CMI Toyota - bit of a vent

[u/explorer_tim]

I had my Hilux serviced a few days after I got it back from a crash repairer, and upon collection was told by CMI Adelaide that there was a leak in the exhaust manifold and the EGR was stuck.

I was quoted $5.5k to have this repaired by CMI.

After a lot of emails back and forth and trying to get more information, I had the car checked by CMI again, with and insurance assessor there, and they weren’t able to find any issues.

In my last 2 service reports they have also claimed that the tread depth on my tyres has grown 1.5mm over the last 10,000km

(First report shows a tread depth of 3.5mm, next shows 5mm)

These guys are a waste of time, and pretty sure they’ll rip you off the first chance they get.

I’ll be going elsewhere to get my vehicle serviced.

[u/Lucky_Tough8823]

Welcome to dealerships. Where employees are incentivised to sell work

[u/Mediocre-Bar-1959]

Commenting from a throwaway account to protect myself but I did my apprenticeship here and it's as bad as it sounds. There is a systemic culture of pumping more and more work through the workshop and not much quality control.

They expect you to work above 100% efficiency (meaning you should be doing all jobs in less than the allotted time) And they regularly overbook vehicles, sometimes by huge amounts. The only way to get all those cars through is to work as fast as possible and inevitably things get missed.

I also worked as a service advisor and at the time they paid a fixed salary but expected you to do 2 hours of free overtime a day. I was young and naive so didn't push back. Most of the service advisor earnings come from commissions, upselling extra items like fuel injector flushes etc.

I left long ago but I absolutely hated my time there.

[u/Beck_burque → u/Mediocre-Bar-1959]

Thank you for sharing this. As a customer, it felt like this was going on but I never had any proof. I stopped going anyway as they were going to charge me $200/hour to identify an issue, even without fixing it and they estimate it could take a few hours. I got my car fixed locally for $280, all done.

[u/Adam_AU_]

I wish my tyre tread grew.

[u/tangles29 → u/Adam_AU_]

Needs more air and a loving, supportive environment.

[u/uruk-hai_slayer → u/Adam_AU_]

Me too, buying new tires tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[u/SouthAustralian94]

If it makes you feel any better, the dealership who point north are no better.

Had a strut on a canopy fail (7 year old car, they cope a battering, these things happen). The replaced both struts. 3 months later failed again. Replaced. 1 month later, failed again.

Took it to the company that manufactured the stuts and canopy, NP were installing the struts upside down, hence the repeated failures.

Struts were replaced and installed the correct way up, it's been 2 years..

Another car, was serviced by Northpoint its entire life. 200k+ on the clock. Needed a service while away, took it to the Toyota dealership in a country Victorian town. They couldn't believe the things that were wrong with it and hadn't been picked up.

The car felt brand new once they were done with it..

[u/King_Yeshua]

I stopped taking my car they when they couldn't make a recommendation as to what serviceable items they'd recommend doing. "The book says this", yes but you're a mechanic do you think it needs to be done given it hasn't driven very far

[u/scandyflick88]

In my experience as a dealership service advisor, this is much more common than you'd want to think.

Technicians and advisors are incentivised to upsell repairs, tyres are generally pretty lucrative. Engine flushes, injector treatments, AC services are the same, good money for the advisor.

Good opportunity for a reminder that unless you've purchased a specific extended warranty product (Mitsubishi 10 year), you are under no obligation to service at the dealer, use an independent and genuine or OEM equivalent filters and fluids.

[u/Fartmatic → u/scandyflick88]

I've never used a dealership for service apart from with my current car, keep going back because they seem to be a rare one that has never even once tried to upsell anything on top of the service! And they've got a nice area to hang out while they do it too. Suzuki in the city, sounds like they must be the only honest one around from all the nightmare dealership stories lol

[u/scandyflick88 → u/Fartmatic]

Honest dealerships are unfortunately the exception.

[u/mayhem_project01]

Mate avoid that place at all costs. Had my Toyota 86 serviced there, was a fairly major service, replace fuel filter and spark plugs (really difficult in the 86). Got the car back and it smells really bad of fuel. Figure they just changed filter so could be that. Next day before heading out, noticed liquid near my rear tyre, it was petrol. They didn't re seal my fuel tank properly so had petrol pissing out while driving. Called and they organised a tow truck as it was dangerous to drive. Finally get it back there and they re do the whole service with a new filter and have the nerve to say that they won't charge me for the second service (yeah no shit). Week later I've noticed they chucked or stole my K&N pod air filter and replaced with standard air filter! Absolute dogs man....

[u/Datzun91]

They told us to replace tyres because they mentioned that on their last report, so we did! At North Terrace Tyres.

Then at the next service because “they” did not fit the tyres they said they need replacing again and stated some bullshit tread depth remaining. We told them they are reasonably new and lo and behold, they went to “recheck” and yes all the tyres are magically good with fine tread depth.

They are a pack of cunts looking for easy profits like simple tyre swaps, etc.

[u/HistoricalTax436]

My mum’s Camry came back without the oil cap. I was refilling the wiper bottle and found the engine oil dripping from the engine bay. Always check the oil cap after a service!

