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Dealer warranty vs independent shop, the $780 oil leak that settled it for me
Last month my 2018 Civic started leaving a puddle on the driveway in Columbus. Dealer quoted $1,150 to replace the valve cover gasket plus a full inspection. Independent shop down on 5th Ave said $370 for the same job, and they showed me the old gasket when they were done. The dealer wanted me to also do a coolant flush and new belts, another $600, like a package deal. The indie guy just fixed what was broken. I get that dealers have factory training, but for basic stuff like this, why would anyone pay triple? Is the peace of mind really worth that much, or is it just brand-name markup? Has anyone had a dealer catch something an indie missed that actually saved them money?
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ryan_carr597d ago
My 2019 Accord had the same valve cover leak and the dealer in Dublin quoted me $980 with a "recommended" fuel system cleaning on top. Local guy off Sawmill did it for $310 and even topped off my oil. That indie shop has been my go-to ever since, the dealer markup on simple gasket jobs is just nuts.
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