Oil charge for Service

T

twofor1

Registered User
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I got a. complete service on a Yaris with a local non Toyota garage, air filter, oil + oil filter, gear oil, brake fluid, plugs not needed, check over for NCT (which it passed), focus lights, emission test, steam clean undercarriage and environmental charge. Total €288.93 inclusive of VAT, fair enough.

But looking at the invoice I’m being charged €66.40 inclusive of VAT for 4.5 litres of engine oil.

The oil charge seems excessive given I can buy 5 litres of good 10W40 in local motor factors for €25.

I have phoned twice and queried this, but am still awaiting a reply a week later.

Is there any reason to justify an oil charge of €66.40 for an eight year old Yaris?
 
They only take just over 3 litres of oil if i remember correctly.Thought it might be 5w30,might want to check that...what engine is it? Very important,as the VVTI engines give sludge problems if the incorrect oil is used and not changed frequently.
 
The oil charge is bananas. Had service done on wife's car in last six months and the oil change on 1.4 civic amounted to less than €30 inc vat from non dealer. This has to be queried big time!
 
Main stealers are a rip off

Full stop.

Some fully synthetic oils are expensive, I doubt if a yaris uses that oil though.

A mate got a shock on 130 bill for 7.5 litres of fully synth oil for chrysler 300c 3.0 diesel. That was with an decent independant garage.
 
The established mobile car servicing guys who call to your place (work or home) are well woreth considering. They service your car and furnish you with an itemised report of all that's been done and they are prepared to talk to you for a few minutes before leaving about any worries and concerns that you may have. They are worth their weight in gold and represent great value for money.
I have used them twice now and will do again. They service my car to my entire satisfaction and all for about one third of the main dealers cost.
It's just throwing away money to continue funding main dealerships. I'm afraid the ladies, in some cases are easy meat for the slick salesmanship that's allied to car servicing.
 
Frank said:
Main stealers are a rip off

Full stop.
Click to expand...

An baseless generalisation. I got a 1 year old car fully serviced by a main dealer for under €150 last March. Seemed like reasonable value to me.
 
RS2K said:
An baseless generalisation. I got a 1 year old car fully serviced by a main dealer for under €150 last March. Seemed like reasonable value to me.
Click to expand...

I don't think its baseless. One exception doesn't disprove it either. Any experience I've had with main dealers would agree with the generalisation. I've a far more pricing "mistakes" and unnecessary work attempted than in independents.
 
I love the way the dealers charge a Euro or so per 0.1 of a litre for oil which is presumably delivered in tankers

The only real reason for using main dealers is to preserve resale/trade-in value for a car and retain some potential goodwill if there is a problem outside of the warranty. Even then it's probably only worthwhile for premium brands. You can always get the brakes etc. done at independents.

It's not as if some independents don't know how to charge. I was quoted €650 for a timing belt change on an Audi at a main dealer. Both specialists in our area I spoke to wanted more than this for the same work.

For our "keep it till it breaks" car we use a local guy who is excellent and trustworthy. I tend to buy the parts myself so I've got an invoice if we do ever want to sell. If anything the car's over-serviced as it gets a new air filter etc. every year as the parts are so cheap.

SSE
 
I'd prefer to pay a specialist tbh. You never know who you get in a main dealer and often the work is sub par. In my experience.
 
aircobra19 said:
I don't think its baseless. One exception just disprove it either. Any experience I've had with main dealers would agree with the generalisation. I've a far more pricing "mistakes" and unnecessary work atempted than in independents.
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No interest in arguing but he/she said "All main stealers are a rip off. Full stop".

I illustrated my experience which shows this was incorrect.

It might be fairer to say "most main dealers are a rip off".
 
RS2K said:
No interest in arguing but he/she said "All main stealers are a rip off. Full stop".

I illustrated my experience which shows this was incorrect.

It might be fairer to say "most main dealers are a rip off".
Click to expand...

I think you are. But ok you win his comment can't possibly be true, if taken literally. But in saying that, if most dealers are a rip off, then there is a basis for the generalisation no? I was commenting on your post not his. IMO its not that useful to take a comment like "all dealers" literally, unless we were looking at a factual survey. I wouldn't anyway. Where and which was this main dealer? People have to shop around every time, and assume nothing.

People should make a distinction between, main dealers, independent garages and specialists. They are not one and the same and you'd have to expect a difference in costs accordingly.
 

I was in halfords yesterday and for 5 litres of oil cost from 30euros to 68 euros so I would ask what brand and grade of oil was used as good quality oil isn't cheap and sometimes is worth it in the long run.
 
The "same" oil can vary in price massively too.

The official longlife VAG oil - Castrol SLX - is about €15 per litre from a main dealer last time I asked. The equivalent specification - Valvoline I think - was €40 for 5l from a motor factors.

SSE
 
As another poster mentioned Oil can vary depending on quality and spec. For instance I serviced my own VW 130bhp tdi passat during the weekend with OEM parts, Oil filter, Air Filter, new sump plug (VW advise its changed) and Pollen filter.. 54euro for the parts. Oil VW 507.00 spec (extended service fully synthetic oil 20,000miles between services) 5 liters for 75euro. People might think im mad paying that much for oil but I intend on keeping the car for a few years yet and the car is actually more economical and runs smoother.

OP i would be checking the spec of oil and how much of it they put into the car. The owners handbook or the dealer can advise on what type the oil should be and the quantity the sump holds.
 
A Toyota dealer chain (Fitzpatricks) will do the following (major) service on a Yaris for €210 incl VAT. Car is washed/cleaned inside and out as well. Hardly a rip-off and they're not much different price-wise from other Toyota dealers..


  • ENGINE OIL
  • OIL FILTER
  • AIR FILTER
  • WINDSCREEN WASHER FLUID
INSPECT OR ADJUST:
  • BALLJOINTS - DUST COVERS
  • DRIVE SHAFTS
  • EXHAUST & MOUNTINGS
  • FRONT & REAR SUSPENSIONS
  • FUEL CAP & FUEL LINES
  • OIL & FLUID LEVELS
  • BRAKE PIPES & HOSES
  • BRAKE PADS & DISCS
  • BRAKE LININGS & DRUMS
  • BRAKE PEDAL & HANDBRAKE
  • ALL DRIVE BELTS
  • COOLING SYSTEM
  • IDLE SPEED
  • OIL & FLUID LEAKS
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • TYRES, CONDITION & PRESSURES
  • SEAT BELTS
  • BODYWORK, CORROSION
  • ROAD TEST & REPORT
ITEMS SUBJECT TO EXTRA CHARGE

  • POLLEN FILTER
    REPLACED EVERY 45,000 KM
  • SPARK PLUGS
 
I think the Servicing charge depends on the car/Dealer etc.

Fords for instance, are a lot less expensive to service, while VW/Jap etc are more expensive.

As I do a LOT of milage, I usually choose a ford duepartily to the lower service costs

Wise or not
 
I got a service done on my 1.5l Nissan Almera

The oil change (3L Semi Synthetic) amounted to €22.50 before VAT was added.

Big difference!
 
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