Auris servicing costs

[auris123]

Hi folks, I have a Toyota Auris 1.8 petrol hybrid automatic. 2016 plate and it has done around 53,000 miles. I have always had it serviced and MOT'd annually at the nearest Toyota dealership. The cost of servicing has crept up over the years, but this year I'm really starting to wonder if it's worth it, especially as it's due for a full service - £370, the intermediate is £240. In comparison, Halfords equivalent is £295 and £245 and Kwikfit is £265 and £194 (less if I book MOT at the same time, which I would).

I know if I service it at the dealership I'll get the additional year on the warranty, but the car is 7 years old now, and given it does around 3,000-4,000 miles per year, is it worth it? I've also been struggling to find anywhere online that lists what is included in the full/intermediate so I can see what the difference is.

[TonyHSD]

Hi Alex, 

in your particular case definitely worth it. The difference between the official dealer and others mentioned is small plus does not include hybrid health check . The added year or 10k miles warranty is absolute bonus and must have imo. Plus those garages in question are not the best one when we are talking about car service. Just personal experience and opinion. 
For me will be either a dealer or as diy. 

[AisinW]

As per today, Toyota UK/Ireland and Germany offer 15 years unlimited mileage hybrid Battery warranty by doing only hybrid-system-check for £50 per year.  So, I did everything on my own in my house (oil change, HV fan filter cleaning, brake cleaning, coolant, sparkplugs) and still keep the hybrid Battery warranty.   

If you do 4000 miles per year, do oil change is the only thing you need until 10 years. After 10 years, you can start change coolant (very easy like opening faucet and refill water to the bottle), transmission fluid, and spark plugs.   Don't worry about the brake fluid change if it is still clear and < 2% water content.  Just keep it clean from salt and rust and it will keep running forever. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

32 minutes ago, AisinW said:

As per today, Toyota UK/Ireland and Germany offer 15 years unlimited mileage hybrid battery warranty by doing only hybrid-system-check for £50 per year.

The hybrid Battery extended warranty has been 'up to 15 years', subject to an annual hybrid health check, in the UK for a number of years - not just from today.

[AisinW]

1 hour ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

The hybrid battery extended warranty has been 'up to 15 years', subject to an annual hybrid health check, in the UK for a number of years - not just from today.

Yes that's right. In Germany is new,  start on July 2023. The rest of Europe is still 10 years. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

3 hours ago, auris123 said:

as it's due for a full service - £370, the intermediate is £240. In comparison, Halfords equivalent is £295 and £245 and Kwikfit is £265 and £194 (less if I book MOT at the same time, which I would).

Which is OK. 

However, if you wish to maintain the hybrid Battery extended warranty (having the hybrid health check done as a standalone item at a Toyota dealer is around £50 on top of the independent"s service costs), the cost difference narrows between the Toyota dealer servicing and the independent's.

So added to the Kwikfit and Halfords prices, using your own figures, you're looking at £345/£295 and £315/£244 plus MOT. Your Toyota prices, including the Relax extended warranty and the hybrid health check, are £370/£240 plus MOT (and some Toyota dealers also offer discounted MOTs).

At the end of the day, it's horses for courses. Your choice and your budget.

[Eddiefh]

Do you not know a family friend or neighbor who could recommend a good local private garage or there’s lots of guys now that will do it on your drive . The dealer Is a lot of money for a job that is at tops an hour 

[Mojo1010]

Had the Yaris for 5 years, all that was done to it was 3x oil and filter changes at national tyres cost 50-60 each go. One long interval during pandemic, did like 8.5k miles in 2.5 years. Changed the air and pollen filters myself. Halfords has bought national tyres, now prices have shot up a lot. 

Like above, get recommendation to a local mechanic to do the oil & filter change. Pollen filter 12-18 months, air filter every 4 years. 

[AisinW]

For annual checkup or maintenance, get an independent garage who provide a good engine oil either 0w-20,0w-30, or 5w-30 Long Life. Typical Castrol Edge, Shell/Pennzoil, Mobil 1, Ravenol cost £40 per 5L. So, £100 oil change with quick checkup is considered to be normal price. 

We used Pitstop.de in Germany that used 0w-20 or 5w-30 Castrol Longlife oil for €100 with free checkup.

Other shops varies from €150-€250 and still cheaper than dealerships €320-440 (oil change only). What a rip-off price. Americans paid about $100 in typical Toyota dealership and get free breakfast. 

Brake fluid flush as part of major maintenance every 2 years per schedule is not really critical in Hybrid. I did check every 2 years and after 5 years it is still clear and <1% water content. I use €5 brake fluid tester from Lidl and it is accurate within 0.5%. 

 

[Mojo1010]

Insane price for an oil change at dealers in Germany. Full service will be crazy price. Brake fluid did not needed to change in my 5 years of ownership, though it was not tested, so it's a good tip to get the tester from Lidl. 

