Depends on the car. A lot of high performance cars require an run-in service and oil change at around 1,000-2,000 km.

Why? I mean, if the manufacturer quotes more than that why would you? I'm actually getting one of ours done marginally early, as the Service light has not yet come on, but it needs to go in for something else so I figured why not? First one was due at around 30000km, if I recall correctly. It's now on >65000 and still hasn't flagged up for the second service yet.

Modern cars/engines are brilliant.

Modern ones? I don't think so. Certainly not the case for our VW R36 and Audi TT.

I have a VW Passat 2010 diesel model just did the first oil change at 30000kms and next is due at 60000kms.

If I go in and ask for one earlier I told you mus tbe mad its not due.

Yes it use full synthetic oil which isn^t cheap but if you buy it out of Switzerland cheaper.

Servicing a car at 3000miles or 5000kms is a total rip off so if you add 6 oil changes together then 40USD a change is at least as much or more then the 140CHF I just paid to have it done once in 30000kms. Add to this I only had to add 0.5L in that 30000kms

New cars manufactured in Europe are in a different league to American cars.

I change at 10k, wow I must be really paranoid

I was thinking slightly higher performance like BMW M cars, Lotus etc.

Cars at 10k, bikes at 5k.

Tom

I'll try to stop short of a rant, but have seen this response too often to let it pass ...

I'm all in favor of avoiding divide between Haves and Have-nots, but if that is what the society wants, then the government should bear the burden of distributing wealth equitably. And ultimately, citizens/voters should elect a government that reflects such values.

It's not my responsibility to acquiesce personally to garage mafia overchanging for routine maintenance, padding bills, etc.

The noble objective expressed above would be better, more efficiently and certainly more transparently served by a distributive tax policy, not by everyone just accepting daily rip-offs. This is not about fairness and survival ... the attitude that slaphead expresses represents only delusion and defeat.

Just my opinion.

Don't forget that the old oil that is probably poured on the ground in an empty lot in the US is painstakingly treated as toxic waste here and is partly recycled. This added expense also adds to the cost.

Just wondering if anyone here ever had the oil changed at ATU, PitStop or who else is out there offering quick and semi-cheap oil change.

Do they drain the oil or suck it up...?

Any comments are most welcome.

Speaking to a BMW dealer last week they said they ALWAYS drained rather than sucked.

There is a drop off place at most Geminde's where you can pour the motor or cooking oil into a large container on a specified day. You have to keep the container but that can then be dropped off for free at the supermarkets.

As for motor mechanics and repairs? I know a few mechanics and they are all total criminals. All manner of scullduggery occurs at the shop so beware. And the official dealer mechanics are dodgy as well. Assuming that dealers want to rip you off is good advice.

It is always the best policy to speak the truth; unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar. hehe

The high performance engines are probably run in at the factory...

I'm not so sure, for most car engines they are plug and play. As said before, the manufacturer may specify a short service after 1000kms after running-in but that's about it. (May be a very different story for Ferrari, Bugatti and other supercars though I don't think I will ever have to worry about that.....)

Having said that, a colleague reliably informs me that KTM still run-up their motorcycle engines at the factory before the bikes leave for the dealers. I'm not sure if they completely run-in or just complete a small run-up program to make sure they are working properly.

For ElggDK’s question: I know that most Ford garages in the UK simply suck up the oil through the dip-stick tube. A practice which seems to be increasingly common for all garages these days.

ATU sucks it out

In Rienfelden DE they drain it, or they did on my Porsche 911 5 years ago.

Spending my lunch break at ATU.

They drain the oil and the total price incl. 8.2 litres of Castrol LongLife with the correct spec.: 276 CHF.

If I did it myself it would be 216 CHF for the oil alone (on sale at OBI for 24 CHF/liter) so paying 60 CHF for filter, sealing ring and the actual work is not too bad.

The large amount of oil will in any case bring the price up no matter who does the work.

some years ago they drained it at weil also, last month they sucked it out as they have a new toy to play with

Well.....this specific oil can be purchased online for as little as CHF 13,10 per litre so next time it will be a DIY job