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B16 maintenance

98K views 39 replies 22 participants last post by  Localbar  
#1 ·
Oil change. 40 bucks

Tire rotation 12.50

Service (6) Symbol
Rear Differential Fluid Change $95.00
* Drain rear differential fluid and replace crush washer
* Fill differential fluid and inspect drive shafts and boots
* Complimentary car wash and vacuum


Rear differential really needed? What would the cost be to do myself?

Oil change and tire rotation not bad for me not having to get my hands dirty.
 
#2 ·
Once you change it this go around, the "6" won't light up again until around 40K miles. This as been true for my previous MDX's. A service adviser once told me it is needed so soon the first go around because it is break in fluid.
 
#3 ·
That's pretty good. My B16 ended up being $150 at an independent mechanic. Others wanted on the order of $180-$190, and dealer was whopping $280.

$280 for two fluid changes and tire rotation? That's excessive even for a dealer.

Before the 'I would do it in my garage for $25' crowd pitches in - yes, I do most of the maintenance on my old beamer myself, because I've been so long with this car, it became a hobby. But with MDX - it's just not worth my time or getting dirty.
 
#4 ·
Well the b they want,

Fall Special (B) Service Drive With Confidence!
$131.95
Service Includes:
1. Drain engine oil and replace crush washer
2. Replace engine oil and oil filter
3. Lubricate all hinges, locks and latches
4. Inspect fluid levels and top off as needed
5. Remove all 4 wheels to inspect condition of brakes, calipers & brake components
6. Tire rotation check and adjust tire pressures
7. Replace windshield wiper blade inserts
8. Receive a copy of your Acura Accelerated Vehicle Inspection Checklist
Complimentary Car Wash and Vacuum with EVERY visit



I just need the oil change for 40 bucks, i can top off my own fluids and lub my hinges.
 
#5 ·
Sorry to bring this old post but I have a related questions.

I am in Alberta, Canada. I am up for B16 service. Called my the dealer I bought my MDX from and they wanted $380 for it without tire rotation. Called another dealer in town and this one wanted $260 also with out tire rotation.

So, I called my dealer and asked why the $120 difference? They said they don't know why the other dealer is charging that price because the service price is dictated by Acura Canada.

Any idea guys?

Thanks!
 
#6 ·
Dealers are not owned by Acura. They are independently owned and therefore each owner can set the price/service.

Using your list above, the B16 SHOULD include the oil change, ROTATE TIRES, and the rear differential service, but you indicate that BOTH dealers you contacted deleted the rotate from their "service". Unfortunately, it is really up to the consumer to verify what service items are being done when the car goes in for service.
 
#9 ·
Do you know that you used wrong fluid for differential?
 
#11 ·
I'm bringing in my MDX on friday for the B16 service. They emailed me and told me it will be a total of $330???? WTF. This is what they said:

B Service: $179.95 Replace engine oil and filter using full synthetic oil. Replace engine oil drain plug washer. Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids. Check front and rear brake pads, rotors, and brake calipers. Perform front and rear brake caliper slide pin service. Check parking brake adjustment. Inspect tie rod ends, steering gearbox boots. Inspect suspension components. Inspect drive shaft boots. Inspect brake hoses and lines including VSA lines. Inspect brake hoses and lines including VSA lines. Inspect exhaust system. Inspect fuel lines and connections. Note: This model requires 0w-20 motor oil.
1 Service: $29.95 Rotate tires, check and set tire pressures and hand torque all lug nuts.
6 Service: $129.95 Replace differential fluid


I emailed around to try and get quotes from other local Acura dealerships... haven't heard back. Doesn't this sound "a touch" too high?
 
#15 ·
I had minder B1236 come up on mine a month or so ago.

I paid $221.30 before tax for oil change, transmission change, transfer case change, and differential change at my local Acura dealer.

No point paying the ridiculous price for the dealer to do the 2 service (air and cabin filters). I paid $45.74 (before tax and shipping) from Bernardi). Tires were just rotated at Costco.

So, all in $267.04 for a B1236 service before tax.
 
#16 ·
thanks guys.... 91stealthes... Bernardi in MA? that's who i contacted yesterday to try and get a price, and still have yet to get back to me. my dealership agreed to match any price any other place offers, so I just need to get someone in the area(southern NH - so seacoast, or down to boston) to throw me a lower price so I can use it against them
 
#17 ·
Yes, I used Bernardi in MA to order my air and cabin filters. They were the cheapest of the online Acura Parts Dealers. I don't live in MA.

My dealer was cheaper on the oil change, but more expensive on everything else. My dealer does price match for the same service, so I emailed the surrounding dealers (4 or 5) asking for their price for each service. I used email so I had proof to show my dealer. All the dealers in my area were quick to respond and I had it ironed out in 1-day. My dealer also gave me their percentage off service promotion they were running on top of the price match as well.

If I remember correctly, I think I spent approximately $100 more than if I were to order all the fluids and parts myself through Bernardi. Worth it for me to spend the time with my 2 y/o instead of under my car.

Of note, my dealers parts department would not match the price of the filters from Bernardi...strange.
 
#18 ·
I just got the B16 message pop up. I have only 12K miles on my 2014 MDX. Isn't that a bit early for a rear differential fluid change? I've heard of 30K intervals in Land Rovers but never this early. How difficult is it to change DIY? Would rather do it at the same time I change the oil if its just like any other differential change (drain old, add new, done).
 
