I went for my first service on Saturday and ask them to fix my Amp problem in Footscary, Melbourne … When I got back my car I found out my front bumper had a small stone chip and my driver side door panel near the tweeter had a small scratch as well. I think their service department are not qualify for deal with the new car… but eventually they willing to repair it and order the side door panel from Japan but I have to wait for another 2 weeks.

I don’t recommend anyone to go to Binks Auto in Footscary, Melbourne. Does any one know where is the best place to go for servicing in Melbourne?

 

Alan demand they respray the whole front bumper rather than just touch it up. From what i saw today, i think they may just paint over the scratch to clean it up.

If they do respray the whole front, id take off the plastic numberplate bracket like we said. Would look alot better.

Also with the door trim, ask them u want to keep the old one. U never know when u mite need it for something.....scratched door handle, marks on the lower door panels from getting in and out. Take it back with u.


Sam

 

I also had a first service today. When I kicked over the engine, I noticed that the oil pressure dial was about halfway (6 I think). Normally when I drive it, the oil pressure reading is 4. I think that the mechanics thrash my motor durring the "road test" as this gets the oil pressure up. Not happy, but I don't think this is enough evidence to prove it, and take issue with the service manager.
But compared to your service problems, I really cannot whinge. I hope you find a better place to service. Will you stick with a dealer or go to another mechanic for service?

 

It's normal for oil pressure to be higher when hot than cold. Don't know if that's what you saw in your case KY350.

No way my car goes to a dealer for servicing. The only time it'll go to a dealers is for warranty work and even then the car must remain in my sight at all times and I go with the mechanic on the road test.

Any MTA licensed workshop can carry out book servicing without effecting the warranty.

 

I think you'll find it's the other way around, higher oil pressure when cold ( the oil is thicker when cold and like water when hot ).

KY350

Did they change your engine oil to synthetic (Mobil 1) the oil pressure will be marinally lower when cold due to the wider viscousity range ie 5 - 50 (more fluid/viscous) when cold, it works better in wide temp ranges very cold starts to stinking hot days 40c plus thereby protecting the engine on very cold starts. I've alway used Mobil 1 my last car had nearly 100,000k the motor was as clean and ran as good as the day I took delivery of it when new.

David

 

ZZZ-35, you're right of course. I hadn't had my coffee when I wrote that this morning.

I doubt it was Mobil 1 or any full synthetic that the dealer used unless KY350 supplied it to the dealer.

 

I didn't specify or provide any type of oil. They probably put in a cheap oil.
I did notice this morning that my oil pressure was higher than it has been the last couple of weeks, even when the engine had warmed up. I don't know if it is because of a different oil or what???
Unfortunately I have not got the time to hang around for hours while they service the car. But I did figure out how to recognise if they have thrashed the motor in the road test. Simply reset the digital km/l setting to 0 when you hand the car over to the dealer. I know that with normal driving I get about 8.3 - 8.5 km/l. If after the service it reads 12km/l, then you know it has been driven hard. (If the mechanic had half a brain though, he could then reset the gauge to 0 again thereby covering his indescretion.)
I realise that you can take the car to a licenced workshop for service without affecting your warranty. Problem with that is that if you do have a problem that is covered under warranty, the dealer could accuse the workshop of faulty work and thereby refuse to correct the problem under warranty as the logbook service was not performed correctly. This would lead to a finger pointing excercise between the dealer and workshop, leaving me the customer in the middle without my problem resolved.

 

If it was a Nissan dealership they almost certainly would've used Nissan oil.

As a side note I did my first service last weekend and my oil pressure now sits slightly lower than before.

Good idea about the fuel consumption meter.

A Nissan workshop accusing another MTA workshop up faulty work would cause more trouble than it's worth to them unless of course it obviously is faulty work or non genuine parts are used (even an oil filter). Just find a good one and stick with them. Oh and if a Nissan dealer workshop did refuse warranty work you can take it up with Nissan Australia and the MTA.

 

It's weird that your oil pressure is lower and mine is higher following the service. Work that out??? My pressure may be higher as I am driving the car a little harder now, following the service.
Correction on the fuel consumption meter: If the dealer thrashes the car, the meter will read lower than my avearge, not higher as I had previously stated.
I used to have a company repmobile before the Z. That car was taken to the dealer for service, so I don't know any reputable mechanics who I could trust to look after my car and use genuine Nissan parts. Would these mechanics be any better / cheaper than Nissan?
Also, McGrath's Nissan offered me a complimentary 3 year extension to the factory 3 year warranty, but it is limited to a max of $2000 I think and it only applies to mechanical faults (ie not stereo etc). To have this additional warranty, they insist that I service the car with them. Not realy sure if the additional warranty is worth it.

 

I'd say different grades of oil explain the pressure difference. FWIW I used Castrol Formula R 5W-30

I knew what you meant about the fuel consumption

I couldn't recommend a shop really. I take mine to a friends workshop. I've known him for many years so I know I can trust him. McGrath offered me the same extended warranty. To be honest I'm just going to see how it goes mod wise over the next 3 years then look at the extra 2 year warranty from Nissan. Costs about $600 currently and is valid as long as book servicing has been maintained for the life of the car.

 

Thanks apsilon. I didn't know that we have the option of extending the warranty at a later date. I always thought we had to purchase the extended warranty up front when signing up for the car.

 

They told me you could take it at out any time during the initial warranty period. I was thinking about take it up front but then they told me I could get it later so I saved the money and I'll see how I go in a couple of years.

 

in regards to warranty:

if you're leasing your car as i am for business use "lol asif", then extended warranty is useless, resale just doesn't get affected by whether you have it or not.
I had it on the last car and the purchaser didn't give a damn (yes, it was a dealer).

Just a heads up.