Why are oil services so expensive?

akescpt

akescpt

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just phoning around for quotes for what is essentially an oil change...the range is from 1100 to 2300!! R550 for labour alone. i wonder if this is something i can do myself. Are there any place besides the stealers i can do this service?:mad:
 
akescpt said:
just phoning around for quotes for what is essentially an oil change...the range is from 1100 to 2300!! R550 for labour alone. i wonder if this is something i can do myself. Are there any place besides the stealers i can do this service?:mad:
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WTF! a 5L oil, depending on model ranges from R100 - R450. standard labour rate of R400p/h at most stealerships... thus oil change should not even come close to R1k...

what car, and what oil please

*edit* as far as i know you can buy the oil, take it in and instruct them to use it in the oil change.
 
That is a 30 minute job INCLUDING driving to Midas to get the stuff AND dumping the old oil in your enemy's yard!!

Oil if you buy good stuff will set you back around R400-R500. Filters, depending on how far you go another R200. Cheap but good oil (Shell Helix) goes for R140/5liters.

Unless you drive a new yuppie mobile....then it gets a bit more complicated.
 
2007 daihatsu sirion! i cant believe it. labour rate at daihatsu is from 520 - 555!
 
this is the quote i got:

Herewith follows quote for 75,000km service as requested:
Oil R176,00
Oil filter R123,31
Sump washer R27,28
Windscreen wash R 5,50
Engine cleaner R32,20
Labour R555,00
Consumables R50,00
Sub-Total R969,29
Vat @14% R135,70
Total R1104,99

another dealer quote me R1800 - R2300 and another quoted me R1300. I stopped calling after that. A bosch service center quoted me R1146 also.
 
Last edited:
akescpt said:
this is the quote i got:

Herewith follows quote for 75,000km service as requested:
Oil R176,00
Oil filter R123,31
Sump washer R27,28
Windscreen wash R 5,50
Engine cleaner R32,20
Labour R555,00
Consumables R50,00
Sub-Total R969,29
Vat @14% R135,70
Total R1104,99
Click to expand...

considering it is a diehardsue
(yet it shares a platrform and engine with the toyota yaris) ... i wouldnt want to take a chance with it at an *independant* workshop in cape town (far too many bad experiences)

their labour rate is insane!

if you are in the southern suburbs, try KC Auto
56 Loch Road, kenilworth
683 1214

they come highly recommended by the Audi Club of Cape Town (and me), but they do service all makes of vehicles and use only genuine parts.
their labour rate is R250p/h
 
oil

akescpt said:
just phoning around for quotes for what is essentially an oil change...the range is from 1100 to 2300!! R550 for labour alone. i wonder if this is something i can do myself. Are there any place besides the stealers i can do this service?:mad:
Click to expand...

Get one of these (pela 6000) http://www.pelaproducts.com/ . Paid R480 for it and doing my oil service self on my Merc ML270 which need an oil change every 10K after the merc garage quoted me R2500.

Now only cost me 2xR199 (car takes 7 L) for Caltex magnatex (what the dealership where using) +R200 for the filter from the Merc dealer. Takes 15 minutes to do and no mess.
 
Windscreen R 5,50... these guys are jokes. why not just add the Windscreen washer for free, i mean they already charging you an arm and a let. i also do my oil changes...
 
that price is fine. i pay that for an oil "service"

I'll never do it myself. i prefer to drop it off at the dealer, have a coffee and a muffin and pick it up all good and ready to go.

Doing it yourself is just a recipe for breaking smoething, otherwise the owners manual would have an index page for "How to change your own Oil" etc. etc.

and, i wouldnt be able to find it anyway. my car has a big fat engine cover over the whole engine and im not even gonna try figure out how that thing comes off, thats what the dealer is there for :)
 
You pay ~R250 for 5l oil. They do too. They charge you for 8*500ml cans @ some exhorbitant price, when they blatantly use oil from a frikken 50 gallon drum anyway.

SOBs.

Change your oil youself if car is out of warranty. Stealerships :sick: There are backyard mechanics that will do it for you for ~R500. I have a good one in Rondebosch if you are interested...
 
rurapente said:
that price is fine. i pay that for an oil "service"

I'll never do it myself. i prefer to drop it off at the dealer, have a coffee and a muffin and pick it up all good and ready to go.

Doing it yourself is just a recipe for breaking smoething, otherwise the owners manual would have an index page for "How to change your own Oil" etc. etc.

and, i wouldnt be able to find it anyway. my car has a big fat engine cover over the whole engine and im not even gonna try figure out how that thing comes off, thats what the dealer is there for :)
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Just 'cause you pay stupid tax doesn't mean everyone else should...
 
hyperian said:
R550 per hour? I'm a software developer with a masters degree in computer science and I get billed out to clients in the USA for less than that!
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:D Would appear that if you wanted to make the big bucks all your studying was for nothing...life is a biatch hey....:)
 
rurapente said:
that price is fine. i pay that for an oil "service"

I'll never do it myself. i prefer to drop it off at the dealer, have a coffee and a muffin and pick it up all good and ready to go.

Doing it yourself is just a recipe for breaking smoething, otherwise the owners manual would have an index page for "How to change your own Oil" etc. etc.

and, i wouldnt be able to find it anyway. my car has a big fat engine cover over the whole engine and im not even gonna try figure out how that thing comes off, thats what the dealer is there for :)
Click to expand...

mind me asking what you drive?

1k for what is essentially an oil change is excessive
 
I haven't botherd to go through the entire thread, so I am sorry if this question has been asked.

WHY are people still paying garages crazy prices to do something that any incompetent is capable of doing with his eyes closed??!

Changing a car's oil comes to as basic as getting dressed in the mornings. Don't come with "I am not mechanically minded" rubbish. If you are prepared to pay some mechanic an exorbitant price to do it for you, don't complain about the price! :mad:
 
hyperian said:
R550 per hour? I'm a software developer with a masters degree in computer science and I get billed out to clients in the USA for less than that!
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u shoulda saved urself 7 years and just got an apprenticeship at a stealership...apparently the sump nut has a weird shape and i would need to purchase a special tool to remove it...service is already due..so damn i'm stuck with the stealership!!! thats the best quote i got though...
 
akescpt said:
u shoulda saved urself 7 years and just got an apprenticeship at a stealership...apparently the sump nut has a weird shape and i would need to purchase a special tool to remove it...service is already due..so damn i'm stuck with the stealership!!! thats the best quote i got though...
Click to expand...

I take it the spanner costs several thousand rand? :whistle:
 
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