#19 ·
I had mine came up the same mileage as yours few months ago. Not sure why mine came up early too. Probably when I took mine for a 1200 mile roadtrip in Grand Canyon during winter with 7 passengers and a cargo carrier in tow.

I've been DIYing my car's oil change for 6 yrs now and the MDX is not that different. It has enough ground clearance for me to not jack it up.

It was the first time I did rear differential though... It is actually easier to change than the engine oil because the rear end has a lot of space to work on. I just bought the oil filter and acura differential oil at the dealer. I bought Mobil 1 synthetic at walmart and a tube connector that you attach to the differential oil bottle. It was pretty straight forward. All I did was searched instruction videos in youtube.

My dealer was charging me $200 plus tax to do all that plus inspection and I just spent $67 for all that stuff needed. Saved me $150.

But if you don't mind spending $220, it's always better and safe to have the dealer do it.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
 
#20 ·
Rippin'AV - my car is is a '14. about 15 mos old, and hit 12,700 miles. they told me the rear diff fluid needs to be changed out as it's a "break in fluid", but after this, i won't see it again for another 30k miles. Total on the B16 that I will have to pay is gonna be like $350. I called other dealerships. One was offering for $250, but they wouldn't be doing half of the other stuff that my dealership would be doing...

Side note... they gave me a loaner car this morning. told them i didn't care what they gave me, as long as it can get me to and from work. They gave me an ILX hybrid. feels like i'm sitting in a sardine can compared to the MDX.... and it has the autostop feature thing that my MDX doesn't. freaked me out when i came to a stop at a light and everything shut down. Once i figured out what it was, i was ok, but i just don't know if i could get used to that
 
#24 ·
Two weeks ago I paid dealer $199 for B16 service. It was worth it to me to drop it off, get a loaner car, have the service done along with some warranty work (replace side mirror actuators), and pick up at my convenience.
 
#25 ·
While convienence is very nice, you basically paid the dealer $90 to rotate your tires.

I paid $221.30 before tax for oil change, transmission change, transfer case change, and differential change at my local Acura dealer.

It pays to call around and get pricing from other dealers. For only $22 more than you, I also got my transmission fluid changed and transfer case fluid changed. I did not receive a tire rotation.
 
#26 ·
I ended up paying the $350 to get it done. come to find out, Bernardi Acura of Boston's $250 price didn't involve everything that Sunnyside Acura in Nashua did, so I went to Sunnyside instead. Bernardi had a more stripped down "B" service. Not sure if the other stuff really should be an extra $100, but the car just feels more solid and peppy than it did before. just wondering if there was some stuff that needed to be tightened up. could also be that i drove a sardine can ILX as my loaner that day to and from work.....
 
#27 ·
It sounds like not all "B16 Service" is the same between dealerships. When shopping across between dealers it's probably best to focus on what the particular dealership will actually do within the service and then try to compare apples/apples.

I did my own oil changes and rotated the tires myself at the same time (the tire rotation time lines up well with the oil change time) so I didn't shop any prices. I haven't done the diff/trans/etc. changes yet because it hasn't come up on the minder yet despite being at 22K miles (most done on long trips).

MDXfan7 - I doubt that your vehicle is really more solid and peppy due to the service unless they applied some software updates that would affect those attributes. Just changing the oil, rotating tires, etc. and the visual inspections aren't going to be anything you could feel in the seat of your pants.
 
#28 ·
like I said Sunnyside gave this as their "B" service

B Service: $179.95 Replace engine oil and filter using full synthetic oil. Replace engine oil drain plug washer. Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids. Check front and rear brake pads, rotors, and brake calipers. Perform front and rear brake caliper slide pin service. Check parking brake adjustment. Inspect tie rod ends, steering gearbox boots. Inspect suspension components. Inspect drive shaft boots. Inspect brake hoses and lines including VSA lines. Inspect brake hoses and lines including VSA lines. Inspect exhaust system. Inspect fuel lines and connections. Note: This model requires 0w-20 motor oil

Bernadi, was just the oil change.

It could be that "under inspection" there was some stuff that needed adjusting/tightening. It did feel sluggish at times, even in sport mode before, but feels better now... whatever
 
#30 ·
Nothing the dealer did in that B service would make your MDX feel better. All they did was a basic oil change and squirt some grease in the caliper pin. Notice that everything else is check or inspect, which no real action is performed. And, they typically do these on any service ticket anyway.

The performance increase must be in your head from going from the ILX back to the MDX.
 
#29 ·
It is strange that one dealer would include different items for the A, B, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 services.

Did you specifically mention B16 or did you just say you needed an oil change, tire rotation and differential fluid change.

In my opinion, the B service isn't worth the money the dealer requests for it. If you just told the Boston dealer that you needed an oil change, they may have assumed you had an A1 pop-up.

As you learned, as I did years ago, it is always best to call around to different dealers (if you want the work done at a dealer) and compare prices. I try to get the prices in writing, so I can then price match at the dealer of my choice (my purchasing dealer).
 
#35 ·
have a 2010. got car back from dealer today . so I paid 380 CAd$ for the B16 package. pretty sure I would gotten it cheaper anywhere else but I bought this car 5 months back and just wanted to be safe for the first maintenance package. whtat disappointed me is that my steering wheel now vibrates. will call dealer tomorrow and bbring this to their attention.