My 10,000 service at Cherry Hill Smart Center yesterday

[doogster]

I bought my car June 3rd, 2008. Its now at 9,500 miles and so I decided its time to get it the 10,000 service, plus the transmission upgrade and the battery service.

I scheduled my appt for 1PM on Monday 3-16-09, knowing in advance they might not be able to service me because they wanted me there between 7-8:30AM (but I work and couldn't get there until after lunch)

I arrived at 1PM but they didn't take my car in until 3:05PM. (they seemed to be very busy)

They did the transmission upgrade and 10,000 "A" service, but did NOT do the battery upgrade because they "ran out of time" and I was told just to come back another time for that service... well, I live 90 mins from the dealership and can't really just run there at the drop of a hat...

Here are the breakout charges for the "A" service:

PERFORM "A" MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE: $117.60

OIL FILTER $ 12.60

SEAL RING $ 2.70

OIL FILTER $ 12.60

MOBILE 1 OIL $ 36.16

WASHER FLUID TOP OFF $ 5.53

SOAP $ 3.77

COMBINATION FILTER $ 39.88

TAX $ 15.27
----------------
Total $246.11

I guess I can't afford to live this lifestyle anymore... this will be my last oil change at the dealer.

[misscatears]

This doesn't seem expensive at all for only once a year.

[Orphan-Beggar]

Please explain the BATTERY UPGRADE in detail-thanks

[Old smart]

Just for context, I had my sc do a 5100 mile transmission oil change yesterday. In is not a pre-determined, "prix fixe" thing like the 10k service - it was done as time-and-materials.

Time $29.70
*75W-90 transmission oil $29.22
**Shop charge & disposal fee $2.97
Tax $1.61
Total $63.50

* Transmission oil viscosity numbering is not the same as engine oil viscosity.
** Common shop charges cover little things like rags, disposible gloves, etc.

[Periclaws]

Originally Posted by Orphan-Beggar

Please explain the BATTERY UPGRADE in detail-thanks

From my understanding they put an interstate mtp-47 with vent kit and and new bracket because the height of the battery has changed.

[doogster]

Originally Posted by Orphan-Beggar

Please explain the BATTERY UPGRADE in detail-thanks

I'm not an expert on this battery issue thing... I'm sure more qualified members will write and explain it better... but apparently there is a service bulletin on the 2008 batteries which replaces it with a larger battery (like a swap out). I'm not sure if this is on all 2008 Smarts, but they checked mine yesterday and said the battery did need to be replaced under the service bulletin.

[rawlus®]

Originally Posted by doogster

I bought my car June 3rd, 2008. Its now at 9,500 miles and so I decided its time to get it the 10,000 service, plus the transmission upgrade and the battery service.

I scheduled my appt for 1PM on Monday 3-16-09, knowing in advance they might not be able to service me because they wanted me there between 7-8:30AM (but I work and couldn't get there until after lunch)

I arrived at 1PM but they didn't take my car in until 3:05PM. (they seemed to be very busy)

They did the transmission upgrade and 10,000 "A" service, but did NOT do the battery upgrade because they "ran out of time" and I was told just to come back another time for that service... well, I live 90 mins from the dealership and can't really just run there at the drop of a hat...

Here are the breakout charges for the "A" service:

PERFORM "A" MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE: $117.60

OIL FILTER $ 12.60

SEAL RING $ 2.70

OIL FILTER $ 12.60

MOBILE 1 OIL $ 36.16

WASHER FLUID TOP OFF $ 5.53

SOAP $ 3.77

COMBINATION FILTER $ 39.88

TAX $ 15.27

I guess I can't afford to live this lifestyle anymore... this will be my last oil change at the dealer.

no offense intended, but if you cannot afford $120 every 9-12 months in maintenance, perhaps you should not have purchased a brand new car?

$120 a year should never be a deal-breaker or seen as a lifestyle that can't be maintained. right?

[doogster]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

no offense intended, but if you cannot afford $120 every 9-12 months in maintenance, perhaps you should not have purchased a brand new car?

$120 a year should never be a deal-breaker or seen as a lifestyle that can't be maintained. right?

Perhaps if I did math as you do, I'd have PLENTY of money... however, the bill was $246.11!!! You have to ADD all those costs up to get the total bill... ;|

[walt54321]

Cherry Hill is my dealer as well and about a month ago my CE light came on so I gave them a call. The girl on the phone told me to bring it in the next morning, so the next day im there at 10am and the guy told me they were too busy and no way they could fit me in and to come back another day. Well I live by Atlantic City so Cherry Hill is a bit of a hike so I threw a fit and made a big scene and wouldnt you know they managed to get my car right in even clean it and top off all the fluids! I did talk to the manager while I was waiting and told him that if the dealer doesnt want to service smarts then dont sell them. Cherry Hill treats the smart car owners like 2nd rate citizens just because you havent bought a $60,000 Benz off of them. IMO this is completely unacceptable.

[dennyrex]

I'm not trying to be flip, asking "what did you expect?" but I'm curious. Not having owned a car for 20 years, what do people expect to pay at a dealer for a scheduled service? I am pretty sure my Renault service (at a Volvo dealer in Seattle) was probably around $100 in 1989. (I realize DIY is less expensive.)