 

[AisinW]

Some Toyota dealerships show their price for certain Km/year maintenance from MyT Toyota Apps before we make schedule but some need direct phone calls.  I found that the price jump up during Relax-warranty period. The one nearest my place was used to be €230 for Oil change+inspection and now €440.  I asked Toyota Germany directly and they said, it is up to the Dealership to set the price.  So, I shoped around and I found other dealership for 10 more miles cost €320.    I still cannot swallow it unless I want to sell the car and provide warranty for the new owner. 

The problem with Relax-Wararnty  is, common problematic stuffs like Oil consumption (fall 2014 Auris/Prius/CT200h) are not covered unless it is very severe >  1L per 1200 miles.  By that time at 100 000 miles, the consumption is probably not that bad but it is too late and unrepairable because the cause is solid carbon on piston rings and piston return holes.  It does not cover common failure in Auris such as stabilizer links rubber bottom (only the rubber), control arms bushing, shocks adsorber, brake pads uneven wears from stuck sliding pins.  

There  are  2 big things on 3rd gen 1.8L Hybrid cars that mainly related to Prius and Prius+ but may be on some Auris:

1. the Inverter problems on certain Prius 3 and Prius V/plus  recalls assemblied in Japan https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCMN-18V684-8352.pdf  .  I am not sure if the Prius and Prius + in  Europe also got the same Free Recalls because they are assemblied from the same plant.   As far as I know, there is no open Recalls or Campaign in Auris 2013-2018 as per today. 

2.  EGR and ECU update in 2016 https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10164926-9999.pdf   and the campaign is renewed again in 2019.  I think for us in Europe it becomes our own duty to clean the EGR and intake manifolds regularly. Probably 75k-150k miles, depends on how much oil consumption from the engine and where we drive the cars. I am not aware if Toyota Europe offer free EGR replacement and software update for 2010-2012 Auris/Prius/Prius+ so far.  It is not all vehicles but only certain range of VIN number (production batches). 

So far I did not see common trends yet.  I think because we do not have enough statistics from people who own the cars for more than 200k miles. Only few like TonyHSD who really maintains his car extra-ordinarily well.  But so far, the Relax warranty is ony up to 100 000 miles anyway not 150 000 miles yet.  Germany Relax-warrant is now  up to 15 years/250 000 Km (155k miles) but the inspection/maintenance cost is stupidly high.  

From this facts alone, I can assume at least  155k miles trouble free if we  just do our own regular oil change every 8k miles/8 months, clean the HV air filter and cabin air filter yearly. Especielly if our Auris HSD is made after fall 2014 with revised piston, piston rings, and head gaskets.  Oil consumption is the main culprits for all common troubles in Prius 3 and Auris HSD.  So, avoid it as soon as possible by doing more often regular oil change.

 

. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

37 minutes ago, AisinW said:

The problem with Relax-Wararnty  is, common problematic stuffs like Oil consumption (fall 2014 Auris/Prius/CT200h) are not covered unless it is very severe >  1L per 1200 miles.

In the UK the heavy oil consumption definition (0.5 litre per 621 miles) used by Toyota has been in place for 10 years plus. The following is an extract from a topic dating back to around 2010, re the Toyota AD series engine:

"AD Engine Out of Warranty Guidelines (0730J)

We are pleased to advise that we have received more formalised guidelines from TME for the handling of AD engine problems on out of warranty vehicles. The coverage and processes are summarised below.

Conditions Covered

1) Oil consumption worse than 0.5 litre per 621 miles (1,000 km)

2) Overheating & Head Gasket failure due to carbon deposits on the pistons

If an engine is experiencing this level of oil consumption at 100,000 miles, it will be outside the Relax warranty anyway.

[AisinW]

I bought Toyota/Lexus or Honda because I know they last 200k miles or more easily if we maintain it well, just mainly oil changes. As long as we do not got a lemon.  I believe this Relax-warranty scheme is a good coverage if we get a lemon car.  But dealership scheduled maintenance cost in Europe is too expensive but it is also the trends in other brands too.  Cheaper KIA/Hyundai also charge similar price, and even worse for German cars.  They already make decent profit for  £100. 

In contrast, typical Toyota USA dealership charge about $70+tax for oil change, full synthetic 0W-20 https://www.toyotaofirving.com/service-menu-pricing/    and brake fluid is only Recommended service every 3 years, not mandatory for valid warranty.  The warranty is valid there even if we do DIY for 5y/60k miles engine/transmission, 8y/80k miles for catalytic converter, HV Battery, and ECU.

[Eddie G]

Service plan will give you 10% off parts as well when getting serviced through a Toyota dealer and i look at the extra paid over the likes of Halfords ect as worth it for the extended warranty.

