Service Costs

[artman555 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close artman555]

Re: Service Costs

Hi Guys, Not sure if I am allowed to promote a service place but on the Gold Coast is L& J Automotive at Labrador. John is fantastic with 4x4's and Adam is ex Toyota service. Very friendly and very helpful. Whatever John tells you is the price you can gaurantee it real and fair. I used to take my cars to Toyota for servicing but not any more.They miss things the boys will pick up.
Cheers,
Artman555

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Re: Service Costs

Thanks for that Artman.

I am a bit hesitant about using other than Toyota purely from the warranty side of view.

I live close to Labrador so might drop in anyway.

[Palko Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Palko]

Re: Service Costs

Paid just over $1000 for an 80,000km service in Alice Springs. Phew!

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Service Costs

Prado went in today for it's 100k service.

Always been done at the local Toyota dealer..... never had a problem, and they have always looked after me.

Turned up this morning..... new young guy at the counter.....

He rings me about an hour later..... front brake pads are shot and disks need machining.... $397.

I said, hang on, you machined the disks just before Christmas (I had a brake shudder) are you sure?

He says, Oh... didn't know that, so don't wory about the machining, just new pads and 2 hours labour, about $250.

How bad are the pads? He says, don't know.... I said go ask the mechanic.... so he comes back and says the mechanic says 5,000 maybe 10,000 left if I'm careful. I said, it gets serviced every 5,000 so how about we have a look at the next service.

Picked it up this afternoon, only $558, which I was very happy with for a major service. (Service sheet says 20% front pads and 60% rear).

I just can't help but feel they were having a go at me....... how many people just say.... yeah 'go for it'

Kind of spoils my trust with them....... Am I being too harsh?

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Service Costs

Prado went in today for it's 100k service.

Always been done at the local Toyota dealer..... never had a problem, and they have always looked after me.

Turned up this morning..... new young guy at the counter.....

He rings me about an hour later..... front brake pads are shot and disks need machining.... $397.

I said, hang on, you machined the disks just before Christmas (I had a brake shudder) are you sure?

He says, Oh... didn't know that, so don't wory about the machining, just new pads and 2 hours labour, about $250.

How bad are the pads? He says, don't know.... I said go ask the mechanic.... so he comes back and says the mechanic says 5,000 maybe 10,000 left if I'm careful. I said, it gets serviced every 5,000 so how about we have a look at the next service.

Picked it up this afternoon, only $558, which I was very happy with for a major service. (Service sheet says 20% front pads and 60% rear).

I just can't help but feel they were having a go at me....... how many people just say.... yeah 'go for it'

Kind of spoils my trust with them....... Am I being too harsh?

Not at all Rob. Parts and servicing is a dealers cash cow. Telling a customer they need more is akin to "up sizing" or "up selling" (like, would you like fries with that?), well known retail tactic, however when dealers attempt it, it's just plain "gaining an advantage through deception" and fraud in my view. This is why I do as much myself and leave the complicated stuff for a trusted mechanic.

[johna Member Find all posts View Profile Close johna]

Re: Service Costs

Just on $1400-00 for combination 150,000 and 160,000 k services. Having all oil's changed, diff's, gearbox, transfer case, engine, all filters, valves checked (for the first time) coolant change, brake fluid change, Timing belt AND tensioner changed, ALL V'ee belts replaced, wheels balanced and rotated.

Then it has a DP Chip put in when I get it back......

[nozman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nozman]

Re: Service Costs

Signature035,

I have had a similar experience on the last two services. At my 70K service, i was told that the front pads would need changing at the next service. At the 80K service they said that the front and back pads needed doing. They did the back but didnt have the front pads in stock so i said i would get it done when they got the pads in. The said that i would be lucky to get another 5k out of the pads. Anyway, got a few quotes for new slotted front rotors and pads from ABS and booked her in to get them done. I dropped the car and in five minutes after leaving the service guy calls and says that the fron pads have 50% remaining and the back have about 80%. Needless to say, i will be having a word with the toyota service guys at the next service! As it would seem that there was no need for the front pads to be replaced and it may be that the back pads werent even replaced. Not impressed. :x

Nozman

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Re: Service Costs

Just a question,

Do these guys leave the old parts for you to check after they've replaced them?

[VeeZeeSS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VeeZeeSS]

Re: Service Costs

Just had the 40K service done today - $250 fixed price service

Asked them to replace the wiper blades while they had it for the day.

Got the invoice this afternoon and was charged $77.55 to replace the wiper rubbers !!! :x

How do they come up with these prices ???

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Service Costs

Just had the 40K service done today - $250 fixed price service

Asked them to replace the wiper blades while they had it for the day.

Got the invoice this afternoon and was charged $77.55 to replace the wiper rubbers !!! :x

How do they come up with these prices ???

I would have asked them politely( or maybe not) to remove them and replace your old ones and refund your money??

That is profiterring at it's best. :evil: :evil:

[Bear Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear]

Re: Service Costs

I feel a bit nervous about non-dealer servicing, but the following has been my experience to date.

Since coming off warranty, did the minor 70k service myself, had the 80k service done at Toyota (around $650 by memory - have to check records). Quoted $280 for the 90k service. When I queried this, Toyota dealer explained that in addition to changing oil, filter and greasing propeller shaft, they would do the following extras: Inspect ALL fluid levels (which of course takes me up to 1min each time I lift the bonnet) and, WAIT FOR IT they agreed to take it for a test drive ... You can't argue with THAT for value :wink: ! Anyway, I had the service done by a well respected local mechanic for $140. He has now just done the 100k service, $149. Getting a bit pricey Although for that he also checked the diff and gearbox for any evidence of water - we've been through some pretty deep creek crossings with all the recent rain. He also inspected all the underbody looking for a squeak I'd picked up from same water ... reckons he found a couple of possible candidates ... adjusted some of the plastic in the wheel arch, sprayed all moving parts, took it for test drive to make sure squeak was gone. Wonder if Toyota would have done that for $9 :?:

Reading through this thread also got me thinking again about the cost/benefit of diesel v petrol.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Re: Service Costs

Having just come from an 80 series, the servicing costs being mentioned here are nothing to complain about!

I spoke to my 4x4 mechanic when looking to change from the 80 to the 120, and he quoted me $350 for the 100k service (obviously brakes or any other wear and tear consumables would be extra, but the standard cost for the services is well down on the 80). I think my 100k service on the 80 - without anything other than the standard service being done - was $1400-1600. I was advised to expect my servicing costs to now be about a third of what they were.........

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Service Costs

Just had the 40K service done today - $250 fixed price service

We had our 40,000km service on Wednesday. The dealer warned my wife that this was a big service... no problems I told her - $180 service guarantee!

[OFFDAZE Banned Find all posts View Profile Close OFFDAZE]

Re: Service Costs

I know its alot of Money to spend on something you paid $60,000+ dollars for but you would pay more for a plumber or sparky to fix a $800 dishwasher or tv for half an hours work.......

[White Lightning Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close White Lightning]

Re: Service Costs

correct me if i'm wrong but the blokes/women on the service counter are paid a pittance retainer...they must do the upsell to customers to make a decent wage. Its just part of the caryard corruption game
I get my rig serviced at a toyota dealer reluctantly.... and guarranteed every time i get told that i need either
- wheel alignment
- power steering flush
- aircon service
- engine friction proofing...WTF (its apparently a $45 oil additive)
- Fuel treatment
- injector service, $240 to put some wynns shizen throught the system
- emissions kit...again wtf