Servicing.....self or garage? Which are you?

[Dave-hp]

So, I did a Forum 'service' and 'servicing' search, but couldn't find much about the topic specifically. So thought Id kick one off instead.

Servicing. Self or Garage?

Lotus are renowned for the servicing required. Lots of specialists out there, and it does come at a premium. But...

Changing things like oil, filters, brake/clutch fluids etc, are pretty much the same on a Lotus as on most other combustion engines. The Lotus Service Guides have the full list of things to cover too, but the garage doing it will cost. Yes, it does help having a FSH, but there are plenty of mechanically minded and able owners out their who service their own vehicles.

I once bought a second hand Citroen AX GT from a guy who did all his own servicing, because he considered he did a better job than anyone else he would pay. It was superbly kept, and I bought it within hours of it going on sale.

It's not for everyone, by any means. But the idea that only people paid to service a vehicle can do a good job is a myth. 

So, are there any Lotus owners out there that do their own servicing? Following the Lotus Guides? This is not in order to canvas work for anyone, so I hope members would be happy to say if they do, if it is being done, Im keen to know. Ive changed oil, filters, plugs, brakes, on all sorts of cars I have owned, but thinking about my recent Elise purchase with a FSH, do I take it to a garage to do stuff I could do myself? What are others doing?  

Curious to see what you guys(and gals) do?

[duncx]

I do all of my own servicing on my cheaper cars, but on my Lotus (Cup 250) I got the first three years done at a Lotus Main Dealer and since then at Unit 4. It's not because I can't do it myself, I absolutely can, but for a younger car home servicing is likely to hit the value of a younger car as much as the cost of servicing at a garage. People just LOVE those stamps and receipts. I guess that the older a car gets then the less difference it makes, but when you consider that even a 20 year old Elise is fetching a minimum of around £15K it's not surprising that people want to see the stamps!

Personally I would happily buy a car that's been owner-serviced but I would expect to pay a bit less, for the reasons above!

[DeanB]

Some do their own but not that many.

I think a lot of people aren't keen because it will narrow down the number of people you can sell the car on to.

Personally I am rubbish at spannering so I don't have much of a choice, but even if I could do the basics myself I think I would still take it to Gav at Unit 4.  He knows so much about the cars and he gives it a good look over, he doesn't just change the fluids.  He's found various things I hadn't noticed over the years like a broken engine mount, loose suspension bolts (eek!) and he isn't expensive.

[winthattt]

I can do all of my own work but get Gavin to service my Exige, he can do stuff in minutes that tries me (like aligning the bonnet). I started with Gavin thinking about resale but as my son has demanded it’s his inheritance I should do it myself, but the garage floor is cold and I’m getting old.

Basic stuff like oil, plugs, filters, pads, fluids are easy. Given the low miles these cars do you have to be curious if some garages do the work they charge for.  I’m 100pc confident in Gavin but not the franchise dealerfor my main car, so he does that as well. 

[collieek]

I do all my own work, on a S1 there is nothing complicated. If I had something worth a bit more money I would probably keep the service history up to date. I keep all receipts and document any work. I am not thinking of selling anyway and like winthatt it will probably be left to my son.

Edited March 24 by collieek

[Daveb99]

I used to use the specialists, but now do everything myself.   It sometimes takes me a while but I know it’s done right, and I frequently restore / refinish / upgrade other bits along the way, this is not something a garage will do during a service of course.   Always keep the receipts, take loads of photos etc.  

Resale wise, when I had my V6 Exige / Evoras I would take them to Gav to preserve the stamps.  But I’ve found that with S1’s, most are worth under £20k and a proper resto is often needed to really sort the car out, and from experience it’s then worth more (if done to a high standard and fully documented!) than one that’s just had routine servicing with stamps.

Having the time, space and tools is essential of course.

[Dave-hp]

Thanks for the replies. Happy to see more come through..... 

Ive got the Garage service stamps, up to last year. Its a 2006 model. So not new by any means. But the oil is golden with over a 1k miles since last service, so plan on keeping it in tip top condition.

Im just thinking about the next service. I plan on keeping this for the next 5-10 years. Certainly no intention sell in the near future.

The Lotus Service document in the manual has all the boxes to tick. With the stamps you dont get the details always. I am thinking of doing it myself and keeping a comprehensive record, receipts etc.

[Lithopsian]

I service my own S1.  Easy enough with the right tools and time.  I don't plan on selling ever.

[Mutley00]

I'm capable of doing it myself (and do it on my MGB GT), but Specialist stamps in your Service Book are invaluable if you have to sell. I use my local specialist in Sheffield - David Underwood or enjoy the beautiful scenic drive to Fouldsy at Holmfirth.

