Dealer Service - Was i ripped? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

DeeMan · 09-04-2003, 15:39

Hi all...

Just got my falcon back from a service at the dealer (the first dealer service in a while). EF Auto, 240,000km (my family's old car - all country km's - mother used to drive it 150km return 5 or more times a fortnight.

Came to about $800 in total. Owch.

Included:

General Service (Inspect, tighten, oil & filter) - About $200 in total.
Engine Tune & Install New Plug Leads (Was a miss at idle - fair enough). About $170.
Redo seals & O-rings in Power Steering Pump. Was leaking fluid at the bottom (had seen it, but ignored it). About $250.
Transmission Service (Fluid & Filter Kit). About $160.

Oh, and a free wash (yeah, sure)...

Also told there was a leak in the front muffler, but i'll patch that myself. Was told it would be $391 to get that fixed. I told them not to worry about it.

Forgotten how expensive dealer servicing is. Included all the nice extras like oil & fuel system cleaner (ooh! Octane increaser in the 3/4 full tank of 98RON Optimax...)

Was i ripped for the pricing in general of all this work? What would you estimate i would be up for at a normal non-dealer? And finally, what kind of price will i be looking at for a front muffler, not from Ford!

Although, the free ride to work and the free wash does kind of make you feel special, it's an expensive wash...

Sorry about the rant, just trying to get an estimate of how much extra i'm paying at the dealer.

Cheers,

DeeMan.

AU1XR8 · 09-04-2003, 16:33

It actually sounds about right for a dealer service, you could have done much better at regular workshop, but they probably would have sent the power steer pump out to a specialist and the tranny out to a tranny shop. Or ignored those and told you to take the car to the various specialists.

So for
$800 I reckon you've probably done OK, not outstanding but OK, and it probably was not all that inconvenient.

DeeMan · 09-04-2003, 16:40

Definitely convenient. Drop car off, get phone call at lunctime, authorise repairs, pick up fixed car after work.

Much easier than various specialists, especially trying to fit it in around 8:30am - 5:30pm...

Thanks AU1XR8, feel a bit better about it now...

Power steering feels much better, and the tranny is a bit quieter and smoother. And my handbrake has been adjusted, so i at least know they were thorough...

mongrelEB · 09-05-2003, 00:40

That is why I service my own car

vyssute · 09-05-2003, 01:22

if its not for warranty work i would never take my car to any dealer ever

RaTTuS · 09-05-2003, 02:08

i had my xf serviced tuned and dynoed plus had to buy a bigger holley for it and the total was $889 got about 8 dyno runs

slothman · 09-05-2003, 13:01

hey its a bitt of a bitch when you think about it ,, the work was done in a couple of hours and they had the 2nd year apprentice probly do it at 12.50 an hour , the charrrrrrrrrgded the arse out of the customer $86 bucks an hour ,, parts already in stock ,,oh well gotta pay the bills some how....

DeeMan · 09-05-2003, 17:29

Thanks guys.

I do usually service my car myself (in the last few thousand K's i've done air filter (i know, hard), shockers, fuel filter, cleaned the ISC, changed the plugs, and changed the oil (again, hard). :) Did all the things i could check myself (fluid levels, brake pads, etc).

I'm not totally useless, but i couldn't find the problem with the idle, and thought it easier for the dealer to hunt the problem, in case it was electronic.

The power steering pump i couldn't do myself (no idea), and same with the trans - both things i'd rather have a professional (with the knowledge of Fords in particular) do.

My usual service is with a local mechanic, but i wanted to send it to a dealer just to be sure (had my suspicions about the transmission needing work). Back to the regular 5,000km oil change for me, and a service with the local mechanic (or my uncle) every 10,000.

casrms1450 · 09-06-2003, 06:11

I used to have my previous car serviced by either Ultratune or KMart. Not happy with how it was running, took it into my Ford dealer and service was $140. Car is running much better. Then 2 weeks later I trade it in on a AU Series 3 Fairmont. Costs might be higher, but will stick with my local dealer. They seem too know what they are doing. !

Rollin · 09-07-2003, 05:08

Quote:

hey its a bitt of a bitch when you think about it ,, the work was done in a couple of hours and they had the 2nd year apprentice probly do it at 12.50 an hour , the charrrrrrrrrgded the arse out of the customer $86 bucks an hour ,, parts already in stock ,,oh well gotta pay the bills some how....

bloody hell tell me please where it is that 2nd year apprentices get that much per hour!!! im a 4th year and i get about $12.70...

$86 per hour has to pay for workshop maintenence (jacks, hoists, stands, repairs etc), insurance, as well as the mechanics, costing clerks, car washers, foremen, workshop manager, workshop controller and service advisers pay, office supplies, computers etc etc etc...its spread pretty thinly, trust me.