Hi all. I apologize in advance if this has already been covered, but I have a 16 RDX Tech with ~13,500 miles on it and I've gotten the "B1 Service Due Soon" maintenance minder on the dash. I just called my local Acura dealer and they told me that while the "B" service entails quite a bit, I'd be fine just doing a tire rotation and oil change. I purchased this RDX, bought a 8/120 Acura Care warranty, and plan on keeping it a very, very long time. In other words, I don't want to cut corners and can't really figure out why my local Acura dealer would actually suggest I do so. I guess it would be different if I was leasing it or didn't plan on keeping it for the long haul.

So, I called one of the local Honda dealers. He said while they can't work on "higher level" things such as electrical, warranty work, etc., they can (and do) work on Acuras all the time for preventative maintenance. I told him what the person said at Acura and he laughed. His position was that if the car is telling you to do the full "B" service, why cut corners? Without being an expert in this stuff, I agree with him.

The Acura dealer quoted me $188 for the full B1, but just around $80 for the "amended B1" (tire rotation and oil change). The Honda dealer quoted me $142 for the full B1, but I have to double-check to make sure that the Honda B1 calls for the same tasks as the Acura B1.

My questions, then:

1) does anyone have an issue with having an Acura serviced at a Honda dealer for preventative maintenance?
2) do you foresee me opting to have my Acura serviced at a Honda dealer impacting the factory/extended warranty in any way?
3) do you concur that doing a full "B1" service (at either place) is the best bet given my intention to keep the car for a long time?
4) any other words of wisdom?

Thank you so much.

Regards,
Pat

 

Had my b1 service last week on my 16 RDX advance at my Acura dealer and it was $76. Basically oil change and tire rotation and then several,items that are checked. I had great service from them and very impressed and even had a 2017 RDX loaner.

 

When they did your B1 service, did they do all of this (pasted from the Acura website)? Perhaps I misunderstood, but the way the person at my local Acura dealer was talking, just doing the tire rotation and oil change was "fine with them" but not really the true "B" factory service. What am I missing?

6 Speed Automatic AWD with Technology Package - Recommended service:

Replace engine oil*1 and oil filter
Inspect front and rear brakes, service as necessary
Check parking brake adjustment
Inspect tie rod ends, steering gearbox, and boots
Inspect suspension components
Inspect driveshaft boots
Inspect brake hoses and lines (including ABS/VSA)
Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids
Inspect exhaust system#
Inspect fuel lines and connections#
*1: If the message SERVICE does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the engine oil every year.
#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty of your owner's manual.
Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if they are noisy.

6 Speed Automatic AWD with Technology Package - Recommended service:

Rotate tires
Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if they are noisy.

 

See this link for service codes:

Acura Service Codes | Acura Service near Newton, MA

 

Doing maintenance at Honda dealer would not affect the warranty and is perfectly fine with RDX. I would do a full B1 service at Honda dealer if money is a concern. You don't want any future warranty to be denied just because there is no documentation of any mandatory checks performed. Good luck.

 

Thank you. Money isn't really a concern, just want to do what's right per the manufacturer. I remain confused what "true B1 service" is. Is it just the tire rotation, oil change and air filter change, or is it something much more? The link the person provided above doesn't mention anything about the laundry list of inspections. I don't know why the Acura dealer is telling me B1 is just the tire rotation, oil change and air filter change, when the Honda dealer is telling me a full B1 service entails so much more, including a brake service. I realize I'm probably coming off like a complete, ignorant idiot here, but you'd think the data would be consistent from place to place. Any advice/input would be appreciated.

Why am I seeing online that people pay ~$180 for B1 service on their RDX and my local dealer is telling me I only need an oil change, rotation and air filter change for ~$80? Makes no sense.

 

^so, what the B1 service entails is; oil and oil filter change and rotate tires.

the rest of the list are INSPECTIONS!!!! meaning, you look and inspect the items to see if it's broken. if not broken, thats the end of the service...

and dealerships are franchises, which means they can make up any price point they want, ie; changing with the seasons, increase pricing for market and demographics

so, when you see people pay MORE than you, it means they are in a market that allows for a price increase, whatever that market may be...(now, we're getting into economics and supply and demand)

 

Thank you. So, am I doing what I should be doing with the B1 service recommended by the Acura dealership, which is just a tire rotation, oil change and air filter change for ~$80? I plan on keeping this car a long time and want to be very "by the book" in how it's serviced. Please advise and thanks again.

 

^yes, per:

there was no mention of changing engine air filter....
for $80 have them perform the B1 service; oil and oil filter and rotate tires. that is all. they should INSPECT or look at the other items tho to make sure the other items are not broken

 

I apologize. I mistyped. I meant oil filter, not air filter. Thank you very much.

 

^you're welcome

 

Does anyone believe the dealer really inspects all those items? It's kind of like the PDI process --- the salesperson makes a big deal of it when, in reality, it's just a high school drop-out checking boxes with a dull pencil.

 

^and I think that's what the OP was getting hung up on..."Inspections of parts" as I dont think any one takes that seriously.

but honestly, a quick glance can tell you lots of things! and the car is symmetrical down the middle, so if one were unsure if a component is supposed to look like that, check the other side!

 

Figured that out. Wait till you price an air filter, be it at the dealership or online. That alone will run $20 - $25.

 

Some members (eg: CEB) here have experienced that if you go to a dealer and ask for only specific items to be changed such as oil and tire rotation at the recommended miles, they will end up doing a full A1 or B1 service even though you paid only for those specific ones. For the dealership it is a bit more effort to separate which car needs what so they club them all together and do the full service for all of them. You may get lucky that way too.

 

My dealer (Sunnyside) will do the oil change and tire rotation, and they always do a complementary full vehicle check every time, which (together) equates to a B1 service. So all I've ever paid for is an oil change and rotation.....

 

B1 showed up recently and went to my dealer for the oil change. I had a coupon for the oil and my tires get rotated when switched from summer to winter (and vice-versa) so did not need rotation. They asked if I wanted B1 service and I said just the oil change. They wrote "Advised of B1 due" as if I was passing something up and said the other B1 items would only be "inspected visually". WTF? Do they do anything beyond a visual inspection during a B1? They made it sound as though the service would somehow be more thorough had I gone for the B1 rather than just an oil change.

 

My Dealer did the Multi-point inspection when My airbag inflator was replaced.They gave Me a copy of the inspection sheet and I noticed that They filled My washer fluid reservoir.I believe that They do truly make an inspection because They list battery voltage readings and top off fluids.

 

I had a B1 done on my 13 RDX a couple of days ago at the dealer. The car is almost 4 years old. They tested the battery and it failed even though I had never had a problem with it. They replaced it under warranty. What luck to get a new battery just before the car goes out of warranty.

 

We recently had a B1 done on our '16 at 18k miles(we do a lot of highway driving so the intervals are longer). We have the service plan and ours got oil/filter, rotation, air filter and in cabin filter.

 

I think Honda / Acura treats customers very well with regards to battery. I had a Honda Civic which already went out of warranty a couple months and was given for service. They checked my battery and replaced it after consulting Honda. Of course I never knew that my battery was getting weak. Anyway I thanked the dealer profusely.