So I am getting my oil changed tomorrow for the first time, and I just thought I'd ask what the rate was over the phone... $180. that seems crazy. I'm not sure how it can be that high. I know the oil is more and it takes more of it, but for $180, i would think it took a 55 gal. drum or something.

Or maybe this is a normal price? Just seems high. Same dealership does the maintenance on my Jag and it's $60 for the oil change in it...

 

$180 is not that bad, but you can do it yourself for about 60 bucks. The Boxster will take 8-10 quarts of Mobil 1 which is $5-$6 and the oil is about 10 bucks. If a shop\dealer is doing expect mark ups.

 

I just spent $10 on a new filter, I expect to pay about $60-70 for the oil. So you can do it yourself for half of that.

 

cheapest source for boxster oil filters?

 

http://www.pap-parts.com/prodinfo.as...107%20225%2052

 

I highly recommend that you do it yourself. It helps you to get in tune more with your car, and you get to check out underneath the car. A OEM(Mahle) oil filter and crush ring should cost $10-15, 10 quarts of oil cost $60-70 and a hours worth of labor. I had no expierence working on cars before I changed my oil and filter and I had no problem doing it.
By the way you will need an oil filter wrench to loosen the oil filter cover. A 10 quart oil containter to catch all the old oil as well.

 

I'll have them do it the first time, but I may try it myself after. It can't be that hard, right?

How often do you guys (and girls) go on oil changes< the manual says 15k i believe, but that seems like a hell of a long time to go between changes. maybe that is ok?

 

Its not hard at all,I used the emergency jack to get the car up enough for me to slide under the car.
Many change their oil every year regardless of the mileage.

 

Never ever rely on the emergency jack if you are going underneath - rule 1 of DIY - always use a jackstand.

 

never even rely on a hydraulic jack to go under the car, jack stands cost $40-$80 is your life worth that risk?

 

I have read several independent test on oil service intervals related to synthetic oil. Somewhere between 7500 and 9000 seems to be the max for a lot of reasons some of which depends on type of use and engine condition. Remember the worst thing for an engine is short cold runs that put excessive moisture in the oil. Moisture create aicids and sludge, very bad thing. I change mine at 7500 or one year which for me works out just right. Even if it was twice a year I would do it.
You wont get really honest test results from folks who obiviously want to win you over to synthetics. I guess they dont realize there are those that want the superior protection and dont necessirly have to justify the extended interval to use it. Not to confuse the issue but with additional bypass filtration and oil analysis you can indeed get more mileage out of your oil. But a single analysis is about 35 too 45 dollars. If you are running gallons such as a big rig or industrial application it makes sense. For the car enthusiast the yearly/7500 mile change make more sense. To each there own.