Do you do the maintenance or you pay $300~400 to have the dealer do it for you? It looks like most of the procedures are VISUAL inspection besides the oil change and filter.

 

Oil change, tire rotation, air filter service, basic inspection I do myself. Visual inspections are just that -- look at the components, touch and jiggle to see if anything is loose, look at brakes for wear, etc. Very easy to get a handle on.

Anything else, to the dealer.

Essentially, if the process involves loosening and tightening a bolt, I can do that myself. Anything more complicated I don't waste my time with.

I maintain good records of everything I do for the car and hold onto receipts in a file. http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com is helpful for logging your maintenance record. I use it all the time. Subaru has a similar site that I use for the other car.

If you do do it yourself, then I wholeheartedly recommend the Helm service manual. Best mod I got for the car. It helps you understand how the car is put together and ultimately what is an easy fix or what requires a more complicated process. I think it keeps me out of trouble and from getting in over my head.

If it wasn't for the inconvenience of the dealer, then I'd use them for everything. Frankly, scheduling an oil change or other basic stuff is a PIA. Even with loaner cars, I still have to waste the time to drop the car off, sign papers, pick the car up.

Now if the dealer came over to my house to do the job or pick up my car, that'd be service. Of course, I'm sure I wouldn't want some schmo driving around town in my car for the oil change. That's just asking for trouble.