Another servicing question. Advice?

[A320_phill]

I know there have been many servicing topics regarding inspection II, DIY servicing or not etc, but here is mine!

My car is a 3.0si coupe, 2007 on 97k miles, and according the onboard computer it is due an inspection II in 9k miles.

I serviced it myself in January this year, changed oil and filter, air filter, cabin filter, spark plugs.

My questions are:

A) Is it worth just doing an oil change myself again next month and skipping the inspection II stamp in the book, in the knowledge that the car will have been inspected anyway on its MOT and I am safe in the knowledge that the plugs etc are recent, saving around £350.

B) Do I pay for the inspection II and get all filters and plugs replaced again even though they have only done about 8k miles, but have the all important stamp in the book?

C) Either way, would you wait until the service indicator runs to near zero before any servicing or would you do it annually as a matter of course?

Thanks! Phil

 

[simonlpearce]

A - Only you can answer that one. For me personally once a car is nearing 100k miles the service book being stamped by a dealer/valued independent isn't overly important, unless of course it was an M car. So long as there is decent documented history with proof of receipts then it should affect the resale value too much.

B - Personally i wouldn't both, unless as mentioned above it was a rare sought after car where a service history would have a big affect on price.

C - Personal preference. It runs of the fuel consumed anyway so will vary on mileage depending on how hard you drive it. That said i would always try and service a car annually for peace of mind.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

What about running through the service items yourself and signing it off?

C) the car measures the oil quality via the sensor, not fuel consumed (specifically conductivity).

That said I run an oil service inbetween the schedule based roughly on the computer. I aim for no more than 10k between oil changes with an ideal interval of 7.5k and don't reset the indicator in the interim.

 

[Mike6]

Its already been said but at that mileage its more important that car has been overserviced rather than underserviced at the specified intervals. Mark up the book and keep receipts. I think a lot of people would rather see an enthusiast maintained car rather than a stamp in the book. I have the Haynes book on the BMW and it states that manufacturers service intervals are the absolute maximum and that if you intend to keep the car in tip top condition it should be serviced much more regularly with oil changes around the 6000 mark.