[u/Def-Jarrett]

This Is dealerships for you. I had to replace a handle on my passenger door that broke off. They quoted $500+ (labour, matching the colour, yada yada). I found the part online for $35, watched a YouTube video and did it myself. 

[u/Yeah_nah90]

Yep, I refuse to go back to those guys even if they are the last mechanics in town!

Had a basic service for my 2014 Corolla a few years ago. Got a call every few minutes that they found something extra they had to fix and the last straw was when ‘the rear axle is bent and it’ll cost $2.5k to fix. We don’t recommend you drive it home as it’s a major issue that needs to be fixed today’. I called them back later asking how exactly a front wheel drive could even have rear axle or how it could get bent then all of sudden it was no longer a major issue and we can look at fixing it next service or in the future. I’ve had the car serviced numerous times since and no other mechanic has made the same claim or said there are any issues with the rear wheels or rear axle

Oh and they wanted $1000 for a routine service in 2023. When I questioned exactly why it was that expensive and if they could drop something I didn’t need, I was told by the guy I could take it or leave it, that was it. Their website quoted only $250 when I booked the service but apparently it’s not always accurate to the final quote either. Have been with MyCar ever since and never looking back at CMI

[u/Boxhead_31]

But, they love to see you CMIing?

[u/Agent_Fabulous]

Im not Toyota but Ive worked at another big popular brand dealership.

Very common for dealership service... its usually one apprentice measuring brakes or tyres, then the next service a more qualified person might check them and measure them differently.

Management always push push push to upsell anything, the advisors are usually browbeaten and bullied into harassing customers to sell sell sell tyres, brakes, anything thats easy money.

And poor communication between techs and advisors and poor quality control means even honest mistakes dont often get picked up.

Definitely go to a smaller workshop if you want more personal service, much less forced upselling, less communication problems.

[u/NotWantedForAnything]

I left these guys a bad review many years ago after I caught them scamming my wife by making up things to replace. One example is they said brakes were 90% worn and needed replacing - non dodgy mechanic said they were 30% worn. They replaced a part that lasts ~100k with 30k on the clock and then did it again 6 months later for another $250. These guys have been frauds for years.

[u/MagDaddyMag]

Does your insurance assessor do VW servicing??? 😂

[u/Serg_Molotov]

Not Toyota but renault dealer vs after market service was like night and day.

Dodson Automotive did full service and brakes fast and cost effective and a super nice bunch of people.

Dealer basically wanted us to by a new car.

[u/Outrageous_Square736]

Never trust them. Every time I get my car serviced at a dealership, I always get my dad to check tyres etc because without fail they always advise that the tyre thread is dangerous. It’s amazing how they come to this conclusion as I had been wfh, hardly driven my car since the last time I saw them. My father used to work in the car business so he knows cars and when Im getting ripped off, especially when they see a female. But even if I had to change my tyres I would not use them as they charge too much.

[u/spacedjase]

CMI specific replaced the timing belt on my car - all good except for the timing belt sticker under the bonnet which said the timing belt had been replaced less than 5000 km before that.......

Said well it wasn't done here (was done at a non toyo mechanic) so we didn't know

[u/Sunshine_onmy_window → u/spacedjase]

hope you werent charged for that!

[u/spacedjase → u/Sunshine_onmy_window]

What can you do after the event.....

[u/[deleted]]

Anyone had problems with Cornes Toyota? I’ve been going there (with new Hilux and older Toyotas) and haven’t had any problems yet 🤙🏽

[u/Lanky_Pineapple42069]

Cheltenham one isn't any better. Wonder if it's CMI or just dealerships in general. 

[u/lankanpot → u/Lanky_Pineapple42069]

That’s the one I go to. Any other recommendations??

[u/nobody___cares___]

I had someone elses tyre tread measurements put on my sheet when I had work done. How do I know that? Because my new AT tyres that were less than 10,000k old were definitley not "wearing unevenly with front right tyre having only 3mm of tread"

Find another dealer. They arent all rubbish.

[u/polacos]

There is a reason tbey are called stealerships.

[u/Fickle-Yam3752]

That's terrible how they try and gouge people to spend money unnecessarily. Have been going to the same Mitsubishi dealership for many many years with our cars and at 1 service they recommended a new drive belt for $280. I told them no thanks. At the following service I asked them about it and they said nothing wrong with it? Yes they'll let me know when I need a new battery or brake replacement etc but when the price is given I go elsewhere where the charge for work is far more reasonable. I just use the dealer for the annual service. Funny how business don't get that if they treat the customer well and charge a more reasonable price they may well get more work in doing these little things and not up pricing for them..ie replacement battery $300 vs same at Supercheap fitted $180. Their charge for oils etc is far too high BUT I know/hope the services are done correctly so I continue to use them.

[u/Sufficient_Gate9453]

I get my new Hilux serviced there. Fixed service at $270. I guarantee they only wash it.

[u/explorer_tim → u/Sufficient_Gate9453]

Haha, I wish mine got a wash 🥲