Is it worth it to spend $300 for a 68K mile oil service?

[Houm_WA]

Hahahaha...

Especially from north of Seattle!

 

[jwest]

Its really hard to go to Fife for anything. I totally understand.....

Oh my god dude, can you please break what you wrote into some smaller paragraphs I'm trying to read it but it's truly annoying I can't keep track of what line I just read.

 

[paula]

Wow - these are great experiences with dealers. Thanks for sharing. Anyone have referrals to service advisors in dealerships in Los Angeles that I can start a relationship with?

 

[twoboarders]

Oh my god dude, can you please break what you wrote into some smaller paragraphs I'm trying to read it but it's truly annoying I can't keep track of what line I just read.

I will do my best to appease you and your

visual restrictions in order to limit the level of

annoyance upon reading such a post as

above. Rest assured that any future posts will

accommodate your upmost important

concern.

 

[paula]

Wow - these are great experiences with dealers. Thanks for sharing. Anyone have referrals to service advisors in dealerships in Los Angeles that I can start a relationship with?

My nearest LR dealership is in Pasadena and seems like they charge $400 for oil changes as per yelp reviews. Of course, I need to call and double check this: http://www.yelp.com/biz/land-rover-pasadena-pasadena

 

[jwest]

That is how I started my relationship. Every service early on I called Seattle and Tacoma LR. Had the two dealers compete against one another.

Example: Front and rear brakes. Called LR Tacoma, LR Seattle and received their prices. Then called Les Schwab and asked for a quote. They informed me the parts would be ordered from LR dealer but I would save on labor.

I then called dealers and stated that Les Schwab would complete repair cheaper with dealers LR parts. LR Tacoma matched and LR Seattle explained to me their family business model but didn't lower their prices.

Then when I paid the invoice I used their 10% off service online coupon. This basically washes out the tax on the service.

Upon picking up the LR I gave my service advisor 4 free rounds of golf. I'd be sure to say "thank you", "I appreciate you", etc. As opposed to acting like I'm doing them a favor, I reiterate how much I appreciate them.

From that point on I've always used a 10% off coupon and asked service advisor to give me best pricing available. I'd always give my service advisor a thank you card and something inside. Over the course of the years it has become a great partnership.

When they replaced the terrain response switch/ dial for no charge (my 2005 is well beyond warranty) in addition to giving me a loaner (Range Rover Evoque) for two weeks, I gave my service advisor a one game suite for the Tacoma Rainiers baseball team as a token of my appreciation.

Recently I had a discussion with service regarding my ability to obtain LR genuine parts for much less and they now provide me parts at BP of Utah, AB pricing. I don't mind paying for the labor knowing its done right. I also understand they are in the business to profit. I think we have found a happy medium. Especially since they know I'm good for about $3 to $4K a year in service.

The last service they replaced the transfer case control module and told me it was $800 for the module, reprogramming and labor but for me its $340 plus labor. When I picked up the car, I gave my service advisor a $100 visa gift card. Told him my wife and I appreciate him and the 2013 Range Rover HSE loaner for 15 days. The $100 out of my pocket was a great ROI considering what it could have cost. I'll pay $100 to save $400 every day.

Ultimately I've found 1) showing the dealer I'm a loyal customer 2) communicating expectations 3) being sincere and ethical 4) finding a compromise that benefits both parties = my great service experience. I appreciate them and they show me that they appreciate me. I will refer anyone to them and I will not take my LR3 anywhere else for service.

I wanted it done because it's a very useful post and needs to be more accessible to everyone So I fixed it above.

 

[twoboarders]

I wanted it done because it's a very useful post and needs to be more accessible to everyone So I fixed it above.

I wasn't serious. Just dishing it back at you. Disclaimer: My humor doesn't translate well to text.

 

[Mx468]

Castrol gtx 5w-30

The Lr3 uses castrol gtx 5-30. Just did an oil change and it's written right on the oil cap. I usually change my oil every 5-6 thousand miles with a new k&n oil filter. Oil from walmart $34 for 2 5 liter jugs and about $15 for the filter from Amazon. Easy job. Takes about half hour.

Nope, the LR3 didn't come, nor does it require, synthetic oil. I believe Land Rover recommended 5W-30 Castrol GTX for its 4.4L gasoline V8 engines, every 6 months or 7500 miles. It's the LR4 that requires an esoteric full synthetic on both its NAV8 and new SCV6 (every 12 months or 15K miles), but those are different engines.

Land Rover official oil specs: https://app.box.com/s/x1u9o4zdz7bna7mfwv13fvf64lh44jh9