We do maintenance on a Chinese crossover: what can you save on?

Omoda C5 is still an incomprehensible beast for many. New brand, stylish design and relatively reasonable price by today’s standards. But there is no mystery in this car as it is built on a common platform with Chery Tiggo 4.

Shared with Chery and an engine with a gearbox – a 1.5-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 147 horsepower. Of. yes CVT T25. So theoretically there should be no problems with spare parts.

But how convenient is serving Omoda?

Change engine oil: 3.5 points

To get to the drain plug and oil filter, you need to remove the plastic cover that covers the pan. To do this, pull out two pistons under a Phillips screwdriver and unscrew a total of seven 10mm head bolts. After that you can remove the anther, as it is light, and get to the drain plug. It is unscrewed with a key “on 13”.

But it is difficult to get to the oil filter. It is located on the rear wall of the block, and the subframe partially blocks the path to it. The problem is not even that it is inconvenient to climb to it with one hand with a puller. And the fact that when removing the remaining engine oil, it inevitably ends up on the subframe (and even on you).

How much does a filter cost?

The original oil filter is united with other Chery models and is not scarce at all. It costs about 700 rubles. Among the substitutes are not only Chinese counterparts (sometimes for 250 rubles), but also filters from well-known manufacturers such as Mahle. These cost four times more than the original.

Which oil?

No special engine oil approval is required. A “motorboat” with a viscosity of 5W‑40 class A3 / B4 goes. There is one in the Chery Oil brand canister (about 1800 rubles per liter).

The range of suitable motor oils is wide. Here is our Lukoil for about 1,400 rubles per liter. There are also expensive foreign plastics, such as Mobil or Castrol for 10 thousand for a four-liter jerry can.

Replace air filter: 4.0 points

The air cleaner cover is held on by latches and three screws for a Phillips screwdriver. And in addition to this, it is advisable to immediately arm yourself with a magnet, because it is quite easy to drop the screws – especially those on the back of the cover. For greater convenience, it is also worth unscrewing the inlet pipe.

When we took out the filter, we got a slight deja vu. As with the Geely Coolray, the air filter is completely anonymous. No part code, no markings! Nameless filter element 264×190 mm in size.

What’s the price?

In a Chery box it costs about a thousand rubles. The price range for analogues ranges from 500 to 3000 rubles. Moreover, as in the case of the oil filter, there are not only analogues among Chinese companies. You do not need to pay attention to the tightening torque of the screws with jewelry – there are metal mortgages in the filter housing.

Replace cabin filter: 4.5 points

The cabin filter in Omod is located almost like everyone else – in the cabin behind the glove box. First you need to remove the cover of the “glove box”. It is held, like a box in a chest of drawers, on two rails. You can unscrew them with a wide slotted screwdriver or a two-ruble coin.

After disconnecting, the cabin filter lid opens to the eye. It is necessary to press the two latches of the lid and gently pull out the filter.

What’s the price?

A paper filter element in the original packaging costs about 500 rubles. Impersonal Chinese counterparts are half the price. But there are also expensive filters with carbon coating – for 2000-2500 rubles.

Replace spark plugs: 4.5 points

Access to the ignition coils with candles is blocked by a decorative hood. It rests on four rails. The connector for the ignition coils is standard – with a lock that must be removed with a small screwdriver. Each coil is secured with two 8-head bolts.

Before reinstalling, it is worth lubricating the rubber seals on the coils with silicone grease so that they do not stick to the block head in the future. It is also worth doing with the guides of the decorative cover so that it is easier to put it in place.

To disassemble the candles, you need an ordinary candle key “16”.

What’s the price?

A set of original Chinese candles costs about 1500 rubles. There are analogues from different companies, the most expensive of which costs about 9,000 rubles per set.

It is nice that no dirt accumulates in the candle holders, which is sometimes observed on other cars.

Replace brake pad: 4.5 points

The wheels are attached with 17 bolts. The caliper design is traditional for most modern cars.

To replace the brake pads you will need a “22” wrench and a “13” head. Hold the locknut with the horn and unscrew the guide with the head. After that you can take the caliper and change the pads. The latter are held by spring clips.

What’s the price?

Original brake pads cost 7000 rubles. Especially on a non-original it will not work – in some cases it is more expensive (provided that this original is of high quality). The market also has products “from aliexpress” for a thousand rubles, the quality of which raises great questions.

Relay and fuse box: 3.5 points

There are no problems with the relay and fuse box under the hood. It is located on the left head and the lid is held on by a pair of latches. But with the block in the cabin, everything is more complicated.

Like the diagnostic connector, it is located to the left of the steering column. But if the connector is over the counter, the block is hidden under the plastic panel. Unlike the same Grants, this plastic panel is not fixed on reusable guides, but on clips, like any other element in the cabin. Breaking one or more of them is easy. It remains to be hoped that climbing will not be necessary there. In any case, for such an inconvenience, we are forced to lower the rating.

What is the result?

Omoda has two outright flaws in terms of ease of service – not the most convenient location for the oil filter and the secrecy of the cabin relay and fuse box.

Otherwise, problems with independent maintenance and repair of the C5 are not to be expected – as well as with the purchase of spare parts. Affinity with Chery and the versatility of some consumables, such as air and cabin filters, contribute to this. So Omoda C5 gets a solid four.

Prices for consumable spare parts and materials*

*Prices are valid from February 2023.

The complexity of maintenance and repair

• A detailed overview of automotive sealants can be found here.
• “Driving” can now be viewed RuTube