What it includes
What is due is set by the manufacturer, and it changes from one service to the next. An oil change and a general check are almost always part of it. Other work only comes up at certain intervals, such as new spark plugs, fresh brake fluid or, on engines with a timing belt, replacing the belt. We also read the fault memory. If we find something that is not part of the work you booked, we only repair it with your agreement.
Typical items at a service
- Engine oil and oil filter
- Air filter and cabin filter
- Brake pads, brake discs and brake fluid
- Tyres: tread, age and pressure
- Lights, wipers and washer system
- Coolant, battery and auxiliary drive belt
- Suspension, steering, exhaust and underbody
When the service is due
Most manufacturers set two limits, a mileage and a period of time. The service is due at whichever comes first. Even if you do not drive much, you should still come in regularly, because oil and brake fluid also age while the car is standing.
For vehicles in European specification, the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule applies; for imports from the USA, the schedule for the US version. Many US vehicles calculate the next oil change themselves from how they are used: short trips, cold weather and towing make the indicator count down faster. More under workshop for US vehicles.
What a service gives you
A worn brake pad, a cracked auxiliary drive belt or a damp patch on the engine are spotted at the check before they turn into bigger damage. When you sell the car later, the record counts too: a complete service book shows the buyer that the car has been maintained regularly.
If your car has an LPG system, its maintenance can be done at the same appointment. In autumn, the autumn and winter check fits in well.
What customers often ask
Does a service replace the HU roadworthiness test?
No. A service is maintenance to the manufacturer’s schedule; the HU is the roadworthiness test required by law in Germany, carried out by an inspector from a recognised testing organisation. The two are easy to plan together; we take care of the preparation and the appointment for the HU.
What happens if I skip a service?
It is not required by law in Germany, but lease contracts often require it. A manufacturer’s warranty or goodwill can also depend on the car having been maintained to schedule. If you skip it, oil and filters stay in longer than intended, and there is a gap in the service book that buyers ask about when you sell.
Do I need to come in even though the service indicator has not shown anything yet?
Sometimes, yes. Not every indicator covers all the work in the maintenance schedule; time-based items such as brake fluid or the timing belt are sometimes missing from it. Check the service book or ask us.