Prius Servicing

[Trafficman]

Oh well, serves me right for moving from Berkshire (Inchcape S :( andhurst were excellent) to Worcester. :(

Just had the 10,000 service on my Prius TSpirit done at Brooklyn Toyota Worcester. Not the toyota experience I have been used to:

Receptionist thinking that someone who has phoned is more important than the customer she is already dealing with.

Courtesy car not ready

Oil overfilled (no I am not happy to spend half a day bringing it back!)

Washer fluid charged for when not needed

Car washed and miraculously more dirty than when it arrived "Sir, if you could see how many cars they wash in a day you would expect the sort of job you have just got"

Postcard arrived three days later to say they had tried to contact me by phone to check I was satisfied, funny no missed calls or messages on any of my phones!

Frankly mediocre! :censor:

Does anyone know if toyota Stourbridge any better, or others to the SW of Brum?

Grizzle grizzle

[Braindead]

Get used to it

Inchcape Derby are dire, Inchcape Burton are OK...ish.

I think I might have said this before but the dealers know they have you trapped for three years and they really don't have to try. Sad but true.

Great cars...very variable dealers.

[brownne]

Just got my 20K service yesterday. Some things I found out, and some questions I have:

1. When I had my first service (10K) at a dealer I have now left, they put 10W40 (Helix Ultra accepted) in it and overfilled it by almost 2cm on dipstick - my new dealer was kind enough to remove the excess at no charge (Toyota Sunderland said the damage would have been done immediately, but they advised it should be removed - I`ve got it in writing).　My new dealer also rang me shortly after I left the car with them the other day to ask if I would like 5W30 oil in there as recommended (I had asked for Fully Synthetic) - this was a Toyota Branded part synthetic oil they sold in 5litre bottles for 14.99GBP. The only other place I had seen this oil was Halfords - 6.99GBP for 1 litre. When I got the car home, I checked the oil and it was bang on the max mark on the dipstick - but the engine had run a bit. I`ve not checked it cold yet-I`m confident it will be okay.

2. My old dealer also charged me for screenwash - I didn`t query it at the time, but I wasn`t happy paying 1gbp for (what I assumed was) a splash of screen wash that costs 80pence for the equivalent of 5 litres (concentrated). So for my 20k service, I made sure the screenwash was fully topped up - and a charge appeared on the bill for screenwash. I had them I thought, so I confronted the Service rep - she said that actually they completely drain the `old` screenwash and refill with new which I tend to believe since the screenwash has a different smell to previously (still blue). Can anyone confirm this, and explain why the need ?

3. They changed my two front tyres (2mm tread) but they didn`t take off my back wheels at all (the old cable ties on the covers confirm this) - for a full service, can they check the brakes without taking the wheels off ? Is it because they are disc brakes ??

4. On the `Health & Safety Schedule and Visual Safety Report Procedure Guide` tick sheet, they ticked as checked the statement `Check clutch Pedal and Clearance` - what?where?who?.

5. The problem I have with the deadlocking (not deadlocking sometimes even after two presses, often when I reverse into a tight spot) they didn`t solve - opening and closing the driver door makes it work so I am resigned to doing this the rest of the life of the car.

Overall I was pleased with the service (they didn`t wash or valet the car, which I might mention when they ring to check up, but my last dealer did wash and valet but the actual service was poor and I know what I`d rather have). Cost: 370GBP. This dealer is also a Lexus dealer, and I think that has an influence on the customer service you get from the Toyota side of it.

NB

[Braindead]

£370 notes...Gordon Bennet!

My 20K service was £111. I always demand they use 5W30 and have started taking my own. I always refuse to pay for screenwash. The tyres should have lasted till 30k but even so I paid about £85 each at a local outfit. Toyota wanted £105.

I also get my TOC discount every time.

All in all I think you could have got that service inc tyres for around £285

[brownne]

£370 notes...Gordon Bennet!

My 20K service was £111. I always demand they use 5W30 and have started taking my own. I always refuse to pay for screenwash. The tyres should have lasted till 30k but even so I paid about £85 each at a local outfit. Toyota wanted £105.

I also get my TOC discount every time.

All in all I think you could have got that service inc tyres for around £285

Braindead - You`ve got me a bit worried that I`m a mug - My 10k service was 86GBP.

The bill breakdown for the 20k is as follows (all GBP - sorry, I don`t have a pound key on this computer):

Carry out 20k service - 118.50

Oil filter - 7.05

Gasket, Drain Plug - 0.78

Screen Wash - 1.60

Brake Arrestor - 3.10

Lith White Grease - 3.62

Engine Oil - 21.25

Tyres - 156.50

No mention of labour cost in the bill so I assume it`s included (the oil for 21.25 seems to confirm this since they had a 5 litre bottle for sale at 14.99GBP - where do you buy yours from ? Halfords ?

