Cost for Oil Change?

[FlyNavy01]

Just did my second oil change in the garage with a QuickJack. Cost me a whopping $55 for oil and filter and took about an hour, half of which was just getting the aluminum plate off... I think it was was 28 bolts (7mm and 10mm). Big fan of DIY if you can.

 

[Davebeats]

Just did my second oil change in the garage with a QuickJack. Cost me a whopping $55 for oil and filter and took about an hour, half of which was just getting the aluminum plate off... I think it was was 28 bolts (7mm and 10mm). Big fan of DIY if you can.

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Which model do you have?

I'm due for my yearly service, at Lotus Orlando, quoted $600 for the yearly maintenance that includes the oil change

 

[FlyNavy01]

Which model do you have?

I'm due for my yearly service, at Lotus Orlando, quoted $600 for the yearly maintenance that includes the oil change

I have the 5000 series, got it on sale at Costco for $1200 a few years ago. I still plan on taking mine to the dealer in Jacksonville at it's 10k mi service and will probably have them do an oil change then too. But outside of major servicing, I like doing things myself for both money savings and convenience.

 

[DigDugLotus]

Which model do you have?

I'm due for my yearly service, at Lotus Orlando, quoted $600 for the yearly maintenance that includes the oil change

600$ for oil change and yearly service…. If they are updating the ECU software… worth it. But just essentially an oil change… 600$ still little pricy.

 

[Davebeats]

I agree, anything more than $100 for an oil change in my opinion is when things start to get silly.

I wanted to pass along the pricing I was given, not sure what all else is included in the yearly service, likely a bunch of visual inspections.

In my specific case, there are 3 recalls or software updates needing to be done that I was made aware of, AC resistor/Diverter, AC software update, inspection/replacement of I believe coil packs (I don't remember what exactly this was) it was something new for them, that I have seen mentioned on the forum based on water in the engine bay. The 3 recalls are of course at no charge.

 

[scc.131.fe]

600$ for oil change and yearly service…. If they are updating the ECU software… worth it. But just essentially an oil change… 600$ still little pricy.

Software updates are free, no?

 

[DigDugLotus]

Software updates are free, no?

Yes, for sure. My predicament is that it’s an 1.5 hour drive to the nearest Lotus dealership. That’s 3 hour total drive time to get an oil change. I will do the basics myself, but I will make the trek if more than just an oil change is necessary….or a new software update/recall work etc. And I agree, 600$ for just the oil change is steep.

 

[Climber]

Yes, for sure. My predicament is that it’s an 1.5 hour drive to the nearest Lotus dealership. That’s 3 hour total drive time to get an oil change. I will do the basics myself, but I will make the trek if more than just an oil change is necessary….or a new software update/recall work etc. And I agree, 600$ for just the oil change is steep.

FYI Houston dealers told me the yearly service takes a few hours and around $350.

 

[DigDugLotus]

FYI Houston dealers told me the yearly service takes a few hours and around $350.

Now that is extremely reasonable.

 

[Bimmernate]

I agree, anything more than $100 for an oil change in my opinion is when things start to get silly.

I wanted to pass along the pricing I was given, not sure what all else is included in the yearly service, likely a bunch of visual inspections.

In my specific case, there are 3 recalls or software updates needing to be done that I was made aware of, AC resistor/Diverter, AC software update, inspection/replacement of I believe coil packs (I don't remember what exactly this was) it was something new for them, that I have seen mentioned on the forum based on water in the engine bay. The 3 recalls are of course at no charge.

Parts alone for the oil change will run at least $50-60. Then there’s 29 bolts that need to be removed just to gain access to the drain plug/filter and it’s kinda funky to refill it due to the awkward location of the fill port with it being mid engined. If someone was only charging $100 I’d assume they were not aware of what was involved to do the job. It’s by no means difficult but I think $250 is fair for the amount of time it takes and to make sure everything’s put back together correctly. Also, It is a 100k+ car and the Toyota dealership charges $100 for an oil change on my FJ, would expect the emira would cost more for the service. Also, inflation. I feel like oil changes have been roughly the same price for the last 10 years and labor costs have sky rocketed

 

[Inilep]

Which model do you have?

I'm due for my yearly service, at Lotus Orlando, quoted $600 for the yearly maintenance that includes the oil change

It's funny I just asked my sales guy at Orlando today and he told me "Somewhere around $1100 for the yearly service" whatever that means. Nice to see another Tampa Emira!

 

[Davebeats]

It's funny I just asked my sales guy at Orlando today and he told me "Somewhere around $1100 for the yearly service" whatever that means. Nice to see another Tampa Emira!

I have an appointment next Monday (14th) I'll let you know which one they ended asking for. I'll leave if its $1100

If you have facebook, look for the Lotus Emira Florida Owners page, and the Lotus owners of Tampa page, we're planning on heading to the all British car show on the 26th of this month in Safety Harbor

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37th Annual All British Field Meet & Autojumble Custom Artwork Featured on Included T-Shirt with Registration The 37th Annual All British Field Meet & Autojumble will return to the streets in Safety Harbor, Florida. The Main Street in downtown Safety Harbor will be blocked off for the…

allbritishfieldmeet.com

 

[JasonCollins]

For my Lotus, the dealer quoted me something crazy like $450, so I ended up just setting up a spot in the driveway and doing it myself.

 

[Nova]

Yea, I think $300 is probably fair for an oil change on this car. But that's about what an MB/BMW dealer charges for cars that are much easier to work on. So if you allow for some "premium margins", $450 may not be shocking for a car like the Emira. Above that... I don't really see how it can be justified. I've seen quotes of $700 or more, which is just absurd to me.

 

[Beachbum]

Do you not have non-franchised specialists in the US. Its a big thing in the UK and they are always significantly cheaper
My previous Lotus, an Elise 111R, was never serviced at a dealership and I was saving £150-200 a time, using a specialist.

EU changed the law a long time ago, to make it legal for non-franchised specialists to service the car and still keep the warranty valid, so long as it was shown the service interval and the work carried out, conformed to the Manufacturers requirements. That maybe different in the US

 

[Nova]

Finding a non-franchised Lotus specialist in the US is like finding good Texas BBQ in the UK. I am not saying it doesn't exist, but they are few and far in between.

It's very easy to find MB/BMW/Audi specialists in the US because of the popularity of those cars - like how easy it is to find good Indian grub in the UK. Those shops are typically right around the corner of MB/BMW/Audi dealerships.

 

[Beachbum]

Finding a non-franchised Lotus specialist in the US is like finding good Texas BBQ in the UK. I am not saying it doesn't exist, but they are few and far in between.

It's very easy to find MB/BMW/Audi specialists in the US because of the popularity of those cars - like how easy it is to find good Indian grub in the UK. Those shops are typically right around the corner of MB/BMW/Audi dealerships.

I was thinking specifically for the oil change, that must be something any decent spanner money can do
I get the reservations on using a non-Lotus expert fully service the car

 

[Nova]

I was thinking specifically for the oil change, that must be something any decent spanner money can do
I get the reservations on using a non-Lotus expert fully service the car

Oh, yea... I agree with that, especially with the Toyota engine.