€80 Car Service. Exposed!
Some say its a total scam, false advertising or even a gimmick, but at the very least it is misleading, designed to make you book a service by appealing to your innate hope that you may just get a bargain!
No1. The Detailed Version, a 6.5 minute read.
No2. The Short Version , a 3.5 minute read.
The reason I’m telling you this is because of the increasing amount of enquiries I’m getting about €80 car services. The short answer is we don’t do them! In reality they don’t exist. So from now I will refer all these enquiries to this blog. If I don’t cover your questions you can always phone me on 01-4571693 .
Firstly, the word ‘service’ is used in these headline ads. That in itself is a complete misnomer, because what they are actually offering is quite simply an oil change and maybe an oil filter. The quality of the very basic products on offer will undoubtedly be inferior, (cheap ‘n’ nasty) but it leaves room for the service advisor to peddle The Upsell. So the following is what you really need to know about getting a “Value for Money Car Service”.
1. Types of Engine Oil
Which type of oil does your vehicle take, and how do you know that you are being sold the correct type of oil? There are three different types of engine oil.
• Conventional oil—a standard oil
• Synthetic Blend Oil—a mixture of conventional and synthetic oil
• Fully Synthetic Oil—a lubricant that consists of chemical compounds that are artificially made.
Each vehicle manufacture recommends a particular type and weight of oil for optimal engine performance. Check your owner’s manual for the oil recommendations and oil change intervals.
Knowing your oil type and weight will prevent you from spending too much or too little and possibly voiding your engine warranty.
2. Frequency of Oil Changes
Most garages recommend 10,000 miles for an oil change.
However today’s vehicles have sensors that are designed to measure the viscosity of the engine oil. Engine oil viscosity will change due to driving conditions: long trips versus short trips, for example. The mileage recommendation that you see on your oil change sticker is used as a tool to remind you that your oil needs to be changed.
Change the oil based on mileage and NOT on the time it was put in.
3. Air Filters
You’re sitting in the waiting room, and a service advisor approaches you. He or she shows you a dirty air filter and says this came out of your car. The next step is to sell you an air filter. But how do you know if it really came out of your car?
Ask to check your vehicle, so that you can see that the air filter you are seeing is definitely yours.
Wait for it, here comes the crux of the €80 Car Service!
4. The Upsell
This is the way an Auto Repair Garage tries to make extra money on a simple oil change. They will prepare a long list of potential maintenance fixes with various urgency ratings attached, like ‘Needs Immediate Attention’ or ‘Needs Attention within the Next few Weeks’, etc. I have even heard of people being told that ‘your car is in a dangerous condition and we would be negligent if we allow you to drive it away’, insisting that the repair goes ahead immediately .
In fact, each vehicle manufacture recommends routine maintenance intervals. How can you be sure that the Garage is not taking advantage of you?
Check your maintenance intervals in your owner’s manual. Keep in mind that these are recommendations from the manufacturer—different conditions may affect vehicles differently.
Keep records of your car’s maintenance schedule so that no mechanic will take advantage of you. Knowledge is power.
I will conclude this warning by saying an €80 car service is a bit of a con. At the very least I would consider it to be Sharp Practice. That is why we do not indulge. Even if it’s just an oil change, it sounds too cheap for decent oil and filters. Don’t believe me? Price the parts yourself, then employ a mechanic (a time-served qualified mechanic – Bolton Street, not Mountjoy) to do the work and then dispose of the oil properly (ecologically) so that it doesn’t end up in our rivers or worse.
There is a reason it is said that “ Good work ain’t cheap and cheap work ain’t Good!’
If somebody offers cheap work, you just know in your heart and soul that you will pay the price for it somewhere along the way.
So if you want a great value car service or repair that gives you peace of mind, then give me a call on 01-4571693
◆ I will guarantee you an expert service, a great price and a no-quibble guarantee on all work carried out.
◆ We will never carry out any work without your strict consent and full knowledge about the price.
◆ You can also get a second opinion on any work we recommend.
◆ The choice is always yours, affordable and hassle-free.
Any queries, just phone me or email me from the contacts page . You can also fill in the forms for quotes on service, repairs and tyres.
Remember you are in good hands, we are a SIMI audited garage . Just check out the many happy customers on our website and Google pages.
We also have many trusted companies & state utility bodies like the LUAS as good customers.
I am always happy to take your call.
Happy Motoring
Martin.