Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > XC90 '02–'15 General

Notices

XC90 '02–'15 General Forum for the P2-platform XC90 model

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

Do you service your own car?

Views : 3437

Replies : 33

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 12:55   #1
bobdabuilda
Premier Member
 
bobdabuilda's Avatar
 

Last Online: May 31st, 2022 12:32
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: south
Default Do you service your own car?

After having quotes of £404 and £330 for a 4 year service on an xc90 (car is at 58000 miles with last service done 1year ago at 54000miles) I am wondering why there is not an investigation of the dealers by the monopolies commission! I mean come on what is hard about a service and why is it so extortionate? I managed to get one to allow me to supply my own oil but that only reduces the price by £70.

I figure that I could do the air filter myself for £20, oil filter would cost around £20, fuel filter £20, no need to top up the screen washer which is usually £5... an hours work tops? I replaced the discs, pads, shoes and rear wheel bearings last summer so what else is there to check? I wonder if I can buy the dealer stamp for £20?

Does anyone have a 4 year checklist of what is usually done please?

Last edited by bobdabuilda; Mar 2nd, 2011 at 13:00.
bobdabuilda is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to bobdabuilda For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 13:03   #2
Banzai
Member
 

Last Online: Jul 30th, 2014 22:10
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: West Sussex
Default

I agree, to the knowledgeable it is a lot of money for what you get.

My recently aquired Exec is 3 years old and I will get it dealer serviced to keep the book up to date with Volvo stamps which will (hopefully) allow it to retain as much value as possible when I come to sell it in a few years time.

The other advantage of dealer servicing is other work carried out such as recalls etc.

For my next service I also need the on call re-activated and I might get the radio software mod to receive Long Wave transmissions.
Banzai is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Banzai For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 13:12   #3
owenfackrell
Premier Member
 

Last Online: Feb 4th, 2024 20:04
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: southampton
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobdabuilda View Post
After having quotes of £404 and £330 for a 4 year service on an xc90 (car is at 58000 miles with last service done 1year ago at 54000miles) I am wondering why there is not an investigation of the dealers by the monopolies commission! I mean come on what is hard about a service and why is it so extortionate? I managed to get one to allow me to supply my own oil but that only reduces the price by £70.

I figure that I could do the air filter myself for £20, oil filter would cost around £20, fuel filter £20, no need to top up the screen washer which is usually £5... an hours work tops? I replaced the discs, pads, shoes and rear wheel bearings last summer so what else is there to check? I wonder if I can buy the dealer stamp for £20?

Does anyone have a 4 year checklist of what is usually done please?
I do my own servicing and the oil filters are cheaper than that. As mine is on the 10k or one year with the millage my car covers it works out a service every 8 months or so. Doing it my self costs me less than £100 as you only need to replace things like the fuel filter every couple of years. I also keep an eye on my washer level and top it up as needed. I also make sure that things like the door hinges are lubricated. In fact I can't think of a time when I have paid for a service where I have been happy with what's been done.
owenfackrell is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to owenfackrell For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 13:33   #4
400-ascona
Premier Member
 
400-ascona's Avatar
 

Last Online: Mar 18th, 2024 16:26
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Derby
Default

I always do my own servicing as I think the quality of the work I do is better than the garage, due mainly because I care. I use decent parts (Volvo or known brand), and I keep receipts, and records about what I do, when and mileages. When it comes to selling the car, all this information is better than service histroy in my opinion, and I find most of the time potential buyers agree.
Rob.
__________________
1997 V70R AWD, Saffron, Manual; Lotus Carlton; Ascona 400; Mini Cooper S Works; 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover; Land Rover Discovery 4; Suzuki GSF1200N; BMW R80/7; Velocette Venom; Daimler V8 250.
400-ascona is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to 400-ascona For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 19:29   #5
BestGear
Master Member
 
BestGear's Avatar
 

Last Online: Feb 3rd, 2024 19:39
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sunny Scotland
Default

I would add myself to the list of DIY servicing... I have yet to experience anymain dealer where the end to end service meets expectations.

They may have one or two excellent techs, but its the whole experience that never meets cost or quality expectations.

Servicing items are not expensive on these or most cars these days, even buying OEM parts.

