Most outrageous service cost?

[750turbo]

Sheepshanks said:

corozin said:

I was told recently that the service dept in my local BMW dealership has to turn over £250,000 a week to remain viable as a cost centre.

A neighbour used to work in accounts at a dealer for a main-stream brand and she told me (and she reckoned this was standard practice) the service department carries the entire dealership fixed costs - rent, rates, utilities etc etc. They made nothing on new cars, little on used, and a bit on parts.

She said it was a disaster if a ramp got blocked waiting for a part or if a mechanic had a week off sick.

Yep - it is called absorption (SP?) Standard practise when budgeting in the MT - Sales relied heavily on back end bonus to eventually make a profit.

[Sheepshanks]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Scan and upload the invoice. I can't believe 1 x oil filter, 1 x tub of oil and 1 x labour = £454. There is (as usual) a lot missing context here.

It's less than half that for a minor service on >2.0 litre VAGs.

Certainly, reading the Passat Alltrack leasing thread, the LongLife oil change and inspection service seems to be typically a bit over £200, and some people have managed to get it for a quite a bit less.

My local Audi dealer is indicating £400 for 1yr/15K mile service, and it's not clear if that includes the inspection or not (It doesn't with VW - first service is literally oil & filter change and tyre check).

[Sa Calobra]

AW111 said:

I assume you don't know that the BRZ / GT86 engine is not the old WRX engine, but a new design.

No not the WRX but the Subaru's R version

[Sa Calobra]

Sa Calobra said:

No not the WRX but the Subaru's R version

Based on the NA engine with a different/bigger r intake etc

[brianashley]

Phil37 said:

First post but long time lurker....

Isn't there a phrase...."If you can piddle (think of similar word), you can paint. Argument closed!

But do you get paid good money to piss well?:-0

[Paul O]

rix said:

750turbo said:

Dear God!!!

Is this the VAG variable mileage stuff?

It is but as far as I know it's the same oil/price regardless...

Does the variable thing actually work? Our beetle is meant to be variable - yet 12 months on the nose it says it's wants a service - only done 2,000 miles. I'm calling it bks. It's not going to main dealers because they wouldn't knock anything off purchase cost so I'm not going back ever again . My indi is fab though.

[swisstoni]

brianashley said:

Phil37 said:

First post but long time lurker....

Isn't there a phrase...."If you can piddle (think of similar word), you can paint. Argument closed!

But do you get paid good money to piss well?:-0

I suppose if you can st you can plaster?

[lotuselan7]

red_slr said:

Probably belts, water pump, tensioners, filters, fluids and gaskets etc.

Nope none of above does include lambada sensors but consensus is leave alone. Got mine done 6 months ago for about £1k at specialist independent. He collected returned and MOT'd it 2. 2.5k taking the piss.

Edited by lotuselan7 on Wednesday 26th April 22:26

[lotuselan7]

red_slr said:

Probably belts, water pump, tensioners, filters, fluids and gaskets etc.

Nope none of above does include lambada sensors but consensus is leave alone. Got mine done 6 months ago for about £1k at specialist independent. He collected returned and nots it 2. 2.5k taking the puss.

[anonymous-user]

before I was savvy, I took my 406 coupe for a service and mot. They rang me and said it would cost 400 quid to change a drop link, I didn't have a clue, so said yes.

The job is probably 150 at most, and when I found out later I said I would never buy or use Peugeot again, which I have done. I never understand the rip off mentality.

[gf15]

BMW 650 SW upgrade by the main dealer in the Harrogate area: £950 about 5 years ago.
Same SW updated by my superb specialist (Autohaus in the York area) £55.

Seemingly it does take 8 hours to upgrade the SW, due to slow interface, but it is a case of connecting the kit and starting the upgrade off with an occasional check to hit "Return / Enter".

Also has a oil issue, Oil level display on the on board computer being erratic, Oil level being low, add 1/4 litre, car reporting now full. They drained all oil measured it and it showed as full. A little diagnostic work, a little effort, plenty of diligence, and the final cost was £0.
As my better half advises, I may be a little bit OCD, numerous calls for advice always resulted in "happy to explain in great technical detail" why my concerns were valid / unfounded.

This Specialist is one of the reasons why we have BMW's as opposed to other makes.

Same main dealer also reduced an "ABS" issue bill on an E38 740 by £1000 so it dropped under the ceiling covered by my warranty company after a 5 minute discussion.

From the sublime to the ridiculous.

