| 60,000 mile service - $$$$$$ - Click HERE for Original Thread |
| MBruce |
Took my '04 MO for the 60,000 mile service.
Initial estimated cost was ~ $600
After looking further into it cost shot up to over $1400
Additionals included:
-replacement of fan belt
-replacement of back brakes (pads)
-tire re-alignment.
I know some maintenance is actually done with the service but there are a whole lot of "inspections" and not actual repairs!
What is a reasonable cost for the 60,000 mi. service and was I over-charged? I actually complained and got the cost lowered to $1,155.00. |
|
|
| njjoe |
MBruce-
60,000-mile maintenence is a bunch of bull created by the dealerships to drum up business. There is no need to have any of the maintenence performed by the dealer. Your best bet is to take your MO to a reputable mechanic and have him change the fluids and give your car a once-over.
-njjoe |
|
|
| Eric L. |
Sounds like they are trying to sell you the "premium maintenance" schedule. Bring your owners manual to the dealership and have them do what the "maintenance schedule" on the back pages specify. If they find any new worn parts, such as belts and brakes, you can get that done too.
Avoid things like fuel injector cleaning, wheel rebalancing, and changing the "blinker fluid." ;) |
|
|
| Gonzo |
$1100 for belts, allignment and brakes.... way too much.
Local garage would do all that for $3-500 using Nissan parts!
You might also want to consider replacing coolant fluid, air filter and cabin filter and all though Njjoe will disagree I would also replace the CVT fluid. Also if you have an AWD MO have the dif/transfer fluids replaced. |
|
|
| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
$1100 for belts, allignment and brakes.... way too much.
Local garage would do all that for $3-500 using Nissan parts!
You might also want to consider replacing coolant fluid, air filter and cabin filter and all though Njjoe will disagree I would also replace the CVT fluid. Also if you have an AWD MO have the dif/transfer fluids replaced.
I also agree with the CVT and transfer/diff fluid service. |
|
|
| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
You might also want to consider replacing coolant fluid, air filter and cabin filter and all though Njjoe will disagree I would also replace the CVT fluid.
G-
:2:
For that much money they had better damn well replaced all of the fluids including the CVT fluid and the all important "blinker fluid". :p
-njjoe |
|
|
| nafddur |
Agree, $1100 is way too much for rear pads (should be OK at 60K miles unless you've been abusing the brakes), fan belt (which doesn't exist - unless you mean the 2 accessory belts which might have cracks and need replacement at 60K), and alignment ($60-$80 at tire/alignment places).
Of course, replacement of all the aforementioned fluids (if done) would be a worthwhile part of the $1100, but only a part of it. And all of those are questionably needed - but couldn't hurt - at only 60K.
And as mentioned in many other threads here, the air and cabin filters (IF those were done as well) take only a few minutes and cost only a few dollars to change for anyone who knows how to locate them (pretty simple). |
|
|
| Gonzo |
| I've got to add the "blinker fluid" to my auto maintenance log. That might explain why it has been working intermittently lately. :p |
|
|
| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
I've got to add the "blinker fluid" to my auto maintenance log. That might explain why it has been working intermittently lately. :p
Hey, my blinkers have been working intermittently as well! Damn things won't stay on! They just keep going on and off and on and off and on.... drives me NUTS! I'm going to have to look into blinker fluid as well. What brand do people recommend?
I found some here:
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?mai...2&products_id=6
:2: :2: :2: |
|
|
| Corin |
By the way, back to the real topic at hand...
I'm coming up on my 60k service, and I have no intention at all of going to the dealer. I'm going to CALL them and see what all they do for a 60k service, what the cost is, and then argue with them about why it costs so much and why they're doing extra stuff not in the recommended service from Nissan, but it's purely going to be an exercise for fun. I get sick pleasure of torturing the dealership.
I'm planning to then take their list of stuff they claim to do, and their price, and go to Greg's Japanese Auto, who has a good reputation around here and have worked on my cars before. I'm sure they'll do a little more than what is recommended, but will be half the cost of the dealer and I trust them to actually do the work properly.
