Holy crap batman! dealer servicing strikes again! (holden this time lol)

[Olbucko]

Originally Posted by ratter

most people can not do, have the tools or be bothered to change a cam belt at home

And changing a cambelt on a subaru would have taken at least 3 hours and would have required a kit with the belt and idler wheels and gaskets retailing for at least $300-$400, and possibly a water pump and would be very difficult to do wthout a hoist and the factory manual.

All things considered I think the price was reasonable.

[davistev]

Originally Posted by Olbucko

And changing a cambelt on a subaru would have taken at least 3 hours and would have required a kit with the belt and idler wheels and gaskets retailing for at least $300-$400, and possibly a water pump and would be very difficult to do wthout a hoist and the factory manual.

All things considered I think the price was reasonable.

Sounds like a good deal then - never touched a Subaru before. My intent was to point out the high costs of fluid changes. Anyway - sounds good.

[Djrystofer]

Originally Posted by steve.zissou

from my experience - this is what my local dealers (ford and holden that i have delt with would do)

Check all fluid levels & top up as required.
Inspect drive belt.
Check coolant level & concentration.
Check battery terminals for cleanliness & security.
Check engine compartment hoses for leaks, wear & security.
Check for leaks from engine & transmission.
Inspect oil pan shield for damage & security.
Check under body lines for damage & fluid leaks.
Inspect brake pads & discs. but they will say you need new ones even if you dont
Inspect suspension & steering components for damage/wear.
Check exhaust system for security & leaks.
Inspect drive shafts including CV boots.
Check condition & pressures of all tyres including spare.
Test transmitter operation and range.
Check parking brake adjustment and operation.
Inspect seat belts.
Check lights, wiper/washers, horn & electrical systems.
Check vehicle for outstanding recall or service campaigns.
Reset service reminder.
Road test vehicle & report any defects. (AKA FLOG IT ON THE LUNCH RUN WITH THE APPRENTICE)

dont forget
- leave half eaten sandwich in engine bay
- start all work at 4:45 and finish by 5

this is just from my dealer experience locally (hills area nsw) - private mechanics are a different story(mostly good) and I'll give some props to peter warren ford service - they have always been great .
I would rate private mechanics i have dealt with 9/10 on average

Couldn't be more dead on, from my experience at a volkswagen dealership, we were only checking the fluids & lights, then changing the oil and filter. then of course, flogging it around the block and giving it a wash.

The only faults that were fixed were ones that were blatantly obvious, or the customer had requested it to be checked/fixed.

They're called stealerships for a reason.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by Djrystofer

Couldn't be more dead on, from my experience at a volkswagen dealership, we were only checking the fluids & lights, then changing the oil and filter. then of course, flogging it around the block and giving it a wash.

The only faults that were fixed were ones that were blatantly obvious, or the customer had requested it to be checked/fixed.

They're called stealerships for a reason.

Speak for yourself. We check over most of the stuff listed there and most of the mechanics I have worked with in the past do too. If you aren't checking things like brakes and coolant levels then you may as well hand your qualification back and get another job.

[ratter]

I worked in a Holden dealership for 16 years, we were expected to do everything correctly and short cuts were not acceptable.

[frankie86]

I also worked in a dealership workshop for holden, and i know if we took short cuts we'd get our ****'s kicked!

[GQ_Smooth]

Working in automotive and industrial industries for 20 years now (on and off). It's hard to get acceptable mechanics, let alone good ones. The policies and procedures may be quite good at any dealership, they are only as good as the "schmuck" that's doing the work. If someone is having a bad day and takes short cuts, it's very hard to check until after the end user complains. Then you get customers that complain for the sake of complaining, it's not easy, and you'll find most service managers don't like their job.

No matter what they do, people aren't happy. Spend to much time on the job to make sure all is A1, customer complains because it's to expensive or dealer owner complain because you are writing to much time off.

There are very few poeple in a dealership that genuinely care about the workmanship, customer experience, profitabilty. The majority don't give a rats and when you replace those "bad eggs" as mentioned before good ones are very very very hard to find and aren't cheap. Glad I'm the one doing the complaining and not trying to make it work.

[superfly]

Originally Posted by Drizz06

I take mine there every 12months but also do oil and filter changes in between so it gets new oil every 6months.
But i only plan to do this until warranty runs out then i'll do it all myself.

Fair enough. I used to get my WRX serviced every 6 months as it was being raced but on my XR50 IMO, it's a waste of money. I do around 15K in 10 months so it gets serviced on the 15K intervals.

I'll continue to use Ford for working on my XR50 and a specialised mechanic for my wife's WRX (as it is modified).

[noflac52]

I just read the whole thread and there are a lot of posters who are quite happy with being blatantly ripped off! No wonder it keeps happening!

[mik]

Originally Posted by ratter

I worked in a Holden dealership for 16 years, we were expected to do everything correctly and short cuts were not acceptable.

i only did a short stint at holden and ford dealerships, 4 years, but also not doing the job properly was just not on, making a fopar or not doing the properly at the ford dealer was especially memorable, the foreman was ex army bloke that would tear strips off you..

