I am being quoted 220 for this service...is it really needed?

 

Look in your owner's manual and compare the services recommended there to the one's the dealer is offering to do for $220. Sometimes the dealers pad the invoice with extra services that aren't necessary or required to maintain your warranty. Not that doing them is a bad idea.

You can also save a little bit on little things like the air filter.. if they say it needs to be replaced, to go an auto parts store and get one and put it in yourself.

Of course, if you start doing parts of it yourself, you have to compare how valuable your own time is compared to how long it would take you to do the same services. I could do my own oil change, but they do it for $40 in 40 minutes. To do it myself I have to drag the jack stands out of the closet, purchase the parts, drag out my tools, do the oil change, put up my tools, and go back to WalMart to dispose of the used oil. When I was a college student with a part-time job, it was worth it to change my own oil. These days, I make just a little bit more, and I don't like spending half my weekend crawling under the car, when I could be driving it instead, or doing something else.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter