So I was needing to get my oil changed, fill up on coolant and everything else. So I went to the dealership to get my oil changed because I dont really have the time lately. When I got the dealership the guy up front said the oil change including topping off all the fluids would be $35 including tax with all fluids topped off. I was low on coolant, a little low break fluid and had no windshield wiper fluid ether. They filled all these fluids up and they told me my cabin air filter and engine filter needed changing and they showed them to me. I told him I would replace these myself and he said ok and had the vehicle pulled around front. As I was paying for the service I asked about the air filter and cabin air filter and he said $25 for both and he would walk out to my vehicle and put them in at no charge.

So for a little over $60 my oil changed with oil filter, tires aired up, air filter, cabin air filter and all my fluids topped off. So for just an oil change with oil filter, tires aired up and all fluids topped off was $35 and for the air filter and cabin air filter it was a little over $60.

Gotta say for all this it was a great price. I think from now on I will just let Toyota do the work. lol.

This is somewhat odd. Especially for the air and cabin filter for only $25. I am not going to count the free "install" for those filter as its a 2 min job. But, the two filter themselves cost more than $25. The air filter alone should be $25


I don't get it

LOL I dont get it ether - umm you don't think that might be the reason for my post? C'mon. LMAO. I just could not believe what it costed. I have bought these parts myself previously before and never got them both for that price. I was very shocked but I wasn't about to argue with them. Again maybe a mistake on the guy at the dealership or whatever.

But again like I said I am not posting just to tell you my experience of getting an oil change, I am posting because of the price I paid. PLEASE read again if you need.

The reason is because they eliminated the labor completely from the lube techs, cut the oil change and tire rotation flat rate times to make oil changes cheaper and more competitive by basically working the lower guys more and paying them less. Or at least that's what they've done at our dealership.

There we go, there is the answer. I was just really shocked by the price.

I should clarify that they eliminated the labor of installing Wipers, Air Filters, and Cabin Air Filters. So basically even if the tech up sells any of those they basically get nothing out of it except wasting their time not getting paid to install them.

This is why I always get my oil changed at the dealership. It's only $35 and they check everything while they're at it. My dealership has an exceptional service department and always takes care of my family by applying discounts and the like.

It's nice to read a good post about dealerships. I know they are not all rip-offs and this may prove it if just a little. I wish I had a Toyota dealership in the town I live in...

That is an EXCELLENT price.

I was at the dealer a couple of days ago getting new wheel locks...and they had a "Special" on the cabin air filter. Normal price was $20 for the filter and $40 to install. That week only it was $50 for both. Oh what a deal!!!

I bought a Wix filter for $12 and took me 5 minutes to do it myself.

Not really sure the advantage of taking it to the dealer. For that price you are getting the same dopey guy you are getting at jiffy lube, and most dealers I have been to are not the most convenient to get in and out of. You are not likely to get an ASE certified tech doing your oil change at prices like that unless they are doing other work. I think people are under the impression that a dealership has some magical power over their vehicles, but I have never seen anything special about getting dealer service beyond warranty repair.

True, they are not all rip offs and put their customers first at some dealerships. Now when I lived on the east coast I had a local Toyota dealership that I would not even think about going too. They were always so rude, stuck up and pretended as if they were selling a damn Maybach or something. I went once for a bulb replacement and just the attitude and ugly personalities I never went back.

Now this dealership where I live now has gone an extra step each time and a couple examples listed below.

- Transmission fluid was leaking, they came out to the parking lot and crawled underneath and told me the issue. I came in the parts guy said they did not have the part but stated they could get have it by Monday since it was Friday. My issue was my transmission cooler lines had rusted holes and were leaking transmission fluid. I told them I couldnt wait that long and the parts guy and mechanic told me a work around that will work just as good and a long term fix. Plus the Toyota part would be $75 and not including taxes. They told me to go to my local parts store and get two break lines, four clamps and zip ties. They told me to use a pipe bender and carefully shape the brake lines to the bend of the transmission cooler lines. Next slip the rubber hoses over the new brake lines and use a clamp on each hose to secure the rubber hose on the nipple end of the brake line. Next after completing all four, I should zip tie the two brake lines to where the previous tansmission cooler lines were attached onto the frame. Check the level of the transmission fluid and fill up or drain and refill with clean transmission fluid. I chose the method of draining my transmission fluid and filling up with new transmission fluid. So in all the parts costed me under $20 and about $45 mins to replace. Saving me money and wait for the new part.

Another time was when I went in for the gas pedal issue. They told me my pedals and mats were fine but due to having to bring my car in and problem that they would give me $10 off my next service and plus offered to replace the floor mats with nicer mats if I would like. I asked what they had in stock and the guy comes out with TRD mats. They were not rubber but a really nice hard carpet kind and I accepted the new mats and using them still today.

When my center climate control knob lights went out I went to the dealership to buy new bulbs. They service guy jumped up and helped get the bulbs and once paid for he came outside and installed the new bulbs himself.

I noticed I had a lot of rust build up on the rear tailgate in the upper right hand corner. At this time my 4Runner was around 7 years old and the rust spot was getting worse. I went to my dealership to show them and prayed they could help me. Once I got to the dealership the front desk service guy came out to look and told me this was not acceptable for Toyota and this is what I wanted to hear. He pulled up on the car's history that a rust repair had been done on the rear tailgate and it was the same spot as before. He told me I should first start with the 1-800 Toyota number and so I did. They told me to contact the dealership who performed the service. I told them that dealership was where the car was originally from with the previous owner and it was over 800 miles away. So I went back to my Toyota dealer and told them what they were telling me. My dealership called the 1-800 Toyota number and talked to them for about an hour and came back with this news. They would cover the cost of the new rear gate and any parts within the gate that become rusted due to the rust spot and water/moisture over time BUT I would have to cover the labor cost. So this included paint, install, removing what was salvageable and everything. I think this costed around $500 something. I couldnt beat this ether.

And now my most recent experience.

Someone on here said they see no reason to go to the dealership other than warranty issues. And another person or maybe the same person said they are just the same as a Jiffy Lube or whatever. Well I honestly dont think they are the same as a Jiffy Lube but who knows. Plus if anything goes wrong or does not get done correctly I would rather argue with Toyota or my local Toyota dealership than a darn Jiffy Lube.

I doubt a little to what you say about them being similar to a Jiffy Lube. I consider Walmart to Jiffy Lube. lol

I do my own oil most of the time but did not have time too.

Never have nor will I ever let anyone else change my oil, filters or top fluids. I can do it for less and in the same amount of time or less and I don't have to waste time driving there. I want to get underneath to inspect things also.

For a minute there, I thought you were working at my dealership. I like having my lifts and all, but they're really strangling us.

people like you help spread that dealerships are always terrible.

There is some bad ones out there but its simple, don't go to those ones. The dealer i worked for is a good one, the techs are far from JiffyLube spec (but whatever helps you justify). I plan on taking mine to the dealership because frankly i don't want to do it myself and saving $10-15 isn't worth it for me to get dirty. Not to mention it shows up on my maintenance records, which helps resale and keeps track of whats been done. Which was a main reason i bought the 4runner i did. This one had dealer records, the other was maintained by a backyard shade tree like yourself. I trust the dealer far more than i trust a garage mechanic. Plus im not liable if something happens.

On second thought THANK YOU for not going to a dealership, i absolutely hated dealing with people like you.