Conference terri::cars_uk

... continued:

To my comment of "this will invalidate the warranty" his reply
was basicaly "so what its not my car" (that was a very quick summary
of his reply).. but I'am sure in the Driver Agreement that you fill
in and send off to Fleet Admin (when you get a car) it says
_something_ about refunding the company for failed warranty
claims (or something like that)

anyone got a Driver Agreement there ???

    I guess it depends on the small print in the warranty. However, in the
    first few hundred miles the engine is bedding in - ie smothing off
    those bits left a little rough, by knocking them off into the oil and
    thus the sump. He is thus driving round with a slightly ineffective
    grinding paste in his engine. Additionally, some manufacturers put a
    different grade of oil in new engines to facilitate the bedding in, and
    this grade is inappropriate for higher mileages; I think I saw some
    press coverage for a Peugeot which blew an engine, and they refused to
    replace it under warranty.
    
    He would appear to be the typical company car driver - if it goes, who
    cares about servicing? - which gets the more conscientious types like
    the readers of this conference a bad name. The reason why the first
    service is free is that the manufacturers want it done, to maintain the
    serviceability record of the marque. IMHO your colleague should get the
    service done, and take the lease company hire car for the day; not a
    great inconvenience.
    
    You could, of course, argue that all the same checks are done at the
    36000 mile service, and skip all those before...
    
    Steve

    I started my .02 before your .01 came up. Proves my second para.
    
    If your colleagues attitude is accurately reflected in what you have
    written, he is not only irresponsible with company assets, he is also
    dangerous. Some of the checks done at services are safety checks.
    
    Steve

>    I started looking very worried and said that missing a service
>    would invalidate the warranty.. but he still thinks that
>    because the same checks will be done the warranty is valid

>    has he invalidated his warranty? 
    
    
    Depends on the terms of the warranty!
    
    However, it is likely that the warranty states that the car should be
    serviced in accordance with the manufacturers specified intervals; what
    the acceptable tolerance over/under the specified milage or time would
    be is anyones guess!
    
    The 1500 mile service is likely to be an oil/filter change, tighten
    head bolts etc, and a safety check (eg brake fluid level). I wouldn't
    miss these checks myself.

    I'd say yes - he has invalidated the warranty. Personally I regard the
    1000 service as very useful. You've had 1000 miles to detect the
    various little nasties you missed in the euphoria of picking up a
    new car. I've a feeling that the "first miles" oil should be changed
    anyway - who knows what assorted gunge might be in it.
    
    m
    

    IMHO, your colleague deserves to have his company car taken away from
    him.  He's not fit to have one.
    
    Jeff.

    I agree with the tone of the responses, but I'm still very surprised
    that both Vauxhall and VW (I believe) do not require first services for
    their Astra and Golf ranges respectively, even on the high-performance
    models....
    
    When I collected my brand new Astra SRi last year, I was staggered to
    discover that it didn't need any kind of check till 9000 miles had been
    done. I couldn't believe that SOMETHING didn't need changing/checking
    after 900/1500 miles.
    
    The march of progress?
    
    
    S
                         

        <<< Note 1250.5 by JUMBLY::DAY "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" >>>

>    new car. I've a feeling that the "first miles" oil should be changed
>    anyway - who knows what assorted gunge might be in it.
    


Is'nt the oil that the car is delivered with 'special' in
some way (lighter?) and its changed to 'ordinary' oil at the
first service ????

>Is'nt the oil that the car is delivered with 'special' in
>some way (lighter?) and its changed to 'ordinary' oil at the
>first service ????

Not with Vauxhalls....

9000 mile/1 year services....*much* easier on the pocket (if I needed to dip 
into it of course !)

    RE:
    >  it didn't need any kind of check till 9000 miles
       
    I understand that vauxhall engines are "run in" at the factory before
    being installed, consequently the engine doesn't need an early service.
    
    I would agree though that a safety check after a few weeks would
    be sensible even if its just to put your mind at rest. I guess vauxhall
    have tried to make life easy for high mileage drivers. 
    
    If i _owned_ a car with service intervals of 9000 miles, i would
    still change the oil at 5000 mile intervals.  Even with the high
    quality oils on the market, I believe you can't beat regular oil
    changes for long engine life.
    
    What do you think ?
    
    - Roy
                                     

    Re: VW Golf - I can confirm that 1st service was 15000 Km or 1 year,
    whichever came first. 
    
    Having had it serviced, all that was changed was the oil and filter,
    top-up the coolant, and the battery. Gob-smacked was my reaction,
    having been used to servicing BMW's (with acknowledgement to Derek, for
    what an overrated, uncomfortable, gutless, blah, blah, blah BMW's are)
    
    I checked over the service and all the little boxes had ticks in (which
    means nothing) *but* does mean that as i've been a good little user and
    had my car serviced when I should have done, and at a VAG garage, then
    VAG will come and get me in the middle of the day or night *anywhere in
    Europe* if the car breaks down ! Amazing.
    
    AmS