Cost of Service Varies by Car Make, Mechanic

The amount it costs to have your car serviced depends on who does the work and the type of vehicle you drive.

If, for instance, you own a new, $70,000, 12-cylinder Jaguar XJS, and you take it to Performance Jaguar of Miramar Road, a rear brake job will cost $195 (after 90,000 miles you will need new drums, too), an oil and lube will cost $98 (including the 12 quarts of oil the car takes), and transmission service will cost $175 (including a test drive).

If, on the other hand, you own a 1985, four-cylinder Chevrolet Nova and know how to work on it yourself (or have an uncle who does), and you buy your parts at NAPA Auto Parts in Encinitas, you can do all three jobs (rear brakes, oil and lube, transmission service) for about $40 (not including scraped knuckles).

The following will give you an idea of what service costs at dealerships and service stations for three other types of cars--1989 models of the Toyota Corolla, Ford Probe and BMW 325--common on the roads of North County. Prices and service times may vary somewhat depending on the condition of the car.

1989 TOYOTA COROLLA

Rear Brakes * Toyota of Carlsbad: $100 plus tax, including parts and labor for rear brakes. Service includes replacing brake shoes and resurfacing the brake drums, plus a visual inspection. About 90 minutes.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: About $100. Service includes repacking wheel bearings, replacing worn linings and hardware, and turning the drums. About 90 minutes.

* Greg’s Chevron in Fallbrook: $89.95 to replace pads and turn drums, check fluids and perform a visual inspection. About 90 minutes.

Oil and Lube * Toyota of Carlsbad: $20.95 for lube, oil, oil filter and a 14-point inspection of hoses, gaskets, fluid levels and tires. About 30 minutes.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: $24.95 for a 39-point check including fluids, tires, shocks, brakes and the exhaust system. About 45 minutes to an hour.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $22 to $25 depending on the filter required. Service includes lube, oil, filter and safety check. About 30 minutes.

* Jiffy Lube of Escondido: $24.99 for lube, oil, filter and safety check. About 10 minutes.

Transmission Service * Toyota of Carlsbad: $49.95 for service that includes pan removal, gasket replacement, fluid and an inspection. About 30 to 45 minutes.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: $49.95 for same services. About 30 to 45 minutes.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $55 for same services. About half an hour.

1989 FORD PROBE (GL or LX)

Rear Brakes * Meister Ford in Poway: $205 to turn drums, repack wheel bearings and replace the brake shoes. About half a day.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: $110 for the same service, including lining replacement and front brake inspection. About 90 minutes.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $89.95 to turn the drums and replace the shoes. About 90 minutes.

Oil and Lube * Meister Ford: $26.50, including a waste disposal charge and safety check. If the car has a lot of miles on it, they will pull a wheel and check the brakes. About an hour.

* San Marcos Unocal: $24.95 with their 39-point check including brakes, exhaust and shocks. About 45 minutes to one hour.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $22 to $25 including lube, oil and safety check. About 30 minutes.

* Jiffy Lube of Escondido: $24.99 for standard service of oil, lube, filter and safety check. About 10 minutes.

Transmission Service * Meister Ford: $50 to pull off the pan, drain fluid, adjust bands, check linkage, fill fluids and replace gasket. About 90 minutes.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: $49.95 for same services. About an hour.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $55 for same services. About an hour.

1989 BMW 325i

Rear Brakes * Brecht BMW of Escondido: $200 to resurface brake rotors, install new pads and a sensor. Takes an hour.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: $140 to turn the rotors, replace disk pads and make adjustments. Takes 90 minutes.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $110 for same services. Takes 90 minutes.

Oil and Lube

* Brecht BMW: $70 for oil, lube, oil filter, safety check, lube door seals and antenna, and check fluid levels. About an hour.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: $24.95 for the oil, lube, filter and 39-point safety check, including shocks and exhaust. About 45 minutes to an hour.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $22-$25, with a safety check.

Transmission Service * Brecht BMW: $140 for job that includes new gasket, screen (BMWs use a screen rather than filter), fluid and pan check. About 30 minutes.

* San Marcos Unocal 76: $60 for fluid, screen, new gasket and pan check. About an hour.

* Greg’s Chevron of Fallbrook: $55 for fluid, screen, new gasket and pan check. About an hour.