Bad Oil change price, McGrath Kia, Phillip Canberra

[Sime]

Here’s the 3k free service invoice.
Showing this to show that the service invoices, as always, indicate all that gets done. In this recent debacle, my washer fluid was topped up by the technician, but I wasn’t charged for it on the invoice, but on this invoice below it was mentioned they did it, and in past invoices for paid servicing, I was charged for that.
The oil change invoice was clearly just an invoice for an oil change, not a 10k service. The service manager probably had no idea that the 10k service might have been done, being as it was a normal job for the technician and probably didn’t discuss anything after the job was done. The manager looked perplexed when I showed him my service record book.

 

[Sime]

Since you are in Oz, and many readers are not, maybe we should put these costs into perspective. $180(AUD) is $123(USD), so probably consistent with many US metropolitan areas for dealership labor. $355(AUD) is $243(USD) which may be high but not out of the realm for a full service checkup which apparently was actually done. But if you asked for something specific (just oil/filter) they shouldn't have charged you for doing the other stuff (i.e., they had to remove the wheels to properly check the brakes). Oil and filter costs appear to be right around full retail prices.

That’s all good, but please remember what I said about the service managers final thoughts. I was charged for what I asked for, and what the invoice specifically says they did. The technician did what he thought he had to do, regardless of what I asked for and was being charged for.
They don’t just get jobs for oil changes there the saleman said, so I can see why the technician made have made the mistake.

 

[Rob M]

Looks like they are trying to nickel and dime you to death as well. There's also a charge on there that I think is perhaps fraudulent. Note they charge you for an oil filter kit, and then separately for an oil pan drain gasket. If I'm not mistaken, the oil filter kit comes with a new drain plug gasket.

 

[Manaz]

Since you are in Oz, and many readers are not, maybe we should put these costs into perspective. $180(AUD) is $123(USD), so probably consistent with many US metropolitan areas for dealership labor. $355(AUD) is $243(USD) which may be high but not out of the realm for a full service checkup which apparently was actually done. But if you asked for something specific (just oil/filter) they shouldn't have charged you for doing the other stuff (i.e., they had to remove the wheels to properly check the brakes). Oil and filter costs appear to be right around full retail prices.

$180 an hour as a workshop rate means they say an oil change is about 45 mins of work. Elapsed time, I almost agree with.

Most independent will charge about $120 an hour as a workshop rate. So they're 50% above a competitive rate here. If that's because they are highly trained staff and have all the right equipment, that should mean they can work faster, right? That 45 min charge is looking shaky.

$130 for oil when the general public can buy better oil at retail pricing for less than $100 is a bit rich. Actually, it's a lot rich.

What would be reasonable, even taking their rates into account? 30 mins of shop time for the work (so $90). I won't argue the toss on the filter $30, or the sundries at another $30 total - so we're at $150. Let's say $100 for the oil (still makes it hideously expensive, it'd want to sing to you as you drive). $250, the price that was originally mentioned.

I agree that the price paid sounds a lot more like a full service. I suspect what's happened is they've simply charged for it (despite the workshop manager's protests to the contrary) to cover for the fact that the workshop manager is actually incompetent and has staff who should be doing simple oil changes actually doing full services, and for some reason, he believes it's better to screw over a customer than wear the blame on the "loss" on this individual event - maybe he's already being performance managed due to his apparent inability to manage his workshop...

 

[Sime]

I email the only other Kia dealership here for a quote on just a non scheduled service oil/filter change, be interesting in what they quote.

But yes, I need to find a good non Kia mechanic somewhere, or buy some kit to lift my car for diy.

 

[Sime]

I agree that the price paid sounds a lot more like a full service. I suspect what's happened is they've simply charged for it (despite the workshop manager's protests to the contrary) to cover for the fact that the workshop manager is actually incompetent and has staff who should be doing simple oil changes actually doing full services, and for some reason, he believes it's better to screw over a customer than wear the blame on the "loss" on this individual event - maybe he's already being performance managed due to his apparent inability to manage his workshop...

Yup, probably what happened. I got to much work done.

But the thing is, regardless of all my complaints about the “oil/filter” costing, if indeed I actually got the full service, like I said I only got small clues something was done, can’t say for sure that a complete 10k service was done, at least I can safely know my car is ok a 4.5k mileage. So I did get what I paid for in reality, just don’t like the possibly shady way of covering it up. The only way to find out the true cost of an oil/filter change is for someone else to have a crack at it there, and hopefully the same mistake by the technician isn’t repeated.

