60 000 mile service

Have you checked into all of the work that will be performed? Or are you just trying to get the cost down without regard to what might be missed?

Why are you thinking that????

All Volvo dealers will perform a major service, so I do not understand your question.

If you want to pay less just consult the owners manual to find out specifically which components are replaced at that service interval. Buy the components at pep boys and then ask your local gas station to perform the replacement.

I'm one of those guys who is willing to pay to have a competent set of eyes look for problems while performing all of the required replacements and services. I'm also one of those guys who intends to drive his car for 300,000 miles.

Roadie, it's good that you take the time to reply to posts. What isn't so good is your attitude. This guy makes a valid point: When I bought my '86 Civic new, and for the next ten years, dealer service was affordable - a bit more expensive, but more comprehensive. Then the prices started to rise, while the thoroughness actually dropped. Now it's reached the point where we can't usually *afford* to have a dealer do major service. I was recently quoted *$1400* for this sort of work on our 13 year old Camry wagon. I know that some of the techs agree: the dealers are driving people away, and cars are becoming less well maintained as a direct result, especially when the indie shops peg their prices close to the dealers.

Getting back to your tone: why are you so hostile? Are you a dealer? If so, why did you get all bent out of shape when I noted that Valvoline's oil change chain has been turned into a high-pressure sales multiple service center? Do you just take the contrarian position because it's more fun? I've been both asking and answering questions in the Volvo forum for about a decade, and one of the reasons I like it is that *most* of the people here are both helpful and genuinely nice. I'm not asking you to be nice, but how about "polite"...? "Not hostile" would also be fine!

I'm not a dealer and I've owned and performed self-maintenance on a lot of cars. If I read his post correctly he is concerned about cost and cost alone, which is a very shortsighted way to approach the maintenance of cars that cost $30k or more. My point is that it costs money to do the complicated job of maintaining a car the right way. Either he pays someone or he does it himself, but the costs are still there. I'm at the point where I will pay someone to do the proper servicing. It makes no financial sense to shortchange service on cars.

The cost of dealer or reputable independent service really has not changed that much if you convert the dollars to some constant base. Comparing absolute dollar cost of service in 1986 to service in 2008 is pointless because it ignores the effect of inflation on all prices. It's a bit like looking back wistfully to when a loaf of bread cost $00.50 but forgeting that salaries were commensurately lower back then too.

Hey Roadie, glad you have money to pay dealer price for their service, as long as your happy with it thats all that matters...

I bought this car because its safe, 4WD and has room. fact is I never considered it to be reliable, any volvo for that matter but willing to live with it.... the service needed isnt different from service I needed on my 1972 POS VW. If it included: service fiberoptic Navigation and antenna coupler along with biturbo Central Processing Unit I think I'd have second thoughts but to me any shop with experience should be able to do this just as well as volvo, if not better. BTW, didn't mention that the $1000 service included rotating tires... that was the only think I knew how to check and they DIDNT do it.... I had to return 3 times to get that done. Do you know what they did with your car all day ???

All I did was ask if there are opinions about other places to get service and you gave me yours, much appreciated.

FYI I found a local garage who will do it 40% off the volvo price with original parts if any replacements are made and with all recommended oil specifications. they didn't offer me a loaner so I have to walk to Budget and rent a budget car for $29, I'll do that to save $300. I also got to talk to one of their customers who have the same model car and taking it there for 2 years since factory service expired.... its a mom and pop shop who service swedish cars for 30 years, think I might stick to that.

never use the dealer unless you have to.....their overhead and profit % are crazy....see those nice big buildings and showrooms...guess who pays for it...see those salaries and wages? guess who pays for that.....

If you are using a local garage that will do the work for 40% off the Volvo dealership price for parts and labor, will use Volvo quality parts and most importantly will do a complete job and will be able to spot problems before they become serious, then go ahead. It sounds like you found the rare free lunch that many others have looked for. I find it very difficult to believe that a garage can attract mechanics of the same competence as those at the Volvo dealership by paying them 40% less however.

But since you acknowlege good experience with this service garage I do not understand why you asked the original question.

Salaries & wages Most dealer's do not pay there technicians the money they should be getting per hour. So please do not make it sound like we are getting paid top dollar when we are not. We are not guarantied 40 Hours so when business slows down we do not take home a lot of money . Example the labor rate @ our shop is $105.00 per hour out of that the dealer makes 80% of that the rest goes to our hourly rate I am all for people having a choice to repair their Volvo's as long the quality is the same. Glenn K Volvo Certified Technician ASE Certified Technician

Roadie, I had various experience with my dealer and mostly this is about price. sure I expect everything to be perfect for that kinda money, why the heck would I not.

I dont think the local dealer is a free lunch at all, he has the same parts and do the same labour, he even gets to keep all the money I pay... thats the way I expected it and I think he'll do just as good a job for it. the inconvenience is that I dont get to have a "loaner" and I suspect I dont get to pay with credit card.. also I was on 1 week waiting and the dealer could take me in right awway.

I'll post on here my experience but I think shopping around for anything is what consumers should do.

thanks for the feedback Glen, I'm thinking if a brand mechanic was making 12 000 a month ($100 an hour) I think I'd go back to school... I'm hoping more will go to the cheaper service so Volvo can turn more competitive on the pricing... then again they might not care with new car sales the way they were (were is key word).

I have been working on volvo's since 1980 & in the dealer since 1988 & I am not making a killing like most people think if i was making $30.00 an Hour I whould be happy but not close to that with all the years experience I have. Its getting harder to make a decent living working for a dealer these days you have no job security & as I stated above we are not guarantied hours so if there is no cars to repair I do not make any money as all dealers rely on the flat rate pay system

You will be an unusual home mechanic if you find a way to do most of the work on "any" car these days. Not impossible, but requires a lot more skill and tools than most of us have.

I was refering to the 240. I don't consider myself that good with repairs.

Finished service... end result is I'm very pleased and the car seems to be in better working order. I paid $500 for the service and they did a few things thats not part of the regular service. one was to replace the air filter, they showed me the one on the car and I'm amazed any air got thru all the seeds left from our tree in the front yard. they also replaced the fuelfilter and said it was very clogged and again not checked before. both of these items were in critical condition and though I only saw the air filter I believe them, neighter was part of the service and I paid only a small premium.

One surprise I had was the check engine light came on immediately when starting, I thought "here we go again" but took it back this morning and the super friendly mechanic showed me what was forgotten (a plug for the airfilter was not fully connected) and why, it was the last thing he did as he needed my approval to replace the filter since it was not part of the original bid. he reset the service light and no charge.

If anyone needs a Volvo mechanic in the South Puget Sound area WA I will gladly pass on their information.

thanks to all that replied you all made me look outside dealer and I'm happier for it, atleast so far :o) I will definately take my car back there and feel good about saving $400 and finding someone I trust.

I'd be curious to know what this place is. I'm "married" to a few too many Volvos and would like to have a decent place to direct people to when I don't have time to take on the job.

Here's their website: