Servicing

[Haves1979]

Toying with the idea of shifting my 964 on in the summer and going back to a tuscan, however one of the main things that puts me off is paying high servicing costs. So wondering if anybody uses a 'regular' garage to service their car? I'm not talking about cutting corners on maintainance, just using a non specialist to do it. Also what subsequent impact on resale do you think it would have? I'd be intending to keep the car a while, however would this result in say a 10% reduction in value over a few years.

Cheers

[Walford]

Would take them a lot longer

[Milky400]

i use to take my Chim to a Morgan guy locally to me, he had many S6 cars and far cheaper than your standard. The garage is also very renowned for its TVR and Morgan work

[Haves1979]

Cheers for the replies, mebs have to speak to a few local people first see if it's something they could work on.

[B17NNS]

What actually gets done at a 6k service?

£510 inc. VAT is a lot of money.

[Cerbieherts]

B17NNS said:

What actually gets done at a 6k service?

£510 inc. VAT is a lot of money.

Aside from all the checks (bear in mind a specialist will know what to look for, most garages won't!) you would get an oil and filter change plus spark plugs (so there's over a hundred quids worth of parts plus vat) a geo check, computer check etc etc. last Tuscan I saw that was being looked after by a generic garage had overfilled the oil by quite some margin, and was driving around with numerous unspotted issues...

[B3NNL]

B17NNS said:

What actually gets done at a 6k service?

£510 inc. VAT is a lot of money.

You're right, £510+VAT sounds more like the cost of a 12k service!

Whilst I appreciate your location doesn't allow you the pick of the lot, there are some other TVR specialists that fall under the Radar. I have mine done down in the South West by Collin at TVRSSW, he does an epic job and doesn't charge the earth, from memory I think his hourly rate is around £45ph, compared to my local Fords garages rate of £80ph+VAT its a bit of a bargain.

Have a chat with other owners form your region via the TVRCC and I'm sure they'll have some pointers for you.

[Haves1979]

Cheers, owned a Tuscan before so got a pretty decent idea of what is available locally. Owners club is a good idea though thanks.

My point is as above, a 500 odd for a 6k service is a lot. I paid that at a good indie for a major service on my 911 including tappets adjustments. To my understanding these cars aren't that complex, so why the huge service costs? My last Tuscan 6k service bill was over 800 (with a few other small bits), and I'm pretty sure that didn't include things like a geo set up..

[B17NNS]

B3NNL said:

You're right, £510+VAT sounds more like the cost of a 12k service!

Sorry the £510 includes the VAT.

http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/servicing/

Parts £30?

http://www.clever-trevor.net/TVR/Parts_details/CT%...

Oil £90?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobil-Formula-5W-30-151060...

I'm not having a go. I'm just wondering what else is done (other than change oil, filter and plugs) that results in a £500 bill. A lot of money for some 'checks'.

[m4tti]

Even dropping the oil out isn't a quick process if its done properly, draining the tank, sump and associated hoses.

So if you take the parts cost at roughly 150 that leaves 350. I cant find the link at the moment but one of the Cerbera sites had the list of service steps and there is at least 50 on a 6k.

A good example of these not being done was posted here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

One of those 50 steps on a 6k is belt inspection.. the car linked above would appear to not have been subject to these steps (not picking holes)

So its easy to see how easily the cost can escalate, through the sheer amount of time spent. Obviously you get what you pay for and even the best outfits have off days.

[swisstoni]

I doubt my local garage could even get in the car, let alone service it.

[mr sagman]

I would never trust a non specialist with any TVR period, particularly a S6, Having sat through a Track V Road 12k service on my Tuscan, I was staggered how complex and intricate the cars really are, You really need to know what you are doing with these things as they are extremely specialised leave it to the pro's, all imho of course.

[Dickie Dastardly]

B17NNS said:

Sorry the £510 includes the VAT.

http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/servicing/

Parts £30?

http://www.clever-trevor.net/TVR/Parts_details/CT%...

Oil £90?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobil-Formula-5W-30-151060...

I'm not having a go. I'm just wondering what else is done (other than change oil, filter and plugs) that results in a £500 bill. A lot of money for some 'checks'.

That's cheap, wait until you get up to the North of the country £700+ for a 6k service (the firm is extremely good though).

Edited by Dickie Dastardly on Thursday 27th March 10:35

[B17NNS]

Dickie Dastardly said:

That's cheap, wait until you get up to the North of the county £700+ for a 6k service (the firm is extremely good though).

