Service costs at 50K

It's not too far out of line, including tax. And:

Consider what it'd be like to do it yourself. Tire rotation in particular can be a back breaker. I appreciate the pros have the know how, nice heated garages, air tools and full lifts, but that stuff, and wages, business licenses and so on, doesn't just fall out of the sky.

Even the dealerships can screw things up, the horror stories abound, but you're odds of getting a properly done job are at least better, compared to the cut-rate places.

 

Longo charges a lot more than other dealers. Best to sign up for their services via email. You'll get a bunch of service coupons.

Glendale Toyota has lots of great service coupons on their site, if you can drive there.

 

amazon.com/EcoGard-XA10014-Ecogard-Air-Filter/dp/B00I8IKICQ Amazon charges $12 for the Engine air filter.

Fuel induction is a buzzword for ripoff (boat payment for the Dealer) You may someday need throttle body cleaning, but you will know it. Just based on this, I would look for another mechanic amazon.com/Aervoe-590-Carb-Choke-Cleaner/dp/B002CXDHBM Amazon charges $3, when you really need it in 100,000 more miles.

amazon.com/EPAuto-CF10285-Toyota-Premium-Activated/dp/B014TYRQUY Amazon charges $8 for the cabin filter

amazon.com/Toyota-Prius-C-2012-2014-Wiper-Blade/dp/B00O0D9MQG Amazon charges $42, more than your dealer.
amazon.com/Toyota-85214-52060-Rear-Wiper-Rubber/dp/B00KTKPK4M

All of these (other than throttle body cleaning) are easy DIY 5 minute projects.

 

you don't need throttle body cleaning and you can do the engine air filter, it's easier than the cabin filter.
a hundred bucks for synthetic oil and tire rotation is probably a fairly average price in populated areas. that's about what i pay at the local mobil station.
considering that the oil is only every 10k, that's not bad compared to dino oil every 5k.

 

Took my wife's Avalon in today. 45k service. Tire rotation was $28 !!! Alignment was another $80. Total $118 and the first bill they presented me was $160.. When I questioned it, they "oops, entered it wrong". This with a free lifetime oil change. I went in expecting an oil change. Bah dealers.

 

$100 is about the going price for 0w20 oil and rotation in my area. There are occasional coupons that bring it down to $70 which is what local mechanics charge. Ignore the $20 or $30 sale prices. When you get there, they'll say late model vehicles now use synthetic 0w20 oil which doubles the cost to $50. The sale prices are for conventional oil in older vehicles.

It's the sign of the times. I'm dreading when all cars use LED headlamps. My halogen headlight bulb cost $7 each. The current Corolla LED headlamps which are standard are hundreds of $'s to replace. Toyota claims they are lifetime headlamps. Tough pill to swallow if I am that outlier with a failed headlamp.

 

Tire rotation is often the "loss leader" at dealerships. They price it low, and make it up on other services. But more realistically: that is a good price. I can appreciate the dealership has lifts, air tools, heated service bays and so on, but none of that grows on trees. I'd suggest:

Try doing a tire rotation on the Avalon yourself. I think the wheel/tire size is getting up there? and the lug nut torque might be higher? Here's my DIY drill:

1. Partially loosen all lug nuts, with the car on the ground.
2. Chock rear tires, release parking brake.
3. Raise the front and settle on jack stands.
4. Raise the rear and settle on jack stands.
5. Spin off the lug nuts and remove wheels. (See pic, for what you do if the wheels stick. They often do.)
6. Bring backs to front and fronts to back, and install wheels, lug nuts partially tightened.
7. Jack up rear, remove jack stands, lower to ground.
8. Chock rear tires.
9. Jack up front, remove jack stands, lower to ground.
10. Torque all lug nuts.

At the end of this, especially with the Avalon, you will be feeling it. Back and knees starting to complain, and in northern climes getting chilled.

To deal with stuck on rims, one lug nut on, very loose at top, then:



That's a Honda Pilot btw. The wheels and tires on that are significantly heavier. I could barely get them back on. It's one thing to get it off the floor, but then you are holding it in the air, desperately trying to connect at least one wheel hole (typically at the top) with a lug. More than once I had to give up, drop it back down. Using a small pry bar under the tire to help with the lifting was what I resorted to finally. It's not easy.

 

I have to laugh at your description. In my younger days I used to change/rotate all my cars' tires. Still have the tools, just not the back. Trying to think, of my last 5 cars I've had to change a tire exactly once. It had snowed. First car in the line couldn't tell where the edge of the road was and went off the road and hit something. All the sheep followed carefully in the ruts the first car made including my wife and, when she called and I arrived, there were 5 cars within 200 feel all with right front tires with side wall punctures. I was the only one changing a tire in the snow. All the rest were desperately trying to call someone.

 

There's something to be said about self sufficiency - even if you choose not to exercise it at times.

 

I paid $105 for my 50K maintenance at the dealer (Culver City).