Did I get screwed on the 60k?

[Auto-9]

We took the car in for the 60k service plus timing belt and a speaker concern that they said would charge a flat 200 bucks for. The total came out to $1,443 bucks, so about $1,200 for the maintenance. I see the parts cost 600 bucks and change, but the labor was a whopping 780. Given the labor rate of 32 bucks an hour, that works out to be about 24 hours of labor they charged. We took the car in at 1pm Friday, service techs leave at 5 so assuming he started work right on time (yeah right) that's 4 hours, are back on the clock at 8 in the morning, go to lunch from 11 to 1pm, and we get the call that the car is ready at 2pm which works out to be another 4 hours. I don't know how they calculate labor hours but that doesn't seem to work out to be 24 hours, only 8. The Toyota Sienna total cost was only $879 for its 60k service...should we contact the Mitsubishi service people or the BBB about this or do you guys think it's right?

[playa759]

$1200 seems to be the going rate for 60K maintenance by a Mitsu dealer....and the labor may have been calculated based on more than 1 tech working on the car

[Reelax]

my 60K was around $1300 i think. that was the last service i had at the dealer.

[Danger DANJ]

My 60k mile service was $1585. $849 for labor, $629 for parts, and $103 for tax. I had the water pump changed, but I supplied my own Magnecor spark plug wires. I don't know how you are getting a labor rate of $32 an hour, but for me it's $79 an hour.

[pinoyesv6]

the times of labor isn't calculated by the amount of hours the mechanic works on the car but based from a book that calculates how much time it would take and the difficulty. the book might have said 24 hours. but maybe for the dealer's master mechanic it might just take him 12. whereas the newbie tech guy might take 35. i know the numbers are an exaggeration but yea, the labor times come from a book just to keep things fair for both you and the dealer.

[burthold]

had my 60k done at a local shop that I know well, they replaced both valve covers and still didn't break 1000.

[dza]

I need to call my dealer back. I called several dealers in the area and they quoted me (on average) $800 for the 60k service. I'm going with the best, which quoted me $770. That's significantly different from everyone else. That seems too good to be true.

[ryans99es2.4]

you have to remember the timing belt change alone costs $400, the part is only like $60 or $70 but it is a total bitch to change, so they jack up the labor on it. so it's reasonable. i imagine they did a tranny and radiator flush, that in itself would probably cost another $300. they probably changed out your plugs and cleaned your TB another $200 or so, there are many more that they could have done. 60k is the big one, mitsu techs refer that.

[Danger DANJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dza)</div><div class='quotemain'>I need to call my dealer back. I called several dealers in the area and they quoted me (on average) $800 for the 60k service. I'm going with the best, which quoted me $770. That's significantly different from everyone else. That seems too good to be true.</div>

Yeah, but find out what they are including with their service.

[sd2775906]

I paid about $500 for my 60K done at my local mechanic down the street. Got my timing belt, alternator belt, oil change, plugs, etc. Basic tuneup.

[jusmills]

1200 is a bit much...especially for a car that's getting older...most of the time the dealer charges $80 an hour, plus a timing belt job (by ALLDATA guidelines) for a galant is 2.7 hours parts should be like $100-$130 or so without the water pump (belts tensioner depending on which brands selected etc) and the price quoted for water pump was $168 (dealer price). Total price I got quoted for at the side guy was $400

When I went to the local mitsu dealer it was $770 for the timing belt + water pump and $480 without doing the water pump.

[dza]

I need to call my dealer back. I called several dealers in the area and they quoted me (on average) $800 for the 60k service. I'm going with the best, which quoted me $770. That's significantly different from everyone else. That seems too good to be true.

Yeah, but find out what they are including with their service.

Good call. I just called and asked. It's 710 actually for everything but the timing belt. He said, "For the timing belt tensioners and all that, it'll run you about 900 dollars". That's insane. I'll get the 60k service done for 710 and then go to a moms and pops service station for the timing belt.

[devgrp]

If you can do some of the 60K service yourself, that should save you some money. I did my plugs, ignition cable, oil change, tranny fluid and radiator flush by myself. My local mechanic only charged me $375 to change all the belts and the water pump.

I'm sorry but I dont have over $800 to give to Mitsubishi.

[Fishboy55]

I want to know where you can find a mechanic for $32 per hour...going rate for mechanics is 60-75 dollars per hour. Recalculate ur rate and see what u come up with...for $32 an hour i'd expect a jiffy lube monkey, and he wouldn't touch my timing belt....

[MidNightRacing]

the times of labor isn't calculated by the amount of hours the mechanic works on the car but based from a book that calculates how much time it would take and the difficulty. the book might have said 24 hours. but maybe for the dealer's master mechanic it might just take him 12. whereas the newbie tech guy might take 35. i know the numbers are an exaggeration but yea, the labor times come from a book just to keep things fair for both you and the dealer.

Anyone read this? This is the way dealerships work independent shops might be different.

[dza]

the times of labor isn't calculated by the amount of hours the mechanic works on the car but based from a book that calculates how much time it would take and the difficulty. the book might have said 24 hours. but maybe for the dealer's master mechanic it might just take him 12. whereas the newbie tech guy might take 35. i know the numbers are an exaggeration but yea, the labor times come from a book just to keep things fair for both you and the dealer.

Anyone read this? This is the way dealerships work independent shops might be different.

I usually ask a shop before they do any work how they get their hours. Independent shops i've asked also use a book. The hourly rate changes significantly with who I ask. The dealership compared to this group of older guys down the street... forget about it. Dudes make it clear they like what they do and ripping people of isn't their concern. Would I be better off getting my 60k service done at the dealership and then going to the place down the street for the timing belt? Or, is the timing belt one of those thing were you want a Mitsu specialist touching? I know for anything tranny related (even if its just flushing and refilling fluids) I only let a Mitsu tech touch my G.

[Auto-9]

For those of you wondering how the heck I got 32 bucks an hour, the dealership provided that figure to me. I know for a fact though the techs only make about 13-16 bucks an hour.

[G-spot]

For those of you wondering how the heck I got 32 bucks an hour, the dealership provided that figure to me. I know for a fact though the techs only make about 13-16 bucks an hour.

When a repair tech of any field earns $5-15 dollars an hour vs. commision they will find ways to price it way high. I'm in this kind of business and seen many techs pull that stunt off. It's not fair for people like myself who charges according to the labor difficulties. Pete, call BBB and channel 13 Eyewitness' Marvin Zindler and beat the crap out of Gillman Mitsubishi. 8)

WTF ! over 1 K for 60K ??? I paid around $200 for my 30K . I'm at 50K now.. I should get a new car before hitting 60K.

[DryBear]

Wow, just called my local Mitsu dealer for timing belt change and they have a coupon for only $390 :shock: - granted I'm only at 46K, but 'm going to hop on that bish before the coupon expires! The other mitsu dealer near me (Serramonte) wanted $800...