I also stamp my service book with a rubber stamp... made in my own name (they are only circa £10 to get made up) - plus I make up a worksheet to record every item of work and have that stapled to the receipts for the parts - so maintain a very comprehensive history.

David
__________________
My Weather Station
BestGear is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to BestGear For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 19:45   #6
400-ascona
Premier Member
 
400-ascona's Avatar
 

Last Online: Mar 18th, 2024 16:26
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Derby
Default

When I was 18, my first car (Opel Ascona B) was pulling to the left under braking, and had ventilation issues in the chassis legs. I took it to the local garage, who freed up the sliders on the single pot calipers, and welded the chassis legs. 9 months later it all needed doing again, so I bought my own mig welder (off the milkman!), and started to collect my tools, and fixed it for myself, properly. The only other time I sent a car to a garage was when I fuel injected a later Ascona, and couldn't get it ticking over correctly. Looming camping trip and work commitments, so I booked it into and injection specialist, who did nothing useful to it until the day I was due to go away, so I went down in the morning and fixed it myself in their garage, and they then tried to charge me!
So in a way they did me a favour, as the useless garages have led me to a life long hobby, which ensures I will never use them again!
I have loads of tools now, but I have to admit I don't have my own service stamp (once again I bow to your superiority David!).
Rob.
__________________
1997 V70R AWD, Saffron, Manual; Lotus Carlton; Ascona 400; Mini Cooper S Works; 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover; Land Rover Discovery 4; Suzuki GSF1200N; BMW R80/7; Velocette Venom; Daimler V8 250.

Last edited by 400-ascona; Mar 2nd, 2011 at 19:48.
400-ascona is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to 400-ascona For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 19:55   #7
chb
Master Member
 

Last Online: Dec 22nd, 2023 11:53
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Leeds
Smile

Always do my own cars.
A lot of it is just about having a little confidence and common sense.
My old V40 is still chugging along nicely after 165000 miles, with half of that being serviced by me.
The XC90 is only 10 months in the family. So far have changed oil, pollen filters and put in fully synthetic oil. Havn't done the air filter yet as when I opened it up the existing one looked new (so I have a spare in the garage!). Plan to do the fuel filter this year as I had some warning messages in the -14C temps last year that I THINK may be fuel filter related.

With any new car there is a period where lack of familiarity and/or purchase price can put you off from attacking it with your own tools. That wears off very soon for me now!


....oh also did the rear brakes and waxoiled the entire car. and lubed the hinges etc.

Last edited by chb; Mar 2nd, 2011 at 19:57.
chb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 21:49   #8
RoyMacDonald
VOC Member
 
RoyMacDonald's Avatar
 

Last Online: Feb 1st, 2023 12:27
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Rye, East Sussex
Default

Is this what you want? Should add click on the thumbnail to open then click on the open photo to get a printable copy.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Volvo Service Sheet2.jpg (320.9 KB, 100 views)
__________________
1984 245 SE 1986 345 SE Auto
1991 940 TD Auto 2003 XC90 D5 SE AWD Geartronic2002 V70 D5 SE Auto 2014 V40 D2 SE Tiptronic Cross Country 2017 V40 D2 Cross Country Geartronic Pro 2015 XC60 D5 Polestar SE Lux Nav AWD Geartronic
RoyMacDonald is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to RoyMacDonald For This Useful Post:
Old Mar 2nd, 2011, 23:50   #9
chb
Master Member
 

Last Online: Dec 22nd, 2023 11:53
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Leeds
Exclamation

perfect! Thats a lot of fuel filters needed!

Makes me think that I will definately do mine now.

...goes to look for how to guide.
chb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Mar 3rd, 2011, 00:58   #10
Britsud
Anycolouraslongasitsblack
 
Britsud's Avatar
 

Last Online: Mar 20th, 2012 00:38
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: swadlincote
Talking

Great post.
I have dealer service but I do hardware fix myself.
__________________
2008my xc90 sport,Polestar 205bhp, Flip down DVD, Full intergrated phone volvo on call, RTI Satnav full post code, privacy glass, Winter pack, Family pack, calcite soft leather, .Bi-xenon active headlights, Brembo discs Redstuff Pads.
Britsud is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:50.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.