National Tyres oil change
Discussion
KungFuPanda said:
Also, when you go online to book, they used to confirm the make and spec of the oil they were going to use. Now they just state premium oil and perhaps a little gold bottle icon to lead you to believe it'll be Castrol Edge going in for example.
They've changed from Castrol to Fuchs as sole suppliers. I suspect they say premium as Joe Public won't have the foggiest who Fuchs are, whereas Castrol (typically in GTX flavour!) is a household name.
Shame they won't do the Volvo.
I use National for oil changes on all my older cars. With the voucher it tends to cost less than I can get the correct spec BMW C3 oil for myself. They've moved over to Fuchs but it's still a good quality oil-used by the BMW garage I take my car to in Germany.
Never had any problems with the quality of their work but I always wait with the car and watch what they're doing.
I use National for oil changes on all my older cars. With the voucher it tends to cost less than I can get the correct spec BMW C3 oil for myself. They've moved over to Fuchs but it's still a good quality oil-used by the BMW garage I take my car to in Germany.
Never had any problems with the quality of their work but I always wait with the car and watch what they're doing.
Until last year I used their quote to get a main dealer to price match.
My local VW main agent won't quite price match stating they will use a more expensive genuine filter blah blah but came in at a just a tenner more - £50 for an oil change rather than god knows how much for a "minor service" (which is basically just an oil change anyway).
Now the car is 7 years old and unlikely to be traded I just do it myself with the proper oil from Eurocarparts or opie oils.
My local VW main agent won't quite price match stating they will use a more expensive genuine filter blah blah but came in at a just a tenner more - £50 for an oil change rather than god knows how much for a "minor service" (which is basically just an oil change anyway).
Now the car is 7 years old and unlikely to be traded I just do it myself with the proper oil from Eurocarparts or opie oils.
Edited by was8v on Thursday 21st August 11:57
Bonefish Blues said:
KungFuPanda said:
Also, when you go online to book, they used to confirm the make and spec of the oil they were going to use. Now they just state premium oil and perhaps a little gold bottle icon to lead you to believe it'll be Castrol Edge going in for example.
They've changed from Castrol to Fuchs as sole suppliers. I suspect they say premium as Joe Public won't have the foggiest who Fuchs are, whereas Castrol (typically in GTX flavour!) is a household name.
With the advent of deals which are always on offer from ECP, I've managed to get 5 litres of 10w40 semi synthetic and an oil filter for around £18. I've got an Alfa 147 as a daily driver. No engine undertrays and the oil filter, although under the engine is at the front near the bumper so I can get easy access to the sum plug and oil filter. Did the change this morning in around 15 minutes.
Motorrad said:
Why?
Letting the cheapest mechanics possible work on your cars.Only an oil change?
Overfill- damage engine
Under fill- damage engine
Poor attention to detail on threads- expense and time down the line.
Do you think anyone working at any of these places takes
Pride in their job or cares about your car or repeat business?
IME, yes - the guy who did ours drew my attention to and located the source of an oil leak without being asked (which had defeated others previously).
Spotless environment, nice people (car enthusiasts, all of them, I noticed, given their choice of vehicles) taking a pride, I thought it was a very good experience - and far better than some I've had in Franchised Dealers, and cheaper.
What's not to like?
Spotless environment, nice people (car enthusiasts, all of them, I noticed, given their choice of vehicles) taking a pride, I thought it was a very good experience - and far better than some I've had in Franchised Dealers, and cheaper.
What's not to like?
CGJJ said:
Letting the cheapest mechanics possible work on your cars.
Only an oil change?
Overfill- damage engine
Under fill- damage engine
Poor attention to detail on threads- expense and time down the line.
Do you think anyone working at any of these places takes
Pride in their job or cares about your car or repeat business?
Yes they do in my experience. Only an oil change?
Overfill- damage engine
Under fill- damage engine
Poor attention to detail on threads- expense and time down the line.
