oil change headache

[shellbug]

Well, I didn't have the time to drive an hour to the dealer for an oil change so I made the mistake of going to one of those quick oil change places. Actually I was shocked when they said they had the right filter, I thought that was the most of my worries. After about 25 mintues of them fiddling around under my car the guy told me that they were unable to get my skid plate off. They didn't have the right torque screw size. The next day I took it to the local euro garage. They guy told me that one of the torque screws had been stripped so they had to extract it out. That cost me an extra $25, but the euro guy told me to go back to the other place and tell them what happened and to tell them to reimburse me that money. I went back and the first guy claimed that they never touch any screws, B.S.!!! One of the guys even said they tried but that none of the things fit the screw. The manager later called me and told me to come back and he would give me the cash, so I did and he apologized.

[larryziegler]

Originally Posted by shellbug

Well, I didn't have the time to drive an hour to the dealer for an oil change so I made the mistake of going to one of those quick oil change places. Actually I was shocked when they said they had the right filter, I thought that was the most of my worries. After about 25 mintues of them fiddling around under my car the guy told me that they were unable to get my skid plate off. They didn't have the right torque screw size. The next day I took it to the local euro garage. They guy told me that one of the torque screws had been stripped so they had to extract it out. That cost me an extra $25, but the euro guy told me to go back to the other place and tell them what happened and to tell them to reimburse me that money. I went back and the first guy claimed that they never touch any screws, B.S.!!! One of the guys even said they tried but that none of the things fit the screw. The manager later called me and told me to come back and he would give me the cash, so I did and he apologized.

I NEVER go to those places for that very reason. Thanks for posting a perfect reminder not to use any of those quickie lube places. We do have an honest one here in town, which shocked me. A long standing business operates a full service car wash/detail/oil change/smog operation, where I take my cars to be smogged for registration purposes. When I took our Beetle in last year for its smog test, the attendant was honest in saying they recommend Beetles to have the oil changed at the dealer or a foreign car shop that is familiar with Beetles. He said they have too many problems with the CEL coming on afterwards, for whatever reasons, and they don't like paying the $100 cost at the dealer for diagnostics/re-setting of the customers car computer. The dealer charges $25.95 for the oil change, which is the reasonable going rate, so thats where I go.

[shellbug]

For the 06, one dealer charges $80 and the other one near me charges $100 for an oil change. That quick place I went to charges $60 plus $14 for the filter that my beetle takes. Regular kind of cars are $25, but for full synthetic its more. The euro place I went was $85, but was more conveniant than driving an hour to the dealership.

[cj95]

$80 for an oil change!!!????

Please tell me that thats a joke. $20 -$30 should do it.

This is our first foreign car....is this typical?

[LadybugEwa]

Full synthetic oil is expensive. It costs me about $25-30CDN for an oil change, but that's buying the oil and filter on sale, and having my boyfriend do the change in his driveway for free. Well, almost free

[StealthTurbo]

wix oil fiter Part Number: 57187

[JuggBug]

Originally Posted by cj95

$80 for an oil change!!!????

Please tell me that thats a joke. $20 -$30 should do it.

This is our first foreign car....is this typical?

I was shocked too! Baldy knew about the synthetic oil changes, but it freaked me out!

My dealer charges $80 too and I have to take it there because I can't find anyone else who will even touch it!

Oh well, it's the price we pay for such hot little cars!

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

and having my boyfriend do the change in his driveway for free. Well, almost free

And, um, that is the damn truth! LOL

[Celeste]

We paid $49 plus tax for our first oil change (that was two weeks ago). We did not take it to the dealership, but to an oil change place here in town. My husband took it in and made sure that they did everything that was suggested in the manual and that the correct oil was used. OUr dealership is an hour and a half away, so it's good to know that there is a place here in town that will do it. I beleive our dealership charges around $75-80, but that includes a loaner car for the day.

[ghostRder1]

I take mine to dealer. A neighbor took his to a local shop and end up having to take his beetle back it was smoking and oil was running out because they overfilled.

[El Subcomandante]

For my Nb it cost me 5.50 us per liter, plus 11 for the K&N oil filter and 6 dollars for tip to the gay that does.. total 55 US
Of course, all done under my suppervision..
Here in Mexico, all shops know very well VW engines...

[Atomic_Knight]

Gotta be carefull of those quickie oil change places. When I had my Chevette all those years ago, one place forgot to put on the oil filter. Needless to say, the engine block was bone dry 15 minutes after I drove away. I heard of one story where one "mechanic" accidently droped the auto tranny bu mistake.

I go to dealership (I did buy that 3 year maintainance plan for about $365, so I go when I need to) and have them do it. All I need to do is call them ahead of time so they can order the oil and air filter.

[hyakugojyuuichi]

The dealership in LR charges $65 for and oil change. I go to a local foreign car shop and have it change for free now.