If you've bought a car with a full specialist Service History Dave, I think it would be a false econiomy to start doing it yourself. Most 'Indys' labour charges are reasonable anyway and the last time I saw a PJS advert, they were very reasonable too. 

[Guido]

Lying on the floor trying to get the under-tray off my Elise was enough to tell me it’s best for someone else to service my car!!!

I can do oil/filter/plugs/fluids without too much difficulty. However, due to my inexperience, I don’t spot other areas of concern. This is why I pay for an expert to service my car.

Most importantly for me is I expect a lot from my car when driving it hard.  Ensuring it’s as good as it possibly can be is worth paying extra for IMHO. 

I use PJS Sportscars and cannot recommend them highly enough. 

Edited March 25 by Guido

[Daveb99]

2 hours ago, Mutley00 said:

I'm capable of doing it myself (and do it on my MGB GT), but Specialist stamps in your Service Book are invaluable if you have to sell. I use my local specialist in Sheffield - David Underwood or enjoy the beautiful scenic drive to Fouldsy at Holmfirth.

If you've bought a car with a full specialist Service History Dave, I think it would be a false econiomy to start doing it yourself. Most 'Indys' labour charges are reasonable anyway and the last time I saw a PJS advert, they were very reasonable too. 

Whilst I appreciate where you’re coming from I disagree when it comes to the older K series cars.   Continuing the FSH is no guarantee that it’s a good car - so many S1’s for example need a whole heap of stuff doing to be really tip top, and most of that falls outside regular servicing.    If I were to get everything done at a garage that I typically do to my Elises it would run into tens of thousands……!

The last few of my Elises (and two Evoras for that matter) have sold, sometimes without being advertised, for the same if not a chunk more than the ‘retail’ price, because people want cars that have been properly sorted too to bottom by someone who is very attentive to detail.

Edited March 25 by Daveb99

[DeanB]

Dave you are not comparing like for like.

If a punter had a choice between a car with service stamps from a main dealer or a car that the owner simply serviced himself - and had receipts for consumables - most would ptefer the former, all other things being equal.

If however you are comparing a car with service stamps to a car that has been partly disassembled by an enthusiast owner with previous experience (you for example) that has meticulously cleaned, restored or replaced everything that needed it to a proper standard and documented all of it with lots of photos then a prospective purchaser may well prefer the latter.  

I would add that a really skilled amateur mechanic with experience of these cars can also spot and rectify most if not all of the issues a specialist professional can (I suspect Lithospian is such a chap, so is Martin R) but how would a prospective purchaser know who knows their shit and who doesn't?  

[Daveb99]

45 minutes ago, DeanB said:

Dave you are not comparing like for like.

If a punter had a choice between a car with service stamps from a main dealer or a car that the owner simply serviced himself - and had receipts for consumables - most would ptefer the former, all other things being equal.

If however you are comparing a car with service stamps to a car that has been partly disassembled by an enthusiast owner with previous experience (you for example) that has meticulously cleaned, restored or replaced everything that needed it to a proper standard and documented all of it with lots of photos then a prospective purchaser may well prefer the latter.  

I would add that a really skilled amateur mechanic with experience of these cars can also spot and rectify most if not all of the issues a specialist professional can (I suspect Lithospian is such a chap, so is Martin R) but how would a prospective purchaser know who knows their shit and who doesn't?  

All very fair points well made Dean, can’t argue with that….

[mattb130]

I’ve gone down the self service route because I’m confident in my abilities when it comes to doing maintenance and spotting things and because I know that I’m doing it I don’t have to decide if job a or b gets done, both can be done because the labour is just my time so more can be done for the same outlay as using a garage for just one of them.  It’s also allowed me to buy and make some tools which has been useful when working on my car. Plus I get 4 months over the winter to play so it’s a win win. 

[Daveb99]

57 minutes ago, mattb130 said:

I’ve gone down the self service route because I’m confident in my abilities when it comes to doing maintenance and spotting things and because I know that I’m doing it I don’t have to decide if job a or b gets done, both can be done because the labour is just my time so more can be done for the same outlay as using a garage for just one of them.  It’s also allowed me to buy and make some tools which has been useful when working on my car. Plus I get 4 months over the winter to play so it’s a win win. 

This echoes my approach exactly - and you get to improve the car as you go along.  And I’ve used the tools many, many times so not only have they paid for themselves, but I’m using them to maintain and fix the other cars in our fleet as well …..👍🏻