Today I had appointment for B12 service at local Acura dealership, where I bought this 2019 RDX. B12 is oil+filter change, air+cabin air filters change and tire rotation. They quoted $395. I asked how much less it would be without cabin air filter, that I can change myself. They said about $35 less - still $360. I specifically asked them about included "brake calipers inspection" ($130 - part of $360) and they told me they "look at them" - when something is wrong it will be extra. I found it excessive and left. I went to old shop "Car1One Tire & Auto" I used before with previous cars (excellent shop) and they did the same (oil with filter, engine air filter, tire rotation) for $95 with full synthetic original Acura Oil, after $20 coupon (that I didn't even bring). It included complimentary inspection of tires, brakes, suspension, exhaust, belts and hoses plus topping all the fluids and pumping tires. They told me they inspect brakes, including calipers, for free during tire rotation It seems logical, that they don't want to release car with problematic brakes (it might also create more business for them). No more service at this Acura dealership. Pity, since their prices before were very reasonable. I feel they try to use excuse of inflation and rising prices to overcharge customers. $95 seems very low for full synthetic oil + filter, engine air filter replacement + tire rotation, but $360 for the same is crazy IMHO. What do you think?

 

$395 for oil, filters and tire rotation? Holy hell that's expensive. The inspections should be free.

 

Crazy service fee. Engine and air cabin filters are $37 combined on Amazon. Takes 10 minutes to install both - only a long screw driver or socket wrench needed. Air cabin filter is just so easy…less than 2 minutes to complete that task.

No Acura dealer close to my current location, but the Honda dealer did the oil and filter change with 100% synthetic for $85. I get the tires rotated at discount tire - free.

 

why should inspections be free? If done right, it takes time to do it.

 

At both Lexus and Infiniti in my area they offer complimentary inspection with service. They give you a list of items checked with green, yellow, red indicators. Brakes, tires, fluids, battery etc.

Perhaps it’s baked into the cost but it sure as hell isn’t $400 for oil, filter and tire rotation.

They already have the tires off, takes very little time to look at the brakes.

 

I am skeptical that dealers claiming to do a lot of inspections for free are actually doing them. Same could be said about the ones that charge money for it, if they are dishonest this is pure profit.

 

I doubt they do all of them, its mostly to make you feel good. My acura dealer also gives a big list of things they checked, but somehow judging by how quick my car is ready I dont think all of them are done. We all know they dont check transmission fluid level, just as an example, but it has to be checked if you read the manual.

 

I've never been charged for any inspection done during service, at any dealer over the past 40+ years. You're already paying for their time. Besides, they want to find something so they can upcharge you for the work.

 

Do you order specific services like “oil change” and “tire rotation” and etc, or do you go an say can you do B12 service? Some dealers have up charge if you get the “package”

I always pick specific items, and manage to get big check list of things they “checked”

do you really think that if you say you only want an oil change they will spend extra 30min checking every item by the book? No way, but will be marked as done.

 

Same...
I'm skeptical about....pretty much everything. Change the air filter...did they? Spark plugs...did they? And any of number of other things that you have no easy way of verifying that they did or not. Just my nature and/or past experience where I learned that a specific request was charged but not done.

 

They already know it. Their website has only individual items to check for appointment, but when I came in they started car to check millage and dashboard displayed service message. They came back and said I needed B12 service. The strange part is this $130 just for looking at calipers, without doing anything. Wheels are removed for tire rotation that is charged separately. Even without this charge it is stil $360-$130=$230 - twice what I think it should be. They were about $10 more than local average before for plain oil change, but carwash was included. Now it is just crazy. I even suspected that attendant alone is trying to overcharge me (to avoid using another word for it), but it is computer generated. I wonder if it is just one Acura dealership owner, who got greedy, or it somehow came (or is accepted/allowed) from the top (Acura).

 

The dealers know what service is recommended in the owner's manual and then try and add on their own pure profit services. I never have them do cabin or engine filters, but they still check them and seem honest about their condition. Same with brakes, but I would never have the dealer touch them either. They load check the battery and whatever else is listed in their procedure. It's in their best interest to check everything, in hopes the owner will pay to have them do the repairs/maintenance. It's ridiculous to think you need to pay them to check those simple things.

It sounds like you're saying your dealer will check things like your brakes, and give them the "OK", even if they're about to go out. They can be held liable for doing something like that. I've never seen a dealer pass up an opportunity to sell a service. Maybe find a new dealer.

 

Its an Acura, not a Mercedes AMG. If your local Acura dealer is this asinine, Id trade it for a GLC43AMG and enjoy life more for the same cost. Stupid. Acura services don't cost this. Id call Acura corporate.

 

At some point you have to have "trust". Same thing can be said with any service or product.

Dealers are in business to make $$$, and in these crazy times where they are not selling vehicles in volume - service becomes a key profit center. Presume most members on this forum are a bit handy, the engine filter and air cabin filter are super easy to DIY (you can get both filters on Amazon for $37 total). There are a few good YouTube videos on how to do both.

Brakes should be good for 40K or more. Tires rotated every 6k and just the routine oil + filter change. Diff and brake fluid service are the two big ones.

In terms if they did the repairs or not - just ask for the old parts prior to leaving the vehicle for service.

My recent B1 service: $122 total
Oil + filter at Honda = $85 (Closest Acura dealer to me right now is 120 miles away not feasible).
**Checked all fluids and looked at the brake pad - which is easy to see through the rims)
Air filter and Air cabin filter = $37 on Amazon (both are 18 months old, so why not and easy to complete DIY too)
Rotation of tires = Free (Discount tire does that - even when you have not purchased tires from them - hoping in the future you will - I always do).

 

I am sure they check main things. All I am saying that they are not going to spend a lot of time “checking” things if its not built into price. You need at least 30 min to do thorough inspection of all the items. From business perspective it does not make much sense if you not getting paid for it, maybe 5min to look for obvious things

 

Transmission fluid level checked? I doubt it

 

For $130 they should be doing a caliper service:

Servicing your brake calipers includes cleaning and lubricating the slide pins. We clean the pins to remove any grease or debris and inspect for rust. We then apply a heat-resistant lubricant on the pin and slide it back in, which should easily slide.

Typical manufacturers by the book:
Brake cleaning cost? As I mentioned above, new caliper pins and boots and anti-rattle clips cost about $30 for two wheels. Disassembling the disc brakes on two wheels, removing the rust and replacing those parts takes slightly less than one hour. So the going price is around $130 including parts.

Often recommend in areas with winter, salt use……..

 

It is not the part of B12 service. They insisted it is required, but stated it is inspection only - any work on it is extra. In addition remaining $230 is very high for oil/filter + air filter change.

 

my Mazda dealer always did. Measured each tire. Measured brake pads. I know, because I randomly double checked their work. Measurements always matched my findings.

 

Agree ….it’s not part of B12 …….also agree insisting is an UPSELL……….also agree inspection is completely different than an actual service, which servicing was the point of my post. Which again is caliper removal, pin clean and lube, shim and damper clean and lube. The benefit of caliper service prevents caliper sticking causing one pad ( piston side) to wear…….again more of problem in salt use regions.

 

correct. transmission is a sealed unit, no dip-stick. That’s not getting checked.

Meant the easy stuff, brake fluid, washer fluid and coolant level.