30000 Mile Service- Is it a rip off?
Took my car in for a recall fix and oil change, got a text stating the following:
30k Service update for:
-Fluids and filters: $605
-Cabin filter clean: $80
-Throttle plate and injector cleaning: $250.
Is this all an upsell?
Edit: Thank you all so much for your valuable insight- saved me a lot of money!!
Two suggestions:
Shame on Subaru. Here is a story I think you may like. Maybe you can guess which brand the other one in the story is?
I recently had my Forester serviced this way: I had the stealership change the oil for about $60. They screed that up, so I had them do it again. While there, I bought the official Subaru engine air filter for about $25. I then bought a cabin air filter on Amazon for $11. I changed the cabin air filter myself. I then took the engine air filter and car to my local mechanic. He did everything in the owner’s manual for $160. That included changing the brake fluid. He listed every single thing he did on the receipt in case I have a problem and need to prove it was done. This work quoted by my local Subaru dealer is $500. I guess the extra $300 is added profit.
Changing transmission and other fluids at 30K is a good idea, but no need to pay the dealer. As others suggested, check with an independent mechanic and possibly just do some of the work yourself. Not all of what the dealer recommended may be necessary. Air filters are generally easy to do once you figure out the routine for your particular car.
Folks like to argue about oil change intervals, hybrids too, so, do you think a dealer really does change fluids like receipt says? Trans, diff, brake?
The 30k miles service is considered a major service. That means various fluids and so on should be changed so it is not ripoff.
The cabin filter seems a bit high but that is a Subaru item so it will be higher in price and not all of that is the dealer’s fault. (See my last paragraph)
As for the throttle plate and injector cleaning that can be a bit of a subjective gray area. Some cars may not need it at the 30k miles mark and others might need it.
For what it’s worth, I’ve worked for 3 Subaru dealers and all of those fluids got changed at the 30k miles service. As a matter of fact we always recommended a valve lash inspection also. Some say that is not needed but from experience I can tell you that I have never seen one that did not need the lash checked and adjusted. The default option there is to ignore it and hope that you are not part of the unlucky minority whose engine suffers a tight valve and head damage.
Regarding dealer prices and I have been through this more than once. Price a new automatic transmission from Subaru. Once your heart settles you will see why fluid changes are necessary. When I worked for Subaru the price of an automatic (the actual dealer cost) was right at 4 grand. With a 25% markup it’s now at 5 grand and 6 grand with labor, fluid, gaskets, etc. Expensive? Yes it is but not because of the dealer.
Not sure which fluids are being changed. But I would give odds that not all are manufacturer scheduled maintenance intervals. I am basing this on the manufacturer scheduled fluid intervals on my 2014 suby.
If the throttle plate and injector cleaning is not listed in the owner’s manual as a normal maintenance item, then it should be covered as a warranty item…if it really needs it.
I’m sure it was on the laundry list of stuff this (and many other) dealers push at service time.
The OP has now learned to decide what service is needed, based on the owners manual, and have the dealer just do those items.