2005 3.0R-B 100k service

[Mateusz]

Hey everyone,

I've got a few questions i'd like to ask about the 100,000km service for the 3.0R-B. Just wondering whether anyone knows what is actually done for the 100,000km service. Also, what price have you all been quoted for such a service? Just so I know if i'm getting a good price or not. Are there any specific places I should get my car serviced? I went to Ultratune and was quoted around $1400 which included a timing belt change. I told the guy there that the H6's have chains and he said that he was 99% sure ALL Subaru's have belts. He was proven wrong though after I made him check up on it. The price then dropped to somewhere around $1200. Seems like the Ultratune guys don't know their stuff well, or just that one guy. Any suggestions as to where I should get my car serviced? Particularly in Adelaide. And lastly, is the service important and am I likely to see problems if not serviced? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to see what you all think and know from experience.

Thanks a lot,

Matty

[Hobba]

I goto S&J Automotive, my 100k service was around the $1250 mark for the GT. Give them a call or an E-mail sean will tell you exactly what they do in the service.

[RAN94A]

Hey mate to answer your questions:

Just wondering whether anyone knows what is actually done for the 100,000km service. = check your log book or if you dont have it still call subaru, but in short... basically all fluids in the car + spark plugs

Also, what price have you all been quoted for such a service? = $1350 from subaru central coast

Any suggestions as to where I should get my car serviced? = Subaru?

And lastly, is the service important and am I likely to see problems if not serviced? its an expensive car... and it is well known they will last forever IF you dont skimp on the maintenance. Get the service done.

Hope that helps

[Woodduck]

Ok so iv had my 100k service done, and they just did a normal service at Subaru Should they have changed the timing belt? Eek! It cost me like $200!

[Viper]

3RB is chain driven so no belt change required.

I was quoted about 900 for the 100k service (when i was deciding 3RB or GT), including all fluids and plugs.

[wixy]

$900 seems a lot when no timing belt needs to be changed and it's only fluids/plugs. Surely it can be had cheaper? Mine is coming up soon.

[The Sean]

I believe Smythie (one of the helpful blokes around here) enlightened us on the spark plug thing, apparently some of the plugs are pretty hard to get to and I think something like a bottom engine brace of some sort needs to be removed to get at some of them.

Also, when Subaru did my 50k service (with spark plug change over) they also used premium spark plugs.

If you've got some time to burn, back track through this sub-topic specifically about the H6, it has a pretty broad range of info and some of the guys have been nice enough in the past to take photos during activities.

[Robbks]

as mentioned before no timing belt so that saves you a packet.
but things that will be done (look in your service book anyway)

clutch and brake fluid replacement
Engine coolant replacement
gearbox and diff oils
engine oil = Filter
possibly fuel/ air filters
plugs

a lot of these things can easily be DIY if you're handy with changing oils
air/ fuel filters are simple.

if it's no longer under warranty, there's no real point in having them serviced by a mechanic.
even for resale value
i'd much prefer to buy a car from someone who's done the required servicing themselves and log-booked it (such as I do)
also, if you replace things gradually, it's not such a hard hit to the wallet in one go.
i.e do the engine oil and filter one week
air, fuel filters and spark plugs the next, etc

[matt_3.0rb]

I'll check my reciepts when i get home, but i dont think my 100k service was that much. as stated above timing chain rather than belt so they shouldnt replace it.
My opinion generally is that if they dont sound like they know their stuff they generally dont and you take your life in your hands taking it there. Big services i use the dealer, but for interval ones i'll either do it myself, although i havent yet with this car, or take it to a trusted local. My advice if your concerned would be to take it to Subaru, at least they will know about the engine etc and have a service manual for the H6.
I've had a lot of ppl ask me about the non standard parts on my car, except my car is a standard 3.0r-b just not a 2.5i like they are used to.