[liner33]

Paul O said:

Does the variable thing actually work? Our beetle is meant to be variable - yet 12 months on the nose it says it's wants a service - only done 2,000 miles. I'm calling it bks. It's not going to main dealers because they wouldn't knock anything off purchase cost so I'm not going back ever again . My indi is fab though.

Yes it does work but it might not be switched on. Our old diesel Superb was on variable and seemed to want to be serviced every 16-18k but that was less than every 12 months

[Rick101]

gf15 said:

my superb specialist (Autohaus in the York area)

I used to take my E46 M3 there. Now sadly gone but they still look after the E89 Z4.
Good guys and put the franchises to shame.
Well recommended for anybody in the area, or not, with a BMW.

My story

1989 Porsche Carrera 3.2

Leeds Porsche £750 for Oil & filter and air filter - plugs extra!

Indy, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, plugs, both heads off and tappets set and a properly thorough check of the whole car - under £400.

Guess where I went.

[kev b]

£530 for a sidelight bulb on an E60 BMW, main dealer, indie quoted £500 but no courtesy car.

When the bulb (£18) blows it can take out the canbus lighting module. progress eh.

[Djtemeka]

spookly said:

Djtemeka said:

60k mile service. £1350-£1600. Can't remember what the wife said.
Car is a Mazda 6 2.2d. I kid you not.
Apparently it's new injectors and cam chain schedule!

What the hell is the point of using a cam chain if it needs to be changed/serviced as often as a cam belt???

The car isn't the latest model. It's a 2011 model. Worst part is, we bought it last year from Mazda dealers so this is its first service in my ownership. We only do a few thousand miles a year so it's a lot of money per mile.

[toobusy]

liner33 said:

Paul O said:

Does the variable thing actually work? Our beetle is meant to be variable - yet 12 months on the nose it says it's wants a service - only done 2,000 miles. I'm calling it bks. It's not going to main dealers because they wouldn't knock anything off purchase cost so I'm not going back ever again . My indi is fab though.

Yes it does work but it might not be switched on. Our old diesel Superb was on variable and seemed to want to be serviced every 16-18k but that was less than every 12 months

The setting is time and distance, my old Audi was 17k every time, sold with 192k trouble free miles. My wife's Golf does far fewer miles and at 11 months-ish counts the days down to the annual service date.

[funkyrobot]

Djtemeka said:

spookly said:

Djtemeka said:

60k mile service. £1350-£1600. Can't remember what the wife said.
Car is a Mazda 6 2.2d. I kid you not.
Apparently it's new injectors and cam chain schedule!

What the hell is the point of using a cam chain if it needs to be changed/serviced as often as a cam belt???

The car isn't the latest model. It's a 2011 model. Worst part is, we bought it last year from Mazda dealers so this is its first service in my ownership. We only do a few thousand miles a year so it's a lot of money per mile.

Sorry to ask this now, but why the hell did you buy a diesel if you only do a few thousand miles a year?

Thanks for explaining that it's the old model. Unfortunately for you, the older model diesel was very prone to issues. There was a thread on here years ago by someone who had major problems with their diesel. It's all summarised in the HJ link below:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/6-2008/...

Mazda build good petrols and maybe better diesels now. The older models were awful in diesel guise though.

Hope you get it fixed ok.

[anonymous-user]

Sheepshanks said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Scan and upload the invoice. I can't believe 1 x oil filter, 1 x tub of oil and 1 x labour = £454. There is (as usual) a lot missing context here.

It's less than half that for a minor service on >2.0 litre VAGs.

Certainly, reading the Passat Alltrack leasing thread, the LongLife oil change and inspection service seems to be typically a bit over £200, and some people have managed to get it for a quite a bit less.

My local Audi dealer is indicating £400 for 1yr/15K mile service, and it's not clear if that includes the inspection or not (It doesn't with VW - first service is literally oil & filter change and tyre check).

£140 for that service on the Alltrack at VW in Bradford (JCT600).

[Flibble]

liner33 said:

Paul O said:

Does the variable thing actually work? Our beetle is meant to be variable - yet 12 months on the nose it says it's wants a service - only done 2,000 miles. I'm calling it bks. It's not going to main dealers because they wouldn't knock anything off purchase cost so I'm not going back ever again . My indi is fab though.

Yes it does work but it might not be switched on. Our old diesel Superb was on variable and seemed to want to be serviced every 16-18k but that was less than every 12 months

My old A3 never seemed to get above 10k miles on variable, when I got my S3 I had them put it on fixed servicing intervals because there was no point paying for variable. Fixed services are more like £250 rather than £450 so it's a decent saving!

[swisstoni]

Ferrari owners keeping very quiet...