They must think I'm a tool....

[catch-22]

Calling around for service costs for a 100k service on an '03 D2 Td5 Auto and pricing ranged from 450 to 800.....$800 :eek::eek::eek:

Previously I had the car serviced at a well known (not dealer) service centre on the North Shore, however I was able to catch them out when they tried to charge me 100 bucks for applying grease to the wastegate rod. pfft, it's a 5 minute job at best. I don't go out of my way to catch them out but this one was ridiculous.

I've been a Land Rover owner now for 6 months and am amazed at what service centres are trying to get away with. The funniest part is that they can not justify the additional costs when asked. One service centre said they flushed the brake fluid and checked coolant levels....that was the additional $300 above and beyond dealer pricing. Please!

Nope, I have my Delvac and filters on order and will be doing it myself. Problem is I have an issue at the moment that is best diagnosed on a dyno.....think I will post a few more Q's on this tip top site and save a quid....

Rant over....

Caine

[Cap]

I think its great that you question them if it blatantly obvious they cant justify the cost. Im sure there are members here who can recommend someone in your area. Once you find a good, trustworthy mechanic then your laughing.

[DRanged]

Calling around for service costs for a 100k service on an '03 D2 Td5 Auto and pricing ranged from 450 to 800.....$800 :eek::eek::eek:

Previously I had the car serviced at a well known (not dealer) service centre on the North Shore, however I was able to catch them out when they tried to charge me 100 bucks for applying grease to the wastegate rod. pfft, it's a 5 minute job at best. I don't go out of my way to catch them out but this one was ridiculous.

I've been a Land Rover owner now for 6 months and am amazed at what service centres are trying to get away with. The funniest part is that they can not justify the additional costs when asked. One service centre said they flushed the brake fluid and checked coolant levels....that was the additional $300 above and beyond dealer pricing. Please!

Nope, I have my Delvac and filters on order and will be doing it myself. Problem is I have an issue at the moment that is best diagnosed on a dyno.....think I will post a few more Q's on this tip top site and save a quid....

Rant over....

Caine

Now you know how they can afford the rent of a workshop on the North Shore.

Just had our D2 TD5 100k service done $1150.00 but that included $600 in parts.

Hard to find an honest service agent these days I'm afraid.

Justin

[catch-22]

Justin,

What did they do for that money? did you get a breakdown. I mean, if it is something genuine, I don't have an issue paying but to grease some nipples (hold back you rude comments :cool:), dump some oil and tighten a few bolts/nuts...... even if they could describe what it is they are going to do I would consider it, but you don't even get that.

We service the Audi at a boutique place on the northern beaches and I couldn't be happier. He charges, sure, but I know exactly what I am getting and he even encourages you to stick around and watch..

[catch-22]

I was also told that I should change all diff and gear fluids despite highway only driving and the fact that they were changed 20k ago....

[DEFENDERZOOK]

I was also told that I should change all diff and gear fluids despite highway only driving and the fact that they were changed 20k ago....




if you are doing your own servicing........then you can afford to change all......and i mean ALL.....your oils and filters......
and still have a heap of change left over than if you were to go to a dealership.......

the main reason is....you will be saving around $100 an hour labour.......
then.....you will find the oils you use...even though you purchase them at retail prices....will cost you less than the same oils from the dealers......

they do have have rent to pay.....and wages......and they also need to make more profit today than they did yesterday.......
part of business......

[29dinosaur]

How about $960 for a 300tdi injector service clean and tune? Now that was a rip off. (No parts, no consumables etc - just the name of the business).

Where in southern parts of outer Sydney or Wollongong will one find a reliable and fair charging LR mechanic? (I'm not into doing much more than an oil change myself.... )

[DEFENDERZOOK]

an injector service is a different story......


for servicing......that is changing oils and filters.....you should be able to do all that yourself......the saving on just servicing
will be heaps.......then you can afford to pay someone to do all the harder stuff......and still come out ahead.....

[chunk]

How about $960 for a 300tdi injector service clean and tune? Now that was a rip off. (No parts, no consumables etc - just the name of the business).

Where in southern parts of outer Sydney or Wollongong will one find a reliable and fair charging LR mechanic? (I'm not into doing much more than an oil change myself.... )


Most mechanics around Wollongong will work on Land Rovers, they don't like them but they will work on them. I use Mr Fix It in Fairy Meadow, you could also try South Coast FWD at North Wollongong. Don't go to the stealer as they have no idea.

If I have any major work that needs special Land Rover tools I go to Graham Coopers in Sydney, while not cheap I have found them very reliable and honest.

Hope this helps.

[justinc]

Caine,

We work on several 03 Td5 Discos, and our 100K service for these is classed as a 'medium' service. This is because we flush brake fluid at 20k intervals, and altogether with 8 litres of synthetic 5w40 oil, both filters, and about a MAX of 1.5hrs you are up to about $300 to $350.

A 80K service on a Td5 D2 auto is a Major, and consists of all oils changed, coolant flush, auto trans filter etc renewed, fuel filter replaced and if it requires and air filter element it comes in at around $950.

(Note, If you have ACE, an ACE system service, filter and flush can be up to $150 to $200, and can only be done proberly using testbook or similar. This can be done at 100k, but we usually wait until 120k unless system oil looks oxidised at the 100k mark.)

I could easily see $1150 for a 100K IF the 80k wasn't done, and you require an ACE service, but otherwise tell'em they're dreaming!


