None ever taken. but I use the verbiage because in my world that's just the way it is. That is what POLICY is. I can also tell you in my business the penalties for not following policy is almost never enforced, is at best a wrist slap, and the policy has stopped very little international trade. What it does impact is very public international trade. I'll sell to anywhere I can ship, I just can't advertise I'll sell to anywhere.

Just as it will for Aston parts. Profit is motivating and there is always going to be an authorized entity that will play ball for the profit. They just have to be more discreet about it. I only became an authorized dealer after 12 years as a rogue dealer, buying from the friends and contacts I'd made from distributor insiders down to the best deal sources powerful enough to be able to get allocation of what can't be gotten. I was literally so good at breaking their rules they had to authorize me! And now, I do the exact same thing, from inside. They did a lottery for a recent Limited model, 25 to the US, restricted to fully vested dealers, and I realized the only way I'd be able to get alot of them was to water the lottery down. They had 106 entries, 42 of them were mine, bought thru other dealers. I ended up getting 9, then bought 3 more specific ones I wanted. They've already conceded they'll never do another lottery [alot of dealers that can't get are always pissed when I get a pallet or 3]. Sorry to drone on about business, but it's funny if you're stoned enough.

But Rich and Stuart and Scuds will be just fine, and if their current contacts pull back there will always be another door waiting to open. What will be tougher is if Bits plays strict to the policy and cuts off the easy access they have been to literally everything in a very timely manner - that far exceeds the ability of US distribution.

That's my issue with any clamp on border control with parts - and IS exactly my situation. I have an official standing agreement that policy or not, I will always sell parts to the world, and I will continue to for the basic reason, you cannot get factory parts in - ie. Brazil. And most of the rest of the world. And exactly like the company I rep - -

Aston isn't exactly fast about getting parts unless it's very common and in stock in US distribution, brakes, clutch sets, etc., but if you need an airbox? I waited 4 months and the one they sold me wasn't mine but for a for a body shop job they didn't need yet. 5 months to get an airbox is not a time period owners should ever have to deal with. The supply chain to the US is extremely slow, and Bits was always a couple weeks. Aston had better put some teeth into North American parts distribution if they're going to restrict us from getting parts faster privately. And that's the talking point for me.

And remember nothing keeps a North American dealer from selling parts for any price they want, they'll have "advertised" prices, but some of them will deal, I'm willing to bet if you called 20 US dealer parts departments for a quote on the same part you would get 20 different numbers, and with a little smoozing you could get the best down even a little lower, and always go back to them.

The service was $1000, the simple oil change is $430, at least mine is. Full service is $1200 at mine I believe. And many will say $430 is ridiculous but it's $160 in oil, $50 in stuff, an hour, tools, dirty fingernails, and the chance the oil filter doesn't come off or you pull the inner threaded thingy off with it. And I'd still have to dispose of 11 quarts of oil at special waste collection day, twice a year. What is obscene is the $800 Porsche charges for that simple oil change on a Cayman, not service, just the oil and filters, and it's because so much has to be removed to access everything to be able to change it [or what he was always told anyway] and one of the reasons he sold the car, that he loved, but the maintenance was a little more than he expected.

 

I could have bought the DAE clutch set from them direct for $2800, but they won't violate Stuarts distribution zone, and I could have had a friend in the UK, have many, but they'll have to pay the 24% VAT and add on the shipping of heavy steel and the discount wasn't as tempting. And to have it shipped to another friend in Norway would have saved about $500 overall, but the circle takes weeks, and Stuart said I'd have one in 3 days, the better option won.

Let's all keep in mind BREXIT is going to throw a huge wrench into everything England exports, possibly not so much to the US but just having to deal with Brexit as an exporting company will slow their operations down dealing with all the countries they sell cars, and parts in.

 

I think $430 is ok. Sometimes I just feel lazy.

Actually, rohnin's number isn't far off. It really is about $1000 here in Los Angeles. We have 2 AM dealerships in the LA county.

Though I am quite shocked at the $800 Porsche Cayman oil change. Dealer here in LA (at least the one I visit) charges $325 for a GT3 oil change.

I really do think that dealers' prices can be all over the place. What I value is the relationship with the SA and the tech. Getting to know them really helps in the long run.

 

For just a simple oil change? I'm shocked, I thought you guys had the cheapest service in the US from ready posts, and NB advertises a V8V clutch job for $3200 [I'd have to believe that's "change the disc, any other parts pay extra", so the plate and slave are additional]

I was quoted $1500 more from DC than I was from Summit Hills for the labor to install the VAP clutch. To say pricing is all over the map would disrespect maps.

EDIT

Wait, are you guys both V12V's? Because then a grand oil change starts to make sense.

