Help!! $425 dollars for 30,000 mile maintenance????

Punisher · 01-13-2006, 06:09 AM

I just got a quote from my local Honda dealer for my 30,000 mile maintenance on my '02 S2K, and he's quoting me 425 bucks! Does this seem right?? I will do whatever it takes to keep the car up, but I'm trying to avoid being screwed. If I can do all the work myself, I'd rather do that anyway.....

Please help me out!!!

passmans2kNY · 01-13-2006, 09:15 AM

whatever they do at honda to ur car wont be worth 425, they will change the oil and check if everything is ok

Halo · 01-13-2006, 09:23 AM

First of all, your car is out of warranty since it is an 02.

So, I would ask the dealer for an itemized list of all the crap they want to do.

I would check the recommended service in your owner's manual for the 30K service and compare to their list.

Cross off all the garbage (wiper blades, rotate tires, check fluids, check operation of all lights and switches) that you can (a) do yourself (b) don't need doing.
See how much is left, that you either can't or don't want to do yourself.

My first service they wanted to charge me for rotating the tires. I asked the service guy if they were going to remove the tires from the rims and remount and balance them. He just gave me a very confused look. I asked if he knew that the S2000 had directional tires and the fronts and rear wheels were of different sizes. He deleted the 80 charge for 'rotate tires' Since then, I've done everything myself except wheel alignment.

passmans2kNY · 01-13-2006, 09:51 AM

yea i was gonna say you can't rotate these tires

WhiteS2kHardtop · 01-13-2006, 11:36 AM

The 30k service at our dealership is an oil change,tire rotation,brake inspection, check fluids,lights,belts,hoses,suspension, and steering. We also change the engine air filter, the a/c filter, the transmission fluid, and differential fluid. I know I wrote tire rotation, but thats just included in every maintenance because the wheels have to come off to do the brake inspection anyway....and ofcourse our cars dont get them because of the wheel size difference. The price does not reflect a charge for a tire rotation. Depending on your dealership, they may also be using synthetic oil. The first Honda dealership that I worked at didnt even give a choice....it was just done on every S2000. The most recent dealership does offer the choice however. That part I'm sure you can do yourself. The air filter as well. The ac filter is not too difficult and with instructions (which you can probably get off the internet) you can do it too. The only thing you may not be able to accomplish yourself is the rear diff fluid. It is just a drain and fill just like an oil change, but you would need a suction gun to add the new fluid....you can pick those up and any Napa for about 15$. The only advise on that, is if you do decide to try it yourself, make sure you fill the diff with the car level. If just the rear is jacked up, the fluid may not fill all the way full. All in all, anybody that knows basic car mechanics should be able to do all the service. Keep in mind that the dealership in not trying to rip you off in any way (that seems to be the vibe that I keep getting from sites like this and others). You have to consider that most dealerships are $70/hr for labor if not more. I've even seen one Honda dealer at $105/hr. Labor times are figured flat rate, meaning that the A/c filter may pay a technician 1hr labor ($70 for you + parts) and it may only take him 10minutes to install it because it is routine to him. That's where you find these 300-400$ service estimates. Dealerships are no different than any other business....they have to turn a profit too and even though 70/hr sounds high, it may take a dealership 9 months to brake even for the year which only leaves a couples months to actually turn a profit. As far as your warranty goes....If you decide to do the maintenance yourself keep all your receipts and log the service in your owners manual just like a dealer would. If you cannot do the maintenance yourself, take it to a dealer and not some independent. The reason for this is....Let's say your transmission goes out at 70k miles....ofcourse you are out of factory warranty by that time. If you can show that you took care of the car according to Honda's recommendations then the better your chances they will offer assistance. Taking the car to a dealer means you show loyalty, and in turn...Honda will be loyal to you as a customer. I've warrantied transmissions, clutches, and catalytic convertors on cars with over 100k miles on them because the customer had outstanding service history. Honda, even though they dont have the 10yr/100k warranty that some manufacturers are offering, will still stand by their product as if they offered one. Sorry for such a longwinded response, but I hope it helped.

laterz

beaver · 01-13-2006, 05:27 PM

Dealer Service Operations are, after all, a profit center.....so yes, you pay the $$$.......but, as the previous reply clearly says.....you got a record of trying to to the best.....so go do it.

routine Oil and Filter changes...do your own, BUT KEEP RECORDS, we all don't live close to a dealer

This car is a fun machine, and "fun will cost a few$$$$", just think about the price of "HIGH TEST GAS" and enjoy the car, there are few like this one!!!

My son owns 2-1/2 Porche "911" class cars, and you should see his cost. ....( 1/2 is a car in pieces that he aquired here, there, and then some.....all to rebuild it and learn!!!!

Java Junky · 01-14-2006, 05:10 AM

White;
Thanks for the heddzupp. Tou can be 'long-winded" anytime you like.
Be well.

wowowox · 01-17-2006, 12:24 AM

This price is way tooooo high, even with my mercedes is not this expansive man.

Punisher · 01-17-2006, 05:14 AM

Some GREAT responses, and they're appreciated, laides and gentlemen. I got a better quote from a different dealer the other day, actualy; $325, which I think I can live with.

I like the idea of getting the itemized list and crossing off what I don't need.

Thanks A LOT!

my username sucks · 01-17-2006, 08:22 PM

You can get an itemized list from another place, and get everything done for 89.95. I went to a Mechanic i know at Kwik Kar that is a very good shop, and they said the only thing that costs more is changing the rear differential fluid.
So i say shop around and check, get a print out of what all they do and take it places. Kwik Kar printed it out for me there.

