dealership maintenance

[adrian]

I bought my Mazda from Waipahu Auto (which is a Toyota/Chevy/Suzuki dealer) and they said I should bring in the car in April to do an oil change. After that oil change, who should I bring my car to for maintenance? Waipahu Auto or Cutter Mazda?

[joshuatree]

Re: dealership maintenance

I bought my Mazda from Waipahu Auto (which is a Toyota/Chevy/Suzuki dealer) and they said I should bring in the car in April to do an oil change. After that oil change, who should I bring my car to for maintenance? Waipahu Auto or Cutter Mazda?

Is it a complimentary oil change? If not, why even bother with a dealer for oil changes, unless they got a great price that can't be beat?

[Kahalu'u Kid]

Re: dealership maintenance

I bought my Mazda from Waipahu Auto (which is a Toyota/Chevy/Suzuki dealer) and they said I should bring in the car in April to do an oil change. After that oil change, who should I bring my car to for maintenance? Waipahu Auto or Cutter Mazda?

Neither! At dealerships you'll pay much, much more for the same job done at a shop. Same goes for oil changes, unless they're giving you a discount or a coupon (which they sometimes do after you buy one of their cars.) My advice is to find an honest, reputable shop, and let them work on your car. Dealerships will rip you off, big time.

[Kahalu'u Kid]

Re: dealership maintenance

BTW, I just bought a new catalytic converter for our Nissan. Dealership quote was $900 just for the part which would have to be ordered. I ended up paying $100 for OEM part on E-bay, shipped next day air for $25. $90 labor for installation. Total savings=$700 Good luck.

[D'Alani]

Re: dealership maintenance

Go to someplace like Jiffy Lube and have them stamp and initial your maintenance book to show that you changed your oil, checked your filter etc. at the required mileage...3,000, 6,000, etc.. That way you can have proof that you maintained your car for warranty purposes.

[adrian]

Re: dealership maintenance

Jiffy Lube

You're kidding right?

A mainland TV station did a report showing how they'd marked a car's oil filter to see if they actually did any work on the car, and it wasn't moved. I'm still recovering from that story and now am worried about other places.

I wonder if there's places here that does that?

[GeckoGeek]

Re: dealership maintenance

So your choice is either to overpay or to risk being taken by some low-price place?

I say buy the oil and filter and do it yourself. Keep the receipt and logs to show the work was done.

[AbsolutChaos]

Re: dealership maintenance

Go to someplace like Jiffy Lube and have them stamp and initial your maintenance book to show that you changed your oil, checked your filter etc. at the required mileage...3,000, 6,000, etc.. That way you can have proof that you maintained your car for warranty purposes.

I actually pay less at the dealership for the oil change than what Jiffy Lube charges! Plus my dealer has a little card so every 6th oild change is free.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: dealership maintenance

Some of these "Scheduled Maintenance" costs can get wayyy up there. I'd suggest you shop around. You can get that stamp at many other reputable repair shops so it's good that you're looking around.

As for Jiffy Lube, I've heard too many horror stories and have been party to one of them enough to tell me to stay away from that place.

A few months ago I took my BMW to Goodyear here in Hilo because they were offering oil changes for $14. So I took my BMW down there and an hour later I came back from downing several cups of Starmucks coffee only to find out that the guy changing my oil couldn't find the oil filter.

On BMW's the oil filter is actually a cartridge that mounts inside a steel can and held together with a bolt. I asked him at the beginning if he'd ever change the oil on a BMW like mine and he indicated he did so whatever he's the expert and I figured he knew better.

[joshuatree]

Re: dealership maintenance

Some of these "Scheduled Maintenance" costs can get wayyy up there. I'd suggest you shop around. You can get that stamp at many other reputable repair shops so it's good that you're looking around.

As for Jiffy Lube, I've heard too many horror stories and have been party to one of them enough to tell me to stay away from that place.

A few months ago I took my BMW to Goodyear here in Hilo because they were offering oil changes for $14. So I took my BMW down there and an hour later I came back from downing several cups of Starmucks coffee only to find out that the guy changing my oil couldn't find the oil filter.

On BMW's the oil filter is actually a cartridge that mounts inside a steel can and held together with a bolt. I asked him at the beginning if he'd ever change the oil on a BMW like mine and he indicated he did so whatever he's the expert and I figured he knew better.

That's weak, BMW's got one of the easiest filters to change because it's on the top side of the engine bay. May be a little messier because you do have to grab the oil-soaked filter out of the canister but so much easier that trying to twist a can off under the engine. But I've always used sandwich bags to grab and seal up the dirty, old filter.

Also, watch out for places that advertise oil changes for a low price. Ask them if they include a filter change because some literally mean just an oil change.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: dealership maintenance

That's weak, BMW's got one of the easiest filters to change because it's on the top side of the engine bay. May be a little messier because you do have to grab the oil-soaked filter out of the canister but so much easier that trying to twist a can off under the engine. But I've always used sandwich bags to grab and seal up the dirty, old filter.

Also, watch out for places that advertise oil changes for a low price. Ask them if they include a filter change because some literally mean just an oil change.

On my 635Csi it's so cramped that you first have to position the cartridge from underneath then from on top hold the cartridge and screw in the bolt. My 535i and my 735i had more room to be able to do the change without crawling under (except to drain the pan).

But Goodyear insisted that the price included a new cartridge element and I watched them put in a new one.

[D'Alani]

Re: dealership maintenance

I have a 2003 Durango and have been going to the Punchbowl Jiffy Lube all these years and so far have not experienced any problems. I do check my oil and have not noticed it being "dirty". I may be taking a chance but so far so good.

[Miulang]

Re: dealership maintenance

I usually go to Jiffy Lube and when my car is being serviced, I usually watch what they're doing from the waiting area which is right next door to the service area. The only time I would have the dealer change my oil is if they send me a discount coupon.

Miulang

[adrian]

Re: dealership maintenance

Well, its April, and according to my odometer, its time to change my oil.

The dealership left a message on my cell (but when I tried to check my voicemail, my battery died) so I guess he called to remind me about the oil change.

If this isn't complementary, where should I go?

[Leo Lakio]

Re: dealership maintenance

If this isn't complementary, where should I go?

If it isn't complimentary, and it isn't something you want to do (or don't have a place to safely do - meaning, a way to properly catch and dispose of the used oil - NEVER down the storm drains!!!), then it's time you started up a relationship with a decent auto mechanic. Let them oversee all ongoing maintenance of your vehicle; they'll know what should be done when, will remind you of same, and will be able to give you advance notice if they see something to be concerned about.

If you don't have any recommendations from friends (or even if you do), try the "Mechanics Files" search at this site.