Today I went to the dealership for the complimentary oil change and inspection. Since I'd bought new tires last month, I asked them to check the alignment as well. I was prepared to pay the ~$100 for an alignment.

About 30 minutes later he came to me and said the tie rods needed to be replaced. However, he also said there was a minor transmission leak....something about a sleeve and wires that ran through it, etc, etc.

Total bill was expected to be about $1400. Yipes! I told him to go ahead.

About 10 minutes later I had a Eureka moment......the Jaguar Select warranty. I went and foud the service writer and pointed it out to him. He came back and said the tie rods were a wear and tear item but the transmission repair was covered. Yipee!

I drove out after paying about $600 rather than $1400. Good for me!

 

Though the warranty saved you from dishing out a lot of dough you still paid too much...$600 for tie rods and an alignment? You could've bought the tie rods yourself for $60/each, a regular mechanic would've zipped em on in 2 hours, and performed a $85 alignment. The warranty company was ripped off too: The trans sleeve costs $15, the transmission pan/filter kit costs $120, and 6 quarts of ZF trans. fluid is $100, labor for the trans. job can be performed by any mechanic in 2 hours @ $75/hour. Otherwise, welcome and we're happy your Jag is safe and sound.

 

^ werd

 

Ouch, in oldspeak

 

Mikey, I'm sorry. I was actually venting off on the Jag dealership. IMHO they were predating (eating) you. This forum will help sort through and set straight many our cars issues but there are times when a dealership is necessary.

 

I was actually commenting on the OP's story (getting farqued by the dealer) not your analysis- which I fully agree with.

 

I believe select covers the tie rods too. But Im not at work to look...I love how all ya'll go to a specialist and complain about the price. Those parts prices are set by Jaguar and yes the dealer. But for the most part, yes Jaguar charges alot for parts to the dealers. Jag tranny oil about $45/litre. Land Rover tranny oil about $15/litre..yes and its the same stuff...
Go to a general attorney, and a attorney that specializes and compare prices...same with any other proffession. I meen even a escort thats sophisticated and gorgeous will charge alot more than the local street walker...But its in the knowledge, the looks, and educational experiance, with packaging that makes the differance,,,,but hell in the end they offer the same services now don't they.......they both "FARQUED" you...

 

Are you talking about the ZF6HP26 ATF????? If so this is the first I have read that they are the same. This would be good to know.

 

Heck it's used in the Disco (Discovery) isn't it? And some Rangies (Range Rovers)?

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF_6HP26_transmission

I've never checked LR prices, though!

It's also in a few Fords but I think they're Oz (Australia) only? Falcon & Territory
(If other than Oz Ford would probably have the oil cheap.)

edit: Lincoln Navigator - any use for getting cheaper oil? (We don't have Lincolns here, in any numbers if at all.)

 

I just found that out yesturday at work, and yes parts confirmed. I try to use allternatives at work to lower costs to customers too when I can. Like using aftermarket replacements like XJ8 98-03 upper shock bushings from Motorcars for $125/pr instead of the complete mounts from Jaguar at $1000/pr, and other cases where I can like trans fluid. We're not gonna buy outside Mobile 1 spec'd universal or whatever, but hey if LR fluid is cheaper and the same we dont have a problem using it. We cannot for warranty repairs, but customer pay, sure...If I can narrow a margin between a dealer pricing and independant I try. But the Indies dont go to school and have to stay up on all the info Jaguar puts out. Knowledge is expensive! All of you with 4yrs degrees and higher should know this.

 

Well that is interesting information.

Thanks Brutal.

 

Can you blame us?

 

He may mean: put a bit of (extra) effort into finding a cheaper place.
(I know, we did. Looks like LR was overlooked.)

 

Well....

The shop rate is $120/hour and the charge was 1.5 hours. The cost of the rods was $198 each and that price is set by Jaguar. So, most of the cost was in those two items. The alignment was included. The balance of the cost was taxes and environment fees.

As for the rest of the work....Jaguar paid for it so it wasn't overbilled.

 

Wow, I believe it. I picked up the tierods at an auto parts store, $68/each for the fronts, $120/each for the rears. Labor was $75/hour. In the final analysis Jaguar parts and service costs 2X more.

 

Brutal, love the hooker metaphor, made my night!

just curious, how can you tell the tie rod ends are kaput?

 

with the weight off the front wheels, grab at 9 and 3 and try to move in/out. If they move theyre bad. If the boots are torn theyre maybe not bad yet, but will be down the road. The rear tie rods on those Jaguars equipted with them are not bad because the boots are gone, and since they dont have the movement like the front they seldom wear out and get loose.

 

groovy, I've got some wheel tugging to do.

 

I don't see how you figure. $240 for parts and $225 for labor plus you'd need the alignment set. So...you paid $465 for parts and labor, another $85 for alignment. That's $550 plus tax for yours and $607 including tax for mine. My parts and the labor are fully warranted which yours...dunno.

There's no doubt about it, a dealer will cost more but twice.....doesn't seem so.

 

Brutal-

I saw the tie rods that came off my car. The rubber bushing on the end of one was essentially gone and the other one was crumbling. Neither had a functional boot at the other end.