30K Service - Question
 

I'm due for my 30k service but looking at what needs to be done I'm curious if anyone else has gone a-la-carte. Let me explain.

Among other things the 30k is a tire rotation, oil change, brake flush, tranny & diff fluid change, PCV, and I believe air filter. Well, I'm modded and like many I've done some of these myself already. For example:

Tire rotation: my track tires on on there now, really don't need to be rotated.
Oil Change: OK, needs it, go ahead
Brake Flush: I bled mine about 1.5k ago and changed the fluid for DOT4 while prepping for a track day. Really doesn't need a change.
Tranny/Diff: Swapped for motul about 20k ago - likely needs a change but rather not go back to stock fluid.
Air Filter Change: I have a drop in K&N that I cleaned maybe 500 miles ago. Don't want/need another OEM filter

Question is can I get "credit" on the service record for doing the 30K service and ask them to simply not do some of it? Deal gave me a price of around $600 for the whole thing which seems crazy considering I might not need/want them to do it all.

Thoughts? Advice? Flames?

Skip the 30k, I did but I know cars very well, I never had the dealer change my oil either. I doubt you'll get a credit for this.

If you're concerned about warranty maintenance: You can have this work done anywhere you want. Including your own garage. Keep your receipts and records.

For readers outside USA- this applies to the USA as part of our Magnuson-Moss warranty rules. Outside the USA, ymmv.

You do not need regular maintenance (as stated in the owner's manual) done to have warranty coverage. You just need to maintain your car in good running order so that it will not have premature failure.

Recommended service intervals are there for the average person who does not know anything about cars, or don't care to think about maintaining their cars. If you do your own work, as long as everything is taken care of on a regular basis (as needed), you are fine.

What is a "regular basis" is going to depend on who you ask and what experience they may have.

-alex

ditto..

seems like op already did most work done so skip it.
why bother going to dealer and pay that $600?
you already know how to

You have a MT? There is no listed service requirement to change these fluids anyplace I have ever found. The only one listed is AT fluid and it was way higher then 30K.


For many things "regular basis" may be fine but the oil changes MUST be done within the stated time/mileage requirements. Yes you can do them yourself but you need to be able to prove you did them within the requirements or any related warranty work could (and probably will) be denied.
Not sure if they would nail you on the brake service if you had a claim but would presume that as long as you can prove you did it within the specified time you would be OK.

This is exactly what I've done from day one in my Forester. During the Powertrain warranty period, I did some things myself and usually went to the dealer and read off the things to them that I wanted them to do. A few times I went to a Subaru specialty shop (AZP Installs), but my dealer doesn't have dozens of unnecessary add-ons so their prices aren't too bad (and I used "Subaru bucks" ((RIP)) at the dealer).


By having the dealer do some of the maintenance, I felt that it helped my case when they convinced SoA to cover a turbo failure at 62k miles. The dealer had noted in my file that I had concerns about smoke before the 60k mile warranty was up.

So regardless of who does your maintenance, I would always have maintenance done a-la-carte and only have the dealer (or independent shop) do what is recommended per your warranty booklet. Some of the dealer or independent shop recommendations outside of the warranty booklet might be a good idea, but they should present a very good case to you as to why they are recommending them. Another NJ dealer recommends a battery re-conditioning as part of their 6k mile maintenance which is complete nonsense. That dealer has so many unnecessary add-ons it's sad that people are paying for their services.


P.S. - If you did a used oil analysis and saw the high silicon from the dirt that the K&N is letting in, you might want an OEM filter. ;)

Yep, I agree; I'd just document what you already have done and continue on ..... :)


humfrz

You don't plan on ever changing your transmission fluid?

Eventually. Maybe. If I think it needs it. Probably never.

I asked because it is not on the service requirements yet the dealer said they should do it as part of the 30K service. OP says he was told $600 for the 30K service and that is a totally ridicules amount for that level. My 30K service (which included all of the listed requirements) cost $189. It appears to me that the dealer may be heavily padding what is required under the listed service for a 30K car.

Here is the list of requirements and a US price. Notice it is waaaaay below $600.

Wouldn't it be different since that's in km?

The clip is in miles since it is US. 30K miles.
My "30K" service was actually at 45K kilometers but I automatically convert everything to miles when talking on here.
The requirements are the same just the unit of measurement is different so $600 is still robbery.

600$ for what.

I see an oil change, air filter, and tire rotation. Everything else is an "inspection" i believe. And I wouldn't trust a dealer to change brake fluid I seen some techs just suck out the master cylinder and put new fluid there only. Just do it yourself and keep receipts if you are worried about warranty.

I haven't responded but all of this is great info.

I'm going to get the oil, filter. And crush washer this morning.

Will be canceling the appointment I have for this week.

The $600 price is ridiculous and I do all my work with my porsche mechanic buddy to be sure I dont do anything too dumb.

Appreciate everyone's advice here. Will be keeping the receipts and likely doing an oil analysis since I have a few track days on this oil.



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Wow - this is bananas. I am legit enraged right now.

I can't imagine how many people just line up and do as they say.

Thanks to all for the advice. Internetz, ftw.

Probably about 98% of them actually. As car guys we tend to forget or not realize that the enthusiast is about 2% of the car buying/driving population.

This dealer hangs the carrot of:

Free loaners
Free carwashes
Free Tires for Life of the car
Free Batteries for life of the car

... if all your service is done there.

Which considering the prices is a complete bait & switch.

Some dealers are weird with their pricing. I recently got my spark plugs changed and when I went in for a quote they said it was around $325. I made an appointment and went in later that week and was only charged $180.