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Surprised at first oil change

22725 Views 46 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  TrevorS
I like to get an early first oil change (non-synthetic) for additional and cheap piece of mind during the break in process. The dealership offers a free one at the first schedule but that's not until 3,750 miles. No way I'd wait that long even if it's free. Well, it ended up costing me nearly $50 and here's why.

Stopped by the local wal-wart oil change lane. Everyone came out to see their first cube. Cool. Input VIN and model info and their data system goes into an error loop. Comedy of errors now begins. I give the engine size, oil capacity, oil grade, and show them were the filter is. No luck. Tell them it's really a versa motor and to just grab that filter. They won't even do that. VIN won't work with the versa so more errors.

Leave and go to nearby Nissan dealership and purchase filter for $12 including tax and a special looking crush washer. At least two folks remind me that the first service is free. I smile and nod knowing that they mean at 3,750 miles not the 850 I have on it now. Leave dealership and go back to Walwart.

Show them the filter. They check with the manager, no dice. Walwart policy: if computer won't accept it they won't do it. hmmm.

Drive to independent oil change shop. Again, service bays empty to come out and see the Cube. Show them filter and give them oil capacity info. They say, "no problem, sign right here". $35.95 later ($2 discount for providing own filter is negated by a $2 disposal fee) but my lunch hour now gone, I had my first oil change.

You've been warned! ;)
1 - 20 of 47 Posts
Sorry you had such a run around! I get free oil changes for life and I'm not concerned with getting the oil changed early... I'll be waiting for the 3,750 mile mark.
Steel~Gray said:
I get free oil changes for life
Yeah, I just had to vent. I all ready feel better.

BTW, if you think they are "free", I got some Montana ocean front property I'd like you to look at........

Forgot to mention, Nissan oil filter number is: 15208-65F0C and is used by infiniti m35/45, exterra, murano, amongst others. Most of them use the VQ35DE or or Qr35DE engine; all this according to the box label.
Oh yeah, I totally forgot about this. The Cube will not be the first totally new model I have tried to get serviced independently & run into problems. Just par for the course for "early adopters" I'm afraid.
I do my own oil so this wont be a problem and I am all about synthetic oil. Synthetic costs more but you can go 15K guaranteed with the fully synthetic Mobile, I go 7K for it myself. I cant wait to see what gaggle I find trying to change it.

In the Titan you have to remove an 6 bolt belly pan to access the oil filter, how stupid is that? To top that off the oil filter is totally line fed so they could have located it anywhere but there. :roll:

It just messes up my nails.
fotomoto said:
Steel~Gray said:
I get free oil changes for life
Yeah, I just had to vent. I all ready feel better.

BTW, if you think they are "free", I got some Montana ocean front property I'd like you to look at........

Forgot to mention, Nissan oil filter number is: 15208-65F0C and is used by infiniti m35/45, exterra, murano, amongst others. Most of them use the VQ35DE or or Qr35DE engine; all this according to the box label.

What do you think is the downside to having Nissan do your oil changes for life? I have the same deal from my dealership along with state inspections for life.....compared to some other dealerships, I think it is a good deal. I'm sure they will get there money's worth by pushing to get certain maintenance items fixed, etc...but in the end I think it is a money-saver!!
By the way, Nissan oil filters are actually Keurig K-cups. LOL!
ChristineK said:
I do my own oil so this wont be a problem and I am all about synthetic oil. Synthetic costs more but you can go 15K guaranteed with the fully synthetic Mobile, I go 7K for it myself. I cant wait to see what gaggle I find trying to change it.

In the Titan you have to remove an 6 bolt belly pan to access the oil filter, how stupid is that? To top that off the oil filter is totally line fed so they could have located it anywhere but there. :roll:

It just messes up my nails.
i hear ya; changing the oil on the corrado is a nightmare. to make matters worse, the last time we had it serviced for a problem, we had the oil changed since they were going to be mucking about down there anyway. turns out they screwed everything back in so tight that we will have to replace several parts just to change the oil again. yet another reason why we will always do our own oil changes from now on!
fotomoto said:
The dealership offers a free one at the first schedule but that's not until 3,750 miles.

At least two folks remind me that the first service is free. I smile and nod knowing that they mean at 3,750 miles not the 850 I have on it now.
I went in for 1 of 2 freebies at the dealer. They didn't care that I had only 1800 miles on it. 1000 more than I wanted for the first change but I couldn't get in sooner. The miles rack up fast when you are havin' fun driving. :yes: They also let me in the shop to inspect the underside while it was on the lift. 8)
I just have a hard time believing it is free.

Nothing in life is free. Where is the gimmick?

