Benefits of Regular Servicing
Your car is a highly complex piece of machinery. It’s full of computerised systems, and not only those that are responsible for keeping your engine running smoothly and at peak performance. Much of this computer-based equipment is now directly responsible for actively maintaining your safety, like Autonomous Emergency Braking and other Advanced Driver Assist Systems. That’s why it pays to have your car regularly serviced by technicians who have been properly trained, using the best diagnostic equipment and vehicle manufacturer approved parts.
However, there’s a bit of a myth around that you have to have your new car serviced by the vehicle manufacturer’s official dealer to maintain its warranty. Not true! European Block Exemption Regulations may sound boring, but actually give you the right to have your car serviced wherever you choose without negating your warranty. These regulations also mean that Auto 400, as an independent garage, has the right to access all the technical data from the vehicle manufacturer we need to service your car safely, efficiently and to the highest standards but, of course, we’ll do it a lot cheaper. Why? Because it’s increasingly well known that as manufacturers try to become more and more competitive, and they reduce the cost of their cars, whilst adding more and more of the technology that drivers everywhere now demand, servicing and maintenance through their dealer networks are key to maintaining vehicle manufacturers’ profitability.
Importance of service intervals
Over the years, vehicle manufacturers have gradually extended their service intervals as components have become more reliable and engineering standards have improved. Sometimes you might think that pushing your car that extra few thousand miles beyond the recommended service interval could save you money but, in reality, the manufacturer’s service interval is already at the maximum they feel confident with, as longer service intervals are a great marketing tool. Additionally, when you eventually come to sell or trade-in your car, most buyers will be keen to see its service record and will be eager to knock money off your asking price for any gaps in your car’s servicing or for extended service intervals.
Wear and tear
Then there’s the matter of routine wear and tear to components. Your safety and that of your passengers and your family must be of paramount concern. For example, tyre wear carries significant safety as well as legal implications. What’s more, your tyres and your steering components can be damaged by everyday driving on the UK’s roads, many of which are in such a poor state today. It’s only when we get your car up on a ramp to be checked during a service that damage and uneven tyre wear might become obvious. Brakes are another safety-critical component that we check during a service. Brake pads can wear, seriously affecting the efficiency of your brakes and increasing stopping distances. Seriously worn brake pads that aren’t dealt with can then go on to cause damage to brake discs and actually cause you even more expense.
