Dealership Oil Change Question

[BlaQ_B6]

Why does it cost $120 + Tax for something as simple as an oil change? What's included in the service besides the changing of the oil? Does this just boil down to a dealership just charging BS prices for such a simple task? Or do they do something special? Any answers are appreciated, Thanks in advance.

-Jake

[manguyen]

Nothing special. THey probably charge you one hour labor with it. I do mine at home : $10 for filter and $25 for the oil... and 15 mins of my time

[BlaQ_B6]

I totally would man, but I lack just about everything to do it..the space, the ramps. Plenty of time though ha.

[Rajan147]

Synthetic is not cheap (0w40 - $7/quart). Dealer uses does a quick visual inspection (nothing you cant manage when your under your car) and tops off washer fluid etc.

1. When you buy your oil filter say OEM, just buy them in Bulk from Blau or ECS.
2. Spend the money on synthetic
3. Just follow the directions of

1. remove skid plate
2. remove oil plug
3. drain oil
4. replace oil plug and secure
5. remove oil filter and drain (make sure the old gasket on the old oil filter is removed also) otherwise your new filter will not seat properly
6. Take new filter, lube top part of the filter with some old oil
7. Screw on new filter, tighten by hand, then give another 1/2 turn.
8. Refill with oil of your choice to manufactures spec
9. Check oil levels, make sure car is on level surface and check oil levels again.
10. Start Car, let it run for a few secs, then check oil levels
11. Replace skid plate
12. Drive off.


Save the cash, do it yourself and learn a little about automotive maintenance.

[BlaQ_B6]

Synthetic is not cheap (0w40 - $7/quart). Dealer uses does a quick visual inspection (nothing you cant manage when your under your car) and tops off washer fluid etc.

1. When you buy your oil filter say OEM, just buy them in Bulk from Blau or ECS.
2. Spend the money on synthetic
3. Just follow the directions of

1. remove skid plate
2. remove oil plug
3. drain oil
4. replace oil plug and secure
5. remove oil filter and drain (make sure the old gasket on the old oil filter is removed also) otherwise your new filter will not seat properly
6. Take new filter, lube top part of the filter with some old oil
7. Screw on new filter, tighten by hand, then give another 1/2 turn.
8. Refill with oil of your choice to manufactures spec
9. Check oil levels, make sure car is on level surface and check oil levels again.
10. Start Car, let it run for a few secs, then check oil levels
11. Replace skid plate
12. Drive off.


Save the cash, do it yourself and learn a little about automotive maintenance.

Thanks for the quick how-to, but I could easily change my oil, IF I had the facility to. I'm just really tryin to find out what Audi does that allows them to charge such an insane price for an oil change.

[aaaudiprotein]

Usually Audi dealers charge $120/hr. So parts (oil/filter) plus 0.5hrs/labor comes up to that price.
They wanted me to pay $50 just to change one of my bulbs in the tailight.

[nytildie914]

its usually up to the dealer too..i know some charge like 70, mine charges 90..some charge 110...but its really only cause they can charge that much, because the 60 year old guys that drive audis think its something special so they MUST go to an audi for something as simple as an oil change...i know that i usually do it myself, or i go to the ford dealer..my dad is good friends with the guy and i bring them my synthetic oil and they charge $15 dollars labor..

[illaudiill]

Usually Audi dealers charge $120/hr. So parts (oil/filter) plus 0.5hrs/labor comes up to that price.
They wanted me to pay $50 just to change one of my bulbs in the tailight.

Thats redic bro....but changing the oil by ureself is prolly the easiest and cheapest way. buy the oil for 35 bux ...filter for 7-8 bux 15 mins of ure time and there ya go u just saved 80 bux.....search DIY ....its easy

[Pete4 1.8t]

My dealer charged me about 60$ for my oil change. Pretty good price I thought, considering they wash it inside out and have free beverages and snacks. If I was older I would get a loaner too.

