Service Plan buy? ...Estimated Cost of Maintanance

[Rosensj]

Guys
I just recently purchased a new 2011 G37 Convertable. I have been toying with getting the Premium extended service contract from Courtney. The elite 1/2 does not include stuff that you need that actually cost money. If you do not pay dealer list price for the Premium Service contract it actually looks like a no brainer.
Some assumptions: Prices are reflective of my infiniti dealer and may be lower or higher for you. Below are the a la carte pricing
Just in the first 60k miles (serivice goes to 75k miles) a la carte from the dealer would be $3432 + another $500 for last 15k: that is about $4K to service the car over 5yrs/75k. Premium Service package is in the low 2k's
0) My tires cannot be rotated since back is larger than front..
1) Point inspections are free and should not be paid for. You can ask your dealer at any time to run a std point inspection
2) I would normally change my oil every 5k ....but if you follow the infiniti plan of 3750miles it will not make much of a difference in your decision to buy or not. I would not go 7500 change schedule ever!
I do not do my own oil ever and have no patience to hang around for a oil change to eventaully happen at the dealer or jiffy mess....free loaner is my way. The oil in the plan is just std dino oil and not the synthetic blend for those who care.
3) Changing brake fluid every 15k is a must in my driving conditions, flushing the radiator every 30k is all a good idea.
4) Changing the drive belts at 30k is a little crazy ...but they would need a change out at 45k...lets go with 30k with this exercise.
5) Transmission oil change for 7 speed automatic is a little puzzling. The manual says optional but I will assume it is a go to change every 30k miles or 2 years since I plan on keeping the car a long time
6) CAbin filter price to install is crazy ....but lets assume you do not want to touch a screw driver to look after the car and you like loaners everytime the car needs to be looked after.

Miles______________________________3750________7500_____11250____15000____18750____22500____ 26250____ 30000
Oil and Filter _________________________50__________50________50_______50_______50_______50_______50_______50
Rear Diff Oil Replacement_________________________________________________________________________________125
Flush Brake Fluid____________________________________________________125_________________________________125
Flush Automatic Fluid ____________________________________________________________________________________145
Replace All Belts_________________________________________________________________________________________183
Radiator Flush__________________________________________________________________________________________145
Replace Radiator Cap_____________________________________________________________________________________30
Replace Engine Filter__________________________________________________84_________________________________84
Replace Cabin Filter__________________________________________________135_________________________________135
Total Cost_________________________$50__________$50_______$50_______$394______$50______$50_______$50 $1022


Miles_____________________________33750________37500_____41250______45000____48750____52500____56250____60000
Oil and Filter _________________________50__________50________50_______50_______50_______50_______50_______50
Rear Diff Oil Replacement_________________________________________________________________________________125
Flush Brake Fluid____________________________________________________125_________________________________125
Flush Automatic Fluid ____________________________________________________________________________________145
Replace All Belts_________________________________________________________________________________________183
Radiator Flush__________________________________________________________________________________________145
Replace Radiator Cap_____________________________________________________________________________________30
Replace Engine Filter__________________________________________________84_________________________________84
Replace Cabin Filter__________________________________________________135_________________________________135
Total Cost_________________________$50__________$50_______$50_______$394______$50______$50_______$50 $1022

[kmckis1029]

just did my 30k service on my 2010 g37x, i mostly go to the dealer for service to protect my warranty and the free inspection

they dont touch the 7speed transmission at 30k
i wouldnt pay to get any air filter changed as its too easy to do your self vs. the about $100+ they charge... (declined it at 30k and did it my self the other day)

i do oil changes every 4k miles (the dealer and local shops charge about the same)...
at 30k the only major thing they did was a radiator flush on my car, belts where fine
they didnt touch any fluids but the radiator and oil at 30k miles...
i declined a base idle reset at 30k miles

basically minus oil and filter changes their is nothing major to change on these cars except every 30k miles, so i didnt go with the pre paid maintence plan, but i did get the tire protection.

[Rosensj]

What did they say about the transmission. Somehow I cannot get my head around the fact it seems like never to be changed....?
Did you have them do the rear diff? What on the list other than the transmission and filters did you have the dealer do?
How much do you estimate you have spent including parts for DIY on the car thus far.
I want to see how off my $'s are.