[TonyHSD]

Again, here in uk at least if you think of claiming for warranty repair on the hybrid Battery I highly recommend to you to think of service at the dealer only. 
We had an example not long ago with an Auris 2013 owner who had its hybrid Battery failed and the dealer replaced under warranty. The reason most likely was temperature damage cells or moisture damage which are the two most common faults. If this car was serviced elsewhere and the same issue had happened even with hybrid health check pass separately for a £50  they could still refuse replacement under warranty. Why, it is so simple. They will say the cooling fan was not cleaned or filter replaced because these aren’t included in the health check, Period.
But when they service the car they put their word on it that all been taken care off, correct? So you are dealing with their problem. Where if you have the car done on your driveway by someone as diy or mobile mechanic to save £100 quit you may miss on warranty care afterwards, because there will be another party that can the problem being  put on. They can easily say your mechanic didn’t service your hybrid Battery., will they not? 

[AisinW]

8 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Again, here in uk at least if you think of claiming for warranty repair on the hybrid battery I highly recommend to you to think of service at the dealer only. 
We had an example not long ago with an Auris 2013 owner who had its hybrid battery failed and the dealer replaced under warranty. The reason most likely was temperature damage cells or moisture damage which are the two most common faults. If this car was serviced elsewhere and the same issue had happened even with hybrid health check pass separately for a £50  they could still refuse replacement under warranty. Why, it is so simple. They will say the cooling fan was not cleaned or filter replaced because these aren’t included in the health check, Period.
But when they service the car they put their word on it that all been taken care off, correct? So you are dealing with their problem. Where if you have the car done on your driveway by someone as diy or mobile mechanic to save £100 quit you may miss on warranty care afterwards, because there will be another party that can the problem being  put on. They can easily say your mechanic didn’t service your hybrid battery., will they not? 

I think we will definitely get the  Hybrid Battery since we already have Hybrid-system-check test pass. It is explicit, 1 y/10k miles warranty as long as it pass.  They cannot make any other argument not this and that. The techniciant must not let it pass if the Battery fan is dirty or clogging.  It is the responsibility of the guy who gives the warranty certicate for hybrid-system-check.  So far, I never get any denied warranty from Toyota/Lexus, unlike Crysler or KIA/Hyundai that always try to push all claims.  But the craftmanship of each dealership may be different. Some do better jobs than others for recall, campaign, or warranty claims.   Long ago my nieghbor got a free catalytic converter on his poor Corolla 2001 from excessive oil consumption, 1L per 2k miles at 78k miles/7 years. Dealership do not ask anything, just charged $100 initial fee for diagnostic and refund it once they found the P0420 code is indeed from Cat.  

Any denied warranty must shows explicitely that the damaged is cause by something directly related.  So, there is no reason for HV Battery failure because we do not change the brake fluid, brake pads or spark plugs.  It just does not make sense. We must stand for our Right as a consumer. Fortunately most familiest in Germany has Right Insurance (Lawyer cost insurance) that can deal with such things.  

I think the hybrid-system-check makes sense as the car ages. I will say 10y/150k miles as the good time to get it covered. I do not recommend it if it is still under warranty 5y/60k milles or 100k Km since Hybrid systems are all still under warranty.  However, we should keep the intake fan clean, turn the AC on in hot summer and keep moisture low in winter (either open recirculation or AC on).  The most failure causes are people too CHEAP not to turn the AC on on hot summer and let the dirt blocking the cooling fan intake. 

I thought Halford cost £100 for oil change. Why don't just do oil change and cabin filter  as the main maintenance. They do visual inspection for free. 

[Saxmaniac]

Nobody has ever explained what the hybrid system check consists of. I don't think service schedule includes checking/cleaning fan and filter for hybrid Battery which is the most important maintenance after all. Coolant check, Battery module balance check? You can easily DIY 

[loz8]

Would other garages use Toyota parts?. not worth chancing i.m.o.

[TonyHSD]

41 minutes ago, loz8 said:

Would other garages use Toyota parts?. not worth chancing i.m.o.

Most likely they will not but if you request they can buy parts from Toyota. Usually independent mechanics use aftermarket because they can get discounts on the parts up to around 35% and maximise profits  where if they use original from the dealer max 10% if even that much at all, it will be more like a 5%. 

[AisinW]

That's right. Most independent mechanics use aftermarket parts that are often cost fraction of Toyota parts. The rear stabilizer links in Auris 2 cost €400 for parts only but we can get the best  Sachaeffer/INA links for about €50 a pair. So, keep the original links, just replace the bottom rubber parts for about €12 from Febest. Other parts like shocks, brake pads, etc is only about 2x costlier.

So, for maintenance, filters and fluids, after markets are as good as genuine Toyota. But for repairs in control arms, rubber parts,  ball joints, seals, gaskets, springs,Toyota parts  are easily 4x better than any aftermarket.

Hybridsystem-Check is purely just for warranty. I asked the technician in dealership once. They mainly do visual check on the fan filter, and do simple test on the Battery status (like Dr. PRIUS app) they should test the cooling fans and all Battery temperature sensors are within normal range.   It takes literally 15 minutes flat. 

[auris123]

Thanks everyone, some useful points to consider here. 

[loz8]

One sour note on dealer servicing is the upselling,my weak point when I want the best for the car,falling for a " special offer".