 

I got the $1k quote for a V8 a year ago. IIRC, the it included inspection as well of some kind.

I have yet to get a V12 quote. I am cringing now. lol.

 

That's "service", you get alot more than an inspection, you will get a full detailed couple hour inspection, they will do all scheduled fluids, if gearbox is due you're in the major service which was $2200 here.Your $1000 is $1200 here, your simple oil change, which I will be doing every 6 months or 5000 miles from now on, will be much less if you get a quote.

Would have been until you bought the V12!!

 

50% more cylinders = 50% more cost I reckon?

 

Good formula under the hood. Get a quote for brakes! Good thing you may never have to replace them, but if you do expect sticker shock. Part of the reason I stayed searching for a V8 was the much higher maintenance costs the guys with V12's had. Not that maintenance was going to be cheap either way.

 

Just received. Oil change + inspection ~$1000 for V8 and V12.

 

You LA guys get very good service rates. Stop complaining and be happy

 

Buy a oil change kit from REDPANTS for x amount-----then take the car with the process to do the change at a Jiffy Lube or similar oil change place and WALK the guy through it yourself. Then only go back to them.

I did that with my MB AMG--- showed him where the bolts were, he drained the system, pulled the oil filter and replaced, then buttoned it back up and filled the oil fill spot. IF you can do it at home, why not pay someone$38 for them to get dirty.

Save you a ton of money even after getting 2x changes a year.

 

Interesting solution but what you lose is the relationship you build with your dealer service department, which can pay you back far more than the $100+ you'd save having somebody else change the oil. Then, you have a guy you trust at Jiffy, and he's in a hurry, making $12/hour, and doesn't remember where the jack points are, and your car gets totaled when he bends the longitudinals.

And everything else in the yearly service is not going to get done....

Doing it yourself is one thing, trusting somebody making $12/hour to do everything right every time, not in my playbook.

 

So I agree that Jiffy Lube, while a cheap solution is not the route I would want to go,

However in my search for my DB9, I have seen many cars with service bills in the $15K range. A number like that will make you sit up and take notice. It makes you wonder why a car with only 10K miles on the clock would need all 4 brake rotors replaced. Especially since the car was never tracked.

So the real question is are you planning to keep the car a long time? Or are you going to flip the car in a couple years and go for something else?

From a resale standpoint, if your a flipper I would suggest staying with AM dealer service. The records on the car become more important especially if you intend to sell it yourself. If you plan to trade it in, it probably won't make much difference.

If you plan on keeping the car, or if your car is over 10 years old, I think you would want to build a relationship with a good independent shop, and only use the dealer if you run into a sticky situation that needs advanced diagnostics or specialty tools.

In my area there is a very reputable independent shop that works on classic British cars: MG and Triumph, Maserati ( the owner of the shop has a Bora), and Jaguars- XK120's to XK8's and XJ's. I have also seen a vintage Rolls in their shop. They helped me get my "barn find" TR4A running strong.

My thinking is to test them out doing some simple maintenance items. First see how they do something simple like changing my door struts. I bought JackPads for the car and will make sure they are used correctly before they ever lift the car. If that goes well, I would consider fluid changes, brake inspections, and visual inspections in the future.

I will also check out my local AM Dealer and give them a chance and see how they perform. My neighbor has a V12VS and likes one of the service advisors and suggested that bringing him cases of Bud Light has helped him save thousands. You need to have the right kind of relationship with the right guy.

I could probably do these things myself and still might, but at 63 its nice to have options.

As a final option, I have a great relationship with my Mercedes Benz Dealer and they have serviced all of my MB's over the last 15 years. I would see if they would work with me on the AM, and would probably be fine for things like fluid changes and things that are fairly straight forward. After all they are now supplying engines for the new models.

Shop for parts, check multiple sources, compare dealers, check for interchangeability with other brands, since Volvo, Jaguar, parts were used over the years.

My 2 cents.

 

That’s relative. (My 991 911 service cost less than half that). A first service should not cost over $1000 since it’s just an oil change. I don’t even get to see them do it, or be able to confirm all the other “inspections” supposedly included were done. I was mainly upset they put 8 miles on the car - really?!! It’s a new car and I didn’t have any problems! Never happened with any other car I’ve ever owned, at most 1 mile maybe.

Next service they want $400 more to change the brake fluid.

 

The first service is not just an oil change. They are supposed to treat it like every 12 month service and it's the first opportunity for them to evaluate your car, top off all fluids, did you fry half the brake pads off, be nice to know now because you wouldn't have any left at the 24k, is the timing cover leaking, The pdf is here


www.6speedonline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=172940&d...


And real world this is what I get with the bill, the full evaluation and list of what was done. You just have to trust they actually did their job.