Oil change
02-04-2008, 02:52 PM
#1
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Oil change
I have an 04 Turbo cabriolet and the annual service is due. I've put about 800 miles on the car since the last service at 8200 miles. My last bill was about
$300 for oil change and inspections. Walter's Porsche in Riverside sent an e-mail to Riverside PCA members for an oil change with synthetic oil for $80.00
Am I missing something?
$300 for oil change and inspections. Walter's Porsche in Riverside sent an e-mail to Riverside PCA members for an oil change with synthetic oil for $80.00
Am I missing something?
02-04-2008, 03:51 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
There is no way they could do the oil change on your car for that amount. In pure cost of oil and filter and gaskets there is about $120 in parts. Then it takes about 1.5 hours to do so the $300 bill you got last time sounds about right.
02-04-2008, 04:17 PM
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Well I'd have to say....yes and no. They could be running a special just to get you in there, or dont intend to change the oil becasue the specs call for changes at 15K....which most of us on here agree is too long in between. But here are some prices I just got for the parts that make up all required for an oil change. I bought 10 quarts of Mobil 0-40 on a special at Napa for 5.30 a quart=$53.00. I bought the oil filter from Sunset for $12.95 and the 2 seals...one for the plug for $.32 (that's cents) and the other for the filter for the filter for $.64....so all the necessary parts came to $66.91. This is the cost of doing it yourself if you order from a reputable source. If they were discounting the labor in order to get your future business, they could do it. In reality, once the car is up on a lift and the drain in place...they don't really spend much more than 15 minutes on it in actual labor....they can walk away while it's draining and do other tasks. Service is a big source of revenue for any car dealership. That's why I never allow my wife to take her car in for service. They sell her all these spiffy "special packages" for extra money that include items like...check air in tires, inspect belts, check battery, ensure all bolts are tight (huh?).
In one instance she left it there for scheduled service under warranty and told me the estimate was $400WHAT????...I went down with the service manual and pointed out that the items requred to keep it eligible for warranty came to only $160...so that's what they ended up doing. Big profits are realised for service.
I'm not saying that the $80 is realistic or includes everything, but it is doable by a dealership looking to pick up new clients...usually for life....and a huge return on their initial investment. If it was advertised, they could also charge off the difference to advertising and operational expenses for tax credits.
In one instance she left it there for scheduled service under warranty and told me the estimate was $400WHAT????...I went down with the service manual and pointed out that the items requred to keep it eligible for warranty came to only $160...so that's what they ended up doing. Big profits are realised for service.
I'm not saying that the $80 is realistic or includes everything, but it is doable by a dealership looking to pick up new clients...usually for life....and a huge return on their initial investment. If it was advertised, they could also charge off the difference to advertising and operational expenses for tax credits.
02-04-2008, 05:50 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
I guess I suck at finding good prices on this stuff....
You get the idea though. Even at ~$70 in parts they would not be making anything.
Regular price for an oil change at a dealer/indy is about $250-$300.
You get the idea though. Even at ~$70 in parts they would not be making anything.
Regular price for an oil change at a dealer/indy is about $250-$300.
02-04-2008, 11:29 PM
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Drifting
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Slant: No, you are quite correct, they wouldn't be making much...but that's why you have to find out what exactly is being offered with a quote of an oil change at $80 like Catalina posted. I'd say it is an introductory offer in an effort to bring in potential future customers.
I buy all the parts and take them to my indy....he changes the oil for $40 using my oil and parts. That puts my oil change at around $100.
Chuck
I buy all the parts and take them to my indy....he changes the oil for $40 using my oil and parts. That puts my oil change at around $100.
Chuck
02-04-2008, 11:33 PM
#6
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Once you get in there they will find $$$ worth of additional work. Loss leader.
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02-05-2008, 09:54 AM
#9
Burning Brakes
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Unless they want a dealer stamp in the service manual, why would anyone have someone else's husband change the oil in their 996TT?
The only hard part is getting the car up off the floor with a jack and leveling it out.
And yes, I change my own and my wife's Cayman S also....been changing oil in my cars for the last 35 years.
The TT oil filter is the easiest to change, and the oil will drain out in 30 minutes if you milk it.
1-hour of your time on a Saturday = ?
9-quarts of Mobil-1 = $50
Oil filter from dealer = $15
Looks like $65 to me, not $300 and not $120
The only hard part is getting the car up off the floor with a jack and leveling it out.
And yes, I change my own and my wife's Cayman S also....been changing oil in my cars for the last 35 years.
The TT oil filter is the easiest to change, and the oil will drain out in 30 minutes if you milk it.
1-hour of your time on a Saturday = ?
9-quarts of Mobil-1 = $50
Oil filter from dealer = $15
Looks like $65 to me, not $300 and not $120
02-05-2008, 07:33 PM
#10
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As you get older....getting under the car gets more and more difficult. Especially when you finally get scooted all the way under there and damn if you dont' need a 17mm instead of the 15mm wrench you've got. It gets more and more tempting to watch it being put on a lift for the oil change....more power to you youngsters who opt to do it yourselves.
02-05-2008, 08:54 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
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As you get older....getting under the car gets more and more difficult. Especially when you finally get scooted all the way under there and damn if you dont' need a 17mm instead of the 15mm wrench you've got. It gets more and more tempting to watch it being put on a lift for the oil change....more power to you youngsters who opt to do it yourselves.
And I never get the right socket either, I just bring plenty of backups
Dock, I replace what comes out then measure and add if required.
Sorry that I don't recall the exact qty right now.
02-05-2008, 09:30 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
Yep 9 quarts "should" come out. Last time I did the oil change I put 8.5 quarts back in and started the car and measured and ended up putting the rest of the half quart in to get it up to the line just below the top mark on the guage.
