I don't take my Bernina 1230 in for service anymore, in part because of the ridiculous prices. I'm careful to oil the shuttle race and clean out lint build-up, and really that's all it needs. I have a little vacuum attachment that works well, although I have also just duct-tape a straw to my regular vacuum's crevice tool and used the regular vacuum.
It was the last time I got it serviced that decided me against taking it in anymore. I had left the upper tension on 4 for some invisible applique I had been doing. When I got the machine back, it was still on 4 and I was $100+ lighter in the pocketbook. Factory standard setting is 5. This means that if the tech tested any stitches at all (and my bet is he didn't bother), they were tested on the wrong tension setting. Machine sewed the same going in and out -- wonderfully well! That must have been 12+ years ago. Machine hasn't been in and still sews the same.
