Is dealer service worth it?

[dgbull3]

Just picked up a new to me mobius lsv and am mapping out my maintenance plan. Up next I plan on changing the transmission fluid and v-drive oil. I'm decently mechanically inclined, and after reading through the individual manuals (plus forum posts) I feel I can do the job. Just for giggles I called the local dealer and asked how much the job would cost there. They quoted $800!!! Said some stuff about it being worth it since they're specialists.

Now I'm wondering, with all the knowledge on this forum, what's everyone's experience? Is there really some extra stuff done that makes going to the dealer worth it? Or do most people get by well doing this kind of maintenance themselves?

[mmandley]

I personally change my fluids myself, invest in a good suction pump.

The only real benefit of a dealer doing it is to say it was always dealer serviced and you can prove with out a doubt it always had service done.

I keep my receipts to show maintenance was done on the boat each season for resale. Even then I don't think it really adds a ton of value.

I do how ever recommend a dealer winterizing your boat if you live in cold winter areas, mainly because most insurance will cover freeze damage, or you can add it to it for a small charge if you have the dealer do the weatherization. Also some dealers will warranty any damages from freezing if they did the actual winterizing.

[icemanftr]

$800. Lol Takes like 30-45 mins. Do it yourself man, it's really easy and do like Mandley said and get a good suction pump. I run one that fits into my drill.


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[kaneboats]

I once had a dealer's guy tell me that the "boatwashers" do most of the routine service.

[viking]

It's worth it for about $80-100 but you'll find that no dealer charges a reasonable price. So I vote NO it's not worth it for the $300 most charge. ABSOLUTELY NO for the stealership quoting you $800. DAMN

[bergermaister]

With the wealth of information on this forum and the web in general there is very little the typical DIY guy can't handle on his own. In the early years I paid the stealership to do winterizations, fluid changes, etc. Now I look back on that and shake my head... That's a lot of wasted beer $$.

[mjr119]

Yeah run away from the dealership that said $800 for a fluid change. That's a joke. Buy a suction pump for less than $100 and you can do it yourself.

[mcdye]

DIY....period.
Routine maintenance (fluid, impeller changes) is not hard for anyone that is mechanically inclined and can read forums. Invest in a good fluid extractor.

Winterization can be intimidating be it is not hard either, your location factors in to the work needed to meet any insurance requirements if covered for block freezes.

Summerization deals is a joke. Doing a proper winterization leaves barely anything to do in the spring time before hitting the water.

[sandm]

as all have said. do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined. it's not hard.
worst part for me is fogging the block during winterization. trying to contort myself into that compartment to spray the fogging fluid :)

[gregski]

I think working on the boat is easier than working on the cars. If you can change your car's oil, you can handle any of the boat fluids (with a pump). I happily change the boat fluids, but I usually let a shop deal with tranny/t-case fluids because I don't feel like jacking it up, working on the floor, removing skid plates, etc. (and auto shops don't charge $800 for such a service).

[patrick232]

I paid just over $300 last year, but the dealer serviced it while in the slip in TN and I was in Ohio. I would have had to take boating time out on a weekend to do it. Part of the $300 was a trip charge as he drove about 60 miles one way. $800 is crazy high unless they are changing other filters and detailing the boat.

[dgbull3]

Right on, thanks for everyone's input. I went ahead and picked up the ATF + oil after work...will do the job sometime this weekend. Was pretty sure the stealership was feeding me some BS. Anyways, now I have some cash for boards / gear \m/