But, if the sales manager had told me from the get go that a mistake was made and I got a 10k service, at least then I may have had a different attitude towards the price, being that I got a lot more done. Even though I didn’t ask for it, but being as I expected to pay $250, but got a full car checkup for an extra $105, I might have been ok with that. At least I would have known that my car in in good order.

I even got the impression from the salesman that the service manager is a bit of a nob, without him actually saying it……………………

 

[Manaz]

I do my own mid-service-interval oil changes in my driveway.

A basic trolley jack (an 1800kg one as an example) can be had for $50. Add another $50, for a set of half-decent jack stands (*never* climb under a car only held up with a jack). Add another $40 for a jack pad (so your jack doesn't scratch your car).

Spend 10 minutes learning the appropriate jacking point, and you're sweet.

The alternative is ramps - just drive your car up on them. You'll need either low profile ramps (up to $150), or standard ramps (less than $100l and some wood to effectively lower the angle of the ramps be lengthening them.

Then you just need an oil tray - $10.

I personally like the Fumoto or EZ Drain oil taps as well for this sort of work. Add another $50 or so to your costs.

Pick up 7L of good oil for around $100, an oil filter for $30, and you'll probably still come out ahead on your next oil change at the rate you were charged this time.

 

[Sime]

Exactly, I only go to the dealer for convenience, and I can afford to do so ( don’t like being ripped off though) and I used to do it on my cars years ago. But yes, I’ll look into getting the required kit to do it myself.

 

[Manaz]

I even got the impression from the salesman that the service manager is a bit of a nob, without him actually saying it……………………

Yep, that's certainly the impression I got.

They stamped your service book as service done, yes?

I suspect then they really did do the work, and you should feel OK about the condition your car is in. The only issue of contention really now is one of ongoing trust. Maybe just ask the salesman to let you know when the service manager is let go (I can't imagine it will take long)...

 

[Manaz]

Exactly, I only go to the dealer for convenience, and I can afford to do so ( don’t like being ripped off though) and I used to do it on my cars years ago. But yes, I’ll look into getting the required kit to do it myself.

Ah, sorry, if you've done it before, you don't need me telling you what's required.

But hopefully it helps others who might be considering it.

 

[Sime]

They stamped your service book as service done, yes?

When I went back into the service center with my service book after paying, I pointed out that they checked off my 10k service, where he said that was a mistake, and my reply to him whilst walking out was “thank you for f#%&ing up my service book”

Later on after the salesman saw him, he edited my service book to state that it was just an interval oil change and crossed off the 10k bit (salesman did this, not the service manager)

 

[Manaz]

Fair enough.

I don't think that service manager will last very long...

 

[Sime]

So the question is, does it actually cost $355 for an oil change at this dealer or is it an elaborate excuse for the cost of a mistake done by the service center.

First quote was $220 in February.
2nd cost was $250 whilst doing the free service
3rd cost was $355.

So what is it really.

 

[Sime]

Let’s see what the other dealership quotes me.

 

[eflyguy]

So the question is, does it actually cost $355 for an oil change at this dealer or is it an elaborate excuse for the cost of a mistake done by the service center.

First quote was $220 in February.
2nd cost was $250 whilst doing the free service
3rd cost was $355.

So what is it really.

That should be easily answered with a phone call..

 

[Sime]

That should be easily answered with a phone call..

I thought about that but I’d leave it for awhile so the manager isn’t still fresh with the current issue.

 

[ShannonC]

The hourly rate does seem excessive compared to Sydney as I would have thought $150/160ph. The other costs are roughly what I would expect. Remember that any dealer service is required to charge an Environment Levy and will also add workshop supplies, but at $15 that's a bit rich too.

 

[Sime]

This dealership where I bought my car did the first 10,000km service yesterday, and overfilled the oil by 750ml’s. Just as well I bought one of those oil extractors today to get some of the oil out, great investment.

 

[ShannonC]

This dealership where I bought my car did the first 10,000km service yesterday, and overfilled the oil by 750ml’s. Just as well I bought one of those oil extractors today to get some of the oil out, great investment.

How did you pick this up?

 

[Sime]

How did you pick this up?

Well firstly, it was stupidly high on the dipstick, and kept taking oil out till it was perfectly on the full mark.