Service on Garage Queen - Suggestions?
 

My car has been very much in the garage and only comes out on dry sunny days. Yes it's a complete luxury and I am fortunate to be able to own such a wonderful motor and enjoy as I want. At first I had it serviced at a Honda dealer, then I went to TGM a couple of times. Then I didn't do anything, as it only moved about 100 miles one year (2019). Last year it was completely off the road. I am looking to bring it back on the road from April (ish). But here's my dilemma. I want to make sure it's serviced correctly, especially as there has been such a gap between the last service. I'd like to have it done just as the Honda engineers would have wanted it to be serviced as. Not just fluid changes, but all other checks too. Should I go to a specialist, or should I take it to a trusted dealer? And whichever one I choose, what is the service level/type I should ask for. For context the car is a 2007 and has about 20,000 miles on it.

I have thought about taking it to Honda and asking them to do the 36,000/3 year full service. But I would appreciate advice from the far wiser folks on here (yes they're quite a few left I am certain). Appreciate all suggestions, except DIY - definitely not happening!

Once back on the road I hope to see a few of you this year :-)

Add your rough location
what I would do is get all the receipts, compare them to the schedule in the tech faq here and decide what needs doing. I keep an excel tracker for this
Ultimately i would change the oil and filter as it's cheap then add other stuff. I found honda just did random things. Diff oil and gearbox oil are a good shout as is coolant but it depends on what has been done recently

At that age have the spark plugs and valve clearances ever been done? I was in the same position with an 08 on 31000 miles.

A brake strip and clean might be needed after sitting so long, oil and filter too, if the gearbox/diff haven’t been done might be an idea, get a decent indie for this stuff.

Location is West London. Thanks for the excel tracker tip and working from the tech faq Nottm_S2 :thumbup:

Nope - never done. So thats probably worth getting them done.
Did you go to an indy or dealer (or DIY)

I diy myself.. just lucky i like doing it and have the know how, the brakes is a good call, worth checking as can start sticking without being used.. cam cover gasket and spark plug tube seals could have dried out so keep an out out for oil leaks around that area.

Plugs are an interesting one, honda charge a fricking bomb.


A motor factors will charge you about £50 for the parts and you need a torque wrench. Easy DIY or cheap at a good indy.

The 08 car has 31k and a full Honda history, so I’m going to use my local Honda dealer. They’ve done my other S and I’m very pleased with them, always very reasonable to pay. Well able to do it myself but it fits in with the rest of the history that’s with the car. I always request a particular mechanic to work on mine.

The choice is all yours

I like the idea of requesting a partuclar mechanic at a dealer. Is the guy at Bushey Honda still working there? I think he was recommended by some (Lovegroova?)