Do you think anyone working at any of these places takes
Pride in their job or cares about your car or repeat business?
I tend to use the same branch for my work. Not only are they friendly and professional they were happy to let me use their beam tester to adjust my headlights pre-MOT time.
If mechanics who do hundreds of oil changes a week can't work out how to fill oil to the required level then something is very wrong somewhere. I always check afterwards as I would with any garage and it's always been spot on.
Do you really think paying franchised dealer or specialist rates to do a job unconditionally guarantees the quality of work? In my experience it's 'trusted' main dealers and specialists who tend to be the incompetent rip off merchants.
A couple of weeks back, i needed the annual oil/filter change doing on my Ranger pickup. Usually use a competent garage nearby but they were busy for a few days, so thought id risk the local Hi Q.
After it was done, i drove home which is only a mile or so, and decided to check the level and what filter they had used. Glad i lifted the bonnet as they hadnt put the bloody oil cap back on!
As id only driven a mile and gently as well, only a very small amount had sprayed out, luckily. I am sure there would have been a very different outcome if id say, gone straight on the motorway at speed!
The oil cap had fallen into the sump guard as well so at least that wasnt dropped onto the road somewhere. I called them to let them know what idiots they'd been- the manager said he would go and "kick the fitters arse" for doing it. Thanks for that, as i would have done far more if my engine had gone bang.
Left them a crap review online and a mental note to remember that these fast fit places do seen to employ a high proportion of retards.
After it was done, i drove home which is only a mile or so, and decided to check the level and what filter they had used. Glad i lifted the bonnet as they hadnt put the bloody oil cap back on!
As id only driven a mile and gently as well, only a very small amount had sprayed out, luckily. I am sure there would have been a very different outcome if id say, gone straight on the motorway at speed!
The oil cap had fallen into the sump guard as well so at least that wasnt dropped onto the road somewhere. I called them to let them know what idiots they'd been- the manager said he would go and "kick the fitters arse" for doing it. Thanks for that, as i would have done far more if my engine had gone bang.
Left them a crap review online and a mental note to remember that these fast fit places do seen to employ a high proportion of retards.
minky monkey said:
I got the local garage to do my gearbox oil change on my swift, the oil cost £39 which I supplied and he only wanted £20 to do it. I could've done it, it's easy enough, but for £20? I couldn't be bothered for that.
Suzuki wanted £160..
Sorry a bit off topic but I've always wanted to know why gearbox oil is so pricey compared to engine oil. Any experts on here got an idea?Suzuki wanted £160..
Swanny87 said:
minky monkey said:
I got the local garage to do my gearbox oil change on my swift, the oil cost £39 which I supplied and he only wanted £20 to do it. I could've done it, it's easy enough, but for £20? I couldn't be bothered for that.
Suzuki wanted £160..
Sorry a bit off topic but I've always wanted to know why gearbox oil is so pricey compared to engine oil. Any experts on here got an idea?Suzuki wanted £160..
Drive Blind said:
in reality,
stripped sump plug, over tightened filter.
any sort of under engine tray? Bolts rounded/stripped threads on that.
And then a quote for the new tyres/shocks/wipers/brakes you don't need.
Child seat in the car? "We can't let you take it off our premises, it's dangerous to drive. You wouldn't want your kids in a dangerous car"
The reality is more like oil cap off , insert tube, suck out oil replace with new oil and job done.stripped sump plug, over tightened filter.
any sort of under engine tray? Bolts rounded/stripped threads on that.
And then a quote for the new tyres/shocks/wipers/brakes you don't need.
Child seat in the car? "We can't let you take it off our premises, it's dangerous to drive. You wouldn't want your kids in a dangerous car"
No stripped sump cover, no damage to sump cover.
Got a sincere apology from the guy who sucked it out (not the one who did the original change) but the branch manager was stood next to him didn't say a word about it. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff