I’ve had way to many dodgy mechanics. I’m located in SE Melbourne.
Do Ozbargain people go to Kmart Auto instead?
Where do you service your car?
LBrokenow on 11/12/2018 - 22:02
Comments
I too avoid medical experts when my car needs attention. They are generally cleaner than mechanics, are polite and can string a sentence together using many words of many syllables, but they are crap at changing the oil and charge way too much.
I have been going to "Real Automotive" in Huntingdale.
Great guy Teddy will take care of you.Price is good and location is perfect as its next to Huntingdale station so you can just pop in and leave to work/uni by train if needed to.
I use an independent mobile mechanic.
In Melbourne?
Friends Shop.
Driveway.
Kmart are renowned for up selling so be careful if you go there.
Mobile mechanic. You can see what is being done and you get a qualified mechanic doing the job, not unskilled labour.
I'd recommend learning some basic things about your car so that you can do some minor servicing yourself (nobody should be going to a mechanic for an oil change, for instance). Also, knowing about your car means that if a mechanic is trying to upsell or BS you, you'll know straight away.
I usually just go to the closest mechanic chain to my place, but when I get there, I usually have a chat to them and let them know what's wrong and tell them my own diagnosis of the issue and what I've tried to do to rectify it. Usually just making sure they know that you're not a complete know-nothing when it comes to cars will help tremendously with them not trying to rip you off.
unless the car is under warranty of course…. then hopefully you have fixed price servicing..
I also do pretty much all my work myself, because i cant stand mechanics charging 100+ an hour to do something i can do myself to a better quality and I know its been done right. I never trust the mechanics to actually do what they said they did, unless i'm watching them do it, maybe i have trust issues…I know i'll be more careful and it will get changed right…
(Actually thats a lie, i travelled around Australia and got an 800 dollar service done in broome - because i didn't have the means to do it myself easily - and that just justifies why i do it myself! - that said i did even install a dual battery Isolator on the road.)
but i digress,
changing oil is as simple as undoing a bolt, undoing the filter, redoing a bolt, redoing a filter and filling a car with oil- about as hard as changing a tyre, changing an air filter is about the same. plugs can be a bit more complex on some cars as they are behind an intake or covers, but even still…paying someone 100 bux+ seems crazy to undo and redo a few bolts/filters.
I watch a youtube video on how to fix it, then I either fix it or break it myself
and then fix it again…..
.
Usually the front yard, sometimes out the back. Tried the driveway once, the oil made too much mess.
Not too hard to DIY
I'm lucky to have an Dad who has been doing it himself over the years and we learn how to do it on any new car I have at the time. All cars are basically the same, just some are harder to do than others as cars are manufactured so it's harder to DIY
Jump on facebook - Find a group specific to your brand/model, ask them for the best mechanics in your city. Pick one.
Only ever take your car to a mechanic who specialises in the brand/model.
DIY, barely drive, this Camry is going to out last me…
I just take it to Toyota (Fixed price servicing)
I’m located in SE Melbourne
What suburb are you in? I'm very happy with my mechanic, who is in Upwey.
Clayton
Victory automotive then for you for sure…my personal mechanic and I'd even travel to visit him, as he's knowledgeable, charges fair rates and won't try to upsell you.
Oil and filter always plus normal friendly chit chat and talk about next service and what we decide on and a stamp in the log book which is needed. Not dodgy but common sense.
Yea I go Kmart for my service to gain my flybuy points..lol.. the service is ok…
Get mu Merc. serviced by local log book mechanics they have 6 bays/lifts and about half the price of dealer.
At a mechanic. I found the osteo wasn't very good at it and they charge a larger hourly rate.