[Boston_USP_327]

i would call as many dealers as you can... i just got mine changed today for $69... i called about 12 dealers in a 40 mile radius of me and some dealers wanted as much as $330 ~ insane!!!! i figured 69 was good since thats only about $20 of labor or so, i can deal with that while the weather is -2 like it was today

[dextrek]

How do you reset the maintanance warning light? (The dash display that tells you how many miles and days left before maintanance) I know the dealer resets it evertime, but never figured how to do it on my own. Can I just take it to them after I change the oil and ask them to reset it? Also they recommend me changing oil every 10k miles, but it that safe with stage 1+?

[Joesturbo]

My dealer charges $59... just got it done today...

Full Synthetic, Filter and washer for oil drian plug. They top off all of the fluids, check air pressure in the tires and also wash the exterior. I have had bad luck with other non dealer facilities and they fd up the drain plug/oil pan on my GTi. After that experience & $480 for new oil pan and oil pump I made the decision to take both cars only to the dealer. In the end, I feel like my dealer will stand behind their service more than anyone else + the fact that I know a couple of the techs is a bonus to me.

Also, check your dealers web site - I got a $15 off cupon for the oil change - so that made it $45 out the door and my hands did not get dirty.

[Joesturbo]

Hold down the wrench button on your dash and turn on the ignition (I think)...

[F16HTON]

$120 is fair for a oil change...

You use nearly $60 worth of oil and filter, 1/2 hour labor to change the oil. At the dealership, it takes several people to do the job.

~You pull into the dealer and talk to the service advisor, he writes up your order (10-15 min)
~The porter comes and gets your car and parks it (5min)
~The service advisor takes the work order to the dispatcher (5min)
~The dispatcher gives the work order to a tech and he calls to the porter to get the car and bring it in (5min)
~The car is either racked or driven over the pit (5-15min)
~The tech goes over to the parts counter and picks up the filter and crush washer (5min)
~The tech drains and changes the oil (15min)
~The tech looks over all of the fluids and inpects everything known to be an issue (5-10 min)
~The tech finishes the car, parks outside and gives the keys and work order to the service advisor (5min)
~The service advisor enters the service and prepares the bill for the cashier (5-10min)
~The cashier takes your money and calls the porter to bring up the car (5-10min)
~The porter washes your car and brings it up (10min)

You then leave..

Typical shop rate is $120hr, they just used 90 minutes of labor and $60 worth of oil on your car.

Total cost to the dealership is $240 and they charged you $120...seems like a pretty good deal to me.

[monkey323i]

Usually Audi dealers charge $120/hr. So parts (oil/filter) plus 0.5hrs/labor comes up to that price.
They wanted me to pay $50 just to change one of my bulbs in the tailight.

they charged mine for $30 bucks for 1 bulb in the taillight.

later I found out that I did it in less than 3 min!!

[monkey323i]

$120 is fair for a oil change...

You use nearly $60 worth of oil and filter, 1/2 hour labor to change the oil. At the dealership, it takes several people to do the job.

~You pull into the dealer and talk to the service advisor, he writes up your order (10-15 min)
~The porter comes and gets your car and parks it (5min)
~The service advisor takes the work order to the dispatcher (5min)
~The dispatcher gives the work order to a tech and he calls to the porter to get the car and bring it in (5min)
~The car is either racked or driven over the pit (5-15min)
~The tech goes over to the parts counter and picks up the filter and crush washer (5min)
~The tech drains and changes the oil (15min)
~The tech looks over all of the fluids and inpects everything known to be an issue (5-10 min)
~The tech finishes the car, parks outside and gives the keys and work order to the service advisor (5min)
~The service advisor enters the service and prepares the bill for the cashier (5-10min)
~The cashier takes your money and calls the porter to bring up the car (5-10min)
~The porter washes your car and brings it up (10min)

You then leave..

Typical shop rate is $120hr, they just used 90 minutes of labor and $60 worth of oil on your car.

