98 Golf due for MOT - worth getting it serviced and how much to pay?

[loz_the_guru]

My VW golf is up for its MOT this month, just wondering opinions on getting it serviced? Some people say its a waste of time, i've got literally no idea so would value opinions on this.

Also, what exactly does a full service entail and how much should I expect to pay from a reasonable local garage?

 

[qwerty321]

To give you a rough idea, last time I had my Laguna MOT and service done I paid £160 but that was because the garage gives a cheaper price for a major service and MOT. Plus I had 6 litres of oil.

Id say you should expect to pay between £100-£150 depending on what kind of service you have.

 

[Drd]

It all depends on what you want from the car. If you want reliability then a service by a decent mechanic may give you warning of impending problems. If you want the car to keep running for a long while in the future then a service will make sure your engine and running gear is in as good condition as possible. If you plan to sell the car in the future some sort of service history may help you sell it.

However, if the car is rarely used, doesn't have to be reliable and you intend to drive it into the ground then a service may be totally irrelevant.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

Kwikfit are doing fixed price service and MOT deals.
Interim service and MOT for £99 on a car under 1800cc.
They'll probably try and flog you stuff you won't you need, but if you're resolute enough to say "no" then you shouldn't have much problem.
There's not much to an interim service anyway, just filters and oil.

MoT and Service Pricing

 

[un1eash]

My local Farmers Skoda also offer the same deal on any car over 4 years old.

 

[DELUCAS]

Kwikfit are doing fixed price service and MOT deals.
Interim service and MOT for £99 on a car under 1800cc.
They'll probably try and flog you stuff you won't you need, but if you're resolute enough to say "no" then you shouldn't have much problem.
There's not much to an interim service anyway, just filters and oil.

MoT and Service Pricing

The question is would you take your car in to kwik fit and would you trust them to be honest !

the horror storys i hear !

take to a local garage they wold prob do more on a service .

 

[FZR400RRSP]

The question is would you take your car in to kwik fit and would you trust them to be honest !

If I had 1998 Golf and wanted to keep the costs down, then I may be tempted to take a service+MOT deal from Kwikfit, yes.
But, as I said, I would take any 'recommendations' they made for new tyres/pads/shocks with a pinch of salt and get a second opinion elsewhere.
There's so little to an interim service, they'd have to be pushed to get that wrong!
But, then again, if I had 1998 Golf I'd probably do my own servicing.

 

[DELUCAS]

If I had 1998 Golf and wanted to keep the costs down, then I may be tempted to take a service+MOT deal from Kwikfit, yes.
But, as I said, I would take any 'recommendations' they made for new tyres/pads/shocks with a pinch of salt and get a second opinion elsewhere.
There's so little to an interim service, they'd have to be pushed to get that wrong!
But, then again, if I had 1998 Golf I'd probably do my own servicing.

They drained the gearbox oil instead of the engine oil they thought it was the sump !!

 

[FZR400RRSP]

They drained the gearbox oil instead of the engine oil they thought it was the sump !!

Yes, yes, yes, I've heard all the usual stories about them.
I'm also aware of how they'll try and sell you tyres/exhausts/shocks.
Thanks.
But I'm also realistic and make my own judgements about their satisfied-to-disastisfied customer ratio.
For every horror story/urban legend, how many people will leave perfectly satisfied?
Unless you're suggesting every single member of Kwikfit staff at every single branch is incompetent?

 

[qwerty321]

Went to kwik fit once with a relative who got a puncture whilst we were driving. Was a Sunday and they were the nearest place. Got the tyre changed and for some reason they felt the need to test the battery and said it needed replacing! Obviously we declined but why the hell did they decide that the battery needed to be tested?

 

[FZR400RRSP]

Went to kwik fit once with a relative who got a puncture whilst we were driving. Was a Sunday and they were the nearest place. Got the tyre changed and for some reason they felt the need to test the battery and said it needed replacing! Obviously we declined but why the hell did they decide that the battery needed to be tested?

They're all it, trying to conjour up business or ripping people off.
For example, I remember a big thing about Audi draining your washer bottle and refilling it with their own fluid.
Even if your bottle was full, they would drain it (or allegedly drain it) and refill it.
And charge an extra £x in the process.
Few people complained because it was only £x.
But £x multiplied by x cars serviced adds up.

 

[DELUCAS]

Unless you're suggesting every single member of Kwikfit staff at every single branch is incompetent?


No i didnt say that !

Its that i hear of to many horror story's and also that they work on commision !!
which i dont think is a good thing .

plus if you are not that clued up on cars you could come out a bit out of pocket .

 

[car-man]

My VW golf is up for its MOT this month, just wondering opinions on getting it serviced? Some people say its a waste of time, i've got literally no idea so would value opinions on this.

Also, what exactly does a full service entail and how much should I expect to pay from a reasonable local garage?

I would take it in for mot first and see how it gets on, any mot related items that are coming up for possible renewal will be covered by an advisory notice.
Ask the garage for a price for servicing and what they will do for the cost.
I always take customers cars in for mot first before I service them if I have a service and mot to do, then I can inform them about advisory items and give them the choice of having them done whilst i'm doing the service.

 

[Kebabhead]

I would take it in for mot first and see how it gets on any mot related items that are coming up for possible renewal will be covered by an advisory notice.
.

Could do his own pre-MOT check, i.e checking tyres, lights, wiper blades etc

Obviously some things he can't check like emmissions but that why cars are serviced before MOT's

 

[FZR400RRSP]

Could do his own pre-MOT check, i.e checking tyres, lights, wiper blades

People should check them regularly anyway, but I know what you mean.
It's amazing how many people drive about with faulty lights, only worrying about them when MOT-time comes.
And as for people who put a car in for its MOT with faulty lights, they should be shot.
Unless it blew in the testing station, how the hell didn't they know????

 

[benhaha85]

It's amazing how many people drive about with faulty lights, only worrying about them when MOT-time comes.
And as for people who put a car in for its MOT with faulty lights, they should be shot.
Unless it blew in the testing station, how the hell didn't they know????

Although this should probably go in the pet hates thread, on my drive to work I sometimes follow a Fiesta who's brake lights are on all the time. That's just downright dangerous if you ask me. You've got no idea when they are actually braking or not. [/OT]

 

[DELUCAS]

Although this should probably go in the pet hates thread, on my drive to work I sometimes follow a Fiesta who's brake lights are on all the time. That's just downright dangerous if you ask me. You've got no idea when they are actually braking or not. [/OT]

The trouble is that less and less people are not having there car's serviced regulary because of the economic climate of today !!

and who do you blame ?

 

[Kebabhead]

The trouble is that less and less people are not having there car's serviced regulary because of the economic climate of today !!

and who do you blame ?

if you can't afford to service/maintain your car you shouldn't have one

 

[benhaha85]

if you can't afford to service/maintain your car you shouldn't have one

Spot on.

 

[DELUCAS]

if you can't afford to service/maintain your car you shouldn't have one

Totally agree

but more and more people are cost cutting and doing repairs themselves and you can just imaging what happens next ?

 

[FZR400RRSP]

if you can't afford to service/maintain your car you shouldn't have one

You need to seperate the two, really.
I wholeheartedly agree basic maintenance should be done regularly.
Stuff like oil/water/washer bottle/tyre pressures/lights/wipers should be checked weekly/monthly.
You can understand people stretching service intervals to save money though, as changing the oil and filters isn't absolutely crucial.
It's preferable, but not crucial.

 

[Kebabhead]

You can understand people stretching service intervals to save money though, as changing the oil and filters isn't absolutely crucial.
It's preferable, but not crucial.

I would go as far as to say changing timing belts either at specified intervals isn't either in terms of MOT

 

[car-man]

Could do his own pre-MOT check, i.e checking tyres, lights, wiper blades etc

Obviously some things he can't check like emmissions but that why cars are serviced before MOT's

Every driver should be checking lights/wipers/tyres at regular intervals, it's the drivers duty and responsibility.

The OP drives a 1998 car, yes, it should be serviced, but if the garage find problems that need fixing, maybe the ownwer would want to spend money on the repairs to keep the car on the road then have it serviced later, I have customers that do this, at least they will know exactly what condition the car is in on the day of the mot test.

I think it's more practical with an older car to have the mot done first....from many years experience actually doing this.

 

[lmccauley]

Yes, yes, yes, I've heard all the usual stories about them.
I'm also aware of how they'll try and sell you tyres/exhausts/shocks.
Thanks.
But I'm also realistic and make my own judgements about their satisfied-to-disastisfied customer ratio.
For every horror story/urban legend, how many people will leave perfectly satisfied?
Unless you're suggesting every single member of Kwikfit staff at every single branch is incompetent?

I'm well aware of horror stories getting propogated and exaggerated over the internet, but I've seen the photos of what one Kwik Fit branch did to a friend's brake system. He wasn't happy and spoke to the RAC, who insisted on trailering him home. He took it to a main dealer and they were horrified at how dangerous they had made the car. After speaking to the manager of the KF branch, they immediately agreed to pay all costs for the dealer to put the car right.

But, like you say, they are a franchise, and there will be good ones and bad ones.

Also, their oil change price is a bargain for cars with big engines.