We're talking £20k TVR's not Ferraris.

HR Owen service costs:

Ferrari 360 £750
Ferrari 430 £849

Prices include genuine Ferrari parts, labour and VAT.

[m4tti]

B17NNS said:

We're talking £20k TVR's not Ferraris.

HR Owen service costs:

Ferrari 360 £750
Ferrari 430 £849

Prices include genuine Ferrari parts, labour and VAT.

That will get you the oil, and filters, cant remember if that was the plugs. Anything beyond that, belts for example will see cost escalate at approximately £150 an hour at a main dealer.

Below is roughly what should be checked under TVR's guidelines, for your 500 quid or 2.5% of the cars value. Personally I think thats a fair amount of work for £350(once youve removed materials).

1	Check security & operation of handbrake
2	Inspect brake pads for wear, callipers for leaks & discs for condition
3	Check brake servo hose for security & condition
4	Check / Top up brake fluid reservoir
6	Check visually brake, fuel, clutch pipes & unions for chafing, leaks & corrosion
7	Adjust handbrake on the inside of the drums and cable if required
8	Lubricate handbrake mechanical linkage
1	Check front & rear wheel alignment
2	Remove road wheels
3	Check tyres for cuts, lumps, bulges, irregular tread wear & depth & pressures
4	Refit road wheels to original hub position
1	Check operation of all lamps, horn & warning indicators
2	Remove battery connections. Clean, grease & refit
3	Check / Adjust headlamp alignment
4	Check ignition wiring & HT leads for fraying, chafing & deterioration
5	Check operation of alarm system & immobiliser
6	Check window heights & wind noise
1	Renew spark plugs
4	Check condition of driving belts - Adjust if required
5	Check throttle operation / throttle stop adjustment
6	Check / Adjust engine idle speed and fuel mixture with computer
7	Renew engine oil & filter
10	Check condition of engine mounting rubbers
11	Check crank sensor for debris
12	Check electrical contacts for carbon / corrosion
1	Lubricate all hinges, door check mechanisms & bonnet catches
2	Lubricate accelerator control linkages and pedal pivot
3	Lubricate propeller shaft sliding joints
4	Lubricate propeller shaft universal joints
5	Check / Top up cooling system
6	Check / Top up power steering fluid
7	Check / Top up clutch fluid reservoir
7b	Renew clutch fluid
8	Check / Top up windscreen washer reservoir
1	Check crankcase breathing system for leaks, hoses for security & condition
2	Check exhaust system for leakage, security & damage
3	Check for leaks from p.steering & susp. systems, hyd. pipes & unions for chafing & corrosion
1	Check / Top up gearbox oil
2	Check / Top up differential oil
1	Check / Adjust steering
2	Check for leaks from p.steering & susp. systems, hyd. pipes & unions for chafing & corrosion
3	Check / Tighten front & rear axle suspension link fixings
4	Check tightness of propeller shaft coupling bolts
1	Check condition & security of seats, belt mountings, seat belts, buckles & operation
2	Check operation of wipers & washers and condition of blades
3	Check operation of doors, bonnet & boot locks
4	Check cooling and heater system for leaks, hoses for security and condition
5	Check all cambers

[Walford]

Unlikely a ten year old TVR would just tick off all these items,
so bill will have work on it as well, even stuff like belts is not cheap/easy on S6

[m4tti]

Walford said:

Unlikely a ten year old TVR would just tick off all these items,
so bill will have work on it as well, even stuff like belts is not cheap/easy on S6

Exactly! even getting that auxiliary shaft bearing housing off the block can take a good hour or more..

[Cerbieherts]

B17NNS said:

We're talking £20k TVR's not Ferraris.

HR Owen service costs:

Ferrari 360 £750
Ferrari 430 £849

Prices include genuine Ferrari parts, labour and VAT.

That just a 6,260 mile service, no plugs and a bit of a check over.

[nawarne]

Cerbieherts said:

B17NNS said:

We're talking £20k TVR's not Ferraris.

HR Owen service costs:

Ferrari 360 £750
Ferrari 430 £849

Prices include genuine Ferrari parts, labour and VAT.

That just a 6,260 mile service, no plugs and a bit of a check over.

Cheapest service bill on any Ferrari I've delivered is £1500'ish
Delivered a 360 last year to the West country, OK a few other things done (stone chips, wheel refurb, geo etc and maybe some non-service replacements) and the bill was north of £4500.

You pays your money, etc.
Nick