15,000 mile check-up

[FastDEW1]

In the "old days" I would do my own maintenance. Now just too busy and not interested in it. For $205 (what I paid) it was well worth having the dealer take care of it. I look at the actual labor costs and they are pretty reasonable. Figuring I got oil change using full synthetic oil, oil filter, engine air filter, cabin air filter, tires rotated AND balanced, car wash. When I break down the costs of everything and think about how much the labor is - it's very reasonable. Let the dealer do the "inspections" and if they find something it will be under warranty anyway. They did tell me the measurements on my breaks so that was nice.

I know there are dealers out there which are gouging. But North County Hyundai isn't one of them.

 

[kn5owa]

I rotated my V8 Genesis tires form left to right at 6000 miles. I plan to do this every 5000-6000 miles.

Actually, if you have directional tires - you can't even rotate left to right.

But, the Conti's at least, are not marked as directional.

 

[Mark_888]

In the "old days" I would do my own maintenance. Now just too busy and not interested in it. For $205 (what I paid) it was well worth having the dealer take care of it. I look at the actual labor costs and they are pretty reasonable. Figuring I got oil change using full synthetic oil, oil filter, engine air filter, cabin air filter, tires rotated AND balanced, car wash. When I break down the costs of everything and think about how much the labor is - it's very reasonable. Let the dealer do the "inspections" and if they find something it will be under warranty anyway. They did tell me the measurements on my breaks so that was nice.

I know there are dealers out there which are gouging. But North County Hyundai isn't one of them.

That "sounds" reasonable, but how do you know they actually did all those things?

For example, rebalance the wheels. How do you know?

 

[RN2X]

That is a pretty pessimistic view there Mark.

 

[Mark_888]

That is a pretty pessimistic view there Mark.

I have read a lot of posts on this forum over the past 6.5 years, and a lot of dealers didn't do all things they were supposed to do, sometimes by mistake, sometimes on purpose (especially CPO inspections).

 

[Alwaysforward]

The way I look at is if I have those items inspected and they put a check in the box that they inspected it, I am good with that. Now if I have any issues shortly there after with one of those items they checked off on, I would then bring that to there attention and question their honesty.

I have been very happy with Wallace Hyundai of Stuart so far. They have a really good rating and have no reason to not trust them. Believe me, I have had my share of issues with past dealers.

Recently on my wife's Honda they told me she needed new cabin filters and a new air filter. When I told them I just replaced them before bringing in the car for service, the look on their face was priceless. I will never buy another car from them nor take her car back to them for any future service. We have bought many of cars from that dealer but since the ownership changed a few years ago, it has gone down hill.

 

[FastDEW1]

That "sounds" reasonable, but how do you know they actually did all those things?

For example, rebalance the wheels. How do you know?

I don't know. I didn't stand there and watch them. I guess I just believe they are honest.

I do know this. The car drove fine when I arrived. They did the work and it drove fine when I left. If I ever have any major repairs needed, I have all of the paperwork. And it adds to the value of the vehicle at resale to have the documentation that shows it was serviced properly.

 

[Mark_888]

I don't know. I didn't stand there and watch them. I guess I just believe they are honest.

I do know this. The car drove fine when I arrived. They did the work and it drove fine when I left. If I ever have any major repairs needed, I have all of the paperwork. And it adds to the value of the vehicle at resale to have the documentation that shows it was serviced properly.

When I sell my car, I will have all the paperwork also, including receipts for the Mobil 1 oil, and OEM filters (oil, air, cabin). Also, they can speak directly to the person who performed all the oil, air filter, and cabin filter changes (which is me).

As far as tire rotation and rebalance, ever since I bought replacement tires at about 20K miles as Costco, they do tire rotation and rebalance for free every 7500 miles (and I have all those receipts also).

 

[kn5owa]

Perhaps the key to this little controversy is the statement that "I guess I just believe they are honest".

I wish I lived in a "Mayberry, USA" where this was true. I would actually like to turn over some of my service to a trusted dealer.

But, the reality is a little different, at least for me. I live in Northern Virginia. This area is supported by Billions of $dollars from Gov't money. Without exception, all merchants - and especially, service providers, in my area. are cutthroat, rip-off artists who want their share of the pie.

