I hate it when car mechanics try to upsell me

[Captante]

Dealerships make substantially more $ on "service" than on sales most of the time .... what more do you really need to know?

 

[NutBucket]

An indy won't much (if any) cheaper...

I have a trusted indy for alignments/tires. I asked what they charge for a brake job...$520 per axle. Yeah, that's a big no even if you use retail priced OEM parts.

 

[Captante]

An indy won't much (if any) cheaper...

I have a trusted indy for alignments/tires. I asked what they charge for a brake job...$520 per axle. Yeah, that's a big no even if you use retail priced OEM parts.

So.... should I be checking my Paypal for the "bridge" payment?

Seriously if that's your "special deal" for brakes on a Honda single-axle repair you REALLY need to find a new mechanic stat.

That's the "bend me over" special! (sorry)

 

[NutBucket]

Price for alignments is fine (and I know it is done right). I haven't had them do any actual work on my cars.

 

[nakedfrog]

I've sworn that I'm done doing my own brakes... but if I get quoted $520 for a single axle, I'm breaking that oath.

 

[NutBucket]

The dealer "special" is something like $220.

Depending on your car, $520 could be a deal

Also don't forget this is SoCal so everything is pricier.

 

[Captante]

$520 for two wheel brakes is about $100 more than my ex wifes '21 Volvo SUV cost a few months back! (and that thing will really set you back for repairs!)



I had all 4 wheels done on my 2012 Fit in summer '22 including new rotors, calipers and drums for about $360 out the door at my actually trustworthy mechanic. (and this is in Connecticut where stuff is pricy too)

 

[NutBucket]

Shit, you can barely get parts for that price!

 

[Captante]

Shit, you can barely get parts for that price!

My Google-Fu is strong.

Additionally my guy only charges based on work he actually does not "the book rate"... not by coincidence he also usually has a long wait-list!

 

[NutBucket]

Bah, maybe it's back to being a parking lot mechanic LOL

 

[Captante]

I do most simple stuff myself but i'm capable of doing slightly more complex jobs like brakes or a minor tune-up too if required.



However I draw the line at anything that requires more than a jack-stand lift to get done, involves potentially dangerous suspension-work or that calls for specialized and often expensive tools.

 

[NutBucket]

Eh, right now it's a matter of practicality vs. ability. I'll basically "do anything"...suspension, timing belts, etc.

 

[JEDI]

So when the service writer called to tell me I should change my cabin air filter, I politely declined and said I would buy on and replace it myself. He offered to get it for me, add it to the invoice and leave it in the car.
When I picked up the car he said oh, we just installed it no charge.

are you sure they changed it?

 

[JEDI]

"Lifetime" transmission fluid ROTFL.

Translation: "Appealing to stupid people who don't understand anything mechanical by claiming lower maintenance costs as a selling-point AND at the same time saving a few $ per vehicle by leaving out a drain-plug and changeable filter"

Sure it's "lifetime" herp-derp .... when the fluid is worn out but you can't change it (or add more) then your tranny blows, it will have reached it's "lifetime" lolol.

THIS level of "knowledge" is why mechanics rip people off all the time.

um.. my mazda3 is lifetime trans oil

 

[Captante]

um.. my mazda3 is lifetime trans oil

Just keep telling yourself that !

Seriously don't worry a whole lot till you hit 80k or so, but by that point even the "forever" (lol) tranny-oil will be significantly degraded.

 

[JEDI]

EDIT: NOW if you want to discuss paying a mechanic to do the pure nightmare-fuel job of replacing a headlight on my daughters Outback that's a different conversation entirely! (it's done through the dang wheel-well wtf !!!)

headlight bulb for my mazda3: $8 @ walmart
same bulb at advanced auto $15

 

[Captante]

Rock Auto (where mechanics buy parts)

I believe they also sell through flea-bay.... Walmart is cheap if they happen to have what you need.

 

[pete6032]

Nevermind.

 

[NutBucket]

are you sure they changed it?

Yes, I checked!

 

[repoman0]

I’m usually the one upselling my mechanic. Most recently I dropped off my E39 with a trunk filled with every suspension and driveline bushing and mount, shocks and struts, clutch and flywheel and associated odds and ends, diff and transmission seals and fluid and asked him to go to town. Luckily he charges actual time and not book time.

 

[scorpmatt]

My 2012 Fit has more "conventional" headlights that mount in a mostly NON-retarded way at the rear of the light-enclosure thank goodness. (although they were clearly designed for smaller hands than mine!)

That Outback isn't the worst headlight replacement design I've ever seen, that "honor" goes to the 2010's Lincoln MKS which requires the ENTIRE front-end (grill and bumper) to be disassembled! ($500+ for two low-beams!)

Conversely my old 2003 Outback (which I still miss!) not only had about the easiest headlights to change in any car I've owned, they were very cheap to buy and there was PLENTY of room for normal size man-hands to do the job.

easiest cars I owned to change headlights in were my 83 and 85 Celica Supras. Turn on headlights so they would raise up, remove 4 screws for the surround, remove the surround, remove 4 for the light container, pull out sealed headlamp and unplug. Install is exact reverse steps. If you had issues with your headlamp relays you would have to pop the hood and manually adjust them up which could take a few minutes. but with the head light buckets up light exchange was simple.

 

[Captante]

easiest cars I owned to change headlights in were my 83 and 85 Celica Supras. Turn on headlights so they would raise up, remove 4 screws for the surround, remove the surround, remove 4 for the light container, pull out sealed headlamp and unplug. Install is exact reverse steps. If you had issues with your headlamp relays you would have to pop the hood and manually adjust them up which could take a few minutes. but with the head light buckets up light exchange was simple.

That's not "easy" .... "easy" is opening the hood, popping off a wire and twisting a big plastic knob. (two separate ones for high/low) Changing a headlight took at most 30 seconds with zero tools needed on the '03 Outback.



Those bastages @ Subaru made the headlights on newer models a royal PITA to service at home intentionally in order to try to force you back to the dealership for service. (where most dealers make a ton of profit!)

 

[Captante]

My Subaru manual says change the CVT fluid every 25,000 miles.

On the one hand it's great that Subaru is honest about it and provides a service interval (plus a drain plug lol... fancy!) for transmission-fluid but only 25k between changes is a bit rough.

Out of curiosity what year and model?

 

[NutBucket]

The 25k interval surprises me. Pretty sure our '15 Forester had no interval listed...not sure about our Ascent. But definitely not going past 40k.

 

[pete6032]

On the one hand it's great that Subaru is honest about it and provides a service interval (plus a drain plug lol... fancy!) for transmission-fluid but only 25k between changes is a bit rough.

Out of curiosity what year and model?

The 25k interval surprises me. Pretty sure our '15 Forester had no interval listed...not sure about our Ascent. But definitely not going past 40k.

Never mind. I looked again and it just says "inspect" fluid every 25,000 miles. There is actually no replacement recommendation.

There may be a recommendation to do it under severe driving conditions but I can only find the normal conditions maintenance intervals.