car serviced. reasonable? or rip off

[Day-mow]

so i got my cars 150k service done today. cost me $280
and all he did was change oil and filter. sus the car over. adjusted the hand brake (which had been adjusted wrong only on the handle and not on the rear brake) rotated my wheels and told me my shockers where leaking and it would cost bout $1,000 in labour. ($600 in parts for munroe's and the rest in labour)

is this reasonable or am i being fed one, dad said that was pretty reasonable.
im pretty sure like midas (which the one here in Glenelg, South Australia seems ok) are only like 150

[GavL]

I'm not 100% sure what the log book says should be done at 150,000, but this came up when I looked on the net for an AU 3 FALCON 4.0 XR6 VCT:

150,000km/10yr Serv
* Carry out service as per manufacturer recommendations.
* Check all oil levels, exhaust system, pipes & hoses.
* Check radiator, heater and air conditioner, damage & wear.
* Inspect front and rear brakes for wear.
* Replace engine oil & filter.
* Inspect all fluid levels, tyre conditions & pressures & spare.
* Check operation of bonnet lock/safety catch (lub if required).
* Replace spark plugs.
* Inspect/operate exterior lights and indicators.
* Inspect battery electrolyte level and specific gravity.
* Inspect steering and suspension, security, damage and wear.
* Road test - check vehicle on the road as per handbook.
* Inspect drive belt condition and adjust if required.
$305.00 - 387.00 (Inc. GST).

So possibly about right from what I've been able to find.

[Day-mow]

im not actualy sure if he did check the book hey. stupid me forgot to see if he stamped the book. other wise i'd do it my self. only getting it serviced @ the book service intervals for resale value

[GK]

What was the breakdown of the cost? The $280 I mean?

As for the shockers, I reckon $400 for installation is a bit rich, and you can probably get a cheaper price on the shocks I'd suspect. $100 a corner for installation sort of suggests that it'll take him over an hour each corner, which is certainly not the case.

Get a few quotes from suspension joints and a few other mechanics I'd reckon.

GK

[Day-mow]

dura blen 10w30 oil x 5 L- 45.41
z9 filter - $ 9.05 (supercheap are cheaper?)
waste levy $18.14
injector and fuel cleaner- $15.91 (doesn't work on fords anyway)
hose clamp- $2.27 (had a leaking lower radiatorhose)

labour $163.64

[BuckTooth]

If ya know anything of mechanical yaself mate, there is no way i would be paying some one $400 to fit to shockers. I do all the work on my xr8 myself and it should only be about half hour a side or so. And as for the price of them, it does seem a little rich, remember he is making something on them, so you could probably buy them cheaper yourself and get someone to fit them.

[89.SVO]

the way i see it if you can't do the work yourself. don't complain. either get a cheaper mechanic (which may make the quality of work worse) or learn how to do it yourself. if you are happy with the quality of work by your exsisting mechanic. stay with them

[Busted]

Seems Ok to me.

To all the posters that think they could change all 4 shocks in 2hrs. Love to see it. Maybe 1/2hr a side on the rear but how do you do the front in 1/2hr a side?

[Day-mow]

I'd device the car my self I just want the stamp for resale value. I'm keen on doing shockers my self. I'm alright on the tools. And isnt tha what forums are for anyway :p

[ford lover]

I would call this a rip. Shockies are easy to learn I am female and can do my own. Just takes a little research and some investment in some good tools.

[Mr Hardware]

This is standard new car log book servicing costs.
Compare companies here: http://www.fixedpricecarservice.com.au/
The problem is, you've treated a decade old car to a new car service. Once a car gets to be as old as yours is, its needs are individual and do not line up with any logbook. Take it to a local trusted small-time mechanic and you'll get value for money.

[GS608]

400 in labour for shockies :|
i got charged 220 labour to get new springs and shocks fitted.

[XR6_661]

I got charged $100 just for Fraud to tell me that they couldn't adjust my handbrake.

There are plenty of other places that do warranty/scheduled services...I'd be going elsewhere!

[GK]

Originally Posted by Busted

Seems Ok to me.

