I have just purchased a '99 SE with 68,000 miles. The local dealer would love to perform the 60k service for about 600 dollars. In looking over the archived threads from this forum it looks like this is truly an important service.

My question is: Should I have it done at the dealership or is it general enough to allow an independant shop to do it. This shop is run by a certified honda, toyota ASE mechanic. I have confidence in his abilities and he is $20/hr cheaper.

I live in the frozen north and don't have access to a garage, so doing the work myself isn't really a possibility. Not to mention that I would be too afraid of screwing up the car.

tringle

 

You said it yourself " I have confidence in his abilities and he is $20/hr cheaper." So why ask us? Non of the work is Nissan Maxima specific so save the $$$ and put it towards mods! Just my 2 cents

 

Maybe it would be clearer to ask:

Is there any reason to use the costlier dealer service?

Their technicians are factory certified, but is the 60K complicated enough to need such specific training.

This is the only car that I have owned that's new enough to have to consider the issue.

Thanks,

 

I'd love to do 60k service for 600 dollars too.

why the hell am i in college for when I could be mechanic making the big bucks.

Go to the cheapest place you can find. Or you could wait till it gets a little warmer and save over 400 bucks.

Check the stickies for what 60k service is, any car mechanic on the planet earth should be able to do it, especially if I can.

 

I too bought my car when it was 87k. 4 years later and now it's 155k. When I bought it, I did the 60k service, so it's about time for me as well.

These are my 60k miles items: fuel filter, pcv valve, spark plugs, drain and refill tranny oil, change engine oil (I am running Amsoil so it would be a filter change), drain and refill radiator and brake flush. I flushed my brake when it was 130k back in 2003 and it's now brownish looking.

If you are doing the same items as mine, I would go with your trusted mechanic. Granted, he might not be familiar with the car...so I probably buy a Haynes manual just in case if he needs to find how to access those items. The manual is $20 or so and the whole thing should probably take about 3-3.5 hours, if he charges you on "actual" basis. If he goes by the "book of quotes", he would probably charge 4 hours of labor.

Hope this helps.

 

60k service is basic. You could almost do it yourself. any basic mechanic should be able to do it, therefor I say just take it to the guy u mentioned that was certified with hondas and all that.