[smythie]

I believe Smythie (one of the helpful blokes around here) enlightened us on the spark plug thing, apparently some of the plugs are pretty hard to get to and I think something like a bottom engine brace of some sort needs to be removed to get at some of them.

Also, when Subaru did my 50k service (with spark plug change over) they also used premium spark plugs.

If you've got some time to burn, back track through this sub-topic specifically about the H6, it has a pretty broad range of info and some of the guys have been nice enough in the past to take photos during activities.

Yep, it's easiest if you drop (or lift) the engine one side at a time while keeping the engine mount on the other side connected. You only have to drop or lift it a couple of inches to get enough access to the plug around the chassis rail.

The cost of the service (around 1k isn't all that bad when you consider the labour it may take to do the plug change if they don't know the trick to it and lift or drop the engine right out or try to do it in place like I did) is inflated by the cost of the consumables. Nearly $200 for the plugs (from the dealer) for example.

Plugs are NGK ILFR6B and at 117k (not sure if they were done at 50k or not, so at best they had done 67k but may have done 117k) mine were in pretty good shape. Didn't really notice any difference with the new plugs either. Took me 3 hours to do the plugs on my own without shifting the engine - fiddly but not all that hard if you can swing a spanner and are patient

[THERB3]

Check my receipts and this is what is stated,

No timing belt change cause it is a chain but they still inspect it for wear and tear.

Intermediate Service 100,000k $300

Service Fluids: Flush Brake Fluid, Flush Coolant , Change Diff & Trans Oil, Change Motor Oil. I specifically told them to flush my power steering oil cause they never do it through the cause of your life span of your car lol. Change Plugs which is a bitch to get to I heard, Inspect car from bumper to bumper even door seals and rubbers. All of the fluids and Inspection was $140.

So as stated above labour was $440
Parts was $673 which is:
6 plugs, Oils, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter Kit, Cabin Filter, Fuel Additive, Oil Additive, Decarbonizer, Coolant, Brake Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, Trans/Diff Oils, Sump Washer, Misc, EPA, Oil Disposal, ect a total of $673 as mentioned above.
GST $111.30

A grand total of $1,224.30

I hope this helps and it doesn't brake the bank.

Good Luck.

[Mateusz]

Cheers everyone for your help, much appreciated. I checked my car manual and yes, it shows what should be done for the 100k service. Thanks again.

[smythie]

Things can be shifted around between services to reduce the load on your wallet. The plugs for example will easily go well beyond 50,000km (assuming they were previously done at 50,000km)

[bizman]

Just had my 100k service on my 05 3RB done. Cost just under $600 !!!

This is how I got it for under $600:
- Did oil, oil filter & air filter myself - got from supercrap on special (old air filter was putrid!)
- Cleaned cabin filer myself.
- Did Upper engine cleaner myself.
- Bought plugs from USA for $87 delivered. Cheapest I could get locally was $32 per plug! Huge saving.
- Got Synthetic gearbox oil from autobarn for 20% off.

Took it to decent local mechanic and got them to do plugs, gearbox & diff oils, coolant and brake & clutch fluid. Also got them to do a complete check over it. Nothing else wrong. They even stamped the book!

If your prepared to do a bit of work and research yourself you can save heaps. Subaru quoted about $1200 and after experiencing Doncaster Subaru's hopelessness with my 99 GT Forester during a warranty job, I will never let my cars go inside a subaru delaer again.

Fuel economy has dropped from 15l/100 kms to about 13.5l/100 kms, prob due to the air filter change.

[Mateusz]

Thanks a lot bizman. Very helpful stuff! Yeah, I was told $32 a spark plug too so $87 is brilliant! You got them off ebay right? These?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NGK-laser-iridium-spark-plug-ILFR6B-6481-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem563e8aa51fQQitemZ370416461087QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

I was thinking of doing the oil change and stuff like that myself but I just didn't know if they would stamp the service book or not. Good to know that they still will. Thanks again for your help.