All this plus VAT comes to 367.40GBP - was I conned? To get a complete service for 111GBP seems incredible considering the 118.50 charge for my service even before consumables is added.

You say you refuse screenwash - do you refute the suggestion that they drain the old screenwash away and refill it ? If they do this (for what reason I can`t say), then 1.60GBP seems reasonable don`t you think ?

Also, do they check your clutch pedal clearance as well ?

And what`s this TOC discount you mention ?

They are trying to sell me 3 future services for around 430GBP (either monthly payments or one lump sum) - this does tie me into this dealer but they say I won`t suffer from labour rate increases - from what you`ve said though, I`m having my doubts.

Any advice much appreciated.

NB

[rickers]

HI,

call me stupid, but how are they going to check the clutch pedal on a car with no clutch??????

everything is done through a set of planetarie gears.

also if in doubt if they have they washer fluid ddrained and changed you can always ask them to show you how they have done it, but is it worth the hassle for the sake of one pound?

i have just taken my dads for a 20 000 miles service a while ago and we discovered this week that the oil fill cap had gone. i was abslolutely fuming and its not the first porblem wiht this dealer.

i paid 141 for the service.

rickers

[brownne]

The clutch pedal check confused me also - I am going to ask them how they achieved it when (if) they ring me to check if I am happy with the service (tomorrow by my calculations). I`m also going to ask then why the screenwash needed changing (considering I`m constantly topping it up so it was fresh).

The　21 odd pounds for the oil perplexes me a bit as well considering a 5 litre bottle of the exact same oil was on sale in the very same dealership for 14.99GBP - I didn`t think a refill on the Prius took that much oil (7.5 litres if they sold it to me at the 14.99 per 5 litre price) - but if anyone does know the amount then I will stand corrected. The labour cost of the refill must be included in the charge to carry out the service I`ve now concluded.

NB

[Braindead]

20,000 mile inspection £56.70

Oil filter - £7.00

Gasket, Drain Plug - £0.76

Top-up Fluids, Grease & lubricants - £5.40

Engine Oil - £21.25

CR2032 Battery £4.50

Environmental Waste Disposal Charge £2.25

Oil used was a 5 lite bottle of 5W30. About 3.5l used in the car, remaining 1.5 left in the bottle in the boot.

Parts £30.19, Labour £64.35 = £94.54 + VAT = £111.08

Tyre price was about right.

Last time I went (30k) I took Halfords 5W30 oil with me.

I always tell them not to touch or charge for screen wash. If it's on the bill I argue.

I also tell them no extra work or charges unless they ring me first.

The TOC discount is one of the benefits of Gold membership but if I tell you any more they'll be forced to shoot me.

I just checked my other invoices. 10K was £76 and the 30K was £111 again. The 30K I took my own oil but they charged me £40 labour to remove the front wheels and clean the brakes to get rid of the annoying squeal. I think I might have confused the girl on the desk by disputing the bill as £111 seems too low.

[brownne]

Interesting that your oil was 21.25 as well. I phoned up my dealer and pointed out to them that the oil they used (Toyota brand 5W30) was on sale in the showroom for 14.99 (5 litres), and they weren`t using more than about 3.5litres.

They were very resonable - for some unknown reason, the service rep told me that the workshop charge more for the oil than the showroom - it was suggested that for my next service I buy the oil from the showroom first and straight away hand it back to them for the service. Seems a bit crazy, but if that what it takes.

Anyway, they refunded me the difference in price so I`m happy.

NB

[nnw49]

Following on from this thread, I've done a little survey this morning of local service prices for a 20k service for our T4 Prius.

All are inclusive of VAT and all regular parts and lubricants (no air/pollen filters)

Inchcape (Oxford) £202.80

Browns (High Wycombe) £170.81

Inchcape (Burton) £165.10 (I called them purely as others had implied they'd used them)

Coxon (Henley) £125.91

B & M (Amersham) £209.79

Steven Eagell (Aylesbury) £168

RCS 900 (Slough) £170.81

Octagon (Reading) £146.50

Inchcape (Sandhurst) £161.09

The car came from Inchape (Oxford) it seems they have no desire to keep their customers happy post sale. The service departmemt manager has been going to call me back urgently to give some explanation of their inflated price - but he still hasn't yet (4+ hours).

The variety in Inchcape prices is interesting....

Also interesting to enquire which oil they use - I didn't ask all, but it seems that Castrol Magnatec 10-40 is often used (I think the Prius got it used by Inchcape (Oxford) at the last service - and we noticed a prompt drop in MPG!!), whereas Castrol recommend Magnatec 5-30 or Edge 0-30 (which is silly money!). It is getting 5-30 bought from Halfords.

The car is booked in - and unsurprisingly NOT in Oxford - "while I wait", as they don't do collection from our area (they'd do a courtacy car if I insured it...)

Will see what sort of job they manage....

Neil.

POSTSCRIPT: Inchcape (Oxford) finally - or at least some form of Inchcape central contact centre - phoned me back at 4:00 (I originally posted this reply at 2:30 - so much for "he'll call you back in 5 minutes" which they told me at about midday!). "The labour rates are set by the dealer principals, not by Inchcape as a whole". They offered to do the service for £160 - I told them I'd got bored waiting for them to phone and had booked it in elsewhere already. One thing he DID confirm is the they DID use 10-40 Magnatec last service and couldn't give a good explanation of why they didn't use the oil Castrol recommended for the car!

The experience confirmed my thought that I would not recommends Inchcape (Oxford) - they have nothing going for them!

[asfafa]

I've just had my Prius T4 in for a 20K service at Platinum Toyota in Bath.

Cost was £171 which I thought was reasonable. My front tyres seem to be quite worn and they recommend that they are replaced in the near future, at £95 each. I'm a bit miffed by this as I keep an eye on tyre pressures, trying to retain a +2psi above the recommended levels. Maybe my Halford's tyre pressure pump isn't as accurate as it purports?

Service was okay. They finally fixed the boot light which has never worked since new, and which they forgot to fix at the 10K service. Car wasn't washed but then they never have done, and they don't have the facilities.

I'm still really happy with my Prius. People still give it looks when I drive past them, and there's a colleague of mine who is interested in buying one!

paul

[posing]

I've done about 8500 miles so I take it the first service is 10000. Judging from posts here, the average cost for servicing is £150? And the major thing I have to look out for is overfilled Oil and that I should bring my own oil? Any further tips appreciated. I'll be servicing it with the dealer who sold me the car as they gave me a 10% discount card. Also as an automatic member of Club Toyota, what benefits does it give me regarding servicing?

I'm a noob to all this servicing malarky.

[asfafa]

The 10K service should cost around £100, if I remember properly.

[posing]

I'm due for 10k. Phoned 2 places. 1 quoted £109. Other (where I bought from) quoted £120 (inclusive of 10% discount)! They also quote 20k as £280 (inclusive of 10% discount)! However they can do a 10k and 20k deal for £266.40 (inclusive of 10% discount). What do people think of the prices quoted?

[Braindead]

What do people think of the prices quoted?

See my previous post in this topic....you're being had!!!

[posing]

See my previous post in this topic....you're being had!!!

Problem is I live in NW London so the nearby Toyota Garages specify more or less similar prices. Derby will be too far away for me to get my car serviced cheap :) However £266 for both the 10k and 20k service seem like a bargain.

To recap - I should fill my washer up myself. I should make sure to buy the oil from their dept first or from Halfords and get them to use it. Any more tips?

[Big Bad Bob]

Oh well, serves me right for moving from Berkshire (Inchcape S :( andhurst were excellent) to Worcester. :(

Just had the 10,000 service on my Prius TSpirit done at Brooklyn Toyota Worcester. Not the toyota experience I have been used to:

Receptionist thinking that someone who has phoned is more important than the customer she is already dealing with.

Courtesy car not ready

Oil overfilled (no I am not happy to spend half a day bringing it back!)

Washer fluid charged for when not needed

Car washed and miraculously more dirty than when it arrived "Sir, if you could see how many cars they wash in a day you would expect the sort of job you have just got"

Postcard arrived three days later to say they had tried to contact me by phone to check I was satisfied, funny no missed calls or messages on any of my phones!

Frankly mediocre! :censor:

Does anyone know if toyota Stourbridge any better, or others to the SW of Brum?

Grizzle grizzle

Brooklyn toyota in hereford are good

[posing]

However £266 for both the 10k and 20k service seem like a bargain.

To recap - I should fill my washer up myself. I should make sure to buy the oil from their dept first or from Halfords and get them to use it. Any more tips?

Didn't bother with washer fluid or getting me own oil. Paid up £266 for the 2 yr service plan. No extras were charged. Car had a free wash and inside vacuum. Inside not dust free but far cleaner than it was. Downside was car was picked up by a driver and before pickup MPG readout was 58 and after the service and return of the car MPG became 51. The driver must have driven my car like crazy to cause the massive slump in MPG.

Haven't checked under the bonnet yet.