i had my annual free service at the one and only bmw dealership in late April for my second year of having my '23 x1 performed. Though it comes with the first 3 years of free service, tire rotation is NOT one of them. When I asked the service writer how much would the tire rotation be, he told me that 'tire rotation and balancing' would cost $214.75. I thought I heard wrong as he had said it my each numeral so I had him repeat it, then he said it as '$214.75'. I kind of gasped at that figure and told him, i will go have it done somewhere else. I later asked the Ass't Service Manager why would it cost that much, and he said it in the way as a 'high-end' car dealership would say it: "as like similar high end car service dealerships in the area", their hourly labor rate is $300/hr. He went on to say if I just wanted to have the tires rotated, they "can do it for just a little over $200". That brings up the question, so does that mean it only cost about $10 for the balancing on all four tires??? Don't kid me! Ha!
Spent a few weeks fuming at that reply by email from the person and thought of alternative places. Hmmm, yeah there is that service place on Waipahu St that is just ewa bound of Waipahu Depot Road, so I called them on a Friday afternoon about 1:20pm... no one picked up so being a Virgo, I left a descriptive message asking what would be the cost to to just rotate my tires on my suv. Did I get a call back that day? Did I get a call back the following week? Did I get a call back the following, following week? The answer was 'NO'. Heck, will never do business with them ever... everyone *knows* 'first impressions ARE lasting impressions'.
Fumed almost two weeks later and forgot about Capitol Auto Service! Shoots, they did so many aftermarket installs to my previous 2017 Mazda hatchback so I decided to try them for the tire rotation (my MSport came standard with summer tires, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S).
Since I last came to Capitol Auto Service in 2022 (since i sold my Mazda in Jan 2023), the following was no longer showing on their website... where one used to be able to set an appointment date and time AND also give an alternative date and tie for the services one wanted, this was no longer the case. So I called and was so happy to hear Kawika's (the Ass't Manager) voice once more (man... you don't know how refreshing to hear his voice and that he was still there)!. He quoted me $35 for the tire rotation... I was surprised at the price! He then turned me over to their receptionist/cashier (that position was not there since I went here almost 3 years ago) and she set it for a couple of days later.
Going to the shop, I was surprised to no longer see the 'drive right in sign with the arrow in the second driveway into the shop. So I decided to park in the outside parking area---hmmm, more parking stalls available than i remembered, why? As I walked out, I saw their neighboring business was no longer there, but there were now several vehicles inside--- are they also part of Capitol Auto Service?
Anyway, within 12 minutes of my appointed time, they drive my suv into one of the service bays and work on rotating my tires. Within 20 minutes, the young man who serviced my vehicle was done. In the meantime, I was chatting with Kawika as he came to do some inputting on the computer just outside of the waiting area (as I sat on the one and only chair just outside of the room) and he told me, yes because they now also have the adjoining business room, they no longer have neighbors so that's why there is no need to drive right into their service center. Ahh, makes sense...!
Paid my $35 plus tax (so nice they don't nickel and dime you like some places--- here that, bmw dealer?) and only charged 15 minutes for their service (based on the hourly $140/hr). The mechanic who serviced my car drove my car up to where i sat, where they always stop and give one's keys to you once you've paid your bill and said to me that he also checked my tires' air pressure and that all had the proper air pressure reading.
I left happy, so VERY happy and hope to bring my vehicle back after my 3rd and final year of free (limited) bmw service comes up next April 2026.
Kudos to Capitol Auto Service! Easily, 5 stars! read more