12 replies to this topic

[coldel]

I took ownership of my lovely blue VXT last March from a member on here. It has a stamped service book from a few different places, most recently back on track. I have done about 1500 miles in it since then all on the road, the MOT is coming up in Feb and my mind turns to servicing. The last service done by the previous owner was a C service with cambelt change so good peace of mind there. My question really is, is it frowned upon to do your own basic servicing? My family are car mechanics and have always looked after my cars (350z, R33 Skyline, Celica GT4 etc.) so previously my dad/brother do the work and I keep receipts and take photos of work done/post on build threads. Are there any quirks on a VX that we should look out for when doing servicing? 

[ayresyy]

I have always done my own work, including services. It’s not really any more work than any other car to do a service. If you do go down this route I would advise keeping a good record (with receipts etc) of all of the work you have done, along with the date and mileage (get your own stamp for the service book?). At least you can show any future owners that the schedule has been fully maintained that way.

[coldel]

Cheers, yes my brother runs his own business so we 'could' stamp the book with his stamp although appreciate for most people that wouldn't really mean anything other than one of the usual garages wont have done the work. They do a number of inspections on the car during the year in any case usually when I am over visiting my parents, any work that needs doing is done immediately as I in effect have free labour costs 

 

I do keep a good record though, the folders I give the buyers of my previous cars containing receipts, photos, chronography of all work done have always been very well received!

[fiveoclock]

I have always done my own work, including services. It’s not really any more work than any other car to do a service. If you do go down this route I would advise keeping a good record (with receipts etc) of all of the work you have done, along with the date and mileage (get your own stamp for the service book?). At least you can show any future owners that the schedule has been fully maintained that way.

Get your own stamp? How would that work then? What would it have on it? Your name and address?

[mbes2]

 

I have always done my own work, including services. It’s not really any more work than any other car to do a service. If you do go down this route I would advise keeping a good record (with receipts etc) of all of the work you have done, along with the date and mileage (get your own stamp for the service book?). At least you can show any future owners that the schedule has been fully maintained that way.

Get your own stamp? How would that work then? What would it have on it? Your name and address?

 

 

[ayresyy]

 

 

I have always done my own work, including services. It’s not really any more work than any other car to do a service. If you do go down this route I would advise keeping a good record (with receipts etc) of all of the work you have done, along with the date and mileage (get your own stamp for the service book?). At least you can show any future owners that the schedule has been fully maintained that way.

Get your own stamp? How would that work then? What would it have on it? Your name and address?

 

 

 

 

  I guess all you need is a big potato and some creativity.. 

[Mat Jackson]

I service my own and sign the service book, but also have a detailed record of the work done and usually photos... Normally I end up doing upgrades along with a service


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[coldel]

Cheers Mat, I agree will do it myself (well I say that, will be getting my father and brother to do all the work!) and do my usual thing of documenting it all both with a folder of receipts and photos on a build thread

[siztenboots]

 dealers discard all paperwork with customer details on it now , so you just get service book stamps

[markanswrth]

As long as you're competent and keep a record I don't see a problem. In many ways I would rather buy a car like the VX from an owner that had spent hours meticulously maintaining and caring for their VX and knew everything about it than from someone who just sent it to a garage to have the absolute minimum done to save money.

[coldel]

Yep all my cars are overly looked after, as you can imagine anything carrying my son in has to be in tip top order according to his grandad   couldn't give two hoots about me though lol Everytime I drive over to my parents dad is out there checking the car over!

[coldel]

 dealers discard all paperwork with customer details on it now , so you just get service book stamps

 

A good reason to keep them away from stealers then 

[sford]

I've owned my mine for 10 years and in that time used a mixture. To start with, I went to vxl for an oil change and a local indy for everything else. Then I got into going to specialists but quickly realised part of the fun was doing stuff myself. probably the last 6 years have been spent with me doing the work. 

 

Annual oil and filter change while the air filter gets cleaned and recoated (it's an ITG).

Brake fluid change at least annually but varies depending on how many track days. Normally every other track day. 

For everything else I follow a preventative maintenance plan, replacing parts that are old or could be better as I go. The car does roughly 1k miles a year. I check toe links every track day roughly a week before. Hub carrier bolts are replaced every 3 years ish. Bushes and bearings are checked annually when I get the car prepped for the MOT. This mostly involves jacking the car up, taking the wheels off and just checking over everything for play or tightness.