Scheduled Maintenance - smart center or other?

[pdboilermaker]

For the 225 you could by a scangauge and do the computer codes yourself

[SuperGeek]

I paid 130 bucks and got the 2.0 upgrade at the same time. Saved me the trouble and risk of getting the wrong filters, doing something wrong (first attempt) and generally being too busy/lazy to get around to it. If I consider my time worth $50/hr, it might have cost me the same amount in time - including time to get parts, get past a learning curve, etc. It's once a year, maybe twice. I pay more in a year for mochas than I do for oil changes. Depends on your individual perspective on whether it's worthwhile.

[forestacademy]

Just got this in my e-mail from Nissan
Car Care: Getting “In Tune” with Modern Times

There are, however, numerous important inspections the technician must perform to ensure that your car’s computer-controlled systems are working properly. For example, at the major service interval (shown in your owner’s manual), the dealer tech will connect a scanner to your car’s computer and “read” a whole range of performance parameters. The car’s computer is advanced enough to record “faults,” which the scanner then displays for the technician. From that information, the technician can diagnose the vehicle’s health and spot potential problems.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

Just got this in my e-mail from Nissan
Car Care: Getting “In Tune” with Modern Times

Sure, but you can buy a simple scan gauge and do the same thing. If there's a MIL showing then the car may need to go in for service. If not, then what is the benefit of paying the dealer to connect a scanner to your car's OBD port?
The cost of a scan gauge can be less than a single service at the dealer, by the way.

The bottom line is that the routine maintenance service they charge for is simply gouging. It is basically an oil change, all the rest is fluff and can be done by and should be done by owners on a regular basis. Even the oil change can be done by almost any owner. It is simple and easy, and an owner will actually not only save money by doing it but also time in addition to learning more about the car which is never a bad thing.

[gstreetcomic]

I can hardly wait until some of these garages outside the MB dealerships work on these Smart cars especially with the routine service packages. Over $500 for that 20,0000 mile service sounds really nasty ( I know one of the guys where i got my Smart reads this forum and may pass me some opinions on this soon) The MB specialist where my father gets his bennies worked on won't even touch the Smart period. I mean they are a part of the Daimler family right?

[jimvw57]

When I took my 2008 in for the 10K checkup, I had already changed the oil myself. They did the 2.0 upgrade, checked all the items on the list, They found the oil was a litle over full (my fault) and they did replace the oil plug gasket which brought the total bill to just under $20. No cabin filter or any of the stuffthat wasn't needed. This was at the Bloomington Smart Center. Sometime next month, my 2009 will be ready for it's 10K checkup and I will again take it to Bloomington.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by gstreetcomic

The MB specialist where my father gets his bennies worked on won't even touch the Smart period. I mean they are a part of the Daimler family right?

So was Chrysler up until a couple years ago. I doubt there were many MB dealers stumbling over themselves to service Mopars either.....

[Old smart]

My smart center has a fixed-price 10K/1-yr service - $212. That's a lot, but I'm not destitute, and knowing that at least one smart center has closed for lack of business, I'm just as happy to see mine continue. But I struck a deal with the service manager - I would do my own oil and filter change ($30 total) in exchange for some non-scheduled items for essentially the same price. They checked the engine intake air filter (we have a very heavy Spring pollen season); checked the front end alignment (not a warranty item); in addition to the scheduled tire wear check, officially measured and recorded into the smart database that the front tire shoulders wear unevenly; and gave it its annual safety inspection and sticker.

At two years I shall do likewise again, that time having the tires inverted on their rims to even out wear.

[saronian]

I just had the 20K service and it wasn't too bad. They also replaced the Clutch Disc (A-001-252-66-05) under warranty to fix a problem with reverse gear not engaging.

Parts
Combo Filter $33.90
Air Filter $15.89
Oil Filter $10.71
Oil $23.64
Brake Fluid $18.45
Key Battery $6.38

Labor 2-hours $211.40

Tax $12.00

Total $332.37

[forestacademy]

Mine told me it would be $285

I asked how much without the Oil change, and Cabin Filter , and Air filter and he quoted me $175 for the check, Key Batteries and Break fluid change.

I'm just not sure I really need my break fluid changed after less than 1 year. and I think I can do the Key batteries. And now that I have my service wrench merit badge (thanks to my service tech) I'm not rushing up to them