Dealership Pricing Bunk

[CapitalTruck]

So, I went to the local dealership for an oil change. This is the first time I've paid somebody to change the oil, I've always done it myself but it's just too cold and I'm going on a trip tomorrow and it had to be done. I use synthetic so the local dealer charged me 78 bucks. Honestly, I didn't think that was too bad for a synthetic oil change. I would expect it to be about twice what I pay when I do it myself.

 

While it was there I decided to have them change the tranny fluid and filter. I do it every 25-30k and it's time. They quoted me $340.00! I couldn't believe that crap man! I said "No thank you"

 

I called the dealer where I bought it and where I had brought it in the past (closer to my home as opposed to work where I was today). They still charge $109.00 plus tax for the pan and filter service, that's about what I paid there last time. I called the service manager of the place that tried to charge $340.00 just to tell him that he was crazy. He said "the writer must have over-quoted you by accident, it's normally $240.00 However, I can do it for you for $200.00" Man, no way I would take my business to a place like this again! That was going to be 140 bucks of just pure gravy man (not to mention the $200.00 was still more than I normally pay at the other dealership)! Imagine that, $340.00 for a pan and filter job!

 

That's the only maintenance service I go to the dealership for, everything else I do myself. I guess I should just do this one myself also. Though honestly, $109.00 +tax isn't bad at all for pan and filter.

 

The moral to the story: Some places will do anything they can to make you bend over.

[huero626]

Yeah, the dealerships are notorious for ripping people off on everything. Only work I would have done at a dealership would be warranty work other than that I would take the truck somewhere else or do the work myself.

[Nytemare]

I only paid 500 and change to do a full flush, filter and fill with synthetic...and its royal purple...

 

340 bucks...They must be putting gold plated pans on.

Friggin filter kit is 20 bucks at most and 4 quarts of fluid is about 12 bucks a quart...thats 68....than half an hour or 3/4 of an hour labor....thats about the 109 you usually pay...

 

They must have quoted you for a flush and fill...thats the only way I can think it would cost that much...most of those PM routines are pre-priced from Corporate GM.

 

That's friggin robbery.

[Neutron]

I took my truck to the dealership for oil changes and tire rotations for the first 36k miles only because of warranty and I had the prepaid maintenance plan. Now I have my bro-in-law do it since he's a mechanic.

 

He's installing the Vette servo for me and will do the trans fluid/filter change for me at the same time.

[Vortec-Z71]

I know that there have been a ton of threads on this but what are the two options for replacing transmission fluid? What are reasonable costs for each?

[Nytemare]

I know that there have been a ton of threads on this but what are the two options for replacing transmission fluid? What are reasonable costs for each?

Full flush...they pump new fluid in and old fluid out through the cooling lines. they also drop the pan and replace the filter at the same time.

Your looking at 15 quarts of fluid for a 4L60E and a new filter kit...plus about 2 hrs of labor. I paid over 500 for that service...but I replaced the fluid with synthetic. If you go with conventional fluid...I would say 375-400 would be a good price.

 

The second is just dropping the pan and replacing the filter. This requires about 4 quarts of fluid a new filter and less than an hour of labor.

[uh6tdrvr]

I wouldnt, that is absolutly TOO HIGH!

[Nytemare]

I wouldnt, that is absolutly TOO HIGH!

yeah...like I said...they may have misquoted him giving him the price of a flush and not a pan service...I'm almost certain those prices are Corporate set.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Isn't the factory tranny fluid already a Synthetic type?

[TexasAl]

You are absolutely right. Some dealers and shops are just waiting for a sucker to fall for the bait. A co-worker of mine took her truck to her dealer for an oil change before leaving for the holidays, and they told her that her brakes where bad, and that should not take the truck like that. This is a 2008 F-150 with 38,000 miles (mostly long trips). I hear see her drive in and leave from work everyday, and I've never heard anything wrong with her brakes. They charged her $1000 for a brake job. She said they had to do both front and back. Buying the pads and rotors for all four wheels would have been less than $200 at any autoparts store. I would bet money that she didn't need to replace everything. Regardless, this is such bullshit. I'm all for making a buck, but this is ridiculous.

[usmc3529]

you dont need to change your trans filter and gasket until atleast 100k. The current trans flush machines clean and fill 100% of the entire tranny and lines. Especially if you use the cleaning kit(ie bg 3 part etc). Just had mine done at the gm dealership at 50k. It was 129.99. Ill do mine again at 100k and at that time change the filter. Never had any issues and I haul a large enclosed trailer every weekend to the races/practices. The fluids used in the vehicles now are ALOT better than a few years ago and are able to last longer.

[truckofwinandawesome]

You are absolutely right. Some dealers and shops are just waiting for a sucker to fall for the bait. A co-worker of mine took her truck to her dealer for an oil change before leaving for the holidays, and they told her that her brakes where bad, and that should not take the truck like that. This is a 2008 F-150 with 38,000 miles (mostly long trips). I hear see her drive in and leave from work everyday, and I've never heard anything wrong with her brakes. They charged her $1000 for a brake job. She said they had to do both front and back. Buying the pads and rotors for all four wheels would have been less than $200 at any autoparts store. I would bet money that she didn't need to replace everything. Regardless, this is such bullshit. I'm all for making a buck, but this is ridiculous.

 

GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY! a THOUSAND Clams for BRAKES!?! Hopefully when we take Our truck in for its first service, Alexander Chevy won't overcharge us or screw us over.