A new "high" for our dealership. They MUST be joking!

[Candurin]

So we have been having our services performed for years (and I mean over 12!) at our dealership (Chapman in south NJ). Wife took her CX-9 in for 90K service (which they quoted over $400 for! We declined everything but the full synthetic oil change and rear differential fluid change (which was $169 total, so not too bad).

But the they sent us this gem:



I couldn't believe it! This was a new low (I mean "high"). I have expressed my disappointment the general manager. This was ridiculous. Yes, we declined it. I have since ordered the 4 NGK plugs from rock auto for $68 shipped and will change them over the weekend.

We always had a friend or two that worked in the service department that took care of us. Since they left, I will now move whatever I cannot do myself over to a local Japanese car expert. I guess I'll look into a Fumoto valve for my CX-5 and my wife's CX-9!

Just needed to share this with someone

 

[Cooter Boy]

Not surprising. I worked at a Pontiac dealer in 1967-68. Dealers were crooks then and still are, probably much worse.

I never go to a dealer for anything except to buy a new car or for warranty work.

 

[dunhillmc]

They're not even right about the spark plug replacement interval. It's supposed to be every 40k miles for the 2.5T

 

[clownshoes2]

I got the same quote from my dealer. My local guy can do it for under 300. But I think Imma take a stab at it.

Does anyone know the torque specs for the plugs?

 

[yrwei52]

⋯ Does anyone know the torque specs for the plugs?

Here:

Ha, that “finger-tight and another ½ turn” instruction actually is the official installation instruction printed on each spark plug package. Of course the better way is to invest a ⅜” torque wrench which covers 12~14 ft/lbf range even from Harbor Freight Tools. Honestly I myself haven’t used the torque wrench to install spark plugs for many years with such low torque value on spark plugs. The official installation instruction without a torque wrench at least is less prone to strip the threads on aluminum cylinder head than those who isn’t familiar with using a torque wrench.

 

[GFrosty]

We always had a friend or two that worked in the service department that took care of us. Since they left, ...

Same thing happened at my nearby Mazda dealer. A really good guy was the go-to service person. Never up-sold, always offered fair prices and discounts for key stuff. He had a good feel for what I was looking for, and knew I wouldn't tolerate getting fed a line.

Six months after he left, the "churn" began. Now, they can't keep good-quality staff in the role. I suspect they're not able to attract good-quality staff these days. The last couple of times I was there, they tried to shovel as big a pile of things (on me and my well-maintained CX-5) as they could. Half of which had already been done and hardly needed "fixing," yet they claimed it anyway. It's become commonplace, sadly.

Nicely, spark plugs are one of those easy-peasy tasks. The "twist & turn" tasks such as suspension work, brakes or even oil/filter changes ... I have others do those. Getting older's just peachy. Or so everybody's been telling me.

 

[wlong01]

Had plugs replaced in our GTR last July at the dealer. $182.15.