2006 QP Servicing.

[Elliott653]

I've just had my 2006 QP in at McGrath's for some work on the brakes. While there, I had a chat about servicing the car. It's due its annual service. Though, it has done few miles in the 12 month of my ownership. Maybe 2,000 max and most of those during two trips over to France with long, languorous cruising the norm .

Anyway, I asked their chief mechanic Paul about the service and he told me that it really wasn't necessary. Furthermore, he said that a light will illuminate on the dashboard when the car itself decides that a service is due.

The car was fully serviced last October. Just before I bought it.

Now, I could toddle downstairs and get the manual out. Or, I could be a real man and ask you lot for an opinion. First of all, does the 2006 QP have a 'service' light? Secondly, as she does so few miles, come resale time, would a biannual service be detrimental? She's covered 35,000 miles total.

 

[bigbob]

Difficult one. Pre 2007MY QPs are on annual servicing and post are the same as the GranTurismo - two year or 12.5k miles. Why not just change the oil and filter and get the book stamped? That way it is cheap but no one will question it?

 

[Elliott653]

That's not a bad idea. I don't mind having it serviced annually. After all, I had that situation with my 4200. It's just that with so few miles done, I can't really see the point of a full service.

 

[safrane]

Is the change from 1 year to 2 years service intervals not down to the fluids having a longer life in the post 2007 MY cars?

 

[bigbob]

Is the change from 1 year to 2 years service intervals not down to the fluids having a longer life in the post 2007 MY cars?

Not sure, is the oil different?

 

[Elliott653]

This question may be moot. I've seeing another QP next week. A later one.

 

[safrane]

Emblem have a good summary of service stuff on their web pages.

http://www.emblemsportscars.com/services/maserati-service.aspx

 

[Elliott653]

Emblem have a good summary of service stuff on their web pages.

http://www.emblemsportscars.com/services/maserati-service.aspx

Thank you for digging that out.

 

[Torenno Performance]

Still the same Shell Helix fluid in the pre 07 and post 07 cars.

 

[TridentTested]

does the 2006 QP have a 'service' light? Secondly, as she does so few miles, come resale time, would a biannual service be detrimental? She's covered 35,000 miles total.

On mine the light seems to be based on time, not miles. When McGraths serviced mine back in March they didn't have their diagnostics software yet. I popped back a couple of months later for them to reset the service light once they received their gear I was pleased to see it reading "next service due in 364 days" which has sort of extended my service interval.




I'm watching this with interest because you've pretty much described my situation: same car, same age, similar mileage, similar use, same indie.

At its last annual, back in March, they did oil and filters, some brake work and a couple of suspension bushes. Despite it being a 'small service' it still managed to come to quite a few quid. I'm not complaining, it comes with the territory.

They advised me that next year it will be due the more expensive: plugs, gearbox oil, and of course oil and filters. This will doubtless be more than a few quid.

There comes a point in a vehicle's life that what a future buyer might call 'a missed service' will cause less damage to the selling price than stumping up for that service would have cost you. I suppose this tipping point is usually around ten years.

I think bigbob's suggestion is probably the best compromise.

 

[Ewan]

I've also got an 06 QP "needing" an annual service. It's done about 3000 miles in the last 12 months, but about 6 months ago had a good check over and a few bits and bobs done at Emblem (but no "service"). Chatted with Emblem today, and together we decided to do nothing for now, but then have a slightly bigger service (the 56,000 mile schedule service) completed in about 6 months time, at a cost of approximately £750.

 

[Elliott653]

There seems to be a consensus appearing. I'm going to see the newer car next week and then, if I decide to buy it, work out a deal with the dealer.

 

[TridentTested]

There seems to be a consensus appearing. I'm going to see the newer car next week and then, if I decide to buy it, work out a deal with the dealer.

If you go for it I will be curious to hear your report once you've moved from a Duo-Select to a ZF box. I've read many posts on the 'Net from various owners advocating one or the other but you seldom come across someone who has owned and run both.

 

[hodroyd]

I would always go for an oil change at 12 months regardless of miles covered..!!

 

[bigbob]

If you go for it I will be curious to hear your report once you've moved from a Duo-Select to a ZF box. I've read many posts on the 'Net from various owners advocating one or the other but you seldom come across someone who has owned and run both.

Both are fine, they are just different!

 

[Ewan]

Robert - while I agree that as a very basic general rule its good to change your oil regularly, there's no mechanical need to change the oil at 12 months if the car has only done a low mileage. Modern oils don't degrade over that length of time - instead they degrade from use. You could refill your car with fresh oil, only to discover that it had been produced and bottled more than 12 months previously anyway, so changing it purely on time makes no sense. It's oil condition that matters, not age per se.

 

[hodroyd]

Ewan,
I agree with some of that, but fresh oil in a can and stored, is not quite the same as it being sat in an engine. There are contaminants in an engine which react with oil, that's why the oil is filtered. If the oil sits in there for too long, contaminants can build up and be detrimental to the oil's performance overall, the longer it is the worse it can get..!! That's my opinion anyway and working for Fram Filtration and being in motorsport over the years, good rules of thumb have kept my engines in pristine condition..!!
Cheers
R

 

[Simon]

It will also have gone through quite a few heat cycles.

 

[CatmanV2]

It's also not exactly the most expensive piece of maintenance, particularly on these cars

C

 

[Elliott653]

If you go for it I will be curious to hear your report once you've moved from a Duo-Select to a ZF box. I've read many posts on the 'Net from various owners advocating one or the other but you seldom come across someone who has owned and run both.

The overriding reason for me changing to fully auto - though, I will probably buy a sport model with flappy paddle ZF option - is the clutch replacement issue. I had one fail on my 4200 on the outside lane of the North Circular. It wasn't fun and it cost a lot of money to replace it. Warranties don't cover a wear and tear item such as a clutch and so, by buying a fully auto car, that particular problem is by passed.