Car Service - How to Ensure You Get What You Pay For?

[Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 15:38

Just got back from picking up the car after it's annual service and pink slip and had an interesting conversation with the mechanic that I thought I'd share here to see what OzB reckons.

2016 Toyota serviced at mycar Tyre & Auto following a neighbour's recommendation. It was previously serviced every 6 months at the stealership where purchased and moved to mycar after the warranty period expired.

I was looking at the mycar website this morning and it sets out some detail as to what is included with their Detailed 86-point check inspection' - 9 points are provided. There doesn't appear to be any further information online as to what makes up the mycar 86-point check inspection.

When I returned to get the car, I was given the tax invoice and the Authorised Inspection Station e-safety Check Report along with the Foot Brake Test print out. I then asked for the printed results of the digital battery check (that was covered under point 3 on their website and which I've never been provided with previously) and the mechanic was a bit surprised at my request. He said that he has never issued it to customers and I had to show him the detail on their website as he'd never seen it previously.

What documentation do OzB car owners, who get their car serviced elsewhere, receive when they get their car serviced? Should mycar and other car service providers supply the full list of what makes up their ##-point check inspections? Also, what checks can an owner easily do to ensure that their car has been serviced as per the regular service offer/logbook servicing?

Let me know your thoughts.

Automotive

Comments

  • spackbace on 28/04/2022 - 15:45
    -2

    Interesting, call them a stealership despite mycar mis-advertising their service…

    For arguments sake I did a comparison of quoted figures.

    Example car - 2016 Corolla 1.8, due for 72 month/120,000km service
    Mycar - $901.52
    Toyota.com.au - $1011.33

    Yes there's a difference, but not as much as you'd expect…

    • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 15:53

      No offence but each dealership service meant at least 3 phone calls about items that were urgently needed to be replaced and charged separately and there were some interesting prices that were quoted.

      • Jason Genova on 28/04/2022 - 15:58
        +9

        spackbace is always on to every car dealership related thread, as he works for one

        he gets easily offended

        • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 16:04
          +3

          He's OK and always a wealth of info

        • spackbace on 28/04/2022 - 16:06
          +1

          he gets easily offended

          Wouldn't say I'm offended, I've often heard of issues with service departments in the dealerships I've worked at (unfortunately), but places like this, Kmart T&S, etc etc also have their own issues.

          Hell, when I was younger I took my car to a mechanic my parents had sworn by for years and he overfilled the oil. Seemed like such a rookie thing to do that I never took it back to him

    • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 16:02

      Also I'm not concerned as to the base cost of the service as that is known upfront - it's more about what easy checks a car owner can do to ensure the service items have been done and what OzB car owners experiences are at other car service centres.

    • ol mate on 28/04/2022 - 16:33
      +2

      Yeah Mycar is a rip off.

      Got quotes for a 2012 (ZRE152) Corolla's 160k service - Mycar quoted $895… Toyota dealers quoted $810 and $860… You can guess who used a genuine fuel filter (at $200) and who used a $50 Ryco part… Other independents on Autoguru weren't much better (all around that $730 mark - might as well get a dealer to do it with genuine instead of Sakura and Ryco parts)

      • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 16:45

        Yes, genuine parts are definitely a consideration.

        We do <5K kms annually as this is our second car so looking at cost effective options.

      • GeneralKeen on 29/04/2022 - 17:31

        My Corolla is 2013 with 60k milege, MyCar quoted $400++ buy Toyota is $250++. I'm not sure which one I should go to?

  • Hybroid on 28/04/2022 - 15:49
    +2

    I get my car serviced at Toyota. $330 isn't bad but I'm under no illusion it's anything more than changing oil, replacing filters at specific intervals and the rest is just "checks".

    They send me a link to a 2 minute video walkthrough of the car showing what's been checked under the car, no leaks shown at axles or diff, CV boots and rods all ok, suspension fine, brakes condition, tyre tread measured etc. They also print an itemised list of parts changed with costs as well as their own safety checklist completed.

    5L oil at Repco is about $70'ish
    Air filter (third-party) is $60'ish
    Cabin filter (third-party) $40'ish

    So dealer charge about $140 for their labour and OEM markup on items. I don't find that unreasonable.

    Also convenient doing the eSafety check at the same time.

    I've never been given the battery test slip but have seen it printed from the tester machine, would just ask for that upfront next time. I'm sure they're happy to provide it. It's a simple print-out that just says "OK".

    • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 16:15

      The mechanic offered to do the battery test again for me so no issue there. Just pointing out that the mechanic wasn't aware of the company website detail - unsure whether this is something new or whether other mycar service centres provide it.

