- Joined
- Sep 22, 2018
- Threads
- 76
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- 1,004
- Location
- Noblesville, IN
- Website
- www.edmartintoyota.com
I’ll throw in my angle as a different point of view (As a dealer). But before I do, those prices are steep, but the recommends seem reasonable. I would check with a Toyota dealer, parts and labor is probably 50% cheaper than Lexus.
We do the multi point inspection (MPI) for several reasons:
1) yes, to sell you more parts and labor hours. No different in concept than a restaurant offering you desert, no one is required to buy anything extra. You go to Best Buy, they are going to try and sell you a $50 HDMI cable... not really any different. Maybe a rip off? maybe not. It’s perception to some extent.
2) liability, if your brakes failed or engine blew after being in our shop. You would be on the phone the next day asking why we didn’t tell you about any symptoms while in our possession. We’re the doctors for your car. Can you be your own doctor and research 90% of things on your own? Yep, but some things you do need the doctor for. For others, peace of mind has high value, same with time.
3) accusations of wrongdoing: Customer complaints after a service/maintenance, telling us something else is broke and blames our workmanship on the next issue. Always nice to have the MPI to lean on for documentation for thoroughness. No different than taking notes after a meeting for the file.
At the end of the day, there are some really good Independant mechanics out there. But as the technology gets more complicated you will need the dealer for their special tools and computer software.
My recommendation is to always ask for a “master tech” for a 200 maintenance/service. They are skilled and trained. At the end of the day, it’s the same billable hour as a non-master tech.
We do the multi point inspection (MPI) for several reasons:
1) yes, to sell you more parts and labor hours. No different in concept than a restaurant offering you desert, no one is required to buy anything extra. You go to Best Buy, they are going to try and sell you a $50 HDMI cable... not really any different. Maybe a rip off? maybe not. It’s perception to some extent.
2) liability, if your brakes failed or engine blew after being in our shop. You would be on the phone the next day asking why we didn’t tell you about any symptoms while in our possession. We’re the doctors for your car. Can you be your own doctor and research 90% of things on your own? Yep, but some things you do need the doctor for. For others, peace of mind has high value, same with time.
3) accusations of wrongdoing: Customer complaints after a service/maintenance, telling us something else is broke and blames our workmanship on the next issue. Always nice to have the MPI to lean on for documentation for thoroughness. No different than taking notes after a meeting for the file.
At the end of the day, there are some really good Independant mechanics out there. But as the technology gets more complicated you will need the dealer for their special tools and computer software.
My recommendation is to always ask for a “master tech” for a 200 maintenance/service. They are skilled and trained. At the end of the day, it’s the same billable hour as a non-master tech.