Motors Service Cost for a Ford Focus (3 & 1/2 yrs old)

Hi chaps

What would you say is a fair price for a full/major service for a ford focus diesel, 08 plate

I'm getting quoted about £280 from an approved ford dealership for a major service including oil, fuel line inspect, filters, etc but that seems a little steep.

any thoughts on this? should i go to a private mechanic?

 

If you're not going to a third party mechanic because you're worried about getting the service book stamped and stuff, don't worry. Third party mechanics usually charge less, take less time and have the same "seal of approval" abilities that official mechanics have now.

Get a quote from a third party mechanic.

 

Generally I'd say just get a few quotes and phone around... you'll soon see if that £280 quote is far out or not. If asked if your called anyone else / have other quotes just say they are the first one - that way your getting a fair estimate of there prices, not there ability to price match.

 

Halfords are doing some specials at the mo' and £30 off.

A bit cheaper by the looks of it - from £205 for a major service...

 

Get it cheaper still at a normal garage, ask around some mates (or parents) for someone that has been used for years and ask them. Your car, as it is only 3 years old, won't really need much done to it. You could easily half that cost by going to a normal garage rathert than being a stamp collector.

But, the stamps may help with resale in the long run...

 

A little comparison chart might help

http://www.whatsmyservicecost.co.uk/Car-Servicing/Ford-Service-Costs/Ford-Focus-Service.aspx

 

went to Halfords for servicing, they wanted to change all my brake pads and disks...... everything else was fine.

went to HiQ, did free brake check, only front ones need changing, rear ones still have around half year in them!

best avoid Halfords, IMHO.

 

Can you use a spanner? If so, do the service yourself. It's not that hard.

I just serviced my Diesel S-Type Jag - cost £110 in various filters, service items and oil. Jaguar wanted nigh on £500 for the same job.

1. Run the engine for 10 mins to get it nice and warm.
2. Jack it up
3. Take out the oil filler cap
4. Put suitable receptical under the sump plug (big enough to catch all the oil.
5. Undo the sump plug and let the oil drain out.
6. Whilst you're under there, remove the old oil filter.
7. Leave for 15 mins to let as much oil as possible drain. You could replace the air and fuel filters whilst you wait (They'll more than likely be topside in the engine bay.
8. Replace the sump plug - either with a new on, or with the old one and a new sealing washer.
9. Spin on the new filter, and nip it up hand tight. Smear the seal on the end with a bit of oil before doing so.
10. Refil the engine with oil - make sure you don't over fill it. The capacity will be on the web somewhere. I assume it'll be ford spec 5W30 - A1, but check online. (Try www.opieoils.co.uk)
11. Replace oil filler cap
12. Turn on engine, and ensure the oil pressure light goes off.
13. PROFIT.

I bet you could do it yourself for less than a ton.

 

Major service is a little more than filters and oil though. But it's a good start!

 

Go to third party and save money and help your local mechanics, check this site for trusted places

Me and the "pops" do servicing at weekends, he's an ex mechanic and I'm a hobbiest, majority of the week is easy for ameaturs anyway and we produce invoices and can stamp peoples books as he worked for Nissan and still backed by them if needed

 

Opie oils quote 47.65 for the filter and the oil, £6.85 for an air filter and £7.21 for a cabin air filter. So £61.70 plus postage and off you go.

The fuel filter and sump washer / plug you could get from Ford, but it'd be cheaper to go to somewhere like euro car parts. The fuel filter is about £20.

So you could save nearly £200.

Yes - it's oil, oil filter, air filter, cabin filter and that's about it. Possibly a brake fluid change, buit again, that's an easy DIY job.

Everything else is visual checks to ensure belts and bushes are OK.

 

If you're doing that, and ordering from Opie, order some spark plugs too - can get those badboys for £15 and always worth replacing at major service time, they're often mandated for petrols. (I know this thread is about diesel, but just for anyone else)

Also: Opie Cheesecake, they have pretty ludicrous sales on frequently, and often do free shipping etc as well. Can't praise them enough.

Belts and bushes are generally done at MOT time as well, if you have a good tester, Ford are just charging an arm and a leg for a quick run round the car and a peek at the oily bits. It's the stamp that people are frightened about, keep your receipt and put it in the SH, any sensible person shouldn't have a problem when it comes to selling.

 

Having a mechanic you can trust is worth its weight in gold. Can you ask your friends to see if any of them have a mechanic they reccomend?

 

My missus has a petrol focus, 7 years old. We have owned it for about 4 years now.

When we bought it we knew that when we eventually replaced it, the fact it was still running would be worth more than the stamps in the service book so it hasnt been to a mechanic in the time we have owned it and I have done all the servicing.

Just done:
Oil change
Oil Filter
Air filter
Fuel Filter
Pollen filter
Spark Plugs
Drained, flushed and replaced engine coolant

Total cost: £66.12 and a few hours of my time.

 

i pay the garage i go to about $10 to change my oil. i buy the oil myself (i get it when i goes on sale) and just give it to them and they do it.

helps when you have connections and relatives

 

Most tyre firms offer full servicing and there are loads around. They will gladly quote you a price for a full service and where they are located, more often than not they're on an industrial estate with a motor factors distributor near them so they can get the parts cheap.

It's what I've done since I've driven a car and saved bucketloads. I've made sure to keep all the receipts.

 

Services are in the £200 from respectable dealers yes. Depends how big it is - each year is a difference service depending on your mileage - the big one is the most expensive, obviously. If it's out of warranty though, you're best of servicing it yourself. Grab a Haynes manual and get cracking

 

+ parts = Win

 

I have a 03 focus diesel and down my local garage (on the respected list) and its costing me £135 all parts included.

 

Thank you guys some fantastic responses there. I've been getting some quotes in for local garages and have maanged to get one at around £180, which sounds more like it.

What does this mean for the service log book for my car - will the local mechanic be able to stamp it and will it therefore have less credibility for a resell? I will, of course, be keeping all the receipts.