Hello all,
My 90k maintenance is coming up on my `01 OBW rather quickly. At one time I would have taken it to the dealership only because a service manager who used to work there is a friend and customer of my business. So I trust his insights, decisions, and suggestions. However as I have written in previous posts, he left due to questionable practices happening at the dealership when a new service director was hired. He and 7 other people quit.
I asked him if his GM dealership where he works at now would perform the 90k service and he said normally they would but they didn't have any Subaru trained mechanics hired at the moment, however being that he himself is a mechanic and former short track racer, he offered to do the service for me at a "significantly less" cost than what the Subaru Dealership would charge. Their charges are around $740 for a "Max Service" 90k service, and $570 for the 'Mini Service' packages, neither of which includes a timing belt change. However this guy wouldn't be charging more than $300-$400 tops and doing everything including a timing belt change. I was planning on providing all the fluids, oils, belts, filters, etc on my own.
Now, being that it looks like I have financial room to spare, I want to give my OBW good care and check multiple items on the car even though they may not be included in the Subaru recommended 90k service. Here is what is included in the dealerships 30/60/90/120k service plans:
Mini Service (Basic Service) - $570
------------------------------------ Change Engine Oil and Filter Install Oil Additive Perform Multi-point Inspection Inspect Brake System Inspect Battery Inspect Coolant System Rotate Tires and set Tire Pressure Inspect Exhaust System Tranmission total fluid flush Replace Fuel Filter Lubricate all hinges and latches (door locks & weather strips if needed) Complete Coolant Flush Install Spark Plugs Front End Alignment
Max Service (Includes the above) - $740
----------------------------------------- Rotate and balance all tires and set tire pressures Fuel Induction/injection service (3 part) Inspect distribution cap, wires, and rotor Inspect Drivebelt Replace PCV Valve (at 60k & 120k)
Now my question to the experts here is that, what else should I be concerned with that isn't listed in the above servicing? Being that I will be paying the mechanic around $300-$400 for the above, I want to use the extra cash to check/replace any other filter or item that I can think of that would eventually need replacing within the year anyway.
What is everyone's thoughts on that?
Bradley