Price swing between dealers

[Jeepster_nut]

So my 08 CR-V EX-L is due for its 3 year brake fluid swap. I called the dealer near my work figuring I would drop it off in the morning and have a co worker pick me up and drive me to work. So I call and they say its $129. I say ok and schedule this service and the recall for the transmission software upgrade as well. I know I know dealer Nazis stay away and do it myself. But to be honest I'm not monkey-ing around under my car for this. I dont have the time nor desire.Anyways...

So I get to thinking, eh thats seems high priced.. So I call the dealer near my house. Didnt want to call there initially because it is less convenient going there because I would have to drop it off in the morning, borrow my wifes car for the day and leave her without a car while Im at work. So anyway they say the same brake fluid swap is $65! I'm like ok set me up with an appointment for this and the recall.

Why the big swing in pricing? I asked both dealers how they do it and it is the same process. They use a machine, which I assume is the pressure bleeder that attaches to the master cylinder.

What's good is now I can get my CR-V and my wife's CR-V done for the same price as one!

 

[bdcardinal]

The higher priced one probably uses MOC or Wynns brake fluid. They use a machine that does all 4 bleeders at the same time and they have to scan the fluid bottle in for it to work. The little almost a quart of DOT 3 is in the $60 range. It is not any special fluid whatsoever, but the company gives the dealer the flush machine so that's how they recoup their money.

The cheaper dealer probably just gives their techs some bottles of Honda or whatever off the shelf fluid and they use a vacula to do the service.

 

[stephen9666]

What did the more expensive dealer say when you tried to take the car after you agreed to the service? I wonder if the more expensive dealer would match the cheaper dealer's price?

I had the brake fluid flushed on my Hyundai a couple months ago. It came out to around $75 dollars.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
The higher priced one probably uses MOC or Wynns brake fluid. They use a machine that does all 4 bleeders at the same time and they have to scan the fluid bottle in for it to work. The little almost a quart of DOT 3 is in the $60 range. It is not any special fluid whatsoever, but the company gives the dealer the flush machine so that's how they recoup their money.

The cheaper dealer probably just gives their techs some bottles of Honda or whatever off the shelf fluid and they use a vacula to do the service.


What is MOC or Wynns brake fluid and why would the machine need it scanned to work? Im not understanding this post at all, sorry. Also, all Honda dealers use Honda brake fluid dont they?

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
What did the more expensive dealer say when you tried to take the car after you agreed to the service? I wonder if the more expensive dealer would match the cheaper dealer's price?

I had the brake fluid flushed on my Hyundai a couple months ago. It came out to around $75 dollars.


I wasnt at the dealer with the car, I had made the appt. over the phone then called back to cancel. I didnt even bother to try the price match because they are obviously fleecing customers if they charge double what another dealer charges. Also, since I first posted I have called two other dealers and they both are at $65 for the service, so the high dealer is obviously on something lol.

 

[bdcardinal]

MOC and Wynns make flush kits. They charge more because they give the shops their flush machines and that is how they recoup the money. The brake flush machine they have has a barcode scanner thingy and it keeps the techs from using off the shelf fluid instead of their own.

Not all dealer use branded fluid.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Thats funny I didn't know that lol. The things companies think of to make a buck! Whats to keep the dealer from keeping a barcode on an empty bottle near the machine and using cheaper fluid?

To me the $65 flush is just as good, after all, brake fluid is brake fluid- to me anyways.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: Jeepster_nut
Thats funny I didn't know that lol. The things companies think of to make a buck! Whats to keep the dealer from keeping a barcode on an empty bottle near the machine and using cheaper fluid?

To me the $65 flush is just as good, after all, brake fluid is brake fluid- to me anyways.


all the bottles have their own code. Its a huge industry.

I have heard the Honda OEM stuff is top notch just like the OEM Motorcraft brake fluid. The boiling points on them tended to be on the higher end for the DOT 3 specification.

 

[The Critic]

Sears does the exact same brake fluid flush for $35.

 

[Vikas]

How does Sears handle supposedly frozen bleeder screws? My mechanic always balks when I ask him to flush the brake fluid. He is afraid of bleeder screws snapping on him.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Eh the Sears near me are a bunch of hacks I wouldn't let them touch my vehicle.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Sears does the exact same brake fluid flush for $35.


I find that hard to believe.

I used to work at Sears in college (around 5 years ago). They never did brake flushes and didn't have the equipment to get the old fluid out of the ABS pump.

I took my Hyundai to the dealer because they had the computer equipment to cycle the ABS pumps and get all the old fluid out.