Auto Repair In Littleton
That You Can Trust Book Appointment Get Your 2nd Opinion
That You Can Trust Book Appointment Get Your 2nd Opinion
Cars, Trucks, SUV & Hybrid Auto Repair
Call Dakota Ridge Auto Today!
Call Dakota Ridge Auto Today!
Full synthetic or synthetic blend, published pricing, and a 32 point inspection by an ASE Master Certified technician on every single one. At C470 and Bowles since 2008.
An oil change at a quick-lube is a transaction. An oil change here is a certified technician underneath your car with a light, which is where almost everything we ever find gets found.
Right for older vehicles and anything the manufacturer did not build around full synthetic.
What nearly every vehicle built in the last decade calls for, and what holds up best through Colorado cold starts.
Diesel oil changes take more oil and a different filter, so they are priced off the ticket rather than flat.
Some filters cost extra and shop supplies and disposal are extra. If your car takes more than five quarts we tell you before we start, not after.
An oil change is very important because it allows us to inspect your car. Every oil change we perform includes a 32 point courtesy inspection, and the technician performing it is the same ASE Master Certified technician who would perform any necessary repairs. That is not true at a quick-lube, where the person under your car is usually not a certified technician and has no incentive to tell you the truth about your brakes.
What gets checked while the car is up:
Brake pads, rotors, lines and fluid, plus the parking brake. Measured, not eyeballed. If the pads have 4mm left we tell you that number rather than saying “soon.”
Coolant, transmission, power steering, brake fluid and differential. A leak found during an oil change might cost $200 to repair. The same leak found on the side of C470 could mean engine failure.
Tread depth on all four, pressure, uneven wear that points at alignment, plus tie rods, ball joints and struts.
Battery state of health, cables, alternator output. Colorado winters end more batteries than age does, and a weak one tests weak in October long before it strands you in January.
Cracking, glazing, soft spots and rust-through. Most of these are cheap while they are still intact and expensive once they are not.
Every bulb and both blades. Small, but it is the category people get pulled over for and it costs nothing to check.
You get told, not sold. The report separates what needs doing now from what can wait until next time, and nothing happens without your approval. If you would rather take the list somewhere else, that is fine — we would still rather you knew.
| Quick-lube chain | Dealer service | Dakota Ridge Auto | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is under your car | Often an entry-level tech | Brand-trained tech | ASE Master Certified |
| Inspection included | Varies, often a checklist | Usually, brand specific | 32 point, free, every time |
| Can they fix what they find | No, they refer you out | Yes, at dealer rates | Yes, in the same building |
| Warranty on any repair that follows | Not applicable | 12 to 24 months typical | 48 months / 50,000 miles |
The last row is the one that matters. A quick-lube can tell you your serpentine belt is cracked, but they cannot replace it, and the shop they send you to is not the one that looked at it. We do the looking and the fixing, and we stand behind the fixing for four years.
Synthetic blend is $59.99 and full synthetic is $89.99, both including the filter, a 32 point inspection, a visual brake inspection and a tire rotation if it needs one. Some filters cost extra, and the price covers up to five quarts.
Front Range driving is harder on oil than the manual assumes: altitude, big temperature swings, short trips in winter and mountain grades in summer all shorten the oil's useful life. We recommend staying around 5,000 miles. If you tow, sit in traffic on C470, or make a lot of five minute trips, check your oil level periodically between services.
If your manufacturer specifies full synthetic, use full synthetic — that is not a marketing upsell, it is a warranty condition. If your car came with conventional or blend, either works. Full synthetic holds up better through cold starts and long intervals, which matters more here than it does at sea level. We will tell you what your car actually calls for and we will not argue you into the more expensive one.
It is free and it comes with every oil change. While the car is on the lift a technician checks brakes, tires, belts, hoses, fluids, battery and charging, lights, wipers, suspension and the exhaust, and looks for leaks. You get told what is fine, what to watch, and what needs doing now. Nothing gets fixed without you approving it first.
No. What historically made oil changes slow at a full repair shop is that a bay tied up with a transmission job cannot take a ten minute service. That is exactly the problem the Express Lane opening in November solves, and it is built to turn one around in 30 to 60 minutes depending on what is in front of you.
Call first at 303-795-2600 and we will tell you honestly whether we can get you in. We would rather say "come at two" than have you sit in the lobby for ninety minutes. Once the Express Lane opens, no appointment will be needed at all.
Say the code when you call, or show this page on your phone at the counter. Nothing to print.
$59.99 — a $149.99 value
Say MAINT when you call to book your appointment
Up to 5 quarts 5w30 or 5w20 oil. Diesel and synthetics extra. Most vehicles. Tax, disposal and shop supplies extra. One coupon per invoice. Not good in combination with any other offer.
Starting at $59.99 for synthetic and up
Say OIL when you call to book your appointment
Some filters extra. Up to 5 quarts. Shop supplies and disposal fees extra. One coupon per invoice. Not good in combination with any other offer.
Reviews published on Google
Dakota Ridge Auto provided great service. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, the shop was quick and organized, and the mechanics were very knowledgeable. Top 3 things I loved: 1) Friendly service 2) Quick, organized repair… read the rest on Google
Dakota Ridge Auto was incredibly efficient and friendly. I brought my car in for an oil change and the staff explained everything clearly while getting the job done quickly. I left feeling confident about the service and will definitely return for any future car maintenance.
My 21-year-old son was buying a car that was listed in Littleton, being from Fort Collins it was going to be difficult to get it inspected at our normal shop. Dakota Ridge got us in very quickly and did a fantastic inspection with a lot of… read the rest on Google
Call the shop or book online. We will tell you what your car actually needs and what it does not.
Open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm. Courtesy shuttle within about five miles.