Scheduled service - $95. Replacing wiper blades - $88.

[EVangelist]

We take our LEAF in for scheduled service only once a year, and it never needs anything done to it.  So much so that we doubt whether it needs any servicing at all.

Last week, we took it to a new Nissan dealer for its 4th service.  The scheduled service cost only $95.  But then they replaced the wiper blades and charged us a whopping $88, which comprised $33.18 for the parts and $54.82 for the “labour”.

How does one spell “rip off”?

It’s this kind of shenanigans that really turn us off “dealers”.  No doubt they are terrified that BEVs are going to decimate their service revenues and therein lies one reason for the ambivalence that the traditional manufacturers have towards going “all in” on BEV.  They are damned if they do (the dealers will hate it and resist it every step of the way) and damned if they don’t (the manufacturers will become relics and go out of buisness).

[pharmadave]

Wow, that’s amazing in a bad way.

I just bought replacement wiper assemblies for the front @$15 each at Costco.

They are Michelin branded ones, really good quality.

Measurements are:

Front pair: 650mm (26”) 400mm (16”)

[jin]

I think that might not be an entirely fair call.
There would've been a few things to check in between before determining wiper replacement.

Coolant levels, battery health, tyre pressure, possible firmware updates, stuff like recall eligabilty etc.
What exactly does your invoice bill you for in the service?

[rusdy]

I actually deliberately trying to help the dealers in the first 2 services. I knew that it would be astronomical to conduct basic service (wiper blades, change internal cabin filter, tyres, etc). It cost me AUD2k (yup, 2 grand) last time I did that (mainly tyres).

So, now that I've done my part (that was 18 months ago at 50kk service), I haven't gone back to dealer. Now, my car already clock 70kk. My next plan is to change the reduction gear oil at, let say, maybe 90kk and flush the brake too.

Maybe I should change my own wiper blade in between .

Long story cut short, the only thing dealer done mechanically to my Leaf since I bought it at 13kk was:
1. Check brake pads (still good, since not used anyway);
2. Flushing the brake line at 50kk;
3. Wheel alignment check (was fine).

That's it. Yup, that's it. EV is great.

Should I or should I not support dealer? Tricky question indeed.

I'm longing for the days when all personal transport are uber-like.

[pharmadave]

I've always been of the opinion of doing what I can in terms of basic maintenance and letting the dealer mechanic do what I am not able or confident about.

So stuff like wiper blades I would always do myself especially it's an item which can wear at different rates depending on the environment.

Things like brakes, power steering I would always leave to the professionals.

[EVangelist]

Jan 13, 2019 13:14:27 GMT 11 jin said:

I think that might not be an entirely fair call.
There would've been a few things to check in between before determining wiper replacement.

Coolant levels, battery health, tyre pressure, possible firmware updates, stuff like recall eligabilty etc.
What exactly does your invoice bill you for in the service?

It is an entirely fair call since the bill was itemised.  The $95 scheduled service covered coolant levels, battery health, possible firmware updates, recall check etc.

$88 was a separate charge solely for wiper blade replacement as per my post.  Ridiculous.

They also rotated the tyres and checked air pressure, that was an additional amount as well.

Next time I might tell them to just do the scheduled service items, and nothing else, and to call me only if something mechanical/safety related needs to be done and I’ll either approve or not approve the work.

[EVangelist]

Jan 14, 2019 12:09:12 GMT 11 rusdy said:

I actually deliberately trying to help the dealers in the first 2 services... Should I or should I not support dealer? Tricky question indeed.

I had the same approach and now the same dilemma. I was happy for the first 2 services to “reward” the dealer for their investment in BEVs and to help the ecosystem development. But since then we’ve been shunted to two new dealers so my feelings of loyalty have been correspondingly affected.

Maybe I should wait to see what Tesla’s service charges are before complaining further