Vehicle Dealership Oil Changes and Recalls

[RollingsFarms]

The auto dealers are doing what the tractor dealers did. Big ones make it, smaller ones get bought out by the bigger ones that own all of the dealerships already so competition gets eliminated. Service suffers. I always love seeing the look on the sales managers face after he tells me what a wonderful maintenance deal they have and how I should buy it. I say "yeah it all sounds good but I know what a hassle it is bringing my truck to the dealership and the fact that you don't do loaners anymore is a deal breaker." No prepaid maintenance contracts for this ol boy.

 

[ultrarunner]

So very true...

It isn't that I'm opposed to paying for service... but, if it is not convenient, it is worse than no service at all.

 

[crazyal]

Most of the dealers are over 1 1/2 hour away so it would be 4+ hours for an oil change if they did it right off. So I just do it myself. I order a half dozen filters and a case of oil so I'm all set for a few years. With a car lift it's easy to do. I also rotate my tires. The last time I was at a dealer (Toyota) they had drive though service. You drove up to a door (open on warm days, closed if cold) and hocked. They let you in and asked what you needed done. I would say within 15 minutes they had my truck inside and working on it. It could be different now, maybe more people are no longer willing to do the work themselves and aren't willing to trust the local garage to do the job without finding something else that needs doing ($$$).

 

[ultrarunner]

I do wonder why it seems all the Dealer Express Lanes have gone away here...

Ten to Fifteen years ago they were advertising night and day with a guarantee... it really seems the Dealers have plenty of work to keep their shops very busy...

I probably should look for the airbag recall... it's been over a year and BMW still can't give me a date.

Could play hardball as some I know... demand a loaner until it is fixed... amazing what happens when the other side is footing the bill/inconvenience...

 

[Diamondpilot]

We still have the express lanes here but since they went from 3K oil changes there is no money in it. Most vehicles on the road today have oil change intervals of 7.5K to 15K. I have a friend and a uncle who both owned a oil change shop until about 18 months ago. Over the years the volume of customers dropped off dramatically and the ones who still came want a $30 oil change.

I have had my oil changed 3 times in my life. All 3 times something got screwed up. Once it was water being put into my WWF and it freezing the same week cracking the reservoir, once was a drain plug stripped, and once was a drain plug only finger tight.

I now just do it myself!

Chris

 

[MF283]

I've been doing everything i possibly can for 42 years on all my fleet, dealer get's the recalls, that's about it. There are to many, good independent shops to choose from over dealers add ons.

Ronnie

 

[ultrarunner]

About the biggest benefit I see to Dealer Oil changes is the Dealer runs the VIN to advise of any recalls... I believe this is a requirement in all States.

Any Dealer service has proven the most effective way to get recall information in the hands of owners... especially with people moving and vehicles changing hands.

Never have had a case where the selling Dealer has screwed up a oil change... can't say the same for independant oil change shops...

Back when I bought my one and only new car the service interval worked out to be 15k between oil changes... North American BMW owners filed suit and BMW changed the recommendation to the 15k service OR once annually...

 

[ultrarunner]

About the biggest benefit I see to Dealer Oil changes is the Dealer runs the VIN to advise of any recalls... both cars in question (BMW/Toyota) are subject to airbag recall with no date for repair forthcoming after several contacts.

Any Dealer service has proven the most effective way to get recall information in the hands of owners... especially with people moving and vehicles changing hands.

Never have had a case where the selling Dealer has screwed up a oil change... can't say the same for independant oil change shops...

Back when I bought my one and only new car the service interval worked out to be 15k between oil changes... North American BMW owners filed suit and BMW changed the recommendation to the 15k service OR once annually...

 

[Deere Dude]

I bought a new Impala and came with 4 oil changes within two years irrespective of the mileage. They went through the whole exercise, oil change, tires rotated, etc. even though each time I only had maybe 2000 miles on the car. If I had to do it, it would never have been doe that way.

They claimed I should change the oil every 6 months and they were willing to do that for the first 2 years so I let them.

One more free oil change and 20 point check, then what?

Does anyone ever change oil every 6 months or was that just a way to get me sucked in to get used to their system?

I understand tractors are supposed to get oil changed every year even though very few hours are put on it. Does that make sense?

 

[ultrarunner]

One annual oil change was adopted by BMW of North America in the settlement... maybe a case of there being more fanatical BMW owners?

My service truck sees only short intown trips... I change every 2500 miles which works out to about 10 months...