| MrPrescott |
Every time I take my X in for scheduled service, they quote astronomical prices! For the 30K service, they quoted something like $650. When I asked what was inlcuded, they had bundled in items not even recommended by the manual. At 40K miles, they recommended the tranny fluid be replaced, citing that KY was 'extreme conditions', for a mere $150! :( I called the Honda dealership and got the service for $45. :cool:
Just because I coughed up over $35K for a car doesn't mean I have money to burn or want to be overcharged for service. Has anyone else had similar experiences!!?!? :confused: |
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| MrPrescott |
| BTW - I priced out only the necessary service items for the 30K service & installed the air filter myself (they said it would take the better part of an hour for them to do it, but I did it in 5). Total cost, around $225:cool: |
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| shootist |
A. Bring in a list of the services you want performed based on what you read in the manual for your presumably normal service.
B. Do not say "Give me the 30,000 mile service".
or, alternatively:
C: Hand them your wallet.
Acura is very specific about what they say classifies as "Severe service" for their severe service schedule. Read the manual, and you will be armed with the power to tell the service advisor he's nuts. |
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| dsmith6281 |
| according to the brochure, the mdx needs no service other than fluids and inspections for the first 105K miles. is this true? what is in the 30K service that costs so much? |
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| slocko |
I always go to Honda for oil changes and VTM fluid change. Every 15k miles I do the Pilot 15k maintenance service offered by Honda.
Acura is too expensive for me. Plus I get the goodwill of my Honda dealer for servicing both my Odyssey and Acura there. |
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| prelude97 |
Yes all the service for honda/acura are a rip off. The dealers adds a list of "inspect" items that 99/100 you probably won't need fixing. It never hurts to inspect something but the prices they charge are outragous.
"A fool and his money allways part", or if you lots of it and don't mind pissing it away thats okay too.
As stated earlier read your users manual and follow that.
If you don't mind getting your fingers greasy, nicked and cut, you'll save tons of money working on the car yourself. But that's not for everyone. Buy a helm's service manual from www.helminc.com, it's the same manual the dealer uses - and by far the best one out there. |
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| keremoner |
| Find an honest repair shop that specializes in Japanese cars (preferably owned by Koreans since they always seem to be honest and hard working) and go there for all your service needs. I've never been to my Acura dealer and never will either. They charge at least twice what an honest shop will. |
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| Sinecure |
First off, let me say that it really concerns me to see "KY" and "Extreme Conditions" in the same sentence. Living near SF, you gotta be careful what you say/write. :2:
I used to get all my service done at the Acura dealer. It pained me what they charged for a glorified oil change. Recently I started going to a local shop that specializes in Hondas and Acuras. In my first service, they discovered that Acura had never replaced my internal air filter in all the years I'd been going there. :eek:
Now I'm a fan of the Honda Hospital in San Mateo, CA. It doesn't hurt that the owner drives an MDX. |
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| NewYorkMDX |
| It's not just Honda/Acura service.........every dealership's service department is a rip. If you can't do the maintenance/repairs yourself, find yourself a reliable mechanic and have him work on your X. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by NewYorkMDX
It's not just Honda/Acura service.........every dealership's service department is a rip. If you can't do the maintenance/repairs yourself, find yourself a reliable mechanic and have him work on your X.
I myself go to the local Honda dealer, less than a mile from the house, for my service maintenance. They are a lot cheaper than the Acura dealer, plus they moved to the other side of town.
I'm intrigued by your comment "find yourself a reliable mechanic and have him work on your X." I've used a very reliable mechanic in the past with other cars, and I would take the X to him if I could be sure his service maintenance would not violate the warranty in any way. If that's the case, I may start going there. I'm just over 35K. |
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| dstrimple |
| So is the factory warranty voided if someone else does the work. Just what is involved? |
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| Echo2625 |
quote:
Originally posted by greatscot
I myself go to the local Honda dealer, less than a mile from the house, for my service maintenance. They are a lot cheaper than the Acura dealer, plus they moved to the other side of town.
I'm intrigued by your comment "find yourself a reliable mechanic and have him work on your X." I've used a very reliable mechanic in the past with other cars, and I would take the X to him if I could be sure his service maintenance would not violate the warranty in any way. If that's the case, I may start going there. I'm just over 35K.
Acura cannot force you to go back to them for service to maintain the warranty. That is illegal. As long as you can prove that you have done the required maintanance (keep your receipts) Acura has to honor your warranty. If they don't, you have a huge lawsuit and they will owe you a bunch of money! |
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| NewYorkMDX |
quote:
Originally posted by Echo2625
Acura cannot force you to go back to them for service to maintain the warranty. That is illegal. As long as you can prove that you have done the required maintanance (keep your receipts) Acura has to honor your warranty. If they don't, you have a huge lawsuit and they will owe you a bunch of money!
:bingo: |
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| dstrimple |
quote:
Originally posted by Echo2625
Acura cannot force you to go back to them for service to maintain the warranty. That is illegal. As long as you can prove that you have done the required maintanance (keep your receipts) Acura has to honor your warranty. If they don't, you have a huge lawsuit and they will owe you a bunch of money!
So as long as the work outlined in the owner's manual is done by a certified mechanic and backed up with receipts there is no problem. Does any mechanic qualify or is there a registration or certification that they look for? I would expect the $699 maintenance can be done for $200 or less elsewhere. |
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| Echo2625 |
quote:
Originally posted by dstrimple
So as long as the work outlined in the owner's manual is done by a certified mechanic and backed up with receipts there is no problem. Does any mechanic qualify or is there a registration or certification that they look for? I would expect the $699 maintenance can be done for $200 or less elsewhere.
YOU can do the work if you want to. It does not have to be a certified mechanic. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by Echo2625
Acura cannot force you to go back to them for service to maintain the warranty. That is illegal. As long as you can prove that you have done the required maintanance (keep your receipts) Acura has to honor your warranty. If they don't, you have a huge lawsuit and they will owe you a bunch of money!
Thanks for the information. No problem on the receipt-keeping, I'm a document keeper freak. The X has it's very own file in the cabinet. Thanks again. |
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| dstrimple |
| I had no idea. We can actually do the work ourselves. WOW!! Thanks for the info. |
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