Dealer prices for basic vehicle service items

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Went to the local Honda dealer today to have the airbag recall service performed on my 2003 Accord. They said I needed a new engine air filter ($44.50 part and labor), and new cabin air filter ($51.50 part and labor). I declined . I wonder how many customers on average go for this type of service when they have their vehicle at the service dept. for some other issue?
 
my dealer wants $90 for the cabin filter. not sure on the air filter. and $120 for brake fluid flush. $300 for transmission fluid.
 
Welcome to the DEALER THREAD BASH OF THE WEEK!


It's so exciting on BITOG............
 
You should draw obscene cartoons on your current filters. Then when they bring them into the waiting room act shocked and faint.
 
Those really are not bad prices to be honest.

You have to remember there are a large % of people who don't have the tools or know how to do even these basic services, who will pay any $$ for convenience even if they have the tools and know how, or people who live in multi-family (apartments or condos) communities with iron fisted management/HOA that strictly forbid work beyond a jump start or flat tire change. I have personally been on the receiving end of a stern letter from my prior apartment community for doing air filter (cabin and engine) on my Mercedes in their parking garage - it was legit maybe 20 mins from start to finish so either someone complained or security caught me on camera.

I deal with having a lot of services done by dealers or mechanics because I am in a complex that has HOA 'no car work' rules. I could probably try to sneak things in here and there but I don't want to give the HOA or management any reason to focus on me. I have 2 HOA board members that would see me working on my car if they walked in or out of their condo. Just chalked it up to living in what equates to an apartment I will own outright one day.
 
That may or may not be a reasonable upsell, even in your case. If they try to sell someone new engine air filters and cabin air filters while on recall work and the vehicle has 5,000 miles on it, that would be a problem. Realistically, though, they have no idea how many miles were on either of your filters or what their condition was unless they were clearly a mess. From my perspective, they should have upsold you on the wipers, since you actually might have gotten a benefit out of that and the profit potential versus time spent is probably better than that for an air filter. I can replace Honda wipers faster than I can get the stupid package open.
 
IIRC my Jeep dealer wanted $199 to drain and refill the transfer case on my Wrangler. All the prices for their services were high, but that was a ripoff number that really stuck out.

The OP's prices didn't seem too bad.
 
They gotta pay for the wifi and K-cups in the waiting room somehow.

My inlaws have them do what ever they ask even though I've repeatedly told them I can swap their engine/cabin filters filters and do their oil changes for a fraction of the cost.
 
Originally Posted by CKN
Welcome to the DEALER THREAD BASH OF THE WEEK!


It's so exciting on BITOG............




Yep. This is nothing new. Dealerships have to pay their labor and overhead. Does anyone expect to get these things done for nothing?

Learning the basic automotive maintenance like oil changes and filter replacement is always the better way.
 
Originally Posted by PimTac
Originally Posted by CKN
Welcome to the DEALER THREAD BASH OF THE WEEK!


It's so exciting on BITOG............




Yep. This is nothing new. Dealerships have to pay their labor and overhead. Does anyone expect to get these things done for nothing?

Learning the basic automotive maintenance like oil changes and filter replacement is always the better way.


Nice comment.....
banana2.gif
 
Dealers and service departments vary widely within the manufacturers. Some are really good about using appropriate fluids and can talk to you intelligently about your car, others act like fancier versions of buy here pay here stores, maybe that bribed or blackmailed a rep for a franchise who knows.
 
That said, those prices seem pretty reasonable to me. I'd expect a dealer to be around 20%-30% higher then a independent mechanic, there is more overhead even more if you are having work done at a premium brand dealership that feeds you breakfast or fresh baked cookies and has a loaner with 300hp and leather waiting. Nothings free in the car industry.
 
Originally Posted by PimTac
Does anyone expect to get these things done for nothing?


Yes....In general, They do!
Automotive maintenance & repair is a thorn in most people's side! They don't mind paying 400% mark-up at Bars & Restaurants because that's "fun".
 
Originally Posted by Electromotive
I wonder how many customers on average go for this type of service...
More than enough or else the dealership wouldn't go to the effort. For the service and parts you refer to, they'd be well-advised to take advantage of the fair offer.

Important factor that's clearly missed here: Some people don't "work" on cars. They have zero interest or desire to do so. How hard -- or easy -- any particular task is has zero relevance.
 
Originally Posted by Electromotive
Went to the local Honda dealer today to have the airbag recall service performed on my 2003 Accord. They said I needed a new engine air filter ($44.50 part and labor), and new cabin air filter ($51.50 part and labor). I declined . I wonder how many customers on average go for this type of service when they have their vehicle at the service dept. for some other issue?


Just got my oil changed today at Toyota dealer. $60 with tire rotation, tread depth, brake thickness, vacuum floors and seats front and rear, hand wash.

I was going to buy engine and cabin filter and put in myself and they said they install free because they check during an oil change anyway so putting a new one in isn't extra work. New wiper rubber installed for $18 ($9 each) no labor, cost of part.

Every dealer in my lifetime has been awful until this one. Sales aren't paid commission, service advisors aren't paid commission. They will tell you their motto is honesty keeps customers coming back.

This place blows me away.
 
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I was at the dealer for a software upgrade recall. They said my battery was dead and needed to be jumped when I went to pick it up. They quoted $210 installed for a new battery. I declined and after a week it still starts just fine. Their reputation as stealership is well earned And if they reviewed my maintenance records they would know they were getting some biz from me..
 
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last dealer experience, they crossed the terminals on one replacement bulb in the dash cluster.(had to be on purpose)
got a Haynes manual, $5 in bulbs & redid them after that crossed wire bulb burned them all out again. No more dealer visits.
 
Originally Posted by vw7674
last dealer experience, they crossed the terminals on one replacement bulb in the dash cluster.(had to be on purpose)
got a Haynes manual, $5 in bulbs & redid them after that crossed wire bulb burned them all out again. No more dealer visits.


Can you expand on this? Most incandescent bulbs don't care about polarity. LED's won't work backwards but also don't conduct electricity in that direction either. I would think shorting a bulb socket would blow a fuse and not hurt any bulbs. I'm not understanding your reference.
 
Two days ago, I bought a genuine Toyota oil filter (which includes the housing Irving's and drain tool) from my local dealer.

$3.95

Excellent quality.

Lower price than any aftermarket.
 
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