Ford Dealers Servicing Costs !!

[csv8]

I have a Fiesta and a V8 Fairmont. Enquired about servicing costs. Ford needs to pull dealers into line.
Dealer A : Fiesta 15k service $282.70. Dealer B : $225. Dealer C : $215. Dealer D : $190. Kmart $140. Ultratune $110. This is for a recommended log book service.

Dealer A : Fairmont 90K service. : $385. Dealer B : $280. Dealer C : $400. Dealer D : $370. Kmart $250. Ultratune $326.

They all spun the usual BS , workshop costs etc. One told me the oil alone for the Fiesta is $70 !!!!! But I know the majority of the time the services are done by an apprentice. Not a Technician.
Ford needs to set prices for routine services and make dealers stand by them.

Kmart will be doing both services. I have used Kmart before ,with no problems.

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by csv8

I have a Fiesta and a V8 Fairmont. Enquired about servicing costs. Ford needs to pull dealers into line.
Dealer A : Fiesta 15k service $282.70. Dealer B : $225. Dealer C : $215. Dealer D : $190. Kmart $140. Ultratune $110. This is for a recommended log book service.

Dealer A : Fairmont 90K service. : $385. Dealer B : $280. Dealer C : $400. Dealer D : $370. Kmart $250. Ultratune $326.

They all spun the usual BS , workshop costs etc. One told me the oil alone for the Fiesta is $70 !!!!! But I know the majority of the time the services are done by an apprentice. Not a Technician.
Ford needs to set prices for routine services and make dealers stand by them.

Kmart will be doing both services. I have used Kmart before ,with no problems.

So what happens if there is a PCM update for either car???
Or a known problem that is covered buy your new car warranty????

Ford charge more because they do more than just jack it up and drop the oil.

D:

[Lukeyson]

thats right ....
and dealer B is pretty well priced for a ford dealer for the falcon :ymca:

[LTDHO]

csv8, I assume both cars are under warrenty?

Try and get it done anywhere that's not a dealer without effcting warrenty

[davocol]

Thats is a very optimistic assumption, hang around a ford dealer one day and I think you will very suprised what they actually do.

Originally Posted by DJL351

So what happens if there is a PCM update for either car???
Or a known problem that is covered buy your new car warranty????

Ford charge more because they do more than just jack it up and drop the oil.

D:

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by davocol

Thats is a very optimistic assumption, hang around a ford dealer one day and I think you will very suprised what they actually do.

Spent nine years at Ford.... so I know what they do. :baby bott

Hang around K-mart and that lot..... see what they do too..... it:

D:

[Mr. CVE]

I too rang 2 dealers when I wanted my BA v8
Dealer A the ones that do all my warranty work and said they will look after me
Dealer B where I bought the car and haven't been backsince, but if i go there they will honour the extended warranty

45,000 km service, no air cleaner
Dealer A $295
Dealer B $195.

big difference for both are Ford dealers.
1 suburb apart from each other.
So i got it done where i bought the car and they will honour the extended warranty as well

[csv8]

LTDHO. Only the Fiesta is under warranty. Never had any PCM updates when serviced by FORD. if I did I wasn't told. Point is, there shouldn't be a big difference between dealers, as V8Capri found out.

[richo77]

i have some strong opinions on the quality of ford service in perth in particular the eastern suburbs : and i know this is not the purpose of this thread.

But...the least Ford could do is standardize service costs so that people arent given such big differences in quotes.

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by richo77

i have some strong opinions on the quality of ford service in perth in particular the eastern suburbs : and i know this is not the purpose of this thread.

But...the least Ford could do is standardize service costs so that people arent given such big differences in quotes.

It is the attitude of the person you speak to in the service department.
I know from watching them, if they have twenty jobs on their board for the day and you ring
asking about prices and he doesn't want to know because he feels he has enough on his (or her for that matter) plate....
they'll fob you off with a price they know is high.

Also some dealers include an emission service in their listed price, others will try and hit you up for it on the day.

Ford's labor rate was $89 an hour while I was there....... K-mart and that is only $50-60 ish.

D:

[richo77]

DJL - Are the service advisors paid a commission on their sales? This could explain the differences in quotes as well. ie they may adjust their quotes based on the individual's car, the person they think they are talking to, their quota etc???

Not knocking the service advisors out there, as they have a job to do ie get as much money out of customers as possible, i'm just looking for a plausible reason for the differences in prices.

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by richo77

DJL - Are the service advisors paid a commission on their sales? This could explain the differences in quotes as well. ie they may adjust their quotes based on the individual's car, the person they think they are talking to, their quota etc???

Not knocking the service advisors out there, as they have a job to do ie get as much money out of customers as possible, i'm just looking for a plausible reason for the differences in prices.

100% correct, if the advisor thinks they can try a higher price they will.
They get a bonus bassed on the "up-sells" (extras) Auto flush, brake flush, pads, skims etc.....

D:

[davocol]

"No one knows your ford like our second year apprentices"

[clontarf_x]

heres a tip, become a member of a car club thats a affiliated with many different ford dealers in your state

*waves membership card around*

[The G6ET Spot]

Had my XR8 ute in for 3000k service at Ford dealer in sydney, I told them to change the oil and run full synthetic oil in it. Imagine my total disbelief when they told me the oil cost was, wait for it. $162.00. what a bloody joke, can buy the same oil Castrol 0w-40 at autobarn for $57.00 for 5 litres. Could buy 15 litres for the same price and do 2 services.After much arguing with them I ultimately will never set foot back in the place again.

