Servicing - go to the dealer?

[CoryM]

Interesting about the video.


From my experience, it is far more common for sketchy shops/dealers to sell people work they do not need, than it is to sell work and not perform it. Was the cabin filter just grey, or did it have a bunch of junk in it? The reason I ask is some cabin filters are impregnated with carbon to absorb smells. They are grey when they are brand new.

The typical cab filter service interval is 2yrs/24k KM. If you drive dusty roads or park under trees it can be far less though.

A/C services are not needed and, far as I have seen, not part of any manufacturer's required service. What they typically do is inject a can of top-up refrigerant which is not required and potentially harmful (A/C refrigerant is meant to be a set amount. Adding more than spec can damage the system. Also the top-up can are often not the correct refrigerant). If your car is losing refrigerant, it has a leak and should be fixed properly. Not topped up. They also typically inspect your cabin filter, and spray a deodorant in there. Unless your a/c smells like shoes, it's not required.

Does this dealer also sell oil additives with every service? And did they charge labour to replace the cabin filter?

Cheers.