Your car needs discs and pads sir...
Discussion
Hugo Stiglitz said:
BenS94 said:
Have any of those who have experienced a metric tonne of bulls
t from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?
I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
Yes to Toyota based in a town whose football club have just been relegated. t from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
They probably just blamed the salesman. What exactly will it do?
I wouldn't want a free service from them, I wouldn't have trusted then.
Sheepshanks said:
eliot said:
Left my car at a garage for tyres, get a call - “ it’s all done - we put it on the wheel alignment machine and it needs a small adjustment”.
I said I don’t want it done - instant response “it’s all ready for collection”
there’s no way they would take the car out the fitting bay onto the hunter alignment ramp to check the alignment speculatively.
I wished I would of asked for a photo of my car on the ramp showing the alleged misalignment.
everytime I go there they always find stuff that I know doesn’t need doing.
Increasing dealers have a ‘drive over’ alignment checker. I said I don’t want it done - instant response “it’s all ready for collection”
there’s no way they would take the car out the fitting bay onto the hunter alignment ramp to check the alignment speculatively.
I wished I would of asked for a photo of my car on the ramp showing the alleged misalignment.
everytime I go there they always find stuff that I know doesn’t need doing.
Like this: https://pro-align.co.uk/product/hunter-quick-check...
Or they could have just been lying.
I've just realised this has been going on for nearly 30 years or more.
We bought a 5 yr old BMW 320 from a main dealer in 1995! When it went in for it's first service, we get a call... Sir would like the front discs and pads changed they are 60% worn. When I asked how long they thought they would last the reply was... Well that depends on how often you use the brakes sir!
I didn't go ahead and used a local Indy after that.
We bought a 5 yr old BMW 320 from a main dealer in 1995! When it went in for it's first service, we get a call... Sir would like the front discs and pads changed they are 60% worn. When I asked how long they thought they would last the reply was... Well that depends on how often you use the brakes sir!
I didn't go ahead and used a local Indy after that.
BenS94 said:
Have any of those who have experienced a metric tonne of bullst from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?
I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
You did well to get a response, when I complained to the UK Head Office about being given a car back with no brakes, the person I spoke to had to ask colleagues if that was a serious problem or not. Never did get a response back to the complaint.t from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
Thick as Pork mince.
BenS94 said:
Have any of those who have experienced a metric tonne of bullst from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?
I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
Yes, I have twice, to Jaguar about two separate main dealers. I was assured they'd called the dealers and had a stern word, that was the end of it. I'm unlikely to ever use a main dealer ever again as long as I am still driving. Chancers, to a man.t from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
BenS94 said:
Have any of those who have experienced a metric tonne of bullst from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?
I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
I emailed the manager at Taylor’s of Dunmow and Landrover customer services. Neither of them bothered to respond. Frankly, if I had been offered a free service at Taylor’s of Dunmow, I would still have gone elsewhere. I don’t see any point in giving these sort of places a second chance.t from Main Stealers actually reported this to the manufacturers?I have. Grovelling letter of apology, next service and MOT free... too late as we'd already sold the car.
Had a couple of repairs done at my local Vauxhall dealer in Scu nthorpe recently.
I have no complaints at all. A very good service in fact.
The free health checks done came back with nothing other than recommending new rear tyres, which have actually about had it, so completely true.
They're not all bad.
Had plenty of top service from Kwik-Fit Scu nthorpe (Glanford retail) over the years too, doing just what I've asked of them.
I have no complaints at all. A very good service in fact.
The free health checks done came back with nothing other than recommending new rear tyres, which have actually about had it, so completely true.
They're not all bad.
Had plenty of top service from Kwik-Fit Scu nthorpe (Glanford retail) over the years too, doing just what I've asked of them.
Olivergt said:
I've just realised this has been going on for nearly 30 years or more.
We bought a 5 yr old BMW 320 from a main dealer in 1995! When it went in for it's first service, we get a call... Sir would like the front discs and pads changed they are 60% worn. When I asked how long they thought they would last the reply was... Well that depends on how often you use the brakes sir!
I didn't go ahead and used a local Indy after that.
Pitted discs was a very common MOT fail 20-30 years ago. We bought a 5 yr old BMW 320 from a main dealer in 1995! When it went in for it's first service, we get a call... Sir would like the front discs and pads changed they are 60% worn. When I asked how long they thought they would last the reply was... Well that depends on how often you use the brakes sir!
I didn't go ahead and used a local Indy after that.
I got stung once but took it away and did them myself. It was galling as a student but new discs were cheaper than paying for a new MOT somewhere else and IIRC retests were free back then.
We exchanged knowing looks when I took it back for the retest.
