Hosed by an Infinity dealer ?

[mwells2000]

After detecting a belt squeal on my 1995 J30, I called the dealer for a quote to replace the three belts. Although I thought $195.00 was high, I didn't want to do the job while lying on my back.When I arrived at the shop, I noticed coolant leaking, and itappeared to be coming from around the water pump. It turned out to be a bypass hose. I was informed the cost to replace the two bypass hoses would be $335.00. 3 hrs for labor, and $50.00 for the two hoses. This was on top of the $195.00 for replacing the three belts ($34.00 per belt). (BTW I had the belts replaced 25K miles ago at an independent Mercedes mechanic for $13.00 per belt). When I complained about double labor charges, they deducted 1/2 hour.Did I get hosed?

[SloMoe]

No, you just took it to the dealer. They're pretty much always going to be expensive.

[Jesda]

I paid $162 for one water pump belt installed at a local shop for the Q. Dealer would have been about $200. You pay extra at the dealer but you build a relationship.

[Jeff Williams]

Dealers have high labor rates, because they have high overhead. They also don't necessarily have the best mechanics, just because they work for Infiniti. There are a few good shops out there, that have a lot of experience with older Infinitis.

It is true, you are starting a relationship with the service department (make it worth your while and meet the manager, see if he has time to talk to you - talk about your car, and what you plan to do with it, and how you plan to service it, and how long you plan to keep it). If you don't start the relationship process, you did waste your money.

Anybody can change a belt, or hose. Save the dealership work, for more car-specific work.

If you never intend ot have work done by this dealership, then you probably didn't make the best choice, in getting them to do the repair. If you intend to have them do all your servcie, then it was an investment.

Be sure to keep all your receipts, it may help you, later, wit ha dispute, or if you just want to show them how much business you gave them, in a year.

[AZhitman]

^ Sage advice from a wise man.

[wamQ45]

MIDWAY INFINITY IN PHOENIX ARIZONA SUCKS!!!

Before I was a DIY I took my ailing Q to them. It had no power off the line. They told me it was my transmission. After fooling around with it I found that the hose from the plenum to the brake booster was rotted. I have since put over 15K on that failed transmission.

MIDWAY INFINITY IN PHOENIX ARIZONA SUCKS!!!

[wamQ45]

Oh yea....I would not be a DIY if it was not for this board. I have learned quite a bit so lets keep it alive.

Live Nudes

OT. Rember in "Big Daddy"...the night light. I keep asking my wife for one but she just looks the other way.

[mwells2000]

Thanks for all the replies.It just seemed like 3.5 hrs in labor was excessive to get to the waterpump by-pass hoses, and I didn't have access to the flat rate manual.The last time I had a transmission temp. sender replaced, I was charged $315 in labor (3.5 hrs) on top of $91.95 in labor for the transmission flush.I appreciated they didn't try to sell me a transmission, when all that was required was the sensor. I also appreciate the "free" loaner car I am given, and understand that the cost of that is included in their charges.

I just needed a reality check from other owners.

[MattB]

You definately shouldn't go to an "Infinity" dealer.