Only catch is they might not be able to analyze the CVT fluid (which I would like to have done) and I'm sure they don't have that specific fluid on hand if it does need to be replaced (which I highly doubt).
There's no special fluid for the diff/transfer case, is there? While I doubt it's necessary, I'd like to replace that as well on my AWD, simply due to the fact that I think it needs special "babying" on this vehicle. |
|
|
| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Corin
I found some here:
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?mai...2&products_id=6
:2: :2: :2:
Corin-
That is an excellent site!!! Not only do they offer blinker fluid but they have "Elbow Grease" for $6.95, "clutch belts" for slipping transmissions, "A Round Tuit", "Adjustable Power Bands", left-handed screwdrivers, and "Seasonal Tire Air".
Those guys put a lot of imagination and creativity into that site. I will post the link in Mr3Putt's Heard a good one? thread.
-njjoe |
|
|
| rtking |
I just had my 60K done (early), but it was spendy at $850. The transmission flush and fill was $450 in itself, but well worth it as they found a leaking axle seal which they fixed under my extended warranty. They also replaced the radio (CD slot 6 didn't work) and the front struts under warranty. Had them flush the cooling system, brake fluid, and adjust the parking brake.
If you have the time to do this all yourself, it's definitely worth the savings. (I have a 2 year old at home, so my time is better spent with family than crawling under the car.)
I would say having the dealer replace the transmission fluid might be worthwhile in the context that if any leaks occur or transmission problems occur, they were the last to touch it and should be responsible for it. |
|
|
| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Corin
I get sick pleasure of torturing the dealership.
:2:
Corin-
You have made me laugh twice today. The first was when I saw your source for blinker fluid and now your view on dealing with dealerships. Excellent!!
-njjoe |
|
|
| charliedigital |
I recently was given the 60k service rundown. To me, it looked like $300 of actual work and parts and $500 worth of "inspecting things"
I recently replaced all my brakes and had a coolant flush. So all the dealer did at 60k was replace the belts for about $150.
Is a transmission flush recommended at 60k? I thought it was later. |
|
|
| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
:2:
Corin-
You have made me laugh twice today. The first was when I saw your source for blinker fluid and now your view on dealing with dealerships. Excellent!!
-njjoe
HA! Tell my wife. She doesn't always appreciate my demented sense of humor... :) |
|
|
| nafddur |
quote:
Originally posted by charliedigital
Is a transmission flush recommended at 60k? I thought it was later.
According to the FSM maintenance section, CVT fluid change is only recommended at 60K miles (or 48 months) if you are following maintenance Schedule 1 AND the Consult-II inspection shows the fluid needs to be changed. Schedule 1 is the more severe driving schedule, consisting of repeated short trips, stop-and-go hot weather operation, excessive idling and/or low speed driving for long distances, driving in dusty conditions, driving on rough, muddy or salt spread roads, or towing a trailer, using a camper or a car top carrier.
Additional `inspects' of the fluid (whatever THOSE are - I assume just level checks since the Consult test is first required at 60K) are also required at 15K miles (12 months), 30K (24), and 45K (36), when following schedule 1.
If the CVT fluid checks out OK, then repeat this Consult test in another 60K miles (at least this is the way I interpret the maintenance schedule instructions - they're not crystal clear, at least to me). I assume level checks are also to continue every 15K miles from 60K on as well.
If the Consult-II test isn't available (i.e. a dealer isn't doing the test, I'd guess), the FSM says to change the fluid after 60K miles IF schedule 1 is being followed.
Schedule 2 (all driving situations not spelled out in schedule 1) instructions for CVT fluid maintenance are even more vague. This schedule calls for an `inspect' every 15K. Since there is no mention of the Consult-II test any where when following schedule 2, this inspect apparently is only a level check. There is a disclaimer, however, in schedule 2 which states that use of any other fluid than Genuine Nissan CVT Fluid NS-2 will damage the CVT. But there is no change interval specified in schedule 2 at all.
