30K maintenance, seems outrageous

RebelRunner

RebelRunner

New member
Took my truck in yesterday and dealership told me that i need the 30k maintenance. I asked how much and they told me $1133.65 :jaw:. This guy has lost his F*$K*#G mind, i told him no way in hell. Asked him to print out an itemized list and start writing prices down.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this at 30k. I've seen older threads where people are complaining about prices around 400 bucks but the price i recevied almost triples that.

Only offroading is logging trails once in a blue moon, and I don't tow anything. I got the items in blue and all the no charge services. The transfer case/front and rear differential oil services are only listed in the maintenance log under 'special operating conditions'. Anyone think it would be a good idea to get any of the items i declined? I believe i got all the items listed in the maintenange guide for normal 30k service.

- Replace engine oil / filter (59.95)
- reset oil reminger light (No Charge)
- rotate tires, inspect, etc.. (19.99)
- multi point inspection (No Charge)
- engine air filter (29.95) - told them i would do this
- cabin air filter (49.95) - told them i would do this
- test battery (No Charge)
- re-torque drive shaft bolts (No Charge)
- lubricate propeller shaft (No Charge)
- wheel alignment (99.95) - Told them No, i do not need
- lubricate drive shaft busshings (No Charge)
- install windshield washer solvent (No Charge)
- check floor mats (No Charge)
- add balance to tire rotation
- Synthetic rear differential fluid exchange service, limited slip extra (129.95) - Told them No
- front or rear differential fluid exchange service (129.95) - Told them No
- transfer case fluid exchange service (129.95) - Told them No
- premium engine oil and fuel conditioner (21.95)
- install ethanol treatment (20)
- perform fuel/air induction (159.99) - Told them No
- non hybrid - bg a/c quick tune - Told them No
- upgrade to engine performance restoration service (59.95)
 
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birdmann said:
Sounds like you should never go back to that dealership for anything.
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I've been using this dealership for the past 8 years and have been happy until yesterday. Maybe I'll send something to the Manager. The guy kept pushing saying it was the best thing for longevity of all the parts on the truck. First time i've ever seen this guy working there as well.
 
premium engine oil and fuel conditioner (21.95)
install ethanol treatment (20)
perform fuel/air induction (159.99)
upgrade to engine performance restoration service (59.95)

Do we even know what the heck these things are? Looks to me like they just pile on everything they can possibly think of. Did you buy the Toyota air filters for engine and cabin? How did that compare to their "installed" price?
 
I have found in my experience these XX,000 miles maintenance things are just easy money makers for the dealerships. A lot of people have no clue about cars and just throw this stuff to the dealer to take care of. Not faulting the dealer either because technically, they are correct, and they do exist to maintain the car in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.

While the dealer may be technically correct on what needs to be done, in reality I find a lot of those things are not needed and/or are exaggerated in the need to do it at this many miles, or can easily be done by by the car owner.
 
NMJack said:
premium engine oil and fuel conditioner (21.95)
install ethanol treatment (20)
perform fuel/air induction (159.99)
upgrade to engine performance restoration service (59.95)

Do we even know what the heck these things are? Looks to me like they just pile on everything they can possibly think of. Did you buy the Toyota air filters for engine and cabin? How did that compare to their "installed" price?
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Well, i said i would buy the filters and take the 2 mins to install myself, but when the truck was finished the service manager said that they checked the filters and they looked clean. He said you can probably wait till next time. So that was 80 something bucks right there he wanted to sell originally that was not needed.
 
I had the same sticker shock on my FJ and declined it all. Went back a month later and quizzed them on how individual items may be grouped to save money. For example, a 4WD Driveline Service includes front diff, rear diff and transfer case oil changes all full synthetic for about $79.

If you price these things out separately or coded differently, at the same dealer, it will be substantially less money.
 
The factory recommended maintenance list is a lot shorter than the dealer's.

It's on the computer so people give it credibility.
 
I received a standard email from the service deparmtent. They thanked me for my business and indicated my satisfaction with my service experience is important to them. So I will reply to this guy and see how they handle it.
 
:loco: that's absurd. maybe more absurd is the fact that some customers will actually accept it wholesale and pay tippity-top dollar for some pretty sketchy "scheduled maintenance" services. :frisky:

not all dealers are bad; there are some really good ones. but this kind of rapacious profiteering is why dealers have such a bad reputation—they've earned it.
 
