I just got a call from my dealer saying that I'm due for my first service. It's been almost 3 months, but I don't really drive that much, so I only have 1100 miles on it. The maintenance minder is at 90%, so is the dealer just dicking with me or is there a justifiable reason to bring it in??

 

Some people live by the rule of 3 months or 3,000 miles. Assuming you changed the oil once since you bought it I would wait.

If you haven't I might have it done just to get the break in shavings, etc. out of the engine.

 

As far as Honda is concerned, you should change the oil every time the oil gets to 15-0% or 1 year. If you feel like it, you can do it more often, but there's no requirement to do so.

So yes, the dealership is upselling.

 

First service on a new FIT should be scheduled at 15% oil life. For me that was 9100miles@6months and the first oil change was free.

 

the dealer will always send you mail telling you it's time to come in for service. often, they'll also advertise a 'special' price or give you a bunch of coupons - they want your business, that's all.

 

To some degree yes, they are upselling, but on the other hand give them some benefit of the doubt.

They don't know exactly how many miles you drive; and perhaps their software isn't smart enough to differentiate between MM schedules for the Fit versus other Hondas.

In comparison like GM OnStar or other systems where the car communicate back to base they should know exactly when you need service.

So yes they just set their CRM software to 3months to be a little proactive, and keep them in mind; but feel free to ignore until 1year/MM shows you a wrench.

On delivery with my Fit, the salesmen (honestly) explained certain aspects such as we don't need to see you until wrench shows up and pointed out other things like no timing belt change required, and some other things. But still after 3months we got the postcard from the dealer.

 

Definitely the dealer upselling but as rayt said, like the CRM software just doing the auto-mailing. 3 month oil changes would mean I'd be putting 40K miles on the fit/year as I've done 10K oil changes.

~SB

 

Dealers sign up for some marketing service, which I find very annoying, that calls every few months to remind me to come in. Finally I got tired of it and told the caller to stop. It did. He admitted that he did not work directly for the dealer, but a telemarketing firm under contract. Dont listen to them. Follow your owners manual.

 

Thanks everybody; I'll keep riding until 10-15%

 

I get those "reminders" in the mail all the time. I ignore them and do my own oil changes when I reach 15%, 10,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

 

I got my first service done at over 9K miles (20% on MM). To my dealer's credit, they put one of the little reminder stickers on my windshield and instead of an actual mileage, it said to get the car serviced when the MM says 15%.

 

Yup... We've got those on both the Ridgeline & FIT. Take them both in when needed. The fit about once every 7-9 months and the Ridgeline about once/year. (bought in 2005 and it has under 60K miles on it.)

~SB