    • Muzeeb on 28/04/2022 - 17:37
      +3

      5L oil at Repco is about $70'ish

      You're doing it wrong then.

  • randomusername2017 on 28/04/2022 - 15:53
    +2

    Always ask for the empty bottle they used to top up blinker fluid….

    Sample inhale from tyre valve to check nitrogen Vs air…

    • ChrisLevo on 28/04/2022 - 16:21
      +2

      You need helium in 4WD tyres to make them ride higher.

  • Euphemistic on 28/04/2022 - 16:36
    +3

    I suspect for most mechanics a battery check is turning the key to start it. If it starts the battery is good. Getting a ‘digital battery report’ is one of those wanky things they try to upsell with.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 19:36

      Exactly why I posted - how do car owners ensure their car is properly serviced rather than possible short cuts being taken as you mentioned.

      I know the NRMA provide a battery test print out as part of their checks if your car won't start so nothing new.

      • Euphemistic on 28/04/2022 - 20:52
        +2

        A decent mechanic doesn’t need a ‘gazillion point safety report’ to do a thorough job. They’ll naturally look over the vehicle as they drain the oil etc. they’ll know what to look for in particular models they have serviced frequently, or particular items that frequently fail or cause issues from their experience. Theyll take a short test drive and use experience to listen for problem too.

        Hard part is finding a decent mechanic that wants to maintain your vehicle, not someone who just want to change the oil.

  • pegaxs on 28/04/2022 - 16:42
    +5

    If a stealership calls you with extra work, just say, “Thanks for letting me know. If you can quote it up and let me know when I come in to pick the car up. Thanks.”

    Then take their information and quote and ring around a few other places to get quotes on the work to compare.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 16:50

      That's what I ended up doing after fielding multiple calls - they were relentless!

  • Brian McGee on 28/04/2022 - 17:17
    +3

    There are more than 9 points, the headings you refer to appear to be stages of inspection.

    E.G; Stage 1
    1. Test drive
    The engine (point 1), drivetrain (point 2), brakes(point 3) and suspension (point 4) in your vehicle will be tested to ensure that they are up to standard.

    When visually inspecting they could say front and rear brakes are 2 different points, front and rear suspension are 4 different points, left and right axles are 2 different points, headlights/parkers/indicators and 6 different points, so you can see how the BS racks up.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2022 - 19:40

      ugh - a convoluted way of setting it out online.

  • big1964 on 28/04/2022 - 18:45
    +1

    A stealership wouldn’t be doing their job if they weren’t trying to extract every last dollar out your pocket when they service your car that’s how they make most of their money not through selling cars.
    I have owned most of the well known brands of cars over the years and they all the same, reality is cars need to be maintained, honest mechanics are out there you just have to find one!!

    • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2022 - 10:05

      honest mechanics are out there you just have to find one!!

      The search is on!

  • Toph Beifong on 28/04/2022 - 23:44
    +1

    Lots of corruption in this industry. I have a Honda and service it myself. Oil changes every 10,000km cost me $50 (40 for full synthetic oil and 10 for new filter). Battery and alternator I can check myself using a cheap voltmeter. A healthy battery should read around 12.6V with the engine off. It takes literally 10s to check this. I bought Bosch ceramic brakes online ($100 for all 4 wheels) and will change them myself. I like the satisfaction of knowing that the job is ACTUALLY done.

    I know some people who use a marker and put a mark on filters and parts and check them after taking the car for a service to make sure they have actually been changed. Countless stories of people leaving their car at the stealership, picking it up, handed a big bill and then checking the dashcam footage to see that the car was sitting there with no work done.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2022 - 10:26

      It's great that you DIY and therefore know the work was completed.

      I know some people who use a marker and put a mark on filters and parts and check them after taking the car for a service to make sure they have actually been changed.

      My FiL does this even though he's been taking his car to the same mechanic for the past 10 years ……. he trusts no-one!

  • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2022 - 04:18
    +1

    i go with someone who the people i know that know about cars go to, i do not trust one of my parents mechanics and i have no idea why they trust him as they have been ripped off a couple times by him (siblings and i have told the parent and they don't seem to care)

    • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2022 - 10:36
      +1

      I've received a few mechanic recommendations from colleagues. They all said to go with an independent garage so I'll try that for the next service.

      Ahhhhh parents - they just refuse to be taught or listen or …….. ;)

      • [Deactivated] on 29/04/2022 - 14:31
        +1

        not all independent garages are good, the dodgy one i wrote about owns their own garage and it's independent.

        sadly it's really difficult to find a mechanic you can trust, but recommendations from those you trust are the best way.

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