CasKru wrote:The someone you refer to... is it an accredited someone? Can they stamp the book and will the manufacturer guarantee still be valid?
I dont think any dealer/brand will honour a warantee when an "independant" works on a vehicle that is still under guarantee. Surely there may be exceptions if it is not practical to get to an approved dealership ....
That said, my faith in Barloworld Toyota Tygervalley took yet another knock this weekend ....
First service outside the service plan, so I dig in and do it myself - with a 4 year old toolboy
Biggest problem was getting the large trolley jack under the Etios ... bumper is just too low and the lift points too far back.
Drain the oil - EASY
Replace the fibre washer on the sump plug
Remove the oil filter - actually very easy to reach, thus making the jop even easier. AND mounted low thus no long oil drips ...
Replace the four spark plugs. again very easy to reach.
WOW, what a nice car to work on !!
Replace the air filter.
New filter on
sump plug back in
add new oil
Then out with my check list, EVERYTHING the dealers are SUPPOSED to check. From the lights, to all the fluid levels, condition of the CV boots, brakes, etc etc ....
Even taking the time to train the 4 year old toolboy the job took less than 1 hour.
In 2014 Toyota charged R 1 293-91 for this very service -
Doing ALL the inspections properly it will take the best part of 30 minutes to do this service when you have the equipment and experience, thus just over R 1 000 per hour labour rate
Now a year later the prices look as follows :
NGK spark plugs (same as the old units given back to me after the dealership service) - R 166,17 ... Was R 340,52 at Toyota 16 months ago.
Same oil, same price ...
30% markup on the sump plug gasket at Toyota
90% markup on the oil filter at Toyota
Toyota did not bother to replace the air filter so cant compare the price. At R 218,63 I replaced it.
The fact that I had to take the Etios back 2 days after the service for a recall item does not sit well with me. IF they did all the checks they should have seen it, and done it the first time.
Now for the cherry on the Toy badge ...
This is the plugs that was handed back after the 20 000 km service (yes, I also did not think they replaced them so soon on new cars) .... but the it was replaced and charged for.
Classic NGK plugs that was replaced .... see they wear for plugs that are supposed to be only 20 000km old
So imagine my surprise on Saturday when I see THIS when I service the Etios, exactly another 20 000km later -
A DENZO !!
And a wear pattern that do look the part for 40 000 km .......
Now WHAT is the chance Toyota Barloworld Tygervalley actually fitted DENZO plugs during the 20 000 km service ??????? DENZO is what it comes with when imported .....
So back to the question -
Would I pay a DEALER to service my car - HECK NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would I pay an independant to work on my car - YES, I have done so and will gladly do it again. Oil change is one thing, but when it gets to the cam-belts etc I book it in.
The rate .... You only need a small glimpse into the books of any artisan to understand what it actually costs to provide a proper service. R 1000 an hour for PROPER SERVICE is absolutely fine by me.
but I am not interested in paying a lesser fee if one "mechanic" overseas 10 appies on 20 cars .....