Is the Infiniti maintenance program worth it?

[usctrojan4life]

I'm picking up a 2010 G37S coupe on a 3 year lease. Dealer is offering the maintenance program that will cover all my maintenance for the duration of my lease for $954 ($100 discount). Is it worth it? I know it will cost more to pay for each individual service at the dealer, but given that it's a 3 year lease, wouldn't I be able to just do the basic maintenance at an indy shop for less?

How many scheduled maintenance will this car need over 45k miles?

[joe603]

Welcome to NICO!

If you plan on doing your own maintenance, then it's not worth it. Taking it to a shop will be cheaper than a dealer...but how good they do depends on the shop. If you've used them for years, than stick with 'em.

Generally, all the extras they hit you for when you but the car are NOT worth it (IMO).

[foxwiz]

I purchased the maintence program that will cover my 2010 G37C for 5 years/70k miles. I calculated that if I paid as I go, the total outlay of cash would be around $3,600 over that period. I got the package for $2,300 so I save over $1,300!

[usctrojan4life]

so i did some research and here's the breakdown for the maintenance that would be included in this program.

7500 miles
replace engine oil and filter

15000 miles
replace engine oil and filter
Replace in-cabin microfilter
Inspect brake pads, differential oil, transmission oil, and few other things

22500 miles
replace engine oil and filter

30000 miles
replace engine oil and filter
Replace in-cabin microfilter
Replace engine air filter
Inspect a few more things than from the 15k mile service such as steering gear, fuel lines, etc

37,500 miles
replace engine oil and filter

45000 miles
return car

so basically, i need to do 5 oil changes, 2 in cabin filters, 1 engine air filter, and check crap. lol what a joke.

I think this can be done for less than $500 at a good indy shop.

[SVTCOBRA]

WOW!!! that is a rip!!! If that is all that is required....Personally, I change oil in the 4 cars in my drive way every 3 to 3.5K miles with synthetic, but I'm not leasing.

[Kendahl]

I intend to keep my G37S for several decades and several hundreds of thousands of miles. Therefore, I do oil changes at 3,750 miles. Since you plan to get rid of the car at 45k miles, you can get by with 7,500 miles. Oil changes at the dealer cost about $50 each. The major service at 15k miles cost me about $250. It would have been less but I went along with their suggestion to have a suspension alignment as insurance against premature wear of the expensive tires. In 45k miles you will need 2 major services and 3 oil changes (the major service includes an oil change). Total cost is $650 which is less than what they want to charge you.

An independent shop would be even cheaper. However, at least until the warranty expires, I plan to have all my maintenance done by the dealer. If ever there is a screw up, they won't be able to weasel out by blaming the independent shop. Infiniti and the dealer can fight it out between them. I'm covered either way.

[zozoka1212]

1 engine airfilter in 45k? I think there is a mistake.

[sup_mario]

Yeah. I guess so.. Are you planning to do your own maintenance? That's not worthy. lol

[usctrojan4life]

1 engine airfilter in 45k? I think there is a mistake.

nope, not a mistake. Got the info here. sounds right to me.

http://x.infinitihelp.com/forum/maintenance.php

[soul_hfk]

yea im with zozo your going to have to change the air filters more then just 1 time in 45k. in the 3yrs i had my G35 and it only had 27k on her when i traded it in i needed 2 so i cant see how you have to do it 1 time

[telcoman]

1 engine airfilter in 45k? I think there is a mistake.

nope, not a mistake. Got the info here. sounds right to me.

http://x.infinitihelp.com/forum/maintenance.php

Here is my $.02

I think you are making a big mistake if you think one air filter is going to last you 45k miles.
You will be risking messing up the MAF which is expensive to replace.

Here is a photo of my air filter with about 10k miles.



After inspecting and viewing that filter after I first got my G I change mine every 8 to 10k miles.

Here is a photo of my cabin filter after 1 year



It should be changed once a year,

Tomorrow I'll hit 120,000 happy miles

Telcoman

[CougarRed]

Your 3 basic items of maintenance in a lease term will be: oil/filter changes, cabin air changes, engine air filter changes.

