When did labour oil changes get so bloody expensive?

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:11 pm

Not naming any garages - but when did oil changes become so expensive for labour only?

Just got quoted £80+ vat (and thats the cheapest of the specialist garages)

Is that the standard price these days for:
1. Driving car on ramp
2. Pressing button to lift ramp
3. Un-doing drain plug
4. Leaving oil pan under car, then having a coffee as the oil drains out
5. Unscrewing oil filter
6. Lubricating new oil filter with engine oil
7. Tighten oil filter back in
8. Tighten drain plug
9. Lift bonnet
10. Open engine oil cap
11. Pour in engine oil
12. Close cap
13. Close bonnet
14. Run engine and check everything is all good.

Yes thats 14 steps - but somehow I think half the steps could be carried out by 5 year old nephew

Yes, I know garages need to make money - and fair enough if you are BMW specialist you probably want to charge a bit more (I'd even go for £60 which is double a local garage... but my local garage who are just as professional, and been going for 20 odd years will do it for £30 labour only.

Specialist garages take note.

Yes it's nice having a stamp (that reads bmw specialist in the service book, but it's not worth £50+vat more). I'd rather spend that £50 on V power / or premium engine oil, than on a stamp that says specialist.

Anyway looks like I'm doing a trip to my local garage GB autos (Manchester)

Rant over

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:22 pm

If you think it's too expensive and your 5yr old nephew can do it why not do it yourself you lazy twonk! Or make your nephew do it and pay him half what the garage would charge you!

The Gidfather · Post by **The Gidfather** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 4:49 pm

On a similar subject... BMW inspection 2 service price for an inspection 2 (oil+filter, air filter, spark plugs)=£605. Specialist = £500. Indie £220

warmasice · Post by **warmasice** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:18 pm

I've noticed specialists near me getting on the pricey side of expensive too.

The Gidfather · Post by **The Gidfather** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:24 pm

warmasice wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:18 pm I've noticed specialists near me getting on the pricey side of expensive too.

On my FJCW MINI the stealer was cheaper for brake pads than the specialist!

Pbondar · Post by **Pbondar** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:48 pm

Not sure which planet you live on?

The planet stingy?

I think if the oil and filter is half decent that’s a good price...it would cost me £60 for the oil n filter...

I don’t think the garage is guilty of massive profiteering IMHO..

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:48 pm

Could just be the combination of an hourly rate and a minimum book time.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:51 pm

My BMW Indy charged me £95.83 + VAT in June for an oil change and new microfilter, but that included the oil, oil filter and micro-filter.

Seemed pretty good to me bearing in mind I'm in the South East rip-off part of the country!

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:11 pm

I think a few folks are missing the point the OP was quoted for labour only, hes supplying the oil himself

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:17 pm

I spotted that, but couldn't quote a direct comparison as my invoice wasn't itemised.

So £80 + VAT seems dear when I paid £95.83 + VAT including the oil and filter.

Pbondar · Post by **Pbondar** » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:22 pm

MACK wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:11 pm I think a few folks are missing the point the OP was quoted for labour only, hes supplying the oil himself

Ah thnx for pointing that out...

It’s not a defence of the garage but normally the garage makes a margin on the consumables and parts it fits...

So it’s not going to be as profitable pro rata ..

Compared to my experience at most manufacturers garages it still seems not outrageous

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:07 am

Chris_D, just in case you failed to read my post, that’s without the oil and filter, and as I said, a regular garage will do it for 30 labour only.

I’m not doing it myself because the regular garage will do it for 30. And yes I can do an oil change, but because I don’t have a ramp, I’m not going to do it myself, I’d rather go to my local garage.

I don’t have any issues with paying for inspection service as that I understand that a specialist garage will notice upcoming issues over a standard garage, and understand a specific car better but a standard oil change for labour only...

Look I know everyone’s a business, but what I think businesses fail to understand, people and including me, and enthusiasts especially would probably get more regular oil services done, from a specialist, if the price was reasonable.

When it’s well over double what is essentially a non skilled job, (which an oil change is) and for those who want to argue it is a skilled job, I’m just going ignore you - you might as well say filling your tank of fuel is a skilled job. Or opening your bonnet to check the oil level is a skilled job...

Changing oil takes zero skill, it takes more skill to change a tyre.

Anyway I know I can go to another garage and get it done... and I also know business is business.

I’m just pointing out that I think it would be better if the labour only charge was more balanced for both the garage and consumer

Anyway

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:09 am

The only reason a oil change is difficult to do, is the lack of access to a ramp.

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:12 am

I think that’s a completely fair price...in fact I’m probably paying more as I’m buying the oil separately and then paying labour.

Only reason I’m buying oil myself is more so I know I’m getting a decent brand (Castrol Edge) which is pretty pricey for 6 litres.

Otherwise I would have just got them do it - for what would probably be similar price with the consumables included

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:51 pm My BMW Indy charged me £95.83 + VAT in June for an oil change and new microfilter, but that included the oil, oil filter and micro-filter.

Seemed pretty good to me bearing in mind I'm in the South East rip-off part of the country!

Z4M-2006 · Post by **Z4M-2006** » Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:26 am

I think you missed out a few steps

Paying for building (rent/mortgage)
Paying the tech for doing it
Paying for the lift to raise the car
Paying for the tools to do the job
Paying for oil disposal

Don’t get me wrong £80+ is excessive to just do oil and filter only
Thats more of oil filter service price i would estimate

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