£130 to replace a pipe, have a read of this!!!!
£130 to replace a pipe, have a read of this!!!!
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silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Audi A3 2.0 tdi (07)

Ex wife has been quoted £130 for a fitting of a fuel return pipe to filter. This was because a small amount of fuel was leaking from the non filter end. I think what had happened is that the clip had rubbed. However, a quick bodge was to pull the pipe off, cut offending bit off, and re secure. No problems however, only a temporary fix....

So, she has booked it into the garage who generally are pretty good, even the mechanic has no idea why he has to book it in...the pipe is £69 eek Total cost £130!!!! For fitting a 5" rubber pipe

Seems a bit odd to me.

Any audiphiles out there that may have knowledge, why does it need to be 'booked in' for an hour, depressurise and repressurise fuel system??? It really beats me.....

Thanks in advance.
Mike.

Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

207 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Woman's car + fuel leak = money for old rope, well excessive labour time anyway.

StottyZr

6,860 posts

192 months

Monday 14th November 2011
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This is clearly very excessive but not at all suprising.

Snowboy

8,028 posts

180 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
As a guess.
Some time back someone had the pipe changed, a few miles later their car suffered some sort of engine failure based on an air lock in the fuel system.
Audi was billed some warranty money, courtesy car money or somesuch.

To prevent it, Audi adjusted the service manual to have the fuel system re-pressurised whenever anyone messes with this pipe.

cheesesliceking

1,577 posts

269 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
The part won't fit itself..

Leptons

5,493 posts

205 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Snowboy said:
As a guess.
Some time back someone had the pipe changed, a few miles later their car suffered some sort of engine failure based on an air lock in the fuel system.
Audi was billed some warranty money, courtesy car money or somesuch.

To prevent it, Audi adjusted the service manual to have the fuel system re-pressurised whenever anyone messes with this pipe.
rofl

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
cheesesliceking said:
The part won't fit itself..
Yes I gathered that, but after doing lots of engine work on my own cars, I fail to see why it's that difficult and costs £130. Ta for the input though hehe

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Snowboy said:
As a guess.
Some time back someone had the pipe changed, a few miles later their car suffered some sort of engine failure based on an air lock in the fuel system.
Audi was billed some warranty money, courtesy car money or somesuch.

To prevent it, Audi adjusted the service manual to have the fuel system re-pressurised whenever anyone messes with this pipe.
Probably not far from the truth there snowboy. Really irritates me this does...

Deva Link

26,934 posts

274 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
silverback mike said:
However, a quick bodge was to pull the pipe off, cut offending bit off, and re secure. No problems however, only a temporary fix....
Why can't it stay like that?

Superhoop

4,913 posts

222 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
My guess would be more along the lines of...

Part £69

Labour - 0.4hrs@£100ph = £40

Total = £109 + Vat = £130.80

As for depressurising and re-pressurising the system - No such thing. Common rail diesels open teh injectors following engine shut down to depressurise the fuel system, and the high pressure pump will generate system pressure during cranking. The fuel return is on the low pressure side anyway, so wouldn't cause a problem regardless.

Note: 0.4 hrs is a pure guess, as is the hourly rate, but I'd hazzard a guess that neither are too far out, especially the book time. It's 24 minutes, but most manufacturer times include either 6 or 12 minutes for driving the car in and out of the workshop

ETA: I've made the assumption that this is an Audi dealer - Hence £100 ph

Also.... You're complaining about the fitting costs, but not about the £69 for a 5" pipe

Edited by Superhoop on Monday 14th November 11:08

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Deva Link said:
Why can't it stay like that?
I would be happy with it, but it's still slightly damp as the hose lost quarter of an inch...she would rather have a new pipe...

The Walrus

1,857 posts

234 months

Monday 14th November 2011
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Is that a main dealer you are using ? if so have a look round you must have some decent independents near you.

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Nope, an independent, normally very good.

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Superhoop said:
My guess would be more along the lines of...

Part £69

Labour - 0.4hrs@£100ph = £40

Total = £109 + Vat = £130.80

As for depressurising and re-pressurising the system - No such thing. Common rail diesels open teh injectors following engine shut down to depressurise the fuel system, and the high pressure pump will generate system pressure during cranking. The fuel return is on the low pressure side anyway, so wouldn't cause a problem regardless.

Note: 0.4 hrs is a pure guess, as is the hourly rate, but I'd hazzard a guess that neither are too far out, especially the book time. It's 24 minutes, but most manufacturer times include either 6 or 12 minutes for driving the car in and out of the workshop
Think you have hit the nail on the head there, mounts up a bit doesn't it....

The Walrus

1,857 posts

234 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Ouch in that case, although saying that including VAT the part is £82.00 so labour is reasonable, but I have had the joy of oil breather pipes that cost £30 for something a similar size a few years ago and chances are you can't get them anywhere else but from a dealer !!

Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

199 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Looks like a perfectly reasonable charge to me - have you any idea how much it costs to run a business these days - you expect charity or a freebee? If it's so easy and quick, fit it yourself? I predict you'll find everything breaks, everything is inaccessible, you'll always need the one tool you haven't got, and after 5 hours of filth, bleeding, and cursing, you'll think the garage is very reasonable indeed. You’re buying their expertise, experience, training, time, tools, wages, liability insurance, rent, business rates………………

cheesesliceking

1,577 posts

269 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
silverback mike said:
Yes I gathered that, but after doing lots of engine work on my own cars, I fail to see why it's that difficult and costs £130. Ta for the input though hehe
Its time, is it simple to change, does anything else need removing and don't forget replacing once fitted? Don’t assume the guy is trying to rip you off just because you don't know what is involved in changing it...

Don't be surprised if you get flippant answers to pointless questions, you're asking the wrong people, why come here and ask when you should be asking the guy that is doing the work??

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
Well, fitting a pipe I could have easily done, the top of the fuel filter to the metal male end 5 inches away, at the top nearside of the engine bay.

She's booked it in, the garage are generally good, and seem not to be exhorbitant now.

And yes, I do know how much overheads are....

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,293 posts

282 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
cheesesliceking said:
Its time, is it simple to change, does anything else need removing and don't forget replacing once fitted? Don’t assume the guy is trying to rip you off just because you don't know what is involved in changing it...

Don't be surprised if you get flippant answers to pointless questions, you're asking the wrong people, why come here and ask when you should be asking the guy that is doing the work??
Ouch, easy tiger hehe it's an easy job, honestly is, which is why it seemed expensive.....
And also, it's her car, so was just checking it out.


cheesesliceking

1,577 posts

269 months

Monday 14th November 2011
quotequote all
silverback mike said:
Ouch, easy tiger hehe it's an easy job, honestly is, which is why it seemed expensive.....
And also, it's her car, so was just checking it out.
King.. not tiger..