[EL_futuraistic]

Unfortunately its not just ford that this happens. Whoever said that when they are busy they will fob you off with an inflated price is correct i have experienced that with 2 Ford dealers with my EL.

My nissan cost me $209 for a oil change and a tyre rotation. Sure there was the usual A4 page of BS things the "allegedly" did, but having worked in the automotive trade i knew most did not apply to my vehicle.

Can anyone tell me who works with a dealer... if you get your vehicle serviced by Ultratune or Kmart or whoever will they still honour your warranty?? I would prefer to do the work myself however i know that will void warranty... but not sure my bank account can sustain Dealer servicing.

[Kieron]

Ultratune etc can do the servicing without warranty being effected.

Not sure about Ultratune, but Repco worksops subscribe to a systems (updated by CD iirc) that has the problems listed, but they can't do warranty work or issue 'silent' TSB's of course.

I don't have my car serviced at Ford dealers anymore, overpriced and the offer nothing more than the others. The service dept is often the most profitable part of a dealership and want to extract as much money as possible from you, even resorting to misinformation.

Mines now serviced by a mate whos runs a Repco workshop, I take it there and get him to go through it, then drop it into the Ford dealer if warranty is required.

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by davocol

"No one knows your ford like our second year apprentices"

Ha ha, that is so true.

Talking about aprentices, ask v8capri about fingerprints!

I had a very good mate who used to work for President Ford Seaford (now closed) I saw what went on behind the doors. I also deal with dealers daily.

[AnthonyQLD]

Originally Posted by DJL351

So what happens if there is a PCM update for either car???
Or a known problem that is covered buy your new car warranty????

Ford charge more because they do more than just jack it up and drop the oil.

D:

What else do ford do that a normal service department dont?

[MYVYSS]

Wow, those are some big numbers for servicing...the majority of my services for my Gen III have been around the 80-130 mark as I have a leaseplan vehicle they set the price for the service, I have 80k on the clock and I think the most expensive service so far has been about 230 for the major at 40 or 50k, having said that just paid out 800 for the service costs on the missus corolla, which included brake change, injector clean and both 50 an 60k services....

[SirHenry]

I have got to agree with csv8 on this issue my 100k major service on the AU1 was due and had the very same issue with the BS prices charged by the dealers, Ultratune ended up getting the business on my 100k service and I saved "M.O.N.E.Y. money".

Chris,

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by AnthonyQLD

What else do ford do that a normal service department dont?

Add a zero onto the end of the bill.

[deesun]

Originally Posted by AnthonyQLD

What else do ford do that a normal service department dont?

If you have a dealer service and a warranty claim your car on ly needs one day off the road rather than 2. Ultratune service 1 day, waranty work at dealer another day. I am not neccessarily defending dealers as I too have had some bad experiences with them but just like petrol, buying anything on the market it is a free country and free market so charges for seemingly the same thing will vary and sometimes by a lot. As for the old chestnut of "they only get the apprentice to do it" they must only ever employ apprentices if thats the case I've heard it so many times. And just as there are bad service departments there are bad ultratune/repco/ cornershop mechanics, After 30 years of car (never company car) ownership you will find them all just as I have.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by DJL351

Ford charge more because they do more than just jack it up and drop the oil.

Yeah, they tell you it's within tolerance and doesnt need fixing.

[MAFIA]

DJR351 does warranty makes the service cheaper or not???

[clontarf_x]

Djr, Blasphemer!

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by b0son

Yeah, they tell you it's within tolerance and doesnt need fixing.

Amen brother! Testify!!! [ throws hands into air ]

I've been to a few different dealers throughout Vic and NONE of them do anything well. The ones that are "cheap" do a cheap job (overfill engine oil, leave car dirty, etc). The good ones think they can charge $100+ premium for doing-their-job!?

I've had far more trouble be my Holden, but received far better service from their dealership network .. and that is a very sad statement to make.

[AnthonyQLD]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

Add a zero onto the end of the bill.

e

[bscampbell]

My BA needs its 45,000km service.
UltraTune - $215
Ford - $245

I would go with UltraTune, but Ford have a bus that will take you to, and pick you up from, home or work.
A couple of warranty things need doing too.
I am also concerned that when I go to sell the car, then buyers may be less inclined to purchase it if there's a non-Ford service, even though licensed service centres have full warranty backing.

I will be asking them not to do non-warranty jobs, like add washer fluid that they charge a couple of bucks for and there was something else.
It's not much, but why have them do it when you can buy a whole bottle of the stuff for a little bit more.
Actually, I haven't had to refill the washer bottle with water since my last service nearly 1 year ago!

I will probably go round and mark things with a texta that should be replaced too...just to make sure the 'apprentices' do their job!

[Redrum]

Shop around. Wife's Kalos needed servicing, Holden dealer in Niddrie said $280, cost me around $130 in Melton.

When I picked my Bro's XR6 up, they were trying to tell me oil and filter alone cost $80. Must be gold plated filter!!!