Looking for any place besides the dealership people have had good experiences and reasonable bills when it comes to maintenance. I actually haven't done a thing to my car since I bought it at 14,500 miles and it's already up to 20k. I feel like the car is starting to have minor issues because I haven't had time to take it in.

 

I take my car to the Kirkland dealer for oil changes. I do the minor stuff like interior filter changes, tire rotations, and brakes myself. It's not really that hard after you do it once.



2003.5 Brill. Silver/Willow 6MT sedan, Premium/Winter/Navigation

 

Thanks for the insight. I was checking out Greg's in Bellevue. I'll provide an update if I go there.

I'd love to do everything manually like you do, but just afraid I'll screw up something if I try. Couldn't find a manual at Shuck's yesterday, but we'll see.

 

You do brakes yourself, but you go to the dealer for oil changes?

 

yeah, all I have to do is jack up the car, remove the wheels, undo the caliper, clamp the piston and then change the pad, if it still makes funny noises, I remove the rotor and get it turned, it actually doesn't take much time

however, when I change the oil, I have to remove way too many bolts to remove the cover, and then I have to find a place that'll take the used oil, etc...

so $42 for the dealer to change the oil is a good deal to me since it'd take me about 1 hour and some time to clean up and get rid of the old materials

to change my brakes, it'd cost me $300 from the dealer, I can do both sides in about 2-3 hours so I'm effectively saving a lot more amount of money, makes more sense

I think... I could be wrong

2003.5 Brill. Silver/Willow 6MT sedan, Premium/Winter/Navigation

 

You mean you can't just dump the oil down the storm drain?

Heh heh, just kidding
I just funnel it back into the oil containers, and set it by the curb, and the recycle guys pick it up.

I hear you on the brakes tho They're so easy... Except, if mine still make funny noises, I don't turn the rotors, I just install slotted/cross drilled ones I tell the wife they are cheaper than buying OE rotors... At least that's what I did on my other car.

 

Greg's tried to sell me stuff I didn't need done. i.e. replace timing chain, timing gears and upper chain tensioner when all that needed replacing was the oil seal sealing between the oil pump and the block. Chain tensioner is a 'do not replace' item per Nissan. It is not needed.