Total cost to the dealership is $240 and they charged you $120...seems like a pretty good deal to me.

doesn't sound good deal to me at all.
It is SLOW and time consuming for such a small job. (time is money)


jiffylube etc.. do the EXACT same thing for under $60. (also very quick usually finish in less than 30min) including FULL SYNTH oil.


half the price and half the time it takes.
do it in front of your eye.
now that is a better deal.

http://www.jiffylube.com

[Charlescrs6]

they charged mine for $30 bucks for 1 bulb in the taillight.

later I found out that I did it in less than 3 min!!

The guys at my dealer know me by heart, cause I'm in there every other week needing a new bulb (all of my bulbs have started to go at 60k). They change them for free in about 5 minutes.

[F16HTON]

doesn't sound good deal to me at all.
It is SLOW and time consuming for such a small job. (time is money)


jiffylube etc.. do the EXACT same thing for under $60. (also very quick usually finish in less than 30min) including FULL SYNTH oil.


half the price and half the time it takes.
do it in front of your eye.
now that is a better deal.

http://www.jiffylube.com

This is true, only two people touch your car typically at Jiffy Lube. They are designed and setup to do oil changes and are very efficient at it, tjis is why an full synthetic oil change is $79 there.

You will be hit up about replacing your air filter and serpentine belt, it never fails.

Oil changes are a loss leader at a dealership, the infrastructure is not setup to do them efficiently.

[illaudiill]

$120 is fair for a oil change...

You use nearly $60 worth of oil and filter, 1/2 hour labor to change the oil. At the dealership, it takes several people to do the job.

~You pull into the dealer and talk to the service advisor, he writes up your order (10-15 min)
~The porter comes and gets your car and parks it (5min)
~The service advisor takes the work order to the dispatcher (5min)
~The dispatcher gives the work order to a tech and he calls to the porter to get the car and bring it in (5min)
~The car is either racked or driven over the pit (5-15min)
~The tech goes over to the parts counter and picks up the filter and crush washer (5min)
~The tech drains and changes the oil (15min)
~The tech looks over all of the fluids and inpects everything known to be an issue (5-10 min)
~The tech finishes the car, parks outside and gives the keys and work order to the service advisor (5min)
~The service advisor enters the service and prepares the bill for the cashier (5-10min)
~The cashier takes your money and calls the porter to bring up the car (5-10min)
~The porter washes your car and brings it up (10min)

You then leave..

Typical shop rate is $120hr, they just used 90 minutes of labor and $60 worth of oil on your car.

Total cost to the dealership is $240 and they charged you $120...seems like a pretty good deal to me.

The techs dont do all the crap...audi has one of the worst service ......120 for a damn oil change is crazy....who the hell pays 60 worth of OIL....royal purple 5-30 at pep boys for 7 quarts is 36 bux and filter is 8. then i do my own oil change takes 20 mins MAX

[PRY4SNO]

All valid points, especially about how it takes more than one person to do the job.

The way I look at it is, 1 hr shop rate and the remainder is materials.

DIY FTW.

For perspective:

DIY costs = $15 (strap wrench), $45 (Total synthetic oil), $15 (filter), $15 (spark plugs)... all costs approximate.
Total DIY cost: $90, then $75 thereafter.

[illaudiill]

All valid points, especially about how it takes more than one person to do the job.

The way I look at it is, 1 hr shop rate and the remainder is materials.

DIY FTW.

X2.........DIY FTW

[Pothole]

Why does it cost $120 + Tax for something as simple as an oil change? What's included in the service besides the changing of the oil? Does this just boil down to a dealership just charging BS prices for such a simple task? Or do they do something special? Any answers are appreciated, Thanks in advance.

-Jake

supply and demand

= people will pay that much for it, i just cant figure out why

[illaudiill]

supply and demand

= people will pay that much for it, i just cant figure out why

its called money

[Pete4 1.8t]

If you have a good dealer it's worth going to them, now I do some of my own maintenance and I have changed my oil myself so I'm not unskilled. It adds great peace of mind having a service book completely stamped by a local dealer since new, ESPECIALLY when selling the car on. I know and like everyone at my dealer(s) so I am only happy to go and pay a small amount extra (like 10 dollars) for good service.