Overcharged for oil change?

[anonymous-user]

why not do it yourself, pretty easy to do.

[CrgT16]

You could have paid a little less but price is about right. Yes some cheeky items like the flush and screen wash but all in all pretty standard. it's pretty straightforward to do that by yourself and it doesn't take long, you could have done it yourself to same some cash?

Regarding being a rip off.... It doesn't seem like it to me. Prices within expected range and we don't know the costs of the business. Lots of people think the labour costs are the mechanic wages... If only... Run your own business and then comment.

[itcaptainslow]

The Spruce goose said:

why not do it yourself, pretty easy to do.

Some people don't have the time/mobility/inclination/space/tools/skills. I'm fortunate that I have all of these for fixing cars.

However, if my laptop went pop, I'd have to get someone else to repair it, as I lack at least two of the above in the computing stakes.

[t400ble]

Sounds fine to me

Ask for a price next time, in writing if needed

[ShiningWit]

You're overlooking the stamp in the service book, a full set of those is worth a lot on resale.

[CrgT16]

Not worth much on an E46... Also an oil change doesn't need a stamp.

[Dodsy]

Looks like pretty standard pricing to me. I supply the oil myself as I have a preferred brand for the Jag . Garage supplies the oil filter and air filter supplied to them from a Jag dealer. I usually pay about £30 labour plus about £30 ish for the filters. I've used this small garage for year and they dont rip anyone off. They'd never try the screenwash and engine flush tricks to boost their bottom line.

[barker22]

CrgT16 said:

you could have done it yourself to save some cash?

I think many people can and do do their own servicing.

I usually do most of my own work but for the sake of the service stamps in the book, every 2 years or the mileage equivalent that the book says, I pay for someone else to do it.

[Vixpy1]

Apart from the stuff you had not asked for , the rest seems reasonable enough, the labour seems cheap, most of the indies i know would charge an hour at £60 to £70.

[bitchstewie]

Do people really just leave their cars with garages for work to be done, even service work, without asking what the cost is upfront?

[Fox-]

AdDaMan said:

Moaning about paying £200 for an oil and filters change on an M3?
Seriously?

It's not an M3, it's a 330Ci.

A BMW main dealer charges £159 for an Oil Service on an E46 330Ci:

http://www.approved.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/owner/service_...

Main dealers on Value Servicing have been competitive for years. This is why I gave up playing the lottery with independents. I don't mind going to some ranodm under the arches place and then waiting for a bus to work if I'm saving a pile of cash but if I'm saving nothing at all why bother?

Edited by Fox- on Saturday 23 May 12:06

[Nimbusjunk]

Believe it or not Our Friends at Citroen Main Dealer are up to this trick too
C1 on 2 Year PCP so taken to main dealer
First service 7500 miles
Charged £48.00 for 4.8 litres of oil ( Capacity of a C1 is something like 3.5 litres )
and £11.00 for engine flush ( I bet they didn't do it)

I was phoned and asked if I was satisfied I said No I was not at all because the engine flush was taking the Micheal the girl said that service would contact me but predictably they didn't.
Never mind I am patient and will wait till next year when I chop the car in and will give the sales manager a lot of grief.
I couldn't be bothered to argue the toss about a few pounds at the time

[itcaptainslow]

Very naughty as a flush invalidates the manufacturer's warranty-it states this in the service book!

[Matthen]

Seem to remember that all garages in the "Good Garage Scheme" have to perform an engine flush unless you specifically ask for it not to be done - could be why he did it.

[Andyjc86]

Matthen said:

Seem to remember that all garages in the "Good Garage Scheme" have to perform an engine flush unless you specifically ask for it not to be done - could be why he did it.

That's because the good garage scheme is owned by the people that make the engine flush.

OP, chalk this one up to experience I think, but question the flush and washer fluid.

[rb5er]

Doesn't sound particularly expensive to me but obviously could be done cheaper.

Oil price can vary massively depending on brand,viscosity and supplier. Filter prices can also vary massively between oem and budget brands. Yes you might be able to get them for less but oem are dearer.

You didn`t ask for a price up front?

Edited by rb5er on Sunday 24th May 13:50

[Qubit]

Id be checking to see if it was actually done, ive had this problem in the past. I think the oil filter on the 6 cylinder bmw is quite easy to get to? Personally id suck the oil out myself and change the filter, at least you know its been done then.

A Volvo V70 i looked at with full service history from the supplying dealership hadn't had its air filter changed for a lot longer than the year since the last service!

Personally I just vote with my feet if I dont like the service ive received.

[Bonefish Blues]

£60 incl filter for Fuchs Titan full synth at your local National Tyres (ex your discount voucher, which reduces it to c£54).

Obvious suggestion is obvious.

[bitchstewie]

Bonefish Blues said:

£60 incl filter for Fuchs Titan full synth at your local National Tyres (ex your discount voucher, which reduces it to c£54).

Obvious suggestion is obvious.

That looks very reasonable - our local National Tyres has always seemed decent.

Just bashed in my car reg for my Golf and they'll do an oil and filter change for £42 - five litres of Titan GTI Pro-C3 5w30 XTL is £35 by itself.

[Bonefish Blues]

bhstewie said:

Bonefish Blues said:

£60 incl filter for Fuchs Titan full synth at your local National Tyres (ex your discount voucher, which reduces it to c£54).

Obvious suggestion is obvious.

That looks very reasonable - our local National Tyres has always seemed decent.

Just bashed in my car reg for my Golf and they'll do an oil and filter change for £42 - five litres of Titan GTI Pro-C3 5w30 XTL is £35 by itself.

It does fall into the "why would you bother to do it yourself" category, doesn't it?