Dealer Oil & Filter Change

[Y2008]

I've been contemplating getting the oil and filter changed, the car only has 7,500km done over the past 4 months. So I called up a few dealerships as to see how much they would charge for that service. One quote really stood out, is it too good to be true (and that's from the dealer I bought the car from). The quotes for oil+filter+labor are as follows:

VW Werribee $220.00
VW Essendon $248.00
VW South Yarra $150.00!!!!
VW Geelong $220.00

For 150 id definitely do it at the dealer, but is it too good to be true?
Also if anyone in Melbourne has any good or bad experiences with any of the dealers would be greatly appreciated if you can give me heads up.

[jasn78]

geez all of those are pretty decent from a stealer.

[Whubbsie]

that sounds pretty right, I'm with werribee and if you have bought your car from them you get all parts and fluids at cost so it works out cheaper than other dealers I'm guessing south yarra would be the same

[pixl]

Which South Yarra? Commercial Rd or Flockhart St? -- Would be interesting to see if one was cheaper than the other

Oh yeah, I'd stay well clear of Essendon. Too many of my mates are having huge issues with warranty claims and services not being done to an acceptable level. Which is appalling considering the price they charge. So glad I didn't get my car from them.

As you already know, Y2008, I've taken all issues and questions I've had to the South Yarra guys in Flockhart St. They have been amazing and extremely helpful with all my issues and concerns. Very happy with their level of service.

[Y2008]

that sounds pretty right, I'm with werribee and if you have bought your car from them you get all parts and fluids at cost so it works out cheaper than other dealers I'm guessing south yarra would be the same

The thing is I didn't mention anything about buying the car from them.

[Y2008]

Which South Yarra? Commercial Rd or Flockhart St? -- Would be interesting to see if one was cheaper than the other

hahah i was planning on doing that but when i called they asked where i want it done. That quote was for Commercial road. Maybe u should give them a call and as for the Richmond one.

[Whubbsie]

The thing is I didn't mention anything about buying the car from them.

didn't give them your vin or rego either? damn does sound too good to be true then... guess just ring again on another day if its the same price well hell you know where to take it

[Y2008]

didn't give them your vin or rego either? damn does sound too good to be true then... guess just ring again on another day if its the same price well hell you know where to take it

hahah im worried to wait maybe they charge me more then. I think i might get my gf to give them a call in a bit and see if the price changes heheh

[Whubbsie]

hahah im worried to wait maybe they charge me more then. I think i might get my gf to give them a call in a bit and see if the price changes heheh

That will work too ....hmmm might have to take my car to south yarra

[NickZ]

I've been contemplating getting the oil and filter changed, the car only has 7,500km done over the past 4 months. So I called up a few dealerships as to see how much they would charge for that service. One quote really stood out, is it too good to be true (and that's from the dealer I bought the car from). The quotes for oil+filter+labor are as follows:

VW Werribee $220.00
VW Essendon $248.00
VW South Yarra $150.00!!!!
VW Geelong $220.00

For 150 id definitely do it at the dealer, but is it too good to be true?
Also if anyone in Melbourne has any good or bad experiences with any of the dealers would be greatly appreciated if you can give me heads up.

$150 is good, considering oil is about $80, filter is $20. $50 for labour including the stamp on the book is great value.

Cheapest quote I got was $186, supplying my own oil! So effectively $160 for labour. Needless to say I went to someone independent!

[Blitzen]

Why don't you do it yourself?? Filter and plug is $24, oil(Castrol 0W-40 from Supercheap Auto) was $55 last week last week when I bought it, and you don't get a tick in the book from the dealer for a 7500km service...
The job takes 15min MAX to do, and you get the self satisfaction of having worked on your own car, and not paying through the bottom for what a 1st year apprentice is going to do anyway, plus they are going to sting you the price of an hours labour(upwards of over $90p/h) for 15min work...

Its up to you, but I know what I would be doing...

[pixl]

I hear what you're saying Blitzen. I would much rather do it myself too, not for the cost, but because I actually enjoy doing the things I can do on my car myself. But ultimately, it's about getting that little stamp. And $150 is a small price to pay to help the resale value.

[Jmac]

Remember all you are talking about is an OIL change there mate - careful. Speaking from an independents point of view if in fact you are only talikng about an oil change, You are still paying someone who has spent MANY years learning, training to repair these vehilces and you will need them when the brown hits the fan. I know i could do plumbing and stuff but still dont mind paying the SKiLLED tradesman to do the job because i know he has served his time doing his trade and would never question his work and i wish Techs would be treated the same.
My 2c like it or lump it

[Blitzen]

Remember all you are talking about is an OIL change there mate - careful. Speaking from an independents point of view if in fact you are only talking about an oil change, You are still paying someone who has spent MANY years learning, training to repair these vehilces and you will need them when the brown hits the fan. I know i could do plumbing and stuff but still don't mind paying the SKiLLED tradesman to do the job because i know he has served his time doing his trade and would never question his work and i wish Techs would be treated the same.
My 2c like it or lump it

I know what you are saying Jimmy, but changing oil was the first thing my dad taught me to do on cars when I was 10 years old.
I know its not something to pay off(Trust me, I have seen the results of people paying things off, from engines or transmissions going bang due to lack of Oil, through to people loosing there lives due to skipping on preventative maintenance), bit I have never been afraid to have a go at changing the engine oil, or carrying out any preventative maintenance on my own vehicle, whether it be a a Caterpillar, Mack, Cummins, Detroit 6V53, Unimog, or my Polo.
If you don't feel confident in doing work yourself, by all means go to someone who you trust(which I find harder and harder these days), but if you are like me, and don't trust the dealer workshops at all, and only visit them for warranty issues, then I go and see someone I trust(Hahahaha, this is usually when I need a Hoist...!!), or do the work myself. I feel exceedingly happy working on my own car, and I really think people need to learn more about the car they put there trust in every day.
I have never admitted to being a good mechanic, but I give it a go!!!

And if you want that stamp, just make friends with a mechanic...Most reputable workshops have their own stamp, or even better, get chummy with someone who works at a VW workshop!!

[Y2008]

I always did my basic service myself (oil, filters, spark plugs) but only when warranty is not an issue. I need to go to the dealer anyway to sort out the veering issue under warranty. So for me, stamp for $150 that's peanuts since the min i could pay doing it at an independent would be about 100-120.