Car Maintenance Schedule: why is it important?
Despite modern advancements in materials, technology, and quality, the most important aspect of a vehicle's durability remains a measure of its maintenance.
Short and long-term maintenance checks, along with factory-determined vehicle servicing appointments, go a long way when it comes to keeping your car in top working condition, reducing unwanted repairs and failures, and providing you with thousands of trouble-free miles on the road. That’s why it’s essential for car owners to have a solid understanding of the intricacies surrounding regular car maintenance for Land Rover, Bentley, and Jaguar models.
Why You Should Schedule Regular Maintenance for Your Car?
Regular maintenance is essential for preserving the performance of Land Rovers, Bentleys, or Jaguars, allowing them to retain their factory warranty.
Proper periodic maintenance is an irreplaceable part of service for any vehicle, as it will not only keep your car in top working condition, but increase its dependability and its resale value.
Factors Influencing Car Maintenance Schedules
Regular car maintenance schedules are designed to follow your vehicle's average use patterns - however, various factors can shorten or prolong these periods. For example, if you often rely on your car for extreme temperatures, off-road driving, or on-track driving - as is often the case for Jaguars or Bentleys - this may shorten its recommended maintenance periods.
Extreme conditions will also affect your car’s necessary oil change periods, brake and tire replacements, and so on. These conditions can be mitigated by driving your vehicle primarily at average speeds, mostly on highways and open roads.
Factory recalls are also a critical factor to consider when determining your maintenance schedule. Cars that are affected by specific issues recognized by the manufacturer must have those sorted before repairing or replacing other components. Additionally, prior maintenance also plays a significant role in the overall condition of pre-owned Land Rovers, Jaguars, or Bentley vehicles - if your vehicle has previously been serviced by unofficial and inexperienced mechanics using non-original components or low-quality parts, this could significantly affect its overall mechanical condition.
It’s important to note that diesel-powered models (mostly Land Rovers) have somewhat different maintenance requirements, as diesel engines don't have spark plugs and therefore require more frequent oil changes.
What Does Basic Car Maintenance Entail?
There are several different types of basic car maintenance, and these types are all affected by complexity, time, and mileage.
Short Term Checks
A short-term check is the quickest way to inspect your vehicle's overall condition by checking several vital points. This check is performed every couple of months, and includes checking tires, lights, oil levels, coolant levels, belts and hoses, lights, and turn signals. Short term checks are a fast way to ensure that everything is in working order, and that your vehicle is roadworthy and safe to use.
Short-term checks also include inspecting your car's bodywork and paint, as this serves a structural purpose beyond its accompanying cosmetic one. Finding early signs of rust, especially on cars used in extreme off-road driving and cold climates, can save you thousands of dollars in repairs in the long run.
Long Term Checks
This type of check is usually performed once a year, and is more thorough than the short-term one. In addition to all the features of a short term check, long term checks also include inspecting filters and windshield wipers, an oil change, lubricating the hinges, rotating the tires, and testing all relevant systems and features.
Long term checks also include examining your car’s suspension/shocks, spark plugs, transmission, and transmission fluid levels. Regardless of the number of miles the car has covered, it is always essential to check every function of your vehicle, and to test drive it in order to check for any strange noises and vibrations as part of regular Land Rover diagnostics.
Seasonal Checks
Seasonal checks are key in preparing your vehicle for the summer or winter season, as excessively high or low temperatures and changing driving conditions require a specific type of check, including examining the tires (summer/winter), coolant levels, windshield fluid, A/C compressor and heater, and hoses and radiators of your car.
In general, it is always a good idea to replace your windshield wipers before the winter, as well as topping off the freon level in your A/C unit before the summer. In addition, all tires must be swapped for their proper type in order to ensure maximum grip and stability on the road.
In especially harsh climates, seasonal checks also cover inspecting for rust issues and fuel lines due to salty roads that can affect the bodywork and undercarriage of your vehicle. For diesel-powered vehicles, seasonal checks also include checking the engine's heaters (necessary for starting the motor on cold mornings) and more frequent oil changes.
Maintenance Schedule By Miles Or Time Period
Most typical maintenance schedules are determined by time or mileage, as car manufacturers design these periods according to average mileage, conditions of use, and specifications. These types of schedules can vary from model to model, and are typically expanded upon in your vehicle’s user manual.
Car Maintenance Schedule Checklist
At Westminster Motors, our car maintenance schedule checklist is always extensive - in order to have a complete look at the overall condition of your vehicle, our experienced technicians check all relevant systems, fluid levels (oil, coolant, steering fluid, transmission fluid), suspension, brakes, undercarriage, HVAC systems, electrical systems, bodywork, tires, and wheels. We believe that it is of utmost importance for you to have a thorough understanding of the exact condition of your Jaguar, Land Rover, or Bentley at the end of our repairs and maintenance.
Regular Car Maintenance Schedule Chart
While exact mileage measurements or usage periods may vary from model to model, most cars adhere to the following maintenance schedules:
5,000 Miles (six months) – Oil change, tire pressure, car battery checking, cables, and chassis lubrication (Land Rover 4x4 models).
10,000 Miles (once a year) – Oil change, checking and topping all fluids, and a detailed suspension check (crucial for vehicles driven off-road).
30,000 Miles – Everything stated above with the addition of a brake check, pad replacement, anti-corrosion treatment, belt replacement, steering and exhaust system check, electronic systems check, bulb replacement, and transmission fluid check.
60,000 Miles – Everything stated above with the addition of an extensive and thorough bumper-to-bumper check, along with brake replacement (rotors and pads) and differential and transmission fluid replacement.
Understanding the Costs of Regular Car Maintenance
The exact costs of regular car maintenance vary according to your car's make, model, year, and condition. In addition, some procedures may also require more labour than others, adding to these costs.
Bentley servicing costs, as a general rule, tend to run higher than average, due to their specific components and labour required - however, their common factors such as oil, filters, or spark plugs all tend to feature similar prices and costs. Some of the most common of these costs include:
Oil and Filters - $150+
Spark Plugs – $100+
Tires - $400+ each
Brake Pads - $200+
Brake Discs - $500+
Belts -$500+