Frequently Asked Questions

While servicing your car is optional (unless otherwise stated in any purchasing agreement), it pays to conduct frequent checks in order to maintain its condition and identify any issues that may arise. It’s most common for vehicle servicing to be conducted every 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Driving with your service light on will not impact performance at all unless, of course, the fault detected within the vehicle’s computer requires immediate attention.

Oil is an essential requirement for all models, with it needed for lubricating all key components in an engine. Failing to have a suitable level of oil could well lead to severe - and expensive - damage to your vehicle, so it pays to act upon this warning as soon as possible. ​​

A full car service is a thorough inspection of more than 100 features of your vehicle, conducted by an experienced technician using all the very best and latest equipment. It will check everything from braking to fluid levels, emissions to lighting, and you’ll be provided with a full report that identifies any areas that require additional work. ​​

A full service will take a close look at more than a hundred vehicle components, identifying any areas that require immediate action. It will look at everything from fluid levels to CO2 emissions, lighting to brake performance. At the end of the service, you will be advised on any work that may be necessary to keep your vehicle running safely and efficiently. ​​

Premium models such as an Aston Martin demand the utmost care and attention at all times. As such, you should always have your vehicle serviced at authorised and experienced dealerships such as Nicholas Mee. Our aftersales team is one of the very best around and will be able to provide you with an accurate quote for the costs of servicing, so liaise with them today to learn more. ​​

Any Aston Martin deserves the very best when it comes to servicing, with experts such as those at Nicholas Mee able to provide a level of care and attention you won’t find anywhere else. For a competitively priced quote for servicing, you can liaise directly with a member of our aftersales team today. ​​

While both an MOT and a service look at similar features, an MOT is a legal requirement for all vehicles over three years of age and is required to be undertaken every 12 months. It often pays to have a service prior to an MOT, since this may identify areas which could impact whether your car successfully passes inspection. ​​

Although conducting your own wheel alignment at home is possible, it’s highly recommended that a professional technician carries out the work to ensure the utmost safety. ​​

​Depending on the nature of the issue - which most garages can check on your behalf for free - you may be able to continue driving once the check engine light appears. ​

The annual MOT inspection is a comprehensive check of the roadworthiness of your vehicle, and thus entails a full assessment of such measures as braking, emissions, lighting, seat belts, wipers, and more. It should be carried out by an authorised test centre which will be able to issue you with a certificate once it’s passed. ​​

Vehicle servicing typically includes everything required to complete the inspection. However, additional components such as replacement spark plugs may incur an additional fee. You will be quoted for all additional requirements by a member of our team before any work is undertaken. ​

A pre-MOT is a quick health check of your vehicle conducted prior to the MOT test, and will help identify any issues that may cause an automatic failure. ​

​In order to book your MOT test, you simply need to schedule an appointment with a registered test centre, providing your contact details and your registration number. ​

The MOT test is an inspection and assessment of your vehicle’s roadworthiness, so your car will be subject to a thorough check of all key components. This check ranges from looking at lighting systems to braking, CO2 emissions to fluid levels. ​​

A basic car service will typically look at the main component of your vehicle - such as brakes, tyres, lights, etc. - and include an oil change and fluid top ups. You will also be provided with a detailed report of the work undertaken. ​​

Basic car maintenance includes such activity as oil and fluid top ups, wiper replacement, tyre changes, air conditioning refresh, and more. ​​

The first service of a brand-new car typically features an oil and oil filter change as well as an inspection of key components to ensure there are no issues impacting performance. ​​

The easiest way to check the service history of your vehicle is to liaise with a dealership such as Nicholas Mee. We’ll be able to access vehicle records that have been stored online on your behalf. ​​

While you’re under no legal obligation to service your car, doing so will help you maintain its condition and level of performance for longer. It will identify areas that require any urgent work, and help you maintain resale value should you decide to sell. Plus, selected purchasing agreements may demand that you invest in frequent servicing as part of the contract. ​

It’s recommended that wheel alignments take place every two or three years. However, the more frequent these can be done, the better the on-going performance and safety of your vehicle. ​​

Ideally, your car should be serviced every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, you should also refer to the servicing schedule provided with your vehicle for more details on the ideal interval between services. ​

Most manufacturers recommend that your vehicle is serviced at 12,000-mile/12-month intervals, whichever comes soonest. However, you should check your vehicle handbook for more details on suitable intervals for your car. ​​

Water pumps are designed to be able to provide up to 100,000 miles of service before they require replacement. This will, however, be determined by the usage of your vehicle, so ensure you have your pump checked regularly​.​

​When checking the oil in your car, you should always ensure that the model is parked on a level surface and that the engine has been switched off and given time to cool down. ​

Maintenance should be performance as and when required, with servicing taking place on an annual basis or every 12,000 miles. ​​

A major car service is an even more intensive inspection of your vehicle, and should be conducted every 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. ​​

The frequency of timing belt changes will be dictated by a number of factors, including the manufacturer recommendations and the use of your vehicle. You can liaise with the Nicholas Mee team to discuss and inspect the current condition of your timing belt. ​​

Cambelt manufacturers usually recommend replacement after a set number of years or miles, ranging from 40,000-100,000 miles or in excess of four years. The technicians at Nicholas Mee will be able to check the condition and advise on a suitable time to replace. ​​

Changing both the timing belt and water pump should occur according to the manufacturer recommendations. The leading technicians at Nicholas Mee can also inspect their current condition and advise on any necessary replacements. ​​

​It pays to check all fluid levels in your vehicle prior to the MOT test as inadequate levels could lead to a failure. ​

Not necessarily, but it does mean one that has been serviced according to the recommended intervals by a recognised dealership. ​​

A car service is more of a check of your vehicle’s condition, with any changes - such as oil, wipers, brake pads, tyres, etc. - all coming at an additional cost. ​​

​Identifying when you will need an oil change is relatively straightforward, as you will be able to detect such issues as falling oil levels, increased engine noise, greater emissions, and the presence of the engine warning light. ​

Absolutely. However, buyers are more inclined to purchase a model that can be shown to be well cared for, as this provides greater peace of mind. ​

No, but not doing so may find you in breach of terms specified in selected purchasing agreements. ​​

Since there is no obligation to have your vehicle serviced, you can go as long as you please without servicing. However, most manufacturers will provide recommended intervals. ​

Yes. All elements of your braking system will be inspected, ranging from brake fluid to the pads, and you’ll be provided with details on any necessary actions that need to take place. ​​

Checking your brakes is a relatively straightforward task so should not prove too expensive. You can liaise with a member of the team at Nicholas Mee to discuss your options today. ​​

A full service is a thorough check of your vehicle and its condition, looking at every key component. As such, it takes approximately three hours for a full service to be completed. ​​

The combined time for a full service and MOT is in the region of four hours, meaning you will be able to have your vehicle returned the same day. ​

Routine maintenance incorporates those measures that can be checked quickly and effortlessly. They range from checking fluid levels to monitoring the tread depth on your tyres. Often, these checks can all be performed safely at home. ​​

Vehicle manufacturers recommend that your oil filter is changed every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes soonest. ​​

​The cabin air filter is responsible for the circulation of fresh and clean air around the vehicle, so it’s recommended that it’s changed every 15,000-30,000 miles. ​

Not changing your cabin air filter could lead to it becoming clogged with dirt and bacteria which is then circulated throughout the vehicle. This may lead to the transmission of particles that cause foul odours and even health issues. ​​

Interestingly, yes. This is due to the vehicle having to exert more energy in order to circulate the air due to the filter being clogged.