Oil change vs Service...

K

Kiltox

I bought my 'mera on Sunday, 53 plate with 29,500 on the clock.

Last time it was serviced was in March 2008 but it's done less than 3k since then. It's also done less than 700 miles since November. (but I think it has been garaged for long periods of time untouched, so I'm a bit worried about the oil)

I definitely need to get the oil and filter changed for piece of mind, which I can get done at National for £28. I'd then change the air filter and spark plugs myself for another £11 or so.

There's a slight issue with the brakes which I want to get checked out - so I was thinking about putting it in for a service at Arnold Clark Nissan for £69 - they'll find the problem during this and then give me a quote for fixing it.

But should I just do the oil change thing and mention to them that I'd like them to check out the brakes too?
 
do a oil change yourself mate. 28 quid but I am guessing thats not genuine parts.

oil from Nissan will cost you about 14-15 quid and a oil filter would cost you about 8 quid.

and whats the matter with your brakes ?
 
TBH I cant be arsed getting dirty and having to dispose of the oil myself, £28 is for Castrol 10W40 semi-synth oil but I dunno what the filter would be like.

Brakes - brake pedal vibrates under braking, sometimes can feel it in the steering wheel too.... A lot more noticable at higher speeds
 
fair enough about the service. I would use a genuine oil filter.

also when you mean vibration the ABS is not kicking in ? I get that some times but I got 17" alloys I think the ABS is kicking in over the smallest bumps
 
Nah I don't think it's the ABS (it's not under heavy braking, it's constant), feels like something's not right.
 
Nope. Only vibrates under braking (and you only really notice the wheel vibrating at higher speeds, pedal vibrates most of the time when braking)
 
 
I have to say from my experience dont use National, and from other people experience I would'nt use arnold clark either!!.

I got my oil changed at national before xmas noticed an oil leak about 2-3 days later they hadn't botherd to put the oil cap back properly so oil was leaking out of the cap (oil all down the back of the engine) notice oil was still leaking, so took it back, to be check the guy hadn't properly tightened the Sump plug so some oill was leaking out of here, he'd also managed to spill a shite load of oil on the top of the engine tray when changing, not to mention they've had 3 attempts at trying to sort my tracking and its still not right...

I've started using nationwide auto centers as fairly cheap do good work and 15% discount of they're prices if you in the AA, took my girlfriends astra to them for the timing belt to be change £107 all in with the discount, other local garage and Main dealer wanted £165+VAT to do the same job!!. Plus they didn't even ask for my AA membership number etc so you could probably just say your in the AA

Oil changes is probably best DIY, you can get a collector container thing from halfords fairly cheap, the only reason I didn't do it myself was national did it for £35 & I had a £5 off voucher, and as my tddi uses 5.2litres of oil could'nt do it myself for less, going to DIY it next time though....

P.S. use a motor factors for the Discs & pads I got front Disc&pads for around £50 and the back for about £47, and thate was for the bigger ABS discs
 
Hmmm.... I might call around some independent garages and ask for quotes. (TBH I could do the oil myself - but I need the brakes seeing to definitely)

Arnold Clark to be fair I don't have a problem with, they service both of my parents' cars (one of which just happens to also be a 1.5 Almera :lol:) without issue.
 
Independant probaly best, I was back at my parents in sunderland last weekend to the G/friends astra to the garage I used to use, he fitted new disc and pads on the front (was going to do this myself but some bucknut had put the wheel nust on with an airgun so couldn't get the fuckers off!!!), took apart the rear drums cleaned them all up, refitted them, adjusted the handbrake (so it now works on the first click) and fitted a fuel filter all for the pricely sum of £35, Just wished I lived closer to my parents and I'd use him all the time
 
Takes a lot of repeated abuse to warp the discs! You say that it might have been garaged for long periods of time. If this is the case, then a build up of rust on the rotors could be the problem. The discs, after such low mileage, should have lots of wear left in them. Take the wheels off and have a good look. If it is rust, then use fine sand paper to remove it. Also, fitting a set of EBC Ultimax pads usually helps, as they have a special conditioning coating on the face of the pad, to prepare the rotor surface for maximum braking effect. Also machining the rotors might be a cheaper option.
 
I dunno why no one mentioned it but if your a bit hard up for a few quid lad you can get the discs that are on it skimmed if there not too far gone, in fact some companys specialise in it and can even do them without taking them off the car!
 
TBH for a first service I'd get it into a garage you trust - there is more to a service than just changing the consumables; a decent service will include at least a cursory check of the overall condition of the important parts of the car - suspension, steering, brakes and so on and if the car is new to you it's good to know that it's all ship-shape or that something is in dire need of being fixed,

Put mine in for an oil change today and they diagnosed a wheel-bearing on it's way out and two tyres that were dangerously bald on the very inside edge that I had not noticed. Turned out more expensive than I hoped but saved me a future hassle (and maybe my life?!).
 
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