Perhaps, in some parts of the country, you may find honest dealers - but not in my neighborhood.

Quality of service? No way. Forget it.

Neither of my current Hyundai's has ever seen the inside of a dealership, except for important recalls, and even then, I was reluctant to take the car in. They routinely use recalls as an excuse for things like "100 point" inspections. On the one occasion, when they did one of those so-called "inspections", they screwed so many things up, it was unbelievable.

As Mark said, I do everything myself, research things myself, and keep all receipts.
And, it's amazing, as a side benefit, how much money I save.

 

[shortspark]

The dealer experience is very important to me. Threads such as these are revealing as I begin to search for a new vehicle to replace my 2012 MB ML350 (by May 2016 when the warranty expires). I have joined the forums and owner boards of several cars I am interested in and the Genesis is high on my list. Almost all the forums have comments such as these, including Mercedes. However, I must say that my MB dealer is very good and I have been more than satisfied with their honesty, workmanship and overall customer service. At this stage of my life these things along with customer accommodations (such as pick up and delivery, loaner cars, free car wash, etc.) are becoming more and more important to me.

There are only two Hyundai dealers in my part of the country and neither are anywhere like the Mercedes dealer. When you step inside it is like two different worlds. I know because we also have a Sonata. I have done most of the work on the Sonata myself, such as oil/filters and minor things of that nature so I admit that my exposure to the Hyundai dealerships have been limited. Nonetheless, the difference is like night and day but I suppose that is to be expected where the employees in sales and service at MB are the same year after year while at Hyundai I never see the same face twice. I know there are bad MB dealers around as well but the only one within 140 miles of me is superb, albeit very expensive, which is also to be expected of any MB dealer. I save some of the high cost of the basic service by opting for the four year maintenance agreement. I don't know if Hyundai has anything like this but the one at MB has a built in discount of about 15% over single service, and also locks in the price of parts and labor for four years. Basically, all maintenance for four years is paid for once and is inflation proof. Nonetheless, even oil changes are brutally expensive. I live in the country and there are just not many car dealerships to choose from - regardless of brand.

Although I have yet to test drive a Genesis and compare it to other front runners, (such as the E-Class), the dealer experience will weigh very heavily in my decision of what car I end up with.

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[ksoze]

Although I have yet to test drive a Genesis and compare it to other front runners, (such as the E-Class), the dealer experience will weigh very heavily in my decision of what car I end up with.

The way I looked at it, the amount of time I spend in the car far outweighs the time in a dealership. To pay more for a car that offers less to gain a more involving experience once or twice a year is at issue. I also faced the same dilemma moving from BMW, and decided in the end it was driving the car that mattered, as well as the costs to maintain that car. It can also be a highly local matter, as my Infiniti dealer was a better experience than my BMW dealers. So far, no latte or leather loungers at my Hyundai dealer, but I do not plan on spending much time there.

 

[BrazGenesis]

The way I looked at it, the amount of time I spend in the car far outweighs the time in a dealership. To pay more for a car that offers less to gain a more involving experience once or twice a year is at issue. I also faced the same dilemma moving from BMW, and decided in the end it was driving the car that mattered, as well as the costs to maintain that car. It can also be a highly local matter, as my Infiniti dealer was a better experience than my BMW dealers. So far, no latte or leather loungers at my Hyundai dealer, but I do not plan on spending much time there.

Very good point. I am closing my lease in December.
2.5 years changing oil and filters. Average time per service 1h 15m.
Entertained myself with some coffee and my kindle + some email.
Every time dedicated some time to envy an Equus...

 

[FastDEW1]

When I sell my car, I will have all the paperwork also, including receipts for the Mobil 1 oil, and OEM filters (oil, air, cabin). Also, they can speak directly to the person who performed all the oil, air filter, and cabin filter changes (which is me).

As far as tire rotation and rebalance, ever since I bought replacement tires at about 20K miles as Costco, they do tire rotation and rebalance for free every 7500 miles (and I have all those receipts also).

How do you know Costco did the work??? Hmmm.

I don't know you. So when buying a car from you. How do I know you have any clue on servicing the vehicle properly? I don't.

 

[FastDEW1]

Perhaps the key to this little controversy is the statement that "I guess I just believe they are honest".