To all the posters that think they could change all 4 shocks in 2hrs. Love to see it. Maybe 1/2hr a side on the rear but how do you do the front in 1/2hr a side?

A few thoughts.

I know I couldn't do it in 2 hours, but Pedders or a decent suspension place or mechanic with the know how and tools should be more than able to.

If I did it in 10 hours it wouldn't fuss me, as I'm not paying myself for my time! LOL!

I was also thinking that such suspension places may also have more than one person working on the car.

GK

[Day-mow]

It is IRS. So it will b a bit of a challange but I rekn I can do it

[SLO AU XR8]

Originally Posted by Day-mow

It is IRS. So it will b a bit of a challange but I rekn I can do it

One bolt down the bottm, one up the top. slides out easy. no challenges. I've just done a cradle swap, thats a challenge.

[Day-mow]

I'm hoping your right bud. I think I'll do it front and back seperatley just cos of money restrictions and stuff but I'm keen to give it a go

[WhiteAUxr]

Took me 4 or so hours.. to change all the springs over (with irs).. fronts are alot harder then the back.. but overall if you have spring compressers it shouldnt be that difficult.. and daymow i remember you from yalla..

[Day-mow]

really? should i know you whiteAUxr?

try not to tell to many ppl that tho. hahahaha

every one i've spoken to said spring compressor ftw so i'll get one of them and some shocks get give it a whirl i rekn. cant be that hard can it?

[JK EX CHASER]

Ripped off the best thing to do is buy the best oil for the car and filter and ask how much to replace it is usually about 50 dollars,and ask them to check the car over they do that for nothing looking for more work ,I just replaced shocks on au just standard for 400 parts included .

[Day-mow]

I think next time I'm going to buy the oil and take it to them next time. And I'll put a sweet fully synth oil in it cos he only put a semi in it. A 2nd opinion said rears are prety good just replace the front shocks

[KR1STO]

Originally Posted by WILDEB

the way i see it if you can't do the work yourself. don't complain. either get a cheaper mechanic (which may make the quality of work worse) or learn how to do it yourself. if you are happy with the quality of work by your exsisting mechanic. stay with them

exactly....!
some people don't seem to realise that mechanics need to earn a crust too...
that seems like a reasonable price...

[grandpa_spec_F6]

I tend to only use mechanics as a last resort, however if you can't do the work yourself, or feel if you did it may be unsafe, get someone qualified to do it for you.

I did the suspension with the help of my mates dad and his brother, who is a qualified holden mechanic, still took us the better part of an hour each for the fronts. Back we managed to knock over in a little over an hour. Around the $200 mark is what I was quoted for labour.

[Day-mow]

Totally mechs need to earn a crust. It just seemed like alot of money to me so I didn't know if I was a good price or not. Hence me asking

[Stattic]

Didn't even change the plugs?

[azza11]

Oil and the z9 id do myself. What i have been doing lately is buying the goods for the mechanic to fit. I shopped around recently, Toowoomba has Repco, Autobahn and Super Dear and 2 independants all within 2 blocks. I saved about over 100 bucks on pads, rotors, oil, filter. All in less than 30 minutes.
Suspension, well after what i saw on tv last night about Pedders i would be concerned, however these are franchised so each will vary. It doesnt hurt to tell the bloke what you want rather than him tell you what you want.

AZZA

[Day-mow]

no plugs cos i changed em' cos i wasnt paying some1 to do it

[blueau]

im a mech and i get sick of fixing cars that people f,,, up trying to do it on the cheap.the only thing worse then some1 with no idea, is some1 with 1/2 an idea. dont forget your not the only person on the road if it goes wrong. on the other hand some mechs are rouges and it does pay 2 ring around.

[jcto]

I just got a quote from Kmart Tyre and Auto....(dont ask) to fit only (as I have the parts) front upper and lower ball joints, new wheel bearing hubs, new rotors and pads and they wanted $966.00....rang a local mechanic and he will do it for $490.00.....go figure...certainly pays to get a few prices.

[GK]

I have found that Kmart tyre and auto are really quite dear. Now I don't use them myself, but I've talked to a in the past who have, or who have taken their car there for a quote, only to wonder if the price quoted was excessive.

GK