Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by csharpminor 986 days ago
There are so many examples of this in the auto world, e.g. the Big Motor scandal in Japan where the corruption was at both the dealerships and a major insurer: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/09/08/companies/s...

The “better” car companies simply design systems that force more labor hours into regular maintenance. For example, BMW’s ingenious battery placement that allows them to bill $700-$900 for 5 hours worth of work. Oh, and changing your own battery will void the warranty. Fortunately for BMW most of their clientele has enough money to not care.
2 comments
sokoloff 986 days ago
> changing your own battery will void the warranty

Not in the US it won’t.

See Magnusson Moss:

2302.c here: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prel...

link
sidewndr46 986 days ago
This always gets trotted out like some sort of 'gotcha bitch!' card you can just drop on a company. Then they just roll over and do whatever you want.

You'd have to be a lawyer to make that act work for you.

link
sokoloff 986 days ago
Automakers absolutely know this law and my experiences with warranty coverage (as an exclusive DIYer for literally everything except warranty work, tires, and paint) is that they readily and voluntarily follow it.
link
itronitron 986 days ago
A classmate of mine happened to mention once that for some early models of a particular Japanese car manufacturer (1980's I think) the engine would need to be removed in order to change the oil.
link
mikestew 986 days ago
I was a professional auto mechanic in the late 80s, and I'd never even heard rumors of such a beast. I'm not going to pull the [citation needed] card, but I think this is one of those tales that got taller with the telling (Nissan 300Z's, for example, are a right PITA such that you'd briefly think that removing the engine would make it easier.)

There isn't an automotive engineer in the world that would keep their job after submitting such a design, let alone get it into production.

link
itronitron 986 days ago
Considering that my classmate's father was a car salesman, I think you are right to say that the story was likely exaggerated.
link