$800 tune up - worth it?

bt777 · Post by **bt777** » 22 Sep 2009, 13:50

Hi! I own a 2005 XC90 with almost 65,000 miles. I'm in New Jersey (don't know if that matters but I see that we are asked to indicate location...)

Anyway, my "time for scheduled service" light has been on for a couple of weeks so I called my Volvo dealer to make an appointment (I'm not at all handy and I want to maintain such an expensive investment as this car). But I was blown away when I was told that this would be my 60,000 mile service and it would be $800. I wouldn't make the appointment and they kept trying to entice me by telling me more and more things that would be done (oil change, engine filter, cabin filter, new spark plugs, rotate tires, diagnostics, etc.)

They broke it down a little - oil change $50, spark plugs $350. Does this seem reasonable? Necessary? Important?

In the past when my cars get up to about 50,000 miles I have stopped with the dealer and relied on Jiffy Lube mainly. Most of my cars last to about 125000 miles so I cannot complain. But those have been Toyotas and Mitsubishis that maybe are not as complex to service.

So should I bite the bullet and go for this service? Or omit parts of it?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Bonnie

Post by **JDS60R** » 22 Sep 2009, 17:18

Hi Bonny,
I lived in NJ for years.

I think you are being quoted far too high prices for this work.
In NJ I used to reply on the rule of three (comparison of three sources)to help my customers understand the good deal they were getting.

Here are the 5 steps
1. Know exactly what services you are paying for or wanting done.
2.Grab your local phone book (I know I'm old - yu can use the internet if you prefer)
3.Call a local Volvo dealer and two independent garages (this is the rule of three- three sources )( its fine if they specialize in Volvo's)
4. get a rough quote for all of the services from each
5. use common sense - if some guy named Eddie who has never seen a Volvo wants $20 less than a Volvo specialist or dealer then don't use Eddie. If you know Eddie and he has done good work for you before, and you are saving $100 then I would use Eddie .

bt777 · Post by **bt777** » 22 Sep 2009, 17:31

Thanks, John, this is quite helpful.

I guess I have a lot of phone work to do tomorrow!

Do you think that any of the required (or recommended) services require special equipment or training that would tilt the field in favor of the dealer?

Bonnie

Post by **JDS60R** » 22 Sep 2009, 18:44

A dealer and a specialist will have similar training.

A regular mechanic may be surpised with some of the procedures and be comfortable with lower quality parts but nothing in the service is far beyond regular car maintance abilities.

At 65 K you really aren't getting anything hard done. If you want to spend mooney wisely and keep your volvo for a long time then ignore the reccomendation to never change your coolant or transmission fluid.
These and AWD fluids need to be changed and 65K is a great time to do it. Well worth the extra money you willprobably save off of the first quote.

Please trust me on this next part
Use Volvo coolant - do not substitute anything else - also insist on distilled or mineral free water to mix with the coolant. If the mechanic is good he will give you a nod and understand. (volvo coolant is a specific HOAT technology coolant - most of the replacements are of a different technology and claim to work - they do not work as well as the Volvo coolant.

bt777 · Post by **bt777** » 22 Sep 2009, 18:52

OK, noted about the coolant. Thanks for the tip.