Which service next? 12 years old but not been very far

Desiro · Post by **Desiro** » Fri 24 Sep, 2010 18:49

Will the service indicator tell me exactly which service to have next?

I do not want to under or over service the car, I just want to do what is right.

As can be seen below it’s never had an inspection II but does it need one, which is I suppose what I am really asking.

Service details as of 10th. May 2010

Running in 1214 miles

Oil service + Brake fluid 4002 miles

Oil service + Brake fluid +coolant 7170 miles

Oil service + Brake fluid 9377 miles

Inspection 1 13803 miles

Oil service 20411 miles

Oil + Brake fluid 25370 miles

Oil service 29623 miles

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Fri 24 Sep, 2010 18:56

The sequence is oil service, inspection 1, oil service, inspection 2 etc. The fluid service is done when the little orange clock is illuminated on the dash.

Desiro · Post by **Desiro** » Fri 24 Sep, 2010 19:06

Thanks Phil

Inspection ll it is then

shantybeater · Post by **shantybeater** » Fri 24 Sep, 2010 19:58

Yes it's definately due an inspection II. Bare in mind an inspection I is just a glorified oil service with other checks covered. You will still be on your original spark plugs/air filter after 12years! and the valve clearances won't have been checked I don't think?

Even with very low mileage you should be alternating through the service schedule once a year or at most 1.5 years regardless of miles covered

jontymo · Post by **jontymo** » Fri 24 Sep, 2010 21:37

Hi Desiro

I was in the same boat 98 car but a 2.8 with a history of oil changes and inspection 1s so decided to get an inspection 2 done(will do my own from now on) just to be on the safe side.

For info:
Not sure of places over your way but I used a place called bmtech in Manchester, cost £200 + vat for the standard Inspection 2 but also decide to get the brake fluid changed i think the total was £290 including vat.

jontymo

nearly old · Post by **nearly old** » Fri 24 Sep, 2010 22:03

I wouldnt waste my money the cars been serviced to death as it is

trigg35 · Post by **trigg35** » Fri 24 Sep, 2010 23:08

i wouldnt call 8 oil changes in 12 years and the original spark plugs servicing it to death.i had an inspection 2 last november and the car did very few miles over the winter - mainly short runs.had mayo around the oil filler cap by the end of winter which was lack of use rather than head gasket and so i had another oil change.i wont be going on the service lights with my car as i only do 3000 miles a year. if i did it could be three years or more before it thinks it needs to visit a garage which i think is too long.

nearly old · Post by **nearly old** » Sat 25 Sep, 2010 06:36

Plus 4 brake fluid changes now i would call that serviced to death

aceman · Post by **aceman** » Sat 25 Sep, 2010 07:09

nearly old wrote:Plus 4 brake fluid changes now i would call that serviced to death

Disagree, fluid changes should be done every 2 years so 4 in 12 years makes that every 3 years hence underserviced !!

siwilson · Post by **siwilson** » Sat 25 Sep, 2010 09:57

shantybeater wrote:Yes it's definately due an inspection II. Bare in mind an inspection I is just a glorified oil service with other checks covered. You will still be on your original spark plugs/air filter after 12years! and the valve clearances won't have been checked I don't think?

Even with very low mileage you should be alternating through the service schedule once a year or at most 1.5 years regardless of miles covered

Sorry, Can't agree with that. If the car is hardly driven then the only things you have to worry about are those that deteriate over time, such as the fluids. The rest are more driving style/mileage related, so carry on following the service lights. One area I would pay more attenton to in a super low mileage car is the brakes. The pads could be in there a lonng time before they wear out, which is not an issue for the pads of dics, but can be an issue with the calipers. Z3s tend to be second /weekend cars with low annual mileage, which is why we see a fairly high proportion of people reporting sticky calipers.

Oilman wrote a good piece a while back on long-life oils and how the additives deteriate over time. I would follow that advice/schedule and change if the service lights don't tell you first.

Desiro · Post by **Desiro** » Sat 25 Sep, 2010 15:48

Thanks for all your replies, some very interesting takes on this.

Just to add, I changed the pads this year and did have a sticking caliper afterwards, but that has now been remedied.

As for driving style, I dont use it for going to the shops, only for driving as it was intended on long fun runs.

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Wed 29 Sep, 2010 16:04

I have seen (I'm sure) valve clearances listed in both Insp I and Insp. II services. The only other "M" specific item that may be checked (but probably rarely adjusted) are the throttle bodies.

Basically the car is not unlike most others; you want regular oil and filter changes, the rest of the "services" are merely vehicle checks.

I would recommend changing the gearbox oil and diff oil (ironically NOT on any service schedule).

ZZZEMMCO · Post by **ZZZEMMCO** » Wed 29 Sep, 2010 16:44

Interesting subject.Where does it mention in Any service schedule spark plug change?.

Post by **Robert T** » Wed 29 Sep, 2010 17:48

ZZZEMMCO wrote:Interesting subject.Where does it mention in Any service schedule spark plug change?.

Here:

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10538

At Insp II for all cars and additionally as Insp I for the 1.9.

Cheers R.

zroadster.net

Which service next? 12 years old but not been very far

Which service next? 12 years old but not been very far

Spark plug Milage? change

Re: Spark plug Milage? change