[danmc]

Originally Posted by noflac52

I just read the whole thread and there are a lot of posters who are quite happy with being blatantly ripped off! No wonder it keeps happening!

I dont think anyone likes being ripped off. I think there are those that are happy to pay to have the job done properly. For my part, its hard to diy very modern cars when you need specialised tools and info so a decent dealer is worth it. I know how people feel who refuse to use them tho. A lot of ripoffs do happen.

Sent from my GT-N7000B using Tapatalk 2

[ratter]

Nobody deserves to be ripped off and I know it must happen in some business's, no matter what sort of business it may be, but I don't think some people can distinguish the difference between paying for a correct job and being ripped off.

[SSVPom]

Originally Posted by Olbucko

And changing a cambelt on a subaru would have taken at least 3 hours and would have required a kit with the belt and idler wheels and gaskets retailing for at least $300-$400, and possibly a water pump and would be very difficult to do wthout a hoist and the factory manual.

All things considered I think the price was reasonable.

Yep, I don't have the knowledge, time or tools (or hoist) to perform much of this work myself. The parts list came to $750, or thereabouts from memory.

[Djrystofer]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Speak for yourself. We check over most of the stuff listed there and most of the mechanics I have worked with in the past do too. If you aren't checking things like brakes and coolant levels then you may as well hand your qualification back and get another job.

I am speaking for myself, I'm in no way a mechanic and back then I did 2 weeks of work experience.
And from my work experience.. experience, I learned that half of the 'fully qualified' mechanics only did the bare minimum, checked fluids & lights, changed whatever fluids were required then sent it around the block for a flogging and back into bay for a wash.

But yeah, I'll just go ahead and hand in my qualification in.

[aussie_rabbit]

I remember helping a lady friend by dropping her EA in for a service, the Ford dealer claimed her "computer" had failed and charged $600 for a new one, so being a technician I looked in the boot for the old one - not there - so asked the manager who said "it's a proprietary part and we don't return them" - I pointed out that the part belongs to the owner and had better be in the boot before I drove out.

When I checked the "failed computer" later there was nothing wrong with it, occasionally the early E series would blow a diode on the supply side, a 15c part and 5 mins. to replace.

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by IceValk85

ratter, you know im more thorough than that.

i definitely checked the book.

.4 hours labour, oil and filer change only.
.2 hours labour, for rest of checks.

so yeah, 40 odd minutes and some nasty castrol oil, and a GM filter.

474.82 lol

Ice

Sounds like you have looked at the wrong section. Though, as the list supplied shows, the Dealership could be offering more than you have found in the book.

.2 of an hour for all those checks is impossible.

The VF may be different, but anyways here is the list - 60,000 km
1.2 hours labour (petrol)
1.6 (LPG)
if brake fluid chaned add 0.4 hours + fluid
if clutch fluid change add 0.2 hour plus fluid.

Checks include tightening critical bolts and nuts.
LPG includes the replacement of a Tar Filter.

The VF comes with fixed price servicing.

[1TUFFUTE]

Holy crap batman....lol.
Some of the prices people r quoting are amazingly expensive. Surely that ruins the whole ownership thing wow

My local mechanic is very cheap.....under 400$ for my g6et listing most things mentioned above along with a FULL car and under car/body look over for any upcoming issues. Garunteed no apprentices on my car either. (Mind you I'm looking at asking for the 800$ plus gearbox flush for my own peace of mind but that's my choice)

Find a good local mechanic surely is the only way to go. Unless your paranoid/don't have a good mechanic or like the peace of mind going to a dealer to get reemed.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by ratter

most people can not do, have the tools or be bothered to change a cam belt at home

I got the tools, and I got a lot of the know how to do a lot of the work, after you've worked in the trade for any length of time you can walk into the dealership, trade your first born daughter to have your car worked on and walk out with a smile afterwards.

There is nothing worse than having to work on your own cars after a week of working on other peoples cars.

[Trump]

This is one area Ford will need to work on if they want to succeed post Falcon. The dealerships leave a lot to be desired when it comes to after sales service. Dealers need to be severely pulled into line. To that end, I propose the following:

- Transparency throughout the whole service experience is a must.

- Pricing to more accurately reflect the cost of the service provided.

- If prices are to be at a premium when compared to an independant mechanic, the quality of service needs to be of a premium and above level.

- Ford (and any automotive brand for that matter) need to be compelled into providing the same diagnostic and servicing materials provided to authorised dealers to independant mechanics. With automotive manufacturing dead, the need for protectionist behaviours disappears and such a move would restore the choice for the end user when it came to receiving the best service experience for their car at a reasonable price.

My last point I feel is rather important. Ford HQ could go about reforming their dealers via all sorts of methods (incentivisation, effective policing etc). If those fail, the sure fire way to get them into line is by competition. At the moment, dealers have a monopoly. Remove that monopoly and see how far their pathetic attitudes keep them going.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by steve.zissou

- start all work at 4:45 and finish by 5

That NEVER ceases to **** me off! I bring my car to the Ford dealer as soon as they open in the morning. When I come to pick up the car at closing time I expect it to be completed. A number of times it wasn't yet finished. WTF did they do all day?

