Right, let’s talk about car servicing, because there’s a lot of confusion out there about what you actually need. I’ve had countless people rock up to MK12 Autocare asking whether they should get an interim service or a full service, and honestly, half the time they’ve been told completely different things by different garages.
Then you throw Liqui Moly products into the mix which, by the way, are absolutely top-notch and suddenly everyone’s got an opinion. Your mate down the pub reckons you only need an interim. The bloke on Facebook says you’re mad if you don’t get a full service every time. Your car’s manual says something else entirely.
So let’s cut through the rubbish and talk about what an Interim vs Full Service Liqui Moly actually means, what the differences are, and most importantly which one your car genuinely needs right now.
What’s an Interim Service Anyway?
An interim service is basically your mid-year check-up. It’s not a full bells-and-whistles job, but it’s more than just topping up your screen wash and calling it a day.
Think of it as the essentials. Your oil gets changed and if you’re using Liqui Moly oil, which you absolutely should be, you’re getting some of the best protection going. Oil filter gets replaced. We’ll check your brake fluid level, coolant, power steering fluid. Have a look at your tyres, test your lights, check your wipers aren’t falling apart.
It’s designed for people who cover a lot of miles. Say you do 20,000 miles a year driving around Milton Keynes and beyond maybe you’re a sales rep, or you’ve got a long commute, or you just drive loads for whatever reason. Doing an interim service halfway through the year keeps your engine healthy between full services.
Most interim services take about 45 minutes to an hour. They’re cheaper than full services usually somewhere around £100-150, though it varies depending on your car and what oil it needs. But here’s the thing: an interim service isn’t a replacement for a full service. It’s a top-up, keeping things ticking over. You can’t just do interim services forever and expect your car to be fine.
So What’s a Full Service Then?
A full service is the proper job. Everything gets checked, everything gets tested, and anything that needs attention gets flagged up before it becomes a problem.
Your oil and oil filter get changed again, Liqui Moly products here make a massive difference to engine longevity. But we’re also changing your air filter, which most people forget about. Your spark plugs get checked, sometimes replaced depending on mileage. Fuel filter might need doing. Cabin filter the one that stops your air con smelling like old gym socks gets replaced.
We’ll properly inspect your brakes, not just a quick look but actually measuring pad thickness and checking disc condition. Your suspension gets a thorough going-over. All your fluids get topped up or replaced. Coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid we check the condition, not just the level.
Your exhaust gets inspected for leaks or corrosion. Battery gets tested properly. All your lights, obviously. We’ll check your drive belts for wear. Have a proper look underneath for any leaks, damage, or corrosion that might be developing.
A full service takes a couple of hours, sometimes three if we find issues. Costs more too you’re looking at £200-300 typically, though it varies depending on your car. But here’s the payoff: a properly done full service catches problems early. That slight weep from your water pump? We spot it now, you get it fixed before it fails completely and leaves you stranded on the A5.
Why Liqui Moly Products Make a Difference
Look, I’m not just pushing Liqui Moly because we use them we use them because they’re genuinely brilliant. I’ve been in this game long enough to know the difference between marketing hype and products that actually work.
Liqui Moly oils are German-engineered to properly exacting standards. Their synthetic oils flow better in cold weather, which matters in British winters when you’re starting your car on freezing mornings in Milton Keynes. They protect better at high temperatures too, which matters when you’re stuck in traffic on the M1 in summer.
When we’re talking about Interim vs Full Service Liqui Moly options, using quality products means your service actually does what it’s supposed to. Cheap oil might meet the basic specs for your car, but it breaks down faster, doesn’t protect as well, and honestly, you’re wasting your money in the long run.
Which Service Does Your Car Actually Need?
Right, the million-pound question. And the annoying answer is: it depends.
If you’re covering loads of miles, you probably need both. Full service once a year, interim service six months later. That’s the sweet spot for high-mileage drivers. You’re keeping that oil fresh, catching problems early, and your engine will last considerably longer.