01-13-2006, 06:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Punisher Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 36	Help!! $425 dollars for 30,000 mile maintenance???? I just got a quote from my local Honda dealer for my 30,000 mile maintenance on my '02 S2K, and he's quoting me 425 bucks! Does this seem right?? I will do whatever it takes to keep the car up, but I'm trying to avoid being screwed. If I can do all the work myself, I'd rather do that anyway..... Please help me out!!!

01-17-2006, 08:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
my username sucks Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1	Better Deal. You can get an itemized list from another place, and get everything done for 89.95. I went to a Mechanic i know at Kwik Kar that is a very good shop, and they said the only thing that costs more is changing the rear differential fluid. So i say shop around and check, get a print out of what all they do and take it places. Kwik Kar printed it out for me there.

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01-13-2006, 09:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
passmans2kNY Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 182	whatever they do at honda to ur car wont be worth 425, they will change the oil and check if everything is ok

01-13-2006, 09:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
Halo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 610	First of all, your car is out of warranty since it is an 02. So, I would ask the dealer for an itemized list of all the crap they want to do. I would check the recommended service in your owner's manual for the 30K service and compare to their list. Cross off all the garbage (wiper blades, rotate tires, check fluids, check operation of all lights and switches) that you can (a) do yourself (b) don't need doing. See how much is left, that you either can't or don't want to do yourself. My first service they wanted to charge me for rotating the tires. I asked the service guy if they were going to remove the tires from the rims and remount and balance them. He just gave me a very confused look. I asked if he knew that the S2000 had directional tires and the fronts and rear wheels were of different sizes. He deleted the 80 charge for 'rotate tires' Since then, I've done everything myself except wheel alignment.

01-13-2006, 09:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
passmans2kNY Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 182	yea i was gonna say you can't rotate these tires

01-13-2006, 11:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
WhiteS2kHardtop Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 13	The 30k service at our dealership is an oil change,tire rotation,brake inspection, check fluids,lights,belts,hoses,suspension, and steering. We also change the engine air filter, the a/c filter, the transmission fluid, and differential fluid. I know I wrote tire rotation, but thats just included in every maintenance because the wheels have to come off to do the brake inspection anyway....and ofcourse our cars dont get them because of the wheel size difference. The price does not reflect a charge for a tire rotation. Depending on your dealership, they may also be using synthetic oil. The first Honda dealership that I worked at didnt even give a choice....it was just done on every S2000. The most recent dealership does offer the choice however. That part I'm sure you can do yourself. The air filter as well. The ac filter is not too difficult and with instructions (which you can probably get off the internet) you can do it too. The only thing you may not be able to accomplish yourself is the rear diff fluid. It is just a drain and fill just like an oil change, but you would need a suction gun to add the new fluid....you can pick those up and any Napa for about 15$. The only advise on that, is if you do decide to try it yourself, make sure you fill the diff with the car level. If just the rear is jacked up, the fluid may not fill all the way full. All in all, anybody that knows basic car mechanics should be able to do all the service. Keep in mind that the dealership in not trying to rip you off in any way (that seems to be the vibe that I keep getting from sites like this and others). You have to consider that most dealerships are $70/hr for labor if not more. I've even seen one Honda dealer at $105/hr. Labor times are figured flat rate, meaning that the A/c filter may pay a technician 1hr labor ($70 for you + parts) and it may only take him 10minutes to install it because it is routine to him. That's where you find these 300-400$ service estimates. Dealerships are no different than any other business....they have to turn a profit too and even though 70/hr sounds high, it may take a dealership 9 months to brake even for the year which only leaves a couples months to actually turn a profit. As far as your warranty goes....If you decide to do the maintenance yourself keep all your receipts and log the service in your owners manual just like a dealer would. If you cannot do the maintenance yourself, take it to a dealer and not some independent. The reason for this is....Let's say your transmission goes out at 70k miles....ofcourse you are out of factory warranty by that time. If you can show that you took care of the car according to Honda's recommendations then the better your chances they will offer assistance. Taking the car to a dealer means you show loyalty, and in turn...Honda will be loyal to you as a customer. I've warrantied transmissions, clutches, and catalytic convertors on cars with over 100k miles on them because the customer had outstanding service history. Honda, even though they dont have the 10yr/100k warranty that some manufacturers are offering, will still stand by their product as if they offered one. Sorry for such a longwinded response, but I hope it helped. laterz

01-13-2006, 05:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
beaver Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 12	Dealer Service Operations are, after all, a profit center.....so yes, you pay the $$$.......but, as the previous reply clearly says.....you got a record of trying to to the best.....so go do it. routine Oil and Filter changes...do your own, BUT KEEP RECORDS, we all don't live close to a dealer This car is a fun machine, and "fun will cost a few$$$$", just think about the price of "HIGH TEST GAS" and enjoy the car, there are few like this one!!! My son owns 2-1/2 Porche "911" class cars, and you should see his cost. ....( 1/2 is a car in pieces that he aquired here, there, and then some.....all to rebuild it and learn!!!!

01-14-2006, 05:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
Java Junky Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Joisey Posts: 5,287	White; Thanks for the heddzupp. Tou can be 'long-winded" anytime you like. Be well.

01-17-2006, 12:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
wowowox Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 313	This price is way tooooo high, even with my mercedes is not this expansive man.

01-17-2006, 05:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
Punisher Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 36	Some GREAT responses, and they're appreciated, laides and gentlemen. I got a better quote from a different dealer the other day, actualy; $325, which I think I can live with. I like the idea of getting the itemized list and crossing off what I don't need. Thanks A LOT!