Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The dealership mechanics get the benefit of specific product training at factory training facilities which is not available to those in independent shops. This is most significant on jobs that involve electronics or complex components like automatic transmissions. As always there beginners in most shops.
Potentially yes, because dealers generally only hire experienced ASE certified mechanics.
The best independent shops are the ones owned by those experienced ASE certified mechanics, who got tired of the BS at the dealerships and struck out on their own.
Years ago, when I thought that the new car dealer was better.
Had oil change at dealer.
They drive car up front. All done.
I went to pay bill and they gave me the keys.
I went to my car outside and car was running with no key in ignition.
So much for the 18 year old high school dropout who changed my oil at the new car dealership.
He didn't even know that to take the ignition key out one has to turn off the engine first. He just yanked the key out of ignition with car still running.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,563 posts, read 81,147,605 times
Reputation: 57767
Quote:
Originally Posted by Synott
Hmmm so the 20 year old changing my cars oil is an ASE certified mechanic? Interesting
Perhaps it depends on the dealer.
The only 20 year olds I’ve seen at the dealer I use are the car wash kid and the tech guy that explains the infotainment systems. Inside where the work is done each work station has a sign with the mechanic’s name and year of certification.
When I had a sign business I did the signs for several dealerships in Bellevue, WA such as Mercedes, Cadillac, Ford, Volvo and Audi, and they all had the year of ASE certification under their names, in the case of Mercedes even the date of factory training in Germany.
The only kids I see are at the quick oil change franchises.
I have been doing mobile mechanic work for a while. Working on finding the right location to open a fixed shop.
I have a lot of customers that initially went to the dealership and were hit by insane prices.
For example, one customer wanted all 4 brakes done on his Cummins truck. Pads and rotors. Dealership wanted 900 dollars.
I got him the parts and installed them for half AND I ended up having to replace a caliper because he waited too long to do them and the piston popped out of the bore and damaged the cylinder.
I made 100 an hour and still got it done cheaper than the dealership. Customer was happy. I was happy.
That said, there are some things the dealer can do better than most small shops. There's a lot of computer systems that need flashed or updated. Most small shops don't have the equipment to do that. Dealerships do.
Really? We have two on warranty now and the dealer is charging us $39.95 for "The Works" which includes oil change (synthetic blend), tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, vehicle inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, filter check, and belts and hoses check.
You must not be driving a Mercedes Benz. Our C300 10,000 mile service could have cost $700 if the dealer had gone with the "B" Service, which he could have easily. The "A" service cost us "only" $400. What do you think they did at 10,000 miles?
But some are trying to be more competitive to try and take back some of the brakes/tires/batteries business from independent shops. Mostly Ford/GM stores are matching prices you find elsewhere.
BMW- not so much, I saw a quote for an oil change (7 qrts, filter, orings).....$392. Labor was 200, oil was $20 a quart (Walmart sells the same oil for $6). Needless to say the oil change was declined for that price.
DIY cost for that same car was about $75 using a BMW oil filter!
I own a Mercedes. They have 2 service intervals. A and B the A is an oil change and wiper blade change. Dealership charges $300. My local MB specialist charges $110. People will blindly pay though.
Typical rule of thumb for me is if the car is under warranty and they are providing the regular maintenance free (oil changes, filters, etc.) then keep going. Once out of warranty then you DIY or find a reliable mechanic elsewhere.
I had my first 3 oil changes free on my GLI, once that was done I did the rest myself. Brakes, oil, other issues that may have come up. However I used the warranty successfully for the intake manifold which was known the be defective.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