QBee said:
I used to audit a main Ford dealership about 40 years ago. It opened my eyes to the motor trade.
With overheads allocated:
New car sales just about broke even.
Used car sales lost money.
Petrol etc made a tiny profit
All the profit came from servicing and parts.
40 year old anecdotal evidence is surely a new record even for PHWith overheads allocated:
New car sales just about broke even.
Used car sales lost money.
Petrol etc made a tiny profit
All the profit came from servicing and parts.
Klippie said:
I wonder how many of the "Free" services are actually done, if they are up to no good to begin with then there's no way they are doing the service.
The car will be brought in and sit all day the book stamped with no work carried out...all ready to go sir.
About 20 years ago I worked for the customer service department of a Japanese car manufacturer (awful job but thankfully only a temporary one after university). A customer called up to explain that he tested this theory (them not actually doing the work) by putting a 20p piece on the rear wheel when he left it to be serviced. Well somehow this main dealer had managed to change the oil/filters and flush the brake fluid without disturbing the 20p. They had stamped the book though 😂The car will be brought in and sit all day the book stamped with no work carried out...all ready to go sir.
cayman-black said:
Mammasaid said:
Pleasant dealings from Bristol Street Motors this week. In for a fix as a seal had blown on the intake system. As part of the fix they did a visual health check, all good apart from rear pads and discs at 90% worn, quoted £450 but immediately offered to negotiate. A bit of to-ing and fro-ing knocked that down to £250 which was fine for all parties.
Thats far more reasonable, well done.steveo3002 said:
cayman-black said:
Mammasaid said:
Pleasant dealings from Bristol Street Motors this week. In for a fix as a seal had blown on the intake system. As part of the fix they did a visual health check, all good apart from rear pads and discs at 90% worn, quoted £450 but immediately offered to negotiate. A bit of to-ing and fro-ing knocked that down to £250 which was fine for all parties.
Thats far more reasonable, well done.Probably mentioned it on this thread before but my old Honda Insight had numerous Honda stamps for services which included replacing the pollen filter.
Which is funny as the first time you change it you HAVE to cut part of the dash away that's left over from manufacturer, impossible to change it without doing that unless you removed the whole dash.
Which is odd as when I came to do it, there it was very much intact with an original 20 year old filter in place.
Numerous different dealers both in Japan and the UK, all liars.
Which is funny as the first time you change it you HAVE to cut part of the dash away that's left over from manufacturer, impossible to change it without doing that unless you removed the whole dash.
Which is odd as when I came to do it, there it was very much intact with an original 20 year old filter in place.
Numerous different dealers both in Japan and the UK, all liars.
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
Mars said:
Over the years I've had great service at various garages including branches of KwikFit and Halfords but the quality of service seems to come down to the staff at that time. Inevitably, people move-on and the quality declines. I used to be very keen on my local Mercedes dealership because on balance, I felt their prices were fair considering they fitted genuine parts and provided a solid no-quibble warranty but as the only other Merc dealership in the area closed down, my local Merc dealership became too busy and they stopped caring, mistakes were made, and they stopped trying to fix problems with my car and only wanted to fit new parts at considerable expense considering it wouldn't have solved the particular problem I had anyway.
I moved house and found a local indy who has all the Merc diag equipment. Not only do they do a proper job, their prices are extremely reasonable. My car (GL) is complex and throws-up all sorts of issues from time to time but Avonside Motors in Evesham have not shied away from any task and I have been 100% satisfied. They're a nice bunch in there too. They listen to the issues and when you get your invoice, you can read that they have faithfully documented what you have told them which I think is quite rare.
As I said, the GL is complex and I'd like to keep it until some point in the future when I feel it has become uneconomical to do so (which is another subject altogether) but that timeframe is directly linked to my having access to people like the guys at Avonside Motors (no connection - I'm just a happy customer).
This resonates with me. I've had cars that I simply would not have owned had it not been for David Phillips Autos in Edinburgh who are experts in ageing Italian and German exotica, price very reasonably, are great communicators and unsurprisingly are always busy.I moved house and found a local indy who has all the Merc diag equipment. Not only do they do a proper job, their prices are extremely reasonable. My car (GL) is complex and throws-up all sorts of issues from time to time but Avonside Motors in Evesham have not shied away from any task and I have been 100% satisfied. They're a nice bunch in there too. They listen to the issues and when you get your invoice, you can read that they have faithfully documented what you have told them which I think is quite rare.
As I said, the GL is complex and I'd like to keep it until some point in the future when I feel it has become uneconomical to do so (which is another subject altogether) but that timeframe is directly linked to my having access to people like the guys at Avonside Motors (no connection - I'm just a happy customer).
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