Dealer Service... Ouch

[Timco]

Originally Posted by M1Ark

How hard was that to do? Any write ups you used?

Hard to figure out best way. Don't follow Pelican. I'll post pics and a tutorial tomorrow. Definatly learned a few tricks!!

You'll need some tools.......like a 12 ton press and a bearing puller set.

[mountainman]

I bought my own lift for the garage for 2K and now I can easily do almost everything on the list for a few hundred bucks. Everything he did was double priced.

[M1Ark]

Originally Posted by mountainman

I bought my own lift for the garage for 2K and now I can easily do almost everything on the list for a few hundred bucks. Everything he did was double priced.

A scissor lift is on my list of must buys. Which one did you purchase?

[Wret]

Originally Posted by M1Ark

How hard was that to do? Any write ups you used?

There are a couple good write-ups for wheel bearings. It requires a couple specialized tools but if you've done some wrenching before, you can probably manage it.

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Wret

There are a couple good write-ups for wheel bearings. It requires a couple specialized tools but if you've done some wrenching before, you can probably manage it.

The $50 dollars for towels was funny but how can they justify an hour to change a battery???

I just posted part one of a tutorial that fills the gaps Pelican left out. It's in performance and tech.

[particlewave]

Yikes!

Did they at least buy you dinner first?

[KRAM36]

Looks like a hospital bill.

[ekam]

Thank you for feeding the economy.

[Penland]

I'm so glad I do all my own work, saves me alot of money, and makes me feel more in touch with my car.

[schnellman]

Well, M1ARK, now you know why we call them Stealerships. But in their defense, I"m sure they use very nice shop towels.

[Coffinhunter]

Originally Posted by schnellman

Well, M1ARK, now you know why we call them Stealerships. But in their defense, I"m sure they use very nice shop towels.

Only the finest Egyptian cotton!!!

[Frodo]

$101.50 labor to replace the battery?? What did that take, 5 minutes tops?? $1200/hr! Great work if you can find it!

I learned to avoid stealerships if possible after working on my alternator. Had only had the car a few months and didn't know a lot about it, but I followed the DIY tutorials and everything went fine, except I opted to remove the passenger seat instead of just pushing it as far forward as possible. Removing it entailed disconnecting the harness under the seat which triggered the CEL. Went to the local Porsche shop where I was charged over $100 to "check" the airbags. The airbags were, of course, fine---I just wanted the damn CEL reset.

That was more than the old, old automotive electric service shop I had rebuild the alternator charged me to do some actual work.

[Kenny Boxster]

What a joke. They even have the audacity to charge you for shop towels? A reputable and ethical shop shouldn't charge for basic supplies. Oh man this is painful.

[stateofidleness]

I get having a lot of money, not a lot of time (props!), but for me it's more about peace of mind knowing I did the work and it was done right, and not feeling like I got bent over at the end of the day.

Did they check your muffler bearings?

[M1Ark]

Originally Posted by stateofidleness

I get having a lot of money, not a lot of time (props!), but for me it's more about peace of mind knowing I did the work and it was done right, and not feeling like I got bent over at the end of the day.

Did they check your muffler bearings?

I like to wrench but would rather take a high speed run to Sedona on my days off than wrench on my car. When I retire that might change. I feel the dealer did a great job. The car runs fantastic and they let me drive a cayman loaner for 8 days. They actually did other work for free that I did not list.

Would have never paid as much 10 years ago. And won't 10 years from now. But today it is best for me. I merely listed the labor and parts prices as a current point of reference for others contemplating dealer or indie service.

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by M1Ark

They actually did other work for free that I did not list.

I assure you, they did nothing for free... You have a lot of money so it may feel good not to worry have to worry about it, but you got Ned Beatty'd on this one, even if you value your 8 day Cayman rental at $100 a day.

Oh and next time you need a key come here first, I'm sure someone would have pointed you here.

Most Indy garages would have been $2000 or less for the services you posted.

[paintboy]

If I was going to spend four or five thousand, I'd get a newer model car.
I have a good place to go. I got a new clutch, dual mass fly wheel, serp belt, 100K tune up (only had 77K on car but it needed it) break pads all around and a few minor electric issues dealt with ...3800.00.

[ProjectM96]

You paid for battery installation? And you paid $100+ in labor for that 3 minute job? Most shops install the battery for free and you just have to pay the typical $80 charge for the cost of an interstate battery and you get $10 back in core charge. And you paid them to drive your car. Wow! You even paid for wiper installation, which is an easy 30 second job.

Originally Posted by M1Ark

Just picked up car from dealer for it's 100k mile check up (99868 mi).

1. Two new keys and heads - $717 parts
2. Program both keys -$72.50 labor
3. Brake fluid flush - $130.50 labor $46.42 parts
4. Replace motor mount - $362.50 labor $212.58 parts
5. 4 wheel alignment - $325 labor
6. Clean rim barrels - $72.50 labor
7. Fix driver door latch switch - $362.50 labor $137 parts
8. New interstate battery - $101.50 labor $202.60 parts
9. Test drive my car to diagnose drivability issues - $101.50 labor
10. Oil change with wiper - $91 labor $139.90 parts
11. Transmission service - $464 labor $239.02 parts
12. Replace spark plugs - $145 labor $132.72 parts
13. Shop towels - $50
14. Serpentine belt - $0 still good.

Car drives great. I've had the car for 3 years and had changed the oil myself but otherwise no other service the last 40,000 miles.

This was a good reset for me and plan to do all the work myself from now on. $4k is a pretty steep service charge.

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

You paid for battery installation? And you paid $100+ in labor for that 3 minute job? Most shops install the battery for free and you just have to pay the typical $80 charge for the cost of an interstate battery and you get $10 back in core charge.

In this day and age of bean counters, there aren't a lot of freebies anymore. The bean counters probably charge for a full hr if a job takes less than an hr to complete. "Standard procedure." If a battery replacement is on the bill, the mechanic probably isn't allowed to install it for free. And you get the 1 hr charge for each 10 min job - no way to change the computer pgm to combine all the 10 min jobs.

And I didn't own my 01S long enough to replace the battery, but an Interstate battery for a 987 costs $175.

[heliguy]

Sop towels!!!!! LMAO. Surprised they didn't charge you for the KY when they bent you over!