Free cell phone w/ 2 year contract <--not free

You somehow paid for this. Oil change will set you back 30 to 40 for standard car, alot of slick lube joints use reconditioned oil not new, I imagine your free oil is reconditioned too. But hey if the warranty is covered so what. In my area free tires for life is popular but its for stock cheepies, you buy wheels and that deal is off.
ChristineK said:
I just have a hard time believing it is free.

Nothing in life is free. Where is the gimmick?

Free cell phone w/ 2 year contract <--not free

You somehow paid for this. Oil change will set you back 30 to 40 for standard car, alot of slick lube joints use reconditioned oil not new, I imagine your free oil is reconditioned too. But hey if the warranty is covered so what. In my area free tires for life is popular but its for stock cheepies, you buy wheels and that deal is off.
Well, I didn't pay anything extra for the oil changes when I bought the car and I will not have a bill for the oil change or filter when I take it to the dealer for scheduled changes. I guess I won't know if I'm getting screwed somehow until I actually take it in. But the paperwork specifies that they are using NEW oil and it's all covered under the warranty so even if they aren't using new oil and something goes wrong they have to fix it anyway. And I can get FREE manicures at the dealership while I wait too! :)
Steel~Gray said:
And I can get FREE manicures at the dealership while I wait too! :)
You go girl :D
Steel~Gray said:
Well, I didn't pay anything extra for the oil changes when I bought the car....
Yes you did. This "free" program means they have higher operating costs than a dealer who doesn't offer it. Dealerships are in the business of making money not losing or giving it away thus they have to account for these additional operating costs somehow. They did it in the final deal you signed off on.

They will also try to get you to buy something every time you're in there; either extra services or parts. Or while waiting, you'll wander over to the future new cars on the lot..... :yes:
It's $15-$20 in parts cost and 1/2 hr in labor expense used as a marketing tool. The "catch" is some of what foto said about additional parts and services. Its an opportunity have you experience the dealers service department. More importantly is they now have my mileage since purchase and will calculate when every service is due and send a courtesy reminder. What better than a timely targeted "ad" to come in and have service done right when you happen to need it. As a business owner if I could calculate when my customers were to have a "need" and could spend $1 to advertise directly to them, oh and by the way we are having a sale on widgets too so pick some up while you're in. It's well worth the $40 they spent on the "free" oil change. I say if they are a good shop that takes care of the customer and it works, then good for them. 8)
I didn't get anything for free :( In fact, I paid over sticker because they required a "paint protection" package... but yesterday I noticed the car had never even been detailed (residue left over from the shipping protectors). So yeah I'd gladly take even ONE free oil change :(
none said:
I didn't get anything for free :( In fact, I paid over sticker because they required a "paint protection" package... but yesterday I noticed the car had never even been detailed (residue left over from the shipping protectors). So yeah I'd gladly take even ONE free oil change :(
That sucks! I can't believe they MADE you buy the paint protection. :( It was a choice that was offered for me but it wasn't something that I had to do.
Steel~Gray said:
none said:
I didn't get anything for free :( In fact, I paid over sticker because they required a "paint protection" package... but yesterday I noticed the car had never even been detailed (residue left over from the shipping protectors). So yeah I'd gladly take even ONE free oil change :(
That sucks! I can't believe they MADE you buy the paint protection. :( It was a choice that was offered for me but it wasn't something that I had to do.
They tacked it on, claiming they had forgot to mention it. By that point they already had signed over the title to my trade. I suppose I could have grabbed all the paperwork & made a dash for the door or called for a police escort (the finance guy was a huge mo-fo - probably intentional). Too late now. At least I like the product!
Ok UUUUMMMMM well, My first oil change at the dealership was free and my next one too. I didn't have to wait till 3700 either. I like round numbers LOL 3000
What are you doing buying a OEM oil filter for $12? $4.50 max at the local Nissan dealer in so cal. Plus Fotomoto, you should have bought a Fumoto valve and then you can do the oil changes yourself, with ease.

Walmart is not the model of automotive service excellence. ;D Or, for $50 why didn't you return the overpriced OEM filter and have the dealer perform the oil change? Under $25 for oil and filter change at most so cal Nissan dealers.

Plus, it's one free oil change, so what does the dealer care if they perform it at 900 miles or 3750? The next one after that your going to have to pay anyways. Should have talked to the service dept at the dealer first before this comedy of errors happened with all these third party repair facilities.

Oil changes at 900 are overkill anyways. I would be more worried about proper break in on your Ducati. I guarantee you that 90% of everyone on this forum will not own the cube in 3 years or beyond 40,000 miles. The next new thing will be out and the cubes will be traded for the next flavor of the month. :D
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You are assuming that your local dealer scene is the same everywhere else. I can assure you it's not!!!
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