I wish I lived in a "Mayberry, USA" where this was true. I would actually like to turn over some of my service to a trusted dealer.

But, the reality is a little different, at least for me. I live in Northern Virginia. This area is supported by Billions of $dollars from Gov't money. Without exception, all merchants - and especially, service providers, in my area. are cutthroat, rip-off artists who want their share of the pie.

Perhaps, in some parts of the country, you may find honest dealers - but not in my neighborhood.

Quality of service? No way. Forget it.

Neither of my current Hyundai's has ever seen the inside of a dealership, except for important recalls, and even then, I was reluctant to take the car in. They routinely use recalls as an excuse for things like "100 point" inspections. On the one occasion, when they did one of those so-called "inspections", they screwed so many things up, it was unbelievable.

As Mark said, I do everything myself, research things myself, and keep all receipts.
And, it's amazing, as a side benefit, how much money I save.

The reality is that I have a thousand other things that I would rather do than change my own oil and rotate my tires by myself. I'm not saying someone who likes to do that is wrong. But for me I would much rather do other things with my time.

And Mayberry land is not a bad place to be. If my car is reliable and service records are kept. Than I have zero issue if it has a warranty issue.

Lastly - I cannot understand why people who feel that changing their own oil is so much of a religion that they tell anyone who hires out the service that we are crazy or wrong or spending too much money. To me - that is crazy - it's a car. Lol.

 

[amartz]

I don't know you. So when buying a car from you. How do I know you have any clue on servicing the vehicle properly? I don't.

The dealer where I bought mine was used to seeing me hanging around the service bays while my car was being serviced. I got chased out a couple times (insurance, etc.), but always snuck back in, or hanging around the doorway. I bought the damn thing, they have to be at least nice to me! The particular tech that did most of my service got to know me pretty well, he was a motor head also. He was the one I had install the ridged collars, and was impressed when he test drove it. He was the one that chased me up into the driver's seat to double-check that I was happy with the alignment he was doing, while it was still on the alignment rack. Now that I've moved, I don't have that level of repertoire with the new dealer I've been going to, but give me time!

 

[kn5owa]

The reality is that I have a thousand other things that I would rather do than change my own oil and rotate my tires by myself. I'm not saying someone who likes to do that is wrong. But for me I would much rather do other things with my time.

And Mayberry land is not a bad place to be. If my car is reliable and service records are kept. Than I have zero issue if it has a warranty issue.

Lastly - I cannot understand why people who feel that changing their own oil is so much of a religion that they tell anyone who hires out the service that we are crazy or wrong or spending too much money. To me - that is crazy - it's a car. Lol.

You're beating on the wrong horse - I did not criticize people who farm out their auto work, in any way. On the contrary, I believe I indicated that I would like to do just that.

But the dealers in my area are definitely not from Mayberry.

 

[Nikgen]

How do you know Costco did the work??? Hmmm.

I don't know you. So when buying a car from you. How do I know you have any clue on servicing the vehicle properly? I don't.

And how do we know Mark did the work. Maybe he just buys the parts to get the receipts for when he sells the car, but then takes the stuff back for a refund. 😉

 

[amartz]

And how do we know Mark did the work. Maybe he just buys the parts to get the receipts for when he sells the car, but then takes the stuff back for a refund. 😉

Oh,oh! Mark's been outed!!

 

[Mark_888]

And how do we know Mark did the work. Maybe he just buys the parts to get the receipts for when he sells the car, but then takes the stuff back for a refund. ��

I have the original Walmart receipts for the Mobil 1, with no lines drawn through them by Customer Service if I had returned them. For the filters, I keep the receipts PLUS I staple them to the UPC/barcode that I cutout from the boxes.

 

[lobsenza]

Try to find an independent mechanic that you trust for those items you don't want to repair yourself. I prefer small shops with 1-2 mechanics over large shops. It is also helpful to have some knowledge of auto repairs.

I help others buy cars. I frequently buy used cars out of town. I believe I can find a good mechanic to check out the cars with an hour of research. This may not be as good as my hometown mechanic, but they are fairly good.

Ask friends/relatives for mechanics. I keep a list in the event my regular mechanic isn't available. In addition, you can do some tests like hidden marks on items to make sure that things are done properly.