Car Servicing

Book your car service with Elite Garages today!

Increase the lifespan of your car and maximise vehicle safety with regular services. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff can service your car with original matching quality parts while saving your hundreds on dealership prices.

A regular car service is important, and is not something you should overlook. Many vehicle owners still take their cars to dealerships but European legislation states that you can have a car service at an independent garage without invalidating your warranty. While that is the case, all service garages must keep to the manufacturer’s schedule and only use equal quality car parts.

Routine maintenance to the manufacturer specification is essential for prolonging the life of your engine. At Elite Garages, we specialise in servicing vehicles exactly as they should be, while giving you much-needed peace of mind in terms of any warranty claims.

We service ALL major makes and models including the following:

Audi Jaguar Mazda
Mercedes Jeep Mitsubishi
Bentley Honda Mini
BMW Kia Nissan
Citroen Land Rover Peugeot
Ford Lexus Renault
Fiat Skoda Volvo
Seat Toyota Volkwagen
Suzuki Vauxhall

Increase the lifespan of your car and maximise vehicle safety with regular services. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff can service your car with original matching quality parts while saving you hundreds on dealership prices. You can also book a car service with your MOT!

How often do I need a car service?

A car service interval will largely depend on the car and the service schedule from the manufacturer. When buying a new car, there are two main types: fixed-schedule servicing and variable servicing (long-life service plan).

Fixed-schedule servicing requires a car service when you reach a set mileage or time limit, whichever comes first. The common interval is 12,000 miles or 12 months, but you still have to check your car’s service book to verify. This is best suited for low to medium-mileage drivers who often take short trips.

Variable servicing depends on sensors fitted around the car and the onboard computer informing you when something needs attention. Once again, depending on your driving habits, this service interval can exceed 12,000 miles and suits drivers with high annual mileages who often take longer trips.

What’s included in a car service at Elite Garages?

Car services will vary depending on the age of your vehicle but it normally includes changing the engine oil and oil filter. Some services may also include replacing the spark plugs in petrol cars, antifreeze engine coolant, brake fluid or power-steering fluid.

During the service, we also check for any additional issues and if we find that further rectification is needed, we always contact you first. These checks usually apply to safety-critical items such as tyres and brakes. We never carry out unnecessary work and we will keep all the old parts for your inspection.

Our service packages are tailor-made for you and include all the necessary checks you’d expect from a dealership. These include the Bronze Service (Interim), the Silver Service (Premium) and Gold Service (Major).

IMPORTANT NOTE:

We have updated our service packages and pricing. See below what each one entails and if you have any further questions about our car services and pricing, please contact your nearest branch.

DESCRIPTION Bronze – Lubricant service + health check Silver – 12,000 miles / 12 months Gold – 24,000 miles / 24 months
LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1:  Check operation of exterior lights
2:  Check headlight alignment
3:  Check rear reflectors
4:  Check operation of instrument warning lamps
5:  Check illumination of dash and heater control lamps
6:  Check battery condition and connections
7:  Check horn
INTERNAL / VISION
8:  Test / advise alternator output and security
9:  Check door / bonnet lock operation and lubricate locks, hinges and catches
10:  Check windscreen wiper and washer condition and operation
11:  Top up windscreen washer reservoir with additive if required
12:  Check / advise pollen filter condition, replace if necessary*
13:  Check air conditioning system / temperature if applicable
ENGINE
14:  Drain engine oil and refill*
15:  Replace oil filter
16:  Replace air filter
17:  Replace fuel filter (if fitted and external from fuel tank)
18:  Check / advise general oil leaks
19:  Check / advise coolant level and antifreeze strength
20:  Top up antifreeze if required
21:  Check coolant hoses for leaks and condition, incl. header tank
22:  Check condition and tension of auxiliary drive belts (excl. timing belt)
23:  Spark plugs changed according to mileage*
24:  Check / clean HT leads and components (if fitted)
25:  Visual check of fuel system (incl. tank and cap)
26:  Check timing belt replacement interval & report if due according to mileage / age
BRAKES
27: Check brake servo operation
28: Check / advise brake fluid level and boiling point
29: Top up brake fluid if required
30: Visual check of brake pads for wear or damage
31: Visual check of brake calipers for leaks and security
32: Visual check of brake discs, shoes and cylinders for wear or damage
33: Visual check of brake pipes and hoses
34: Check operation of handbrake
35: Check security of handbrake linkages and travel and adjust if required
STEERING / SUSPENSION
36: Check condition of road springs
37:  Check power steering fluid reservoir
38:  Check steering / suspension components for wear and corrosion
39:  Check steering rack gaiters condition
40:  Check shock absorber condition and mounting, report any leaks
41:  Check wheel bearings for excessive play or noise
DRIVE SYSTEM
42:  Check drive shaft gaiters for security and report any leaks
43:  Check gear box fluid level manual / automatic differential (if applicable)
44:  Check / adjust clutch operation
45:  Check for transmission oil leaks
46:  Check condition of clutch cable (where visible)
47: Full car fault code read
EXHAUST
48: Check / advise condition of exhaust and mountings
49: Check / report on additive levels for Diesel vehicles (where applicable)
TYRES / WHEELS
50: Check tyre condition and tread depth (incl. spare)
51: Check / adjust tyre pressures (incl. spare)
52: Remove all road wheels and check flanges and mountings
53: Check wheel nut torque to manufacturer’s specification
54: Expiry date for the puncture repair cannister (where applicable)
FINAL RE-SET / SERVICE BOOK
55: Carry out engine management system scan
56: Reset vehicle service light where applicable
57: Reset Oil quality counter (Diesel vehicles)
58: Stamp service book

