60k Service Questions

ZippySLC · Nov 25, 2009

I just made an appointment for the 60k service for my 04 v8. Dealer quoted $745. Looks like it's plugs, oil change, tire rotation, filters, and various inspections.

I'm debating just buying the parts and doing the work myself - seems like I can buy all of the parts for just about half of that as well as still pay to have the dealer change the oil.

There's of course the benefit of picking up a free loaner and not having to work outside in the cold to do the job. Is there anything else that justifies having the dealer do the 60k service?

volkswagendude · Nov 26, 2009

You can always have the dealer do the "a la carte" thing, although some service advisors might snap back at you with something like, "but if you take our complete package deals, instead of picking and choosing what you want us to do, it will cost you less"

For starters, do the plugs and filters yourself. Believe me, if I can, so can you

Inspections? I'm sure you can check/inspect 80-90% of the items yourself. Leave the other visual inspections for your dealer to do, which should take them 3 minutes total, eg, exhaust leaks, cv joints, ball joints, boot condition, etc. You can inspect if your door hinges need lubing yourself

Tire rotation and oil changes. I ALWAYS swap out my summer/winter tires on my vehicles, ditto for rotations. Oil changes, truthfully, I let the dealer do them most of the time. But shame on me really...

ColoradoMax · Nov 26, 2009

The items I could see myself paying the dealer to do would be changing fluids other than the engine oil. The whole 'whether to change tranny fluid or not' debate is a can of worms on its own, but I was able to do a partial change with some research, a VAG-COM, and the help of a friend.

Just follow the maintenance intervals in the manual.

nltomba · Nov 26, 2009

DIY is a very good plan
plugs $80 max (one hour max)
oil plus filter $70(45 min)
pollenfilter $22.00(15 min)
Rotation (have that done for $15 somewhere)
You made a good $500 on labour or $250 an hour. I do not make that much on average. Do you?
Do your own brakes and you make over $400 an hour!

Money spent $172

volkswagendude · Nov 26, 2009

Good point on the rotation pricing, as they can always verify the balancing too.

However, I'm still reluctant to go to a garage, to have my summers swapped out for the winters. Getting the interior dirty aside, on my previous cars, virtually all these "tire places" ended up damaging the the bottom of the car, due to not aligning their jacks on the proper lift points, thus resulting in long term rust damage.

nltomba · Nov 26, 2009

Never had that problem before but then I do not take it to walmart/jiffy lube places but a reputable place I come for the last 8 years

volkswagendude · Nov 26, 2009

nltomba said:
Never had that problem before but then I do not take it to walmart/jiffy lube places but a reputable place I come for the last 8 years

Those names are blasphemy!

3 places that have done damage on my 3 existing cars. BMW dealer, VW dealer, and the place that you buy your tires from, with the sales pitch of "free
installation

" The former two are a step up from "Jiffy" type places, but even your local stealership, has its share of mechanics in training.

The only true reputable place that I know of, and have been visiting for the last decade, is my driveway and garage. Only problem is, that I don't have true a lift.

My worst inner fears: Spiders, suffocating, and having a car fall on my chest.

The Touareg may very well change all that, as all I need to do, is put the suspension in offroad mode, add some jacks for good measure(never can be too careful) and get to work. Unlike my modified Alpina BMW, which is literally 2 inches off of the ground.

ZippySLC · Nov 26, 2009

The only reason why I don't like changing the oil on my own cars is the incredible mess that I seem to always make. I know it's the lamest excuse in the world, but the $100 that the dealer charges is worth it to me if I don't have to end up burning myself up on oil or making a mess out of the driveway.

(Actually, the Touareg is the first car that I really have a strong aversion to doing it myself. My Jeeps and BMW were a piece of cake and weren't too messy.)

nltomba · Nov 26, 2009

A Touareg is not messy either. I got a 5 gallon bucket that I shortened a bit so it fit better underneath the car. I do not spill a drop and it makes doing the oil change very easy

60k Service Questions

ZippySLC

volkswagendude

ColoradoMax

nltomba

volkswagendude

nltomba

volkswagendude

ZippySLC

nltomba

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