write and advisory note on the job card, balls in the customers court then, do it now or leave it till its ****ed? Up to him/her

I don't like being ripped off and I wont do it to other people.

Sorry Clutchdust

i wasn't tarring everyone with the same brush but just highlighting the danger of having a time related bonus scheme in the workshop.

Unfortunatey the selfish techs will go for the money rather than do what you do.

i'm glad you have that mentality though
 
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