I inadvertently ordered incorrect air filters for my bi-annual service and have two DB7 Vantage conical filters in my possession now. If anyone is interested, they're of no use to me, lacking a DB7 Vantage..

I also discovered that during the bi-annual, Orlando is up over $500 per hour on labor.

 

That's insane. I hope you found some place else to work on the car. Are there any indy shops around you? Is there another local exotic car dealership? Would make an interesting thread to see which AM franchises have the highest bill rates in the world. Sounds like Orlando would be in that conversation.

 

Honestly, i kinda feel that Aston Martin need to get a handle on this. It's not good for business as a whole if you're charging those insanely gouging labour rates. Even Beverly Hills only charges $350.

 

Unfortunately, I think they're going to price themselves out of existence unless warranty repairs are steady on newer cars. Dealers aren't making the bottom line on new sales, its all parts and service, and when service dries up because pricing is obscene, well, there goes the parts department along with it.

 

AML is not going to pay their rates on warranty work. I wonder what their max bill rate they pay franchises on warranty work?

 

When I was a parts guy at Land Rover many years ago the service techs hated warranty work because it paid about half what a regular retail customer repair did, before parts got their own pound of flesh out of the service ticket.

 

I have always gone to Orlando for my oil changes. But $500 per hour is insane

 

I had transmission, oil, and brake fluids done and they did swap out my high beam halogen bulbs for LEDs. I provided the parts and had already done wipers and cabin air filter, so functionally it was just fluids and checking things over with a request to swap brake pads, and the realization the rotors needed to be done too, which I declined. Came out to $3100 and change after discussion and the revelation of the new labor rate. It really is a shame they chose to do that, I am pretty loyal but that's a hard pill to swallow.

 

I've used AM Orlando (Don Byrd, SA) but haven't been there recently. Last time I was there it was about $300 or so. Glad I do most of my service myself!

 

Last year it was around $300 an hour when I was there before this service, over the past summer. Don's a fantastic service manager, probably the best I've ever worked with in the industry as a whole.

 

Don has been terrific to me over the ten plus years I have used the Orlando dealership. I am saddened to see that they are pricing the non warranty cars away from them

 

Don is the reason I'm willing to drive to Orlando, instead of going 8 miles to Dimmitt, from Tampa.

That and Dimmitt is incapable of returning an email, scheduling an appointment, or answering the phone. I heard they sell cars there, but apparently don't need the money for service.

 

DimWitt... ha ha ha.

 

I agree 100% with Marmot. AM will price themselves out of existence. They have cars sitting on the lot and service departments that charge outrageous prices. St. Louis AM was $1700 for an oil change $750 for brake fluid change. I have an independent shop do for $300 and I supply the parts and fluid. I get the proper oil for $185 at O’Rielly, oil filter from AP Velocity, the gear oil and brake fluid from Amazon and cabin filter through Amazon also but they are a Mazda part.
I love my Vantage but one day enough is enough.

 

You get 12 qt container of Mobil1 at Walmart for $70.

There's a good bunch of techs around my area that have worked at the local AM dealership over the years. They could band together and open their own service center and be filled to capacity on AM repairs. The business is there for sure.