If you’re doing average mileage say 8,000-10,000 miles a year, just normal commuting and running around one full service a year is probably fine. Your car manufacturer will have recommendations in the manual, usually based on either time (12 months) or mileage (10,000-12,000 miles), whichever comes first. Stick to that and you’ll be alright.
If you barely drive maybe you work from home, or you’ve got another car you use more you still need a full service every year. Oil degrades over time even if you’re not driving. Seals dry out, fluids absorb moisture, batteries go flat. A car sitting idle needs maintenance just as much as one doing miles.
If your car’s getting older anything over about seven or eight years I’d lean towards more frequent servicing, not less. Older cars develop issues, and catching them early saves you money. Trust me on this. I’ve seen too many people skimp on servicing an older car, then get hit with a massive repair bill that would’ve been avoided with regular maintenance.
What Happens If You Skip Services?
Some people think they can skip services to save money. Honestly, it’s the dumbest false economy going, right up there with buying cheap tyres or ignoring warning lights.
Your oil breaks down over time and with use. Fresh oil is golden and flows smoothly. Old oil goes dark, gets contaminated, and stops protecting your engine properly. Keep running on old oil and you’ll wear out bearings, score cylinder walls, potentially wreck your engine.
Your filters clog up. Air filter gets full of dirt and restricts airflow, killing your fuel economy and power. Oil filter stops filtering properly and lets contaminants circulate through your engine. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point. Your coolant degrades and stops protecting against corrosion.
Miss a service and maybe nothing happens immediately. Miss two or three, and you’re asking for trouble. We see cars come in that haven’t been serviced in years, and they’re invariably knackered. Engine problems, transmission issues, suspension worn out all stuff that could’ve been prevented with basic maintenance.
The Milton Keynes Driving Factor
Living in Milton Keynes means your car faces specific challenges. The grid road system brilliant for getting around, but all that stop-start driving is hard on engines. Constant acceleration, braking, low speeds that’s tough on your oil.
Then you’ve got the roundabouts. We’ve got more roundabouts than anywhere else in the country, and all that turning puts stress on suspension components, steering, tyres. A car doing urban driving in MK needs servicing more than one doing motorway miles, because urban driving is harder on everything.
This is why choosing the best Interim vs Full Service Liqui Moly option for your circumstances matters. Milton Keynes driving conditions aren’t easy on cars, and skimping on maintenance will bite you eventually.
Getting It Done Properly
Here’s what matters when you’re booking a service: find somewhere that actually knows what they’re doing and won’t try to fleece you.
At MK12 Autocare, we’re straight with people about what they need. You come in asking for a full service, but you only did 6,000 miles this year and you’re not due yet? We’ll tell you. Save your money, come back in a few months when you actually need it. You come in asking for an interim but you’re overdue for a full service? We’ll tell you that too, and explain why.
We use proper Liqui Moly products because they work. Not the cheapest option, but nowhere near the most expensive either, and the quality-to-price ratio is spot on. Your engine will thank you for it in the long run.
We’ll show you what we’re doing and explain what we find. Old air filter absolutely clogged with dirt? We’ll show you. Brake pads getting thin? We’ll show you and tell you roughly how many miles you’ve got left. We’re not going to invent problems, but we’re not going to ignore genuine issues either.
Making the Right Choice
So, Interim vs Full Service Liqui Moly which one do you actually need? If you’re high-mileage, do both. If you’re average mileage, one full service a year. If you barely drive, still do a full service yearly. If your car’s older, lean towards more frequent servicing.
And whatever you do, don’t skip services to save money. It’s like not going to the dentist to save on checkups, then ending up with a massive bill for emergency treatment later.
Book your service online with us or give us a ring. We’ll have a proper chat about what your car actually needs based on how you drive it, how many miles you’re doing, and what condition it’s in. No pressure, no upselling, just honest advice.
Your car works hard for you let’s make sure it gets the maintenance it deserves, yeah?