JC

[DEFENDERZOOK]

what would you say if i told you i was quoted $800 for my first service......?


no....not the aftersales service......the first service......and thats if it didnt need anything.....like wipers etc.......



needless to say......its never been serviced by anyone other than myself........
with the exception of the aftersales......that was included in the purchase price.....

but i think they only check the levels on that......

[catch-22]

Thanks JC and dzook...

brake fluid every 20,000k....is that unique to Land Rover?

[DEFENDERZOOK]

thats only once a year........

it will protect your brake system by flushing out the old stuff as brake fluid is hydroscopic.......
it absorbs water........so it lowers its boiling point.....which affects your safety.....
and the moisture corrodes the brake system internals.....



most books will say every 2 years.......
but then again.....they also say to change the oil every 20,000kms.........

[catch-22]

ahh yeh ok...

I guess I used to change my track cars fluid after every meet....so yeah, changing it for a car every year makes sense..

[DEFENDERZOOK]

i change my engine oils at 5,000kms......

[rick130]

i change my engine oils at 5,000kms......

:eek: and how long does it take to do those 5,000km Zook ?
Do you only do short trips ?
if it's 5000km a month, can I have the waste oil
It'd be good for another 10,000 in the Tdi :p

[rick130]

ahh yeh ok...

I guess I used to change my track cars fluid after every meet....so yeah, changing it for a car every year makes sense..

used to do the same thing, but stretch the road cars out to two to three years.

[MickG]

I change my diff oils approx every 7000ks although my truck only does about 10,000 a year now.

[Bigbjorn]

A friend's son recently had a major service on his popular small car performed by the selling ( and major) dealer. One of the items to be performed, and was checked off as being done, was remove, cleann, repack andadjust front wheel bearings. Less than 2 weeks later he had a screeching sound from a front wheel. A brake pad was worn down to the metal backing plate and the others almost so. Now one has to remove the brake caliper to perform the wheel bearing service and obviously this was not done, or was done by a blind man. He had called the RACQ road service who diagnosed the problem and called a tow truck. He later had the vehicle towed to the RACQ technical centre for a full inspection, cost around $150. Their opinion was that quite a number of the service items were not performed. He was also told by the RACQ inspector that in his opinion, this is common practice. Only after writing to the manufacturer's service office and threatening to publicise the matter did he get any satisfaction. A Disc and new pads supplied by the manufacturer and begrudgingly fitted by the dealer, who at first wanted to be paid to do this. The deaker at all times refused to acknowledge any incompetence or short cutting.

[digger]

I used a mob called SOVEREIGN AUTO, they specialise in jags and land/range rovers etc. for my tdi

A service went from (65,000k when we bought it....$930!!!!! at land rover dealer/service place......nearly pooped a brick!) to only 1 service getting that range again and it was at 87,000 after a fairly big trip and included steering box leak being repaired!

Their bills are itemised and best of all YOU CAN TALK TO EM AND THEY LISTEN AND ANSWER LOGICALLY!!!(TeeDah!)

Even when I was 980k north Id bring mine back to them for services...and just moved from 600k north last 4 years and was still taking there until I sold the ol girl..(sniff sniff).
also theyd add comments on bottom of bill, things like "R/F BRAKES PROABABLY ONLY GOOD FOR 5,000 K" or "BATTERY 2 (under seat batteries) HAS MINOR SWELLING ON NEG END -APPEARS OPERATING OK BUT SHOULD BE MONITORED" and "NEXT SERVICE INCLUDES ..........." Stuff like that is a good confidence builder in your mechanic.... any major work or things you may want done, theyll ring and ask first, not pushy or anything but "battery has little swelling do you want it replaced?, its probably OK but keep eye on it" they're good!


One of the mechanics at Soverign drives an old blue series 2a, he was born and raised in Malta and did his mechanic apprenticeship with the RAF base there mainly on landrovers. He sweated off on this one and bought it when it came available, he sold most of his furniture when he moved to OZ so that his landy could come with him!

Its a beaut!.

anyway, SOVERIGN AUTOS, they impressed the hell outta me for 6 years!

digger

[procrastination inc]

02 forester at 200,000 was $1801.50

stop sooking

[PhilipA]

And I thought an Inspection 1 for my E36 M3 was expensive at $1000, effectively for an oil change.
Regard Philip A

[DEFENDERZOOK]

:eek: and how long does it take to do those 5,000km Zook ?
Do you only do short trips ?
if it's 5000km a month, can I have the waste oil
It'd be good for another 10,000 in the Tdi :p



i only manage average kms now.......20000kms per year......

but ive been doing oil and filters at around every 5,000 ever since i bought it back in '03........

the oil comes out black even at these kms.......and it wont suit yours.......mine takes a 5 grade oil......
it is too thin for your engine.......

but its yours if you want it.........saves me having to get rid of it......

[Bulldog]

I think its great that you question them if it blatantly obvious they cant justify the cost. Im sure there are members here who can recommend someone in your area. Once you find a good, trustworthy mechanic then your laughing.

I gave up on my (won't mention the name) LR mechanic's (more than one). Tried one recommended by this site (and i'm sure they had a great experience) and regretted it: paid $650 for them to "solve" a misfiring problem. Got a set of plugs and a dissy cap for that. I told him what i thought the problem might be, he (quietly) agreed.

I now do ALL my own servicing on the RRC and ALL repairs, no matter how big. I'm considering doing the same on my late model day-to-day car.... I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination!