30k Mile Maintenace, do myself?

[mikkl]

I have a 2005 Legacy 2.5i sedan that just passed 30k. I am comfortable doing most maintenance on automobiles, but am new to owning Subarus. The dealer wants $550 for the 30k maintenace. Couple of quick questions.

 

First, is there any advantage in having the dealer do the work?

 

Second, does the brake fluid really require replacement? I have never had to do that on any other car...

 

Third, are there recommended manual/instructions for performing the inspections and the like? Is Chilton's sufficient or should I look for Subaru manuals? If the Subaru, where could I find them?

 

Advice and opinions are greatly appreciated,

 

mikkl

[idosubaru]

WOW - $550 is insane. particularly considering you can probably run this car to 100,000 miles on nothing but oil and filter changes.

 

times have changed drastically in the past 10 to 20 years. dealers make almost their entire profit margins not on selling new cars at all - but on services and used cars. the trends and data on the shifts in profit for car dealers is very interesting, it's a complete 180 from a decade or two ago....because of stuff like this.

 

yes you can do it yourself. look up the 30,000 mile maintenance items or someone will post it here and we'll tell you what to do. check all your fluid levels and change the oil for sure.

 

this should be a sticky or something....."X miles service" are marketing tools that generate massive revenue for the dealership. you're paying for a very small percentage of legitimate services. you're paying for $100 worth of service you need (at the most!) and the rest is BS marketing hype. they got words and filler but it's mostly nonessential or brainless.

 

and no you don't need to change your brake fluid. but if you wanted too that wouldn't cost all that much. you don't have age or mileage working against you here. i'd personally wait until 100k or 5 years to change it unless the system was opened or there were issues.

 

if i come to cinci can i do your 30k maintenance for $300 - save you big bucks!!