I bought a new air filter and cabin filter online so that the dealer will only have to do an oil change.

I called my local dealer to verify what the 15k checkup consists of and they said that it'll cost me $185, and that they change oil, clean/check brakes, check fluids, rotate tires, and CLEAN the cabin air filter (not replace)

should i follow through with the full service @ the dealer, or just change the filters on my own like i planned and only get the oil change?

 

Do it yourself and save alot of money. Very easy DIY with instructions on this forum. Save your hard earned money for mods.

 

save 185$ for other mod

 

Now I have to ask 'cause I started to wonder... Is this '15k maintenance' in kilometers or miles? Cause here in Finland the recommendation is that the car should go through a check-up every 15k kilometers. So if your talking about miles, how often are you supposed to take your car to a check-up?

 

Never ask for the X miles service, they'll jack you with a buncha extra charges.

if you simply want the work you actually need, but will at least change your own air filters, then you should follow this schedule:

Every 5k: Ask for an oil change ONLY. That should knock the price down in the less insane range to like 50-60 bucks.

Every 30k: Ask for a brake fluid change ONLY (in addition to the oil change)

Every 60k: Ask for a spark plug change ONLY (in addition to the 2 items above)

Every 100k: Ask for a coolant change ONLY (in addition to the oil change)


It's in all the crap in the "X miles" service that isn't actual work like "road test" and "verify the torque of a buncha bolts that never come loose" that they triple their pricing.

 

its in miles

thx for the input guys.

 

 

Remember, if you have staggered setup on the wheels with summer tires, they are uni-directional. Meaning, no tire rotation! They just say they do it and then charge you a bundle when they haven't done anything.

Fluids = wiper fluid = < $2 at a gas station.

Replacing cabin filter, be careful and set the air circulation to recirculate so that the filter housing lid is open. Do not force it open yourself.

Clean brakes? I don't know. I never do it. I just wash my car all the time.

Oil change: $40 if you bring your own oil. I would recommend this so that it doesn't void any warranty you have left on the car. Unless you maintain every receipt of oil changes.

Save some money. Tough economy out there.

 

rotate tires? really? packaged maintenance is the biggest scam too be developed by the dealer. You can go firestone, midas or your local trusted mechanic and they will do a full inspection for less then 30.00, many times do a brake check for free. cleaning the brakes really only apply to drum brakes, unless they are adjusting the parking brake. buy a chiltons, and do it your self. The only thing that a tech really would need to do is do a mechanical flush..........brake fluid, tranny, radiator whatever. check your manual, educate yourself on the car you drive and you wont be looked at as meat going into the dealer.

 

Nice.