Different Types Of Car Services And How Do They Benefit You?

By car servicing, we mean the maintenance checkups of the car at regular intervals (at least once a year). A car also needs servicing after covering a particular number of miles. The manufacturer will provide you with a service schedule that will have specific service intervals. Try to follow the schedule as diligently as possible.

A Car Service Birmingham includes the following – changing fluids and old components, and visual check-ups of other vital parts. Don’t get confused between an MOT test and car servicing. You are bound by law to have an MOT test done. The test is to see if your car conforms to the environmental and safety standards laid down by the government. The criteria of the test are set by the Driving & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The three main kinds of car services are Major, Full, and Interim service. A lot of garages give innovative names to the car service packages to add a personal touch. Don't let the fancy names fool you. There exist only three car service types with a stepped pricing structure.

Each car service package has all the perks present in the lower service packages, along with added advantages. Which type of car service your vehicle requires depends on the kind of car service package it received the last time. How many miles the car has run is also an important contributing factor.

Interim Car Service

Interim car service is the most basic package and is also known as 'Basic' or 'Bronze' service. This service is custom made for high mileage drivers who cover above 20,000 miles in a year. They need to service their cars multiple times each year. Interim car service includes an oil and oil filter change, an engine, brake top-up, which comprises other fluids, and an inspection of other crucial parts (tyres, lights, and windscreen wipers) and fluid leaks.

Full Car Service

Car manufacturers suggest that you have this service done every 12,000 miles or 12 months, depending on what comes first. This package is a good choice for low mileage drivers who want to get an annual car service. It also goes by ‘Silver’ or ‘Intermediate’ service.

In a full car service, there is a wider range of checks and servicing of replacement parts. You will also get everything that is included in the interim service. We have mentioned below some of the services that you can get from this package.

1. Replacement of air filter

2. A thorough brake check

3. Inspection of wheel bearings and shock absorbers

4. Change in the fuel filter (diesel) or spark plugs (petrol)

5. Testing of electrical parts (like a starter motor, alternator, and battery)

6. An inspection of the AC system.

7. A check-up of radiator and coolant hose.

Major Car Service

People opt for a Major Car service generally after 2 years or 24,000 miles. It is also known as the ‘Master’ or ‘Gold’ service. It is recommended that you get the major service next if you had done a full service earlier. The service package has everything, including the additional perks that full service has. Plus, some parts need replacing after every two years. That includes the cabin filter and brake fluid. There occurs contamination of brake fluid over time, which hampers the vehicle’s stopping ability and may result in grievous accidents.

The air quality in the cabin filter deteriorates due to the dust and debris. Thus, the cabin filter needs to be de-clogged for better air quality.

Is A Car Service Necessary?

No law can compel you to have a regular car service, though it is not the case for an MOT test. Having your car serviced is the best way to keep it in pristine condition. If you fail to do so, it will harm the car’s performance.

Car servicing, though costly, has numerous benefits. They are –

Higher resale value

If your plan involves selling your car in the future, it is better to get a car service regularly. Potential buyers usually lean towards a vehicle with a comprehensive car service history. Therefore, you can better a better value for your car.

Better Reliability

A car service examines the vital parts of your vehicle and thus detects any issues if present. It will rectify the faults and will replace the defective parts.

Smoother Engine 

Changing the oil filter and engine oil each year will lubricate the moving components get better. It increases fuel efficiency.

Enhanced Braking

The mechanic will examine the brake pads, discs, and callipers.

The tasks in the servicing packages won’t be the same in any two garages. If you wish to know more about service packages available, any decent garage should be happy to explain what is there in their different service levels. Many Car Battery Birmingham garages provide service menu options on their websites with all the information. Some of them are a part of the Trust My Garage Scheme from the RMI (Retail Motor Industry); you can trust the technicians of these garages blindly.