I drove a 1991 Toyota Celica for 300,000 miles and the only thing I ever changed was oil. That's it. No tranny fluid, brake fluid, nothing else.

I've driven several Honda Civics well over 200,000 miles and the same applies. Oil is the most important fluid to keep your car running a long time.

The dealers are told to sell as much as they can to ignorant customers that don't know any better. They're all rip-offs. I'll never, ever take any car of mine to a dealer for service. Never have, never will.


When my Audi S4 was due for it's 15,000 maintenance, they quoted me a ridiculous amount like they did to you. I laughed at them and did it myself.
 
You mentioned having done business at this dealership for the past 8 yrs. and now this.

I would wonder what changes in mgt. have occurred for this to happen.

A local Toyota dealership in my area once ran a fairly straight line; then out of the blue, started pitching a $200 power steering system flush every 30K.
Seems a lot of new faces were to be seen about the time this happened.

I'd find a new dealership.
 
RebelRunner said:
"...The guy kept pushing saying it was the best thing for longevity of all the parts on the truck. First time i've ever seen this guy working there as well."
Click to expand...

Hi Rebel,

I used to work in the 'Auto retail' industry as an auto technician, and what was done to you is known as "Bill racking"! These techs are likely working on a 'commission incentive' which provides the motivation for them to find work for themselves for profit. They'll either earn a weekly or monthly bonus check after a minimum invoice is reached e.g., $750 to $1,000 dollars in sales per day or $5,000/week. We had to reach the predetermined minimum or receive nothing as bonus; just bare meager salary to take home... and a poor reputation w/staff and colleagues.

So there's no limit to how much money an ambitious, highly motivated technician can earn, BUT, if there is a slow day, where the shop can't schedule enough appointments (due to weather... etc), the mechanic's minimum intake is threatened, and so he has to make up for that slow day; hence the practice of... 'Bill Racking'! After seeing your estimate I know that, that list is full of un-necessary 'add-ons'; it's all over the place so I suspect some "racking" is being done here so BEWARE! "Find another shop!" rgds,

rigtec, cheers
 
in my expereince all dealerships are out to scam you out of as much money, all the time, everyday, in every transaction possible. this doesn't surprise me one bit. an aquaintance of mine who went to the dealer with his 2010 rav4 once the brakes starting squealing got hit with a bill for 3400 including replacing various "broken" suspension components, "un seizing" calipers all around (140.00) each wheel, and brake line "flushing" and "conditioning" (149.00) per wheel. i told them to go back there and take a dump on the counter.
 
rigtec said:
Hi Rebel,

I used to work in the 'Auto retail' industry as an auto technician, and what was done to you is known as "Bill racking"! These techs are likely working on a 'commission incentive' which provides the motivation for them to find work for themselves for profit. They'll either earn a weekly or monthly bonus check after a minimum invoice is reached e.g., $750 to $1,000 dollars in sales per day or $5,000/week. We had to reach the predetermined minimum or receive nothing as bonus; just bare meager salary to take home... and a poor reputation w/staff and colleagues.

So there's no limit to how much money an ambitious, highly motivated technician can earn, BUT, if there is a slow day, where the shop can't schedule enough appointments (due to weather... etc), the mechanic's minimum intake is threatened, and so he has to make up for that slow day; hence the practice of... 'Bill Racking'! After seeing your estimate I know that, that list is full of un-necessary 'add-ons'; it's all over the place so I suspect some "racking" is being done here so BEWARE! "Find another shop!" rgds,

rigtec, cheers
Click to expand...

Not that I am disagreeing with you, but I haven't heard of many dealerships giving techs bonuses. At least not in my area. Our dealership is owned by Autonation and all our service writers are on commission as well as pressured to sell these XX,000mi service packages left and right.

I personally try not to sell anything I wouldn't do on my own vehicle in regards to preventative maintenance and repairs. But the OPs list is ridiculous and feels inline from what I see a lot of dealerships moving towards.
 
I had the same kind of BS list handed to me when I was there.

I asked them what is "factory recommended" and they said "all of it was."

I dug out the manual and told them to do what it said--and told them that I would change the damn filters myself.

They changed the engine and air filters for less than 25 bucks with no labor, even though I said not to and managed to get a shit ton of leaves into my HVAC fan.
 
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