I'm just wondering what the average cost for most people here is to maintain their car on a yearly basis. I'm talking about anything from oil changes to part replacements, inspections... all that junk...

I'm sure the DYI'ers save a TON compared to the rest of us schmucks...

I've only had my car a few months so far, but for oil changes, replacing HID ballast and bulbs, rust proofing, replcement tires and having a mechanic go over everything, I've rung up about $1,200 or so thus far.

3 $40/oil changes with inspection and fluid top ups
$200 for new passenger side HID ballast + labour
$90 for pair of Phillips 4,300k HID bulbs
$180 for 4 slightly used all season tires when the ones I bought the car with were going
$60 for rust proofing
$10 for installing my winter tires that came with the car
~$150 or so to pay the mechanic
$400 for replacing front brakes and rotors

That's off the top of my head... From what I'm told I'll need to get a new "outer tie rod" (hope that's the proper name of the part) soon on my front drivers side, and probably early next year I'll have to replace my rear brakes... can't wait until I've learned enough to start doing more of this stuff myself.

So how about y'all?

 

I average about $200/month.

 

wow... any breakdown on what specifically that money goes into? Or just random things to crop up?

 

I dont have a break down of every service, but thats what quickbooks 07 divided by 12 gives me for maintence. It appears to be on spec for 08.

The largest single item was $2000 for my 105 servce in Dec 07. Otherwise I believe its mostly oil changes.

 

In 09 I'll have to do brakes and my 130K service. Other things might come up. $200/month is a good amount to budget for.

 

i think that this is hard to answer. maintenance is different for everyone. depends on where you live, how you drive, climate, etc, etc.

most of my "maintenance" are just oil changes, spark plugs, belts, alignments...

i do most of the labor myself so i save a lot on that.

 

Since I did my timing belt this year so it was a little more tagged on for maintenance.

$350 Timing belt kit
$500 for tires
$50 for Hid bulbs(cheapies)
$30 for each oil change x 5 since Jan 08.
$45 for plugs
$220 for pads and rotor(F+R). Havn't gotten them yet, Wait till Dec.
$45 for front lower ball joints. Waiting till Dec.
$? seafoam x 3

 

-Oil changes are $80 about 3x a year (Amsoil 0w30 ss + filter)
-Trans fluid changes $15 about 3x a year
-Passanger motor mount replaced $186
-Front and rear brakes $250
-Brake fluid flush $25

Thats all I've done in the 2 years I have had the car

Under warranty:
-Front motor mount
-heated seat element
-faded door pillars/moldings replaced and painted

 

If you would just bite the bullet and try some or most of the the posted DIY maintenance stuff-you would save yourself a TON.

Far as routine maintenance goes these cars are not difficult or expensive to maintain.

ie: 400 to replace front brakes? I spent 100 total on pads and rotors, installed them in 30 minutes.. you break down the labor there cause I might need to quit my day job...lol