Thread: D3/RRS Servicing Costs

Mine had a $7000 repair after using another brand of oil.
The repairer said that he had to repair another one at his own cost after not using the LR recommended oil.

Originally Posted by outbacktourer

At the risk of opening a can of worms, a few minutes of internet research reveals that the spec of oil ZF recommends for the ZF 6HP28 is TE ML 11. Castrol data sheet for Castrol Transmax M claims it meets standard ZF TE ML 11.

http://www.zf.com/na/content/media/u...28_Catalog.pdf

http://www.tds.castrol.com.au/pdf/9591_Transmax%20M.pdf

Am I missing something?

OBT

I am certain that the Castrol Oil meets and perhaps in some ways even exceeds TE ML 11. I note that the Castrol pdf clearly says Transmax M is "fully approved to the General Motors Dextron IID specification". I take this to mean that GM allows their dealers to purchase and fill GM transmissions with Transmax M and still honours any warranty concerns.

I also see the words Ford, and Allsion, but no approval words, just "meets the requirements", kind of words. To me, what is more significant is what is not said. Missing are words such as Audi, BMW, Jaguar and one other manufacturer of significance to us. That concerns me as I think that I am being warned.

I recall a few years back a fuss in the shops when GM came out with their new transmissions and imposed what were considered to be restrictive oil specs on the trannys. That fuss has died down as the restrictions are considered normal now and the shops have learned how to profit from the rules so all involved are happy, well, except the car owner.

The very real problem we face with Land Rover is that it is not a normal vehicle. Yes, it can be a mommy mobile and grocery hauler, but not many "cars" can also balance on one wheel, swim, race, camp, crawl, haul, and are commonly seen on TV conveying kings, queens, princes, and princesses, politicians, dictators, despots, slaves, conflict journalists, (and even Aussies), and still get you to work on time. Options include various grades of armour and in your choice of colour.

As such, this is not a normal transportation module and it would not surprise me that the OEM Land Rover tranny oil meeting TE ML 11 also contained a secret star dust additive - it is priced like it so....

It is said the engine is a Jaguar derived engine, and yes it is, but not the Jag engine one finds in a Jaguar. The engine is modified to accept unusual angles, hot and cold, high and low, race speeds, parade crawls, and yet, still act and sound like nothing special.

We all drive something very unique; this kind of flexibility may just require special products and attention.

Back to the original post - the local Ultratune will do the service for $307 including fluids with me providing the filters - about $120. As my car is over 3years old and has not had the brake fluid changed - this will be $79 with fluid.

He indicated that he has one other RRS as a regular client and seemed knowledgeable enough on what the requirements were. He knew what cheaper wipers and holders were required - part of the service.

I am weary of using someone like UltraTune but these guys seem knowlegeable of the service requirements so they will get a run and I will see what happens. About $500 for the entire job is much better than the dealers $900 - $1000 but there are risks.

He could not recall whether his computer equipment could reset the service indicator but did say he has used it on the RRS before to read and clear some codes but would not guarantee it can do all. So no promises there.

The car goes in next week.

Garry

I take it the main dealers aren't prepared to negotiate on price ? I've yet to have to use an indy to service mine, the main dealers here can usually be negotiated down to a level that makes them worth using when presented with the comparison costs. Last one mine had, 4 main dealers quoted £600+, indy wanted £350. Told my usual main dealer this, they came back with £399 all in so they got the job.

I'm assuming you've done this anyway, just wondered if the main dealers are in any way flexible.

Originally Posted by Mike_S

I 4 main dealers quoted £600+, indy wanted £350. Told my usual main dealer this, they came back with £399 all in so they got the job.

I'm assuming you've done this anyway, just wondered if the main dealers are in any way flexible.

You'll have fun with that view here.
Oz is the last bastion of no competition. I've had retailers tell me to
F.O. , rather than take a cut . That's right across the consumer/service
line in this place. Find an Indy . I save over 50% !

My advice is to use a reputable LR service agent / dealership. I have always had my vehicles serviced from the dealership that I brought them from.
I figure that if you can afford $90K or there abouts for a new set of wheels, you can afford the slight premium paid every 3 - 6 months for a piece of mind service.
Cheers, Craig

Originally Posted by Disco4SE

My advice is to use a reputable LR service agent / dealership. I have always had my vehicles serviced from the dealership that I brought them from.
I figure that if you can afford $90K or there abouts for a new set of wheels, you can afford the slight premium paid every 3 - 6 months for a piece of mind service.
Cheers, Craig

Sometimes I wonder about the quality of dealer service. Although I have never used dealers myself, I have twice bought Discos with full dealer service history, and in both cases there were numerous signs of "inexpert" or slack quality work. I have seen a cross-threaded bolt on a disc caliper, water in diff oil and practically non-existent brake pads on a vehicle newly returned from a service.

I have always used the one-man-band specialist private Land Rover mechanics. That way one avoids the risk of having the apprentice do the routine work on your vehicle while the head wrench does the more interesting work.

However, I am still undecided what to do when I get my new Disco 4 - my first ever new car. It seems there are regular factory updates for software etc and I presume the private mechanics will not necessarily have all that available.

Coupled to that is the issue of warranty work. How enthusiastic would a dealers workshop be to do warranty work if they have not been given the routine (high profit) regular servicing? Any thoughts anyone?

Cheers all,

Paul

I am quite fortunate here in that my dealer has a good crew of competent service people. I do not particularly enjoy the flat rate billing, or by the hour, whichever is more, the full priced parts, the various shop charges that appear extra to all, however my 3 continues to run quite well - starts in the -40C and seems to stay on the road and has not had to be hauled in yet - limped in on the stops, yes, but not yet towed in.

Their shop area has about 6 service bays with lifts and a wash bay; the showroom has space for one Jaguar and one Land Rover; the other 15 new ones park outside along with 20 or so used cars parked on the lawn, all either LR or Jag.

All in all, I suppose I am happy given that fixing them for the first time appears be a real challenge, and with a D4, everything will be for the first time as LR can at times create more problems than the ones they solve. Also it seems it they get something working, they the factory decide to "improve" it.

For the most part, Land Rover products are so technically ahead of the curve that everything is slightly different than a normal vehicle - just consider the tangles we get into here over battery charging or type of oil - nothing is straight forward.

I spent Friday watching the wedding of the century - yes, I saw a beautiful girl in a very nice wedding dress, but of greater interest was what followed the Queen, or the girl in the Rolls, or the parents in the Jag. In every procession, it was just a single Range Rover, either a Sport or the FFRR and a motor cycle leading. That was it, a single RR after every Roller. Maybe there is something special about the Land Rovers we drive and perhaps they do require special ongoing care by people with at least some practice.

After looking at the number of Rollers and horse drawn carriages coming out of the Royal Mews, that has got to be quite a shop - wonder what the flat rate is there? Also the guy and girl in the DB5 looked like they were enjoying the drive - but yes, I think unless you are fortunate to have access to an independent with the skills set of the Royal Mews, that maybe it is wise to keep the local dealer happy if he is good. You just may keep your rolling investment rolling.

The link is a Google view of my local LR dealer - certainly not a Mega Store.

17404 103 Avenue Edmonton, AB - Google Maps