[kmckis1029]

30k/4000k ~ 8 oil changes/inspections about $50 each at the dealer

in cabin filter was $16 and 20 mins of my time vs $135

i brought k&n filters for about $100 and 20 mins of my time (requires two) if i didnt have k&n then i would of replaced them at least twice already and they about $20 each so it would of been $80 in air filters

i let the dealer do a raditor flush $185 with cap

i spent total around $700 in maintence for the first 30k miles on my 2010 vs. add $200 for filter changes, add $135 for incabin filter change, add another $100 for a base idle reset... total is about $1100 if the dealer did everything

They just said the trany fluid doesnt have to be changed, and its not even listed to be changed in the maintence guide

I only let the dealer do major stuff:
belts
radiator
diff flushes (even though this is an easy DIY too, but i live in an apartment right now)
transmission work
any computer work
oil changes because of the free inspection/car wash/warranty/

[Rosensj]

No belts done thus far? $183 ea (30-45k)
No diff flush yet? $125 ea (every 30-45k)
No brake flush yet? $125 ea (every 15k)

$700 in maint: 400 in oil leaving 300 in other items above: Could that be Diff and Brake flush but no drive belts?

So far I agree on the filter statements
transmission....I gotta think it has to be done sometime within 5/75k miles? This thing is working hard never to have a flush! Every fluid in the world needs to be replaced sometime ...especially one undergoing friction!

[Rosensj]

I spoke to my local Infiniti service guy about atf.
ATF should be done once it changes color or as they expect it will at around 100k miles. They have not seen cars yet with high milege and new transmission. They will however at my request pull fluid at 30/60/75k to look at the color to determine its health.
Under the service plan you could probably get one out at 75k miles if it is changing color. I
I removed the cost of ATF from my analysis.
-Next I reduced the cabin and engine filters to do it yourself cost of $100 for all 3 filters every 15000k miles
-The total expense listed below over 75k miles a la carte at the dealer comes to $3100.
-Maintance is still about $800 more than if you just by the Premium Service Package at a good price.
==>Bonus here is rental car at every oil change for free, no screw drivers to mess with or filters to buy. I still think it is worth it..

Miles______________________________3750________7500_____11250____15000____18750____22500____ 26250____ 30000
Oil and Filter _________________________50__________50________50_______50_______50_______50_______50_______50
Rear Diff Oil Replacement_________________________________________________________________________________125
Flush Brake Fluid____________________________________________________125_________________________________125
Flush Automatic Fluid ____________________________________________________________________________________0
Replace All Belts_________________________________________________________________________________________183
Radiator Flush__________________________________________________________________________________________145
Replace Radiator Cap_____________________________________________________________________________________30
Replace Engine Filter_________________________________________________50_________________________________50
Replace Cabin Filter__________________________________________________50_________________________________50
Total Cost_________________________$50__________$50_______$50_______$275______$50______$50_______$50___$750


Miles_____________________________33750________37500_____41250______45000____48750____52500____56250____60000
Oil and Filter _________________________50__________50________50_______50_______50_______50_______50_______50
Rear Diff Oil Replacement_________________________________________________________________________________125
Flush Brake Fluid____________________________________________________125_________________________________125
Flush Automatic Fluid ____________________________________________________________________________________0
Replace All Belts_________________________________________________________________________________________183
Radiator Flush__________________________________________________________________________________________145
Replace Radiator Cap_____________________________________________________________________________________30
Replace Engine Filter__________________________________________________50_________________________________50
Replace Cabin Filter__________________________________________________50_________________________________50
Total Cost_________________________$50__________$50_______$50_______$275______$50______$50_______$50___ $750

[kmckis1029]

they havent done or even suggest belts, diff, or brake flush yet... but i guess you have to also factor in i like to get under my hood as mush as possible my self... so the dealer will only be doing what i dont have the time/tools for in my case.

[Rosensj]

Thanks kmckis

Anyway I contacted infiniti about the 7 speed Auto Trans.
==>It is not covered under the premium or any maintance package. According to the factory it is a non/never needed servicable item ...at least until fuses together

Power Steering Fluid.
==>Another intersting item. Not flushed always topped off per the maintance plan.

[kmckis1029]

yeah very wierd for the transmission and power steering... but ill take that as confidence they have in their transmission... my 2005 5speed auto transmission seemed bullet proof... so ill expect the same out of their new 7sp auto transmission... but time will tell, im 30k miles in with out a hitch...

[Mudgen]

Also see the thread "No Infiniti maintenance plans honored in Richmond, VA". It's important to be aware that dealers are free to opt out of honoring the maintenance plans. It's easy to get the impression that it's a corporate Infiniti program and they have to give you service, but that's not the case. Make sure the dealer you intend to use honors the plans before buying one.