Sounds suspiciously like touting for unnecessary work from a hopefully gullible customer. Are you sure they didn't mean worn suspension bushes? A coil spring, whether in a car or a clock, either works or it's broken, no matter how old. The ones in my TR7 and bracket clock are 37 and 160yrs old respectively, and remain fit for purpose.

However, it's worth servicing car springs every couple of years or so if you intend to keep it - just brush off the worst of the dirt and paint them with old engine oil - or grease if you feel extravagant. This is one of the many things garages never do when they purport to 'service' a car.

Not without spring compressors!!

Machine mart sell a type that fir internally to the springs and are comparativly easy to use and a lot safer than other types.

Though at around £140+ you might find it cheaper to get a garage to fit them.