Car care and maintenance

• Oil changes can be done quickly and cheaply while you wait at the many oil change places connected to petrol stations. Just check what your warranty obligations are, and make sure you get synthetic oil if that's what your car normally uses. Synthetic oil is expensive but regarded as better for your car although there's not much point in making a change from non-synthetic oil if you have an old car. About 100 dhs for normal oil & filter change, 300-500 for oil filter and synthetic oil change.

• Tyre checking, balancing and wheel alignment can be done at similar places - usually they sell batteries too. You're unlikely to save much by going to a back street tire shop and there are many fake (unsafe) tires around - it's doubtful a shop on the premises of an EPPCO or ENOC petrol station would sell dodgy tyres or batteries.

• Mechanical problems - you can get solved cheaply in one of the auto repair shops along the main road to Al Awir or in Satwa. Expect to get what you pay for. There are better, more expensive places around. If you're not sure, best idea is probably to go to main dealer (not guaranteed to be reliable but less of a risk than Mr-Very-Cheap-Mechanic-With-Only-A-Spanner-And-Two-Screwdrivers), at least until you find a good mechanic through word of mouth. Remember that cars under warranty will normally have to go to the main dealer.

• For cosmetic care, petrol station car washes do a reasonably good job for about 20 dhs. Make sure you fold in the wing mirrors, remove or retract any aerials, and tape up rear window wipers.

• For a good polish and tidy up of your car (eg prior to selling it), places like Sara Auto Care in Al Quoz, and Grand Service Station off Sheikh Zayed Road near Defense Roundabout do a good job for 200-300 dhs (prices estimate may be old).