My guess would be that regardless what maintenance schedule you are following, at around 60K miles the Consult-II analysis SHOULD be done to be on the safe side that (even if the level is OK) the fluid is still doing its job.
Inspection of the transfer and differential oil is also specified every 15K miles under BOTH maintenance schedules. Schedule 1 (severe use) calls for changing this oil EVERY 30K miles or 24 months. There is no change interval specified for the transfer case and diff gear oil under schedule 2 - just a level check.
Clear as mud, huh? Especially since everyone's driving schedule is different, I would say if there is any question, you should by default follow the more severe schedule (1). |
|
|
| MBruce |
Uggghhh...feels like a "kick in the crotch"
I would take my car somewhere else other than the dealership but I have the 100,000 mile +Plus extended warranty so if something happens, (which a lot has), I am up s@#$t creek.
I already had to get a brand new transmission put in 2 months ago along with all the stuff that goes with that so makes me even more p'd off. I clearly got ripped off. These 'advisors' have got to be getting bonuses...
About the belts, yes, it was some belt that was cracking. He showed it to me and the break pads which were almost 'metal-to-metal, Advisor said usually those should be changed at 30,000 milies if you are a typical Dallas driver...stop and go for 1 to 2 hrs daily.
Wish I had that 'torture pleasure gene' of Corin's for these cases... |
|
|
| rtking |
quote:
Originally posted by MBruce
clearly got ripped off. These 'advisors' have got to be getting bonuses...
Service advisors get a bonus off the sale and upsell that the bring to the "service deal." So it's in their best interest to try to sell you on every type of service they can (if they see you as a one-time customer.) I've been lucky in that my service advisor has given really good advice and hasn't tried to upsell me at all. |
|
|
| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by MBruce
I would take my car somewhere else other than the dealership but I have the 100,000 mile +Plus extended warranty so if something happens, (which a lot has), I am up s@#$t creek.
Regardless of whether or not you have an extended warranty, you do NOT have to take your car to a Nissan dealer for maintenence. You can have maintenence performed anywhere. Just keep the reciepts and maintain a good maintenence file.
-njjoe |
|
|
| MBruce |
This 'advisor' has seen me more than I've cared to, for all but one of the oil changes and 'problems' with my car in the past 2 years.
I was looking at the 6 page receipt from that 60 thousand service and even there it lists $386 for a new sun visor they had to order. It must be a misprint but makes me wonder about that receipt and if they even care.
Another thing I didn't mention is that I called another Nissan dealership and explained all these charges to him and he told me he would've done the same for less than $1000.00
I read a sign at a Kwik Kar recently about a law and non-dealership repairs not invalidating warranties. Can't remember what it's called.
...Magnusson something.
The only thing that worries me about going to a regular car mechanic is their level of knowledge and experience with CVT cars. |
|
|
| Eric L. |
The Magnussen Moss act just says that using aftermarket oem equivalent parts will not void your warranty. For example, if you used a FRAM filter instead of a nissan oem filter, they could not void your warranty because of it.
quote:
Originally posted by MBruce
This 'advisor' has seen me more than I've cared to, for all but one of the oil changes and 'problems' with my car in the past 2 years.
I was looking at the 6 page receipt from that 60 thousand service and even there it lists $386 for a new sun visor they had to order. It must be a misprint but makes me wonder about that receipt and if they even care.
Another thing I didn't mention is that I called another Nissan dealership and explained all these charges to him and he told me he would've done the same for less than $1000.00
I read a sign at a Kwik Kar recently about a law and non-dealership repairs not invalidating warranties. Can't remember what it's called.
...Magnusson something.
The only thing that worries me about going to a regular car mechanic is their level of knowledge and experience with CVT cars.
|
|
|
| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by MBruce
The only thing that worries me about going to a regular car mechanic is their level of knowledge and experience with CVT cars.
Interesting. The primary reason I REFUSE to go to a Nissan service center is their lack of experience and knowledge. Plus the fact that they're assholes.
But I don't trust the Jiffy-Lube people, either. I put them on the same level of incompetence as Nissan Service Managers, although they're a hell of a lot cheaper. |
|
|
|
|