Engine air filters are easy to change. 2 minutes to do it yourself. Parts vary on what filters you use but $35 per change is plenty.

Cabin air filter change is a 15-20 minute do it yourself job. You simply have to take the glove box door off, change the filter, and put the glove box door back on. The filter cost is ~$20

Changing the oil & filter with synthetic oil can be done yourself for around $30 a pop, or can be done at an oil change shop for ~$65 a pop. Less if you use regular oil.

You tell me - is that worth $954?

[SVTCOBRA]

I agree that you need to keep an eye on the air filter. Need to check it every 3 or 4 months and expect to change it at least once per year.
Is there any chance you may purchase this one at the end of lease??
If so, I would suggest doing better than their schedule and change oil between 3 and 4K miles. Also, a transmission flush at 30K.
If you decide to do your own oil changes, keep all receipts of oil and filters as well as a log of date/mileage/service.
In addition, you can get your air filters MUCH cheaper at NAPA. I picked up two for my 08 Sedan for under $12, but I get a discount so would cost you a little more. Also, these are WIX filters.
Autozone runs specials on Mobil 1 syn + M1 filters for $29
Also, don't forget those PICS after you pull the trigger!!

[Tim30250]

I purchased the maintence program that will cover my 2010 G37C for 5 years/70k miles. I calculated that if I paid as I go, the total outlay of cash would be around $3,600 over that period. I got the package for $2,300 so I save over $1,300!

Hook.. line.. sinker.

[busterbrown]

Definitely not worth it.
I have a coupon for a free first and second scheduled maintenance and will be bringing my G in for the first free one, shortly. If I'm not completely satisfied with their service, I'll do the second one and on myself and pass on their free one.
I know I will do a better job then the dealer, just because it's my vehicle and I care more about it then they do.

I was reading one of the BMW forums where they discussed their free maintenance program and just how little free periodic maintenance they actually get.

[Tim30250]

I was reading one of the BMW forums where they discussed their free maintenance program and just how little free periodic maintenance they actually get.

I can attest to that. I got the 4 yr/50K mile free maintenance when I bought my BMW in '02. They only recommend changing the oil every 15K miles so that's as frequently as they'll do it for free. I did get 3 "free" oil changes, but I had to pay for 3 other interim changes over that time since I'm not comfortable going that long with the same oil. I also got my "inspection 1" for free which just consists of them checking stuff and giving you (I believe) a new cabin filter. That happened when the car had about 30K miles. By the time "inspection 2" will come along at about 60K miles, you are out of the free maintenance period and coincidentally that's the one where they start changing belts and hoses and fluids and sensors at the customer's cost. ALL free or prepaid maintenance plans are total BS.

Dealerships know how to pitch and sell the prepaid plans by creating false value, but it benefits nobody but them. I literally laughed in the face of the sales manager at Infiniti when she was trying to convince me what a good deal it was to spend $2000 up front for a few oil changes, tire rotations, and some fluids and filters in the future. Since we are all savvy to dealer cost and the economy has slowed new car sales, they must find other ways to make money and stay in business. How do they do that... Warranties and Service. And of course, the plans are designed to take in waaay more money than they "pay out" in parts and labor. If you fall for one of these scams when signing your sales papers, you just negated and savings you may have gotten from your price negotiation. DON'T FALL FOR IT, new cars are simply not costly to maintain, and if something is defective, it's automatically covered by the warranty that didn't cost you a penny.

[foxwiz]

I purchased the maintence program that will cover my 2010 G37C for 5 years/70k miles. I calculated that if I paid as I go, the total outlay of cash would be around $3,600 over that period. I got the package for $2,300 so I save over $1,300!

Hook.. line.. sinker.

Do you not believe retail value of the services at the dealer over a 5 year period?

I added up all the costs and there certainly is a definite savings. I can't do the work myself.

[soul_hfk]

yea there mite be some savings at the dealers prices and if you cant or dont have the time to and some people like dropping the car off (like my wife) but im more hands on

[zozoka1212]

yea there mite be some savings at the dealers prices and if you cant or dont have the time to and some people like dropping the car off (like my wife) but im more hands on

Exactly. If you are a hands on person. You can save the money. If you like to drop the car off than it is not worth.

I certainly would not leave the airfilter in for more than 4 months. I actually bought a Fram filter which is washable. It cost me a same amont would cost me the one time use filter. I blow clean once a month and wash it every 3 months.

That is something you should be watching. Your gasmilage will drop drastically when the filter is dirty.

[usctrojan4life]

Your 3 basic items of maintenance in a lease term will be: oil/filter changes, cabin air changes, engine air filter changes.

Engine air filters are easy to change. 2 minutes to do it yourself. Parts vary on what filters you use but $35 per change is plenty.

Cabin air filter change is a 15-20 minute do it yourself job. You simply have to take the glove box door off, change the filter, and put the glove box door back on. The filter cost is ~$20

Changing the oil & filter with synthetic oil can be done yourself for around $30 a pop, or can be done at an oil change shop for ~$65 a pop. Less if you use regular oil.

You tell me - is that worth $954?

This is the exact same conclusion I came to. Decided to pass up on this horrible deal and I'll pay as I go. I'll get the oil changes done at a mechanic I trust and take care of the air filters on my own.

[Tim30250]

Do you not believe retail value of the services at the dealer over a 5 year period?

I added up all the costs and there certainly is a definite savings. I can't do the work myself.

Oh, I believe how much they charge, the problem is that you don't need nearly the amount and/or frequency of maintenance they sell you on. I have NEVER spent $4000, $3000, or even $2000 to maintain any of my new cars for the first five years. There simply aren't enough things that need to be replaced during that period. Oil, fluids, and filters are really all you should need over that time period if there's nothing wrong with the car. That MAY work out to $1000 over 5 years.

But if they made you feel like you saved a bunch of money by forking over 2 thousand clams up front, then I guess you got the deal of the century.

[foxwiz]

Don't you have to do the 15k, 30k, 45k, 60k service to keep up your warranty? Those services are about $300-600 depending on which one you do.

[usctrojan4life]

Don't you have to do the 15k, 30k, 45k, 60k service to keep up your warranty? Those services are about $300-600 depending on which one you do.

the 15k and 30k services are nothing but an oil change an air filter changes. The dealer will also "check" bunch of other things like steering fluid, transmission fluid, etc and charge you $700 for it.

[foxwiz]

I went to the Infiniti site and found the list of all services listed and you are correct. They mostly do the oil change and filter changes. Not much I can do now because I already paid for the 5yr/75k mile plan so I will bring it in every 3750 miles for service. Once that expires, I'll do the basics and save some cash!

At least I got a great deal on the purchase of the car!

[Tim30250]

Don't you have to do the 15k, 30k, 45k, 60k service to keep up your warranty? Those services are about $300-600 depending on which one you do.

Classic fear-based selling.. unethical, but clearly not illegal. They tried to serve me up the same steaming pile of BS when I was making my purchase also. The warranty is the warranty. It is not contingent upon using their maintenance plan, it is simply in place to protect you against manufacturing defects or premature failure of vital components. The only way that there MIGHT be a problem is if you grossly neglected vital maintenance (like, say.. never changing the oil) and the dealer was able to determine and PROVE that the failure of a part or system was due to your neglect. This is extremely rare that a car owner will be so foolish, and the dealer will subsequently deny a warranty claim. And in most cases they would just honor the warranty anyway since it's time consuming and costly for them to prove that the customer is legally liable.

[blitzebill]

i bought the 3 yr plan you're talking about for $650 as part of my deal when i got my G37x. seemed a good deal and my dealer seems to do extra stuff whenever i come in.

free car washes are nice too.

they also drive to my place, an hour away, and pick up my car, and leave a loaner, and do the service on my car and bring it back the same day. there is no charge for coming to get my car.

i like my dealer, and have become very good friends with my salesman.

[kmckis1029]

i passed on the maintence plan also but i will make sure my car sees the dealer. i buy my own oil and let them charge labor and ill chang all filters my self. I just want my car to see the dealer so there will be no problems if i have a warranty issue.

only extras i got was gap insurance and wheel insurance( we dont have perfect roads where i live)