ok i went in for an oil change at the infiniti dealership and came out w/ about $1900 worth of possible issues. i have a 05 G35 coup.
ok so they said i must:

replace the lower right control arm because the one bushings cracked...$530
clean and service the throttle body...$150
perform fuel injection service...$150
perform power steering fluid exchange...$170
(these 3 are the critical ones)

then the non critical ones are:
replace all v-belts...$220
perform brake system fluid exchange...$170
among other things i know is really not an issue.

can someone please tell me which is most critical and how do i solve all these issues without giving up my food money for the rest of the year.
all i can say is plesase help!

 

I'd ask for specifics about the "lower right control arm" needing replacement because a "bushing cracked". Perhaps the bushing is part of the control arm and can't be replaced separately? If that's the case, I'd change it. If you don't, you might get a slight shimmy in the steering wheel and they may not be able to give you a good wheel alignment due to play in the wheel?

As for the throttle body and fuel injection service, throw in a bottle of Chevron Techron for about $12 (for the 20 gallon tank) between every oil change and call it a day.

Power steering fluid, yeah change it.

The v-belts, probably could wait a year or two more.

Brake fluid, yeah change it.

Surprised they didn't suggest a transmission fluid exchange.

 

Wow, you need to find a new place to have your car serviced. I would have the bushings inspected somewhere else and maybe the belts, depending on the mileage on your car. The throttle body service, fuel injection service, power sterring fluid exchange, and brake system fluid exchange are all profit for the dealer.

 

for the bushings they showed me and it was cracked and it was the lower front on the right hand side... i asked them if i can just change the bushings but they said no so ive been trying to look for the control arm else where because i know they charge so much more then the thing actually is. i dont know where they would actually give me a good price... now is there anyplace you guys trust that i can go to get all of these issues resolved, anysuggestions.
is the prices they quoted a fair estimate?

 

do you know any places where they can have my car serviced for a fair price?
jiffy lube?
p.s. my car has only about 50,000 miles on it and till i went in for the oil change i thought it was in great shape.

 

Fair price is relative. Obviously a dealership has more expenses than a generic mechanic, but they offer more amenities [which you pay for].

Over the past 20 years my 1990 Q45 has consummed $45,000 in mainteance and repairs [no wrecks, no repaints, no interior replacement only a windshield or 2.

That's $2250 per year on average but heavier V8 are more expensive than lighter V6.

Your quote of $1400 is chump change with what's coming due in later years. Food money? Don't you have a special savings account for vehicle mainteances, tires/brakes and repairs?

 

well thanks for the input but no i dont really have alot of mula set aside, so im trying to save where i can and as much as i can... all the while getting quality care of my car.

 

Sorry to say but if I was you, I'd just get the control arm, power steering fluid, and brake fluid changed. While you're at it, assuming if the car hasn't had it's transmission fluid changed (not flushed), change it.

The prices they quoted seem reasonable. A lower control arm lists for about $223, so they're charging you about 3 hours in labor to remove what you have there, put it back together, probably get an alignment (since you're changing a component of the suspension), and test drive it.

As for the power steering and brake fluid, the costs to have the power steering or brake system repaired due to failure (or an accident due to failure) are very high so at $170 for each, that's cheap insurance.

Personally, I'd stay away from those quick lube places. If you have the know how, or need to save money, do your own oil changes. It's simple and easy to do. Case in point, right now Pennzoil has a $15 rebate for purchases of 5 quarts of Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic oil. A certain retailer has a sale right now for 5 quarts of Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic and a Mobil1 oil filter, at $28 plus tax. So for roughly $15 after rebates, you get a complete oil change, with synthetic oil. Most likely you'll be able to go a minimum of 5000 miles OCI, if not more, depending on driving habits, ie. city, highway, mixture, track, etc. So if you're going for oil changes every 3000 miles with regular oil, you do the math and I'm pretty confident over the long run, it will cost less, if not the same, and you'll spend less time getting oil changes.

 

thanks buddy that helps...i'll just spend a bit more to get the job done right.

 

just an update...i went to a privatly own shop i found online with great reviews. turns out they did a great job and it saved me a bit of money...not a whole lot but a couple hundred less then what the dealer charged.

thanks