[Bluehoon]

Loving my BF.. 60000km service cost me $153 in parts...

No other car can you change out the oil filter and sump plug with all 4 wheels on the deck...

Falcons and commodores - built for home servicing..!

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

That NEVER ceases to **** me off! I bring my car to the Ford dealer as soon as they open in the morning. When I come to pick up the car at closing time I expect it to be completed. A number of times it wasn't yet finished. WTF did they do all day?

If the dealer knows you don't need or wont be picking the car up till that evening they will leave your car till the afternoon shift.

I always drop off the car first thing in the morning and stipulate that I need the car by the afternoon, even if I don't. That way it should be ready when I'm ready. Obviously this is more applicable to scheduled services and may not work out if un-expected or major repairs need doing.

[2011G6E]

Hmm...and people scoff at four wheel drives for servicing costs...

It almost seems that modern diesel four wheel drives and SUV's are becoming cheaper and cheaper to service, and ordinary cars are becoming more and more expensive...

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by Bluehoon

Loving my BF.. 60000km service cost me $153 in parts...

No other car can you change out the oil filter and sump plug with all 4 wheels on the deck...

Falcons and commodores - built for home servicing..!

My mate is a foreman at a big dealership, he told me that they do not turn any one or any job away. It's the nature of business these days - grab it while you can.

When times get tough and unpredictable, things change to accommodate.

In the 'old days' the day would be split into how many jobs could be done - 8 hours in the day, service is an hour, book in 6 jobs. This allowed for problems and/or extra work, with good profit margin.

These days everyone wants cheapest price, competition is thick, margins are down. So 8 hours now = 8 jobs, plus anything else that comes in and if the customer wants it done that day, they grab it if there is a free space or a free minute.

Is it right? I don't think so. But that's the nature of the beast, business. Pay the bills, the wages and make a decent profit or close down and open something else.

Don't blame the business, blame society and everyone that is part of it - us

[Bluehoon]

Originally Posted by johnydep

My mate is a foreman at a big dealership, he told me that they do not turn any one or any job away. It's the nature of business these days - grab it while you can.

When times get tough and unpredictable, things change to accommodate.

In the 'old days' the day would be split into how many jobs could be done - 8 hours in the day, service is an hour, book in 6 jobs. This allowed for problems and/or extra work, with good profit margin.

These days everyone wants cheapest price, competition is thick, margins are down. So 8 hours now = 8 jobs, plus anything else that comes in and if the customer wants it done that day, they grab it if there is a free space or a free minute.

Is it right? I don't think so. But that's the nature of the beast, business. Pay the bills, the wages and make a decent profit or close down and open something else.

Don't blame the business, blame society and everyone that is part of it - us

True. However that's consumerism. Who's pushing that...
We all to blame there.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by V3RSAC3

The dealers are always more expensive, a 72,000km service on my Chrysler is $897 but from a performance specialist it's $268.

I believe that a lot of people pay for peace of mind, whether they get the best service or not.

Have you asked them to change the rotors and brake pads.
They quoted me $2800.
Pretty sure I ended up getting it done at a brake place for less than half that.

[csv8]

Ford Fiesta auto trans oil is $100 a litre !!!

[The Stylist]

Originally Posted by SSVPom

I just had a combo 115k and 125k service on my 6 year old Liberty at the Docklands main dealer. The car needed the full monty and cost me $1,460, which was cheaper than UltraTubes and Ripco quoted online for the following :

Oil and filter changed
Engine coolant flush and fill
Brake fluid changed
Air filter changed
Iridium spark plugs changed
Cambelt and alternator belt changed
Gearbox oil changed
Front diff oil changed
Rear diff oil changed
New wipers
All other checks, and campaigns / ECU updated, as per logbook
Free pick up and drop off at my place of work (CBD)
Cup of coffee
Warm fuzzy feeling knowing the car's in good running order.

I feel that was reasonable to be honest.

Yikes that makes me feel worse now after recently having my 06 Legacy GT-B's full 100k service - NZ $2000!

[PepeLePew]

As I generally drive new in warranty vehicles ill pay the prices while shopping around to know they're plugging that sucker in and keeping the software updated at dealers. But one I at least trust by reputation.

What bugs me these days is the distance in dealerships from the front of the shop to the back. Talking heads in the doorway are pleasant but you never see who actually works on your car. It's hellish comforting to meet the actual bod that touches your vehicle and helluva lot easier to feel a sense of trust. A relationship with a talking head that reassures you everything is alright just doesn't cut it. Hence where a local workshop can give you a feeling of TRUST in what's being done. That's pretty priceless. And often cheaper.'damn those onboard ECU's.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by csv8

Ford Fiesta auto trans oil is $100 a litre !!!

Holy jumpin' Jesus on a unicycle...how many liters does it take? Hopefully only one...