* Additional charges will apply should the vehicle require a pollen filter, special or synthetic oils, platinum or multi-electrode spark plugs.

*Note – Additional service operations may be required for your vehicle make/model and will be an added charge
*Note – Stamp service book as per Elite Service Manual
*Note – WHAT IS A CAMBELT AND WHY DOES IT NEED REPLACING?

Book your car service with Elite Garages today!

Just need your brakes checked? See our Brake Service page


FAQs on Car Servicing

Click the + to read any answer or visit our most FAQ page to review the most frequently asked questions across all our Elite Locations.

If you click on a ‘Category’ or ‘Tag’ link, the page will ‘refresh’ and reload the page showing the top of the page first, you’ll then just need to scroll down to the FAQ section to see the results for the Category or Tag you selected.

Categories: Deal, Premuim Tyres, Tyres

In simple terms, budget tyres are the cheapest and often don’t last as long or hold up as well as mid-range or premium tyres. Mid-range seems to be the happy medium as they provide better grip and longevity which is only superseded by the more expensive, premium tyres that offer even better performance, including Bridgestone.

We never fit part worn tyres and always encourage customers to avoid fitting part worn tyres at all costs. There are many safety concerns and they really are not any cheaper than economy tyres in the long run. Here is a good article about why part-worns offer a false economy.

If the damaged area on the tyre is larger than 6 mm, and on the sidewall, you should not get a repair and rather opt for a replacement tyre.

This question is often also about the legal tread limit so we are always happy to explain that it is 1.6mm. We recommend changing your tyres at 3mm for optimal performance and safety but this is the customer’s choice. You can book a free tyre check to ensure your tread is above the legal limit.

Categories: Portsmouth, Tyre Advice, Tyres

Rapids are also budget tyres but they are more high-end and rated as premium economy.  Whilst they provide more grip than standard budget tyres, Rapids don’t perform as well as a good quality mid-range or premium tyre. However, Rapid tyres do offer a great in-between offering quality and value for money.

No, as part-worn tyres are not safe and there is no guarantee they won’t fail.

We can usually repair punctures if they are on the central part of the tyre (the middle three-quarters). If a puncture occurs outside this area and near the tyre sidewall, a repair is unlikely and you should get it replaced.

We will always try and explain this in detail, providing all the pros and cons. Put simply, budget tyres are the cheapest and often don’t last as long or hold up as well as mid-range and premium tyres. Mid-range seems to be the happy medium as they provide better grip and longevity which is only superseded by the more expensive, premium tyres that offer even better performance.

Tag: Tyres

The front tyres should last for approximately 20,000 miles while the rear tyres may last a little longer. When you replace your tyres also largely depends on driving style, frequency and the quality of tyres fitted.

In the UK and Europe, the legal tyre tread depth for cars is 1.6 mm around the tyre circumference and the central three quarters. However, most tyre experts recommend replacing your tyres when the tread depth is at 3 mm for better braking distances.

Categories: Canterbury, Tyres

We supply a wide variety of brands, from budget, mid-range and premium tyres; each with its own benefits. As the name suggests, budget tyres are cheaper as they are not made to the same standards as mid-range or premium tyres. Mid-range tyres, especially Rapid, are often the preferred choice as it sits just below the premium brands. There is always a choice for our customers, and they can decide, and we are always happy to offer advice.

Categories: Bournemouth, Tyres

As a group, we stock a large number of tyres on-premises but if it’s not available, we can arrange next-day delivery from our warehouse. You can check availability and options online here 24/7