Does $415 + tax sound right for a 30,000 mile service?

I'm looking at the list of stuff they do and I'm really not pleased at the ~$300 in labor and ~$100 in parts..

If I took the car to an authorized Acura shop would I save any money?

List of stuff they do:
Change Oil Filter and Oil
Check Fluids
Check Tire Pressure
Replace Spark Plugs
Inspect Drive Belt & Hoses
Inspect Brakes
Adjust Parking Brake
Flush Brake System
Replace Brake Fluid
Replace Distributor Rotor
Inspect Distributor Cap
Inspect Exhaust System
Inspect Suspension & Steering
Inspect Drive Axles and Boots
Add Fuel Injector Cleaner
Replace Air Filter
Adjust Valves
Change Tranny Fluid
Road Test

 

Sounds a tad bit high but you can do it all yourself EASILY.

 

But doing it yourself would void the warranty wouldn't it?

 

I see only ~$70 of parts.

The labor is what really adds up from all the small jobs. The longest procedure is the valve adjustment, and everything else takes no more than 15 minutes each item.

Buy the parts and fluids and do it yourself.

 

Do what I did, just have them do the valve adjustment and do the rest yourself. Or have them do a few of those things. I wouldn't bother wasting the money on some of those things that would take you 5-10 minutes. I just told them I had them done and they marked it off in the computer and said the service was done. As for $$$, that sounds about like what a dealer would charge.

 

Thats what they charged me, and they usually dont even adjust the valves.
gmoore

 

Dont.
Just do a visual yourself for these items. Learn from a friend,dad, Helms book
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Check Fluids
Check Tire Pressure
Inspect Drive Belt & Hoses
Inspect Brakes
Inspect Distributor Cap
Inspect Exhaust System
Inspect Suspension & Steering
Inspect Drive Axles and Boots
Add Fuel Injector Cleaner
Replace Air Filter
Adjust Parking Brake
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If your not comfortable with these find a local Honda/Acura Mechanic
Dealer would be nice but like you said they get you on the labor.

Replace Spark Plugs (I replaced mine at 60k)
Flush Brake System/Replace Brake Fluid
Change Tranny Fluid

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This might not even be needed YET: You decide
Adjust Valves.
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Sounds about right, my local Acura dealer charges $388+tax and that doesn't even include the dis. rotor. Taking it to a aftermarket repair shop will probably run you about $300 including the valve adjustment, which usually runs $90. I rather pay the extra $100 and get it done at the Acura dealer. But like what everyone said, a lot of stuff can be done yourself but if you car is still relatively new and under warranty. I suggest you get it done by Acura just in case any warranty issue may come up down the line.....

 

Boo to dealerships. Sounds a little on the high side. All that stuff is about a maybe a days worth of work. If you DIY just think of it as paying yourself 415$ .
BLING CHA-CHING $$

 

I think my friend paid $350 or so when she had her 30K interval done.. she also had her t-belt and front brakes done so the bill was over a G... anyway you could do it yourself and save a lot of money plus down the road your going to need to do these maintenances again (if you plan on keeping the car for a while) so you might as well learn... its about $100-150 in parts and can be done in a few hours..

just go find a friend who has done this stuff before, and go buy a helms manual http://www.helminc.com its about $70... but it will pay for itself once you get done w/ the maintenance... even ifyou didn't have tools.. you'd still save/earn by doing it yourself..

$415 + tax = approx $450 (w/ CA 8.25% sales tax) that would get you through this by paying someone to do it..

or

$100 parts + $70 helms manual + $250 nice mechanics tool set (you can get a smaller/cheaper set if you want) and a jack and jack stands, drain pan, etc... = $420 + a few hours on a weekend.. but in the end.. you gain knowledge/experience, getting to keep the manual AND the tools...

 

Acura service comes at a high price. I once payed them $120 to replace and bleed my brake fluid! Man, if I had only known then how simple it is... I have a garage now and did it myself for under $30 last night, and that's including the $25 "one man brake bleeder" tool that I bought!

Our cars are really very simple to work on. The electrical stuff seems to always be a big pain to get to, but the mechanical stuff is cake. I don't see any reason to go to the dealer or a shop for service unless it's something that I don't have the tools to do... the only thing that comes to mind is the timing belt (you need to hold the crank still while you break the pully bolt loose).

 

all the stuff can easily be done in a few hours except for the brake flushing, valve adjustment and changing a timeing belt -i'm getting a new brake master cyl. put on tommorow -for $48 and that includes bleeding the system and ABS, acura valve adjustment -$90, and got a guy who is ASE certified to do my t-belt -for $170 and included the belt and was done at the dealership so if my motor blew -it would be replaced. the rest is simple, but always use honda OEM parts -the best you can buy.