£150 for an oil change
Discussion
Is this considered normal now? I took my car to a local garage as it needed some work doing (track rods, etc) & the service light came on. They rang me a couple of hours after it was dropped off to let me know the costs of everything.
It all sounded quite reasonable until they mentioned the cost of the service - £150. I asked what was involved and they said "Oil and filter change, plus a 20 point check of the vehicle". Obviously I told them not to bother and to just complete the other work! It's only a 1.6 MK4 Golf, barely worth £500.
Checking on Eurocarparts (I'm sure this garage would use someone like them)
5 litres of oil £35
Oil filter £5.08
I make that just over £40 + some labour- maybe £80 at a push? Think I will be doing it myself. I had avoided this idea due to lack of tools/space but I'll work something out to save myself some money.
It boggles my mind that they feel it's appropriate to charge this kind of money. They must have already completed a 'vehicle check' anyway as they had taken the time to list several things that were wrong with the car. Most of which I knew about and am going to get sorted elsewhere or leave because it's a shed.
It all sounded quite reasonable until they mentioned the cost of the service - £150. I asked what was involved and they said "Oil and filter change, plus a 20 point check of the vehicle". Obviously I told them not to bother and to just complete the other work! It's only a 1.6 MK4 Golf, barely worth £500.
Checking on Eurocarparts (I'm sure this garage would use someone like them)
5 litres of oil £35
Oil filter £5.08
I make that just over £40 + some labour- maybe £80 at a push? Think I will be doing it myself. I had avoided this idea due to lack of tools/space but I'll work something out to save myself some money.
It boggles my mind that they feel it's appropriate to charge this kind of money. They must have already completed a 'vehicle check' anyway as they had taken the time to list several things that were wrong with the car. Most of which I knew about and am going to get sorted elsewhere or leave because it's a shed.
A family member ran a garage for years, and he always said that a "service" was their bread and butter earner. Fixed cost of whatever and in reality it was half hours work, including taking off the wheels to clean and check the brakes etc.
I always just specify an oil and filter change and pay materials + 20 minutes labour, if I'm paying someone else to do it at all.
I always just specify an oil and filter change and pay materials + 20 minutes labour, if I'm paying someone else to do it at all.
Acehood said:
Matt UK said:
£150?? 
This wasn't a franchised VW dealer was it..
Nope, small independent garage that was recommended to me. Their website says about how they're a family owned business, etc etc. This wasn't a franchised VW dealer was it..
If it was a dealer I wouldn't be surprised at all (or taking my car there!)
Think I'd have to know more, before casting judgement. No question that it's not worth throwing £150 at a £500 Golf (I wouldn't even bother servicing it!)
I run a garage, and you'd be surprised at how the hours get eaten up. Just moving cars around to get it on the ramp can be 10-15mins work, depending on the layout of the workshop. And then, if they really have done a 20point check, that could be an hour's work (if they're actually checking stuff, rather than just looking at it). Add 20mins or so to change the oil and filter, than the time to muck around moving cars & positioning on ramps etc - I reckon you could eat 90mins. Then you deduct the cost of the filter and oil, possibly £30's worth, that leaves you at £120. Then remove the VAT, that's £100 net. That's £50 p/h + VAT, which is about the going rate at most regular garages.
So yes, no question that it's more than I'd spend on the Golf, but £150 isn't as extortionate as you might think. PH is full of spanner-wielding keyboard warriors who can change a Toyota Celica clutch in 30mins, while drinking a can of Red Bull, but the reality is they're talking s
te. Stuff takes time 
I run a garage, and you'd be surprised at how the hours get eaten up. Just moving cars around to get it on the ramp can be 10-15mins work, depending on the layout of the workshop. And then, if they really have done a 20point check, that could be an hour's work (if they're actually checking stuff, rather than just looking at it). Add 20mins or so to change the oil and filter, than the time to muck around moving cars & positioning on ramps etc - I reckon you could eat 90mins. Then you deduct the cost of the filter and oil, possibly £30's worth, that leaves you at £120. Then remove the VAT, that's £100 net. That's £50 p/h + VAT, which is about the going rate at most regular garages.
So yes, no question that it's more than I'd spend on the Golf, but £150 isn't as extortionate as you might think. PH is full of spanner-wielding keyboard warriors who can change a Toyota Celica clutch in 30mins, while drinking a can of Red Bull, but the reality is they're talking s
te. Stuff takes time 
£150? I don't see the problem.
If your bill was £150, did that include VAT? If so, the garage actually keeps £125.00 Net. Lets say they've billed you the parts at £45.00, so £80 labour.
They have staff to pay, a building to heat and supply with electricity, rates to pay, mortgage or rent to pay, credit card machine rental, computer equipment....
...and they still have to earn a profit on top of all that to stay in business.
If your bill was £150, did that include VAT? If so, the garage actually keeps £125.00 Net. Lets say they've billed you the parts at £45.00, so £80 labour.
They have staff to pay, a building to heat and supply with electricity, rates to pay, mortgage or rent to pay, credit card machine rental, computer equipment....
...and they still have to earn a profit on top of all that to stay in business.
Kitchski said:
Think I'd have to know more, before casting judgement. No question that it's not worth throwing £150 at a £500 Golf (I wouldn't even bother servicing it!)
I run a garage, and you'd be surprised at how the hours get eaten up. Just moving cars around to get it on the ramp can be 10-15mins work, depending on the layout of the workshop. And then, if they really have done a 20point check, that could be an hour's work (if they're actually checking stuff, rather than just looking at it). Add 20mins or so to change the oil and filter, than the time to muck around moving cars & positioning on ramps etc - I reckon you could eat 90mins. Then you deduct the cost of the filter and oil, possibly £30's worth, that leaves you at £120. Then remove the VAT, that's £100 net. That's £50 p/h + VAT, which is about the going rate at most regular garages.
So yes, no question that it's more than I'd spend on the Golf, but £150 isn't as extortionate as you might think. PH is full of spanner-wielding keyboard warriors who can change a Toyota Celica clutch in 30mins, while drinking a can of Red Bull, but the reality is they're talking ste. Stuff takes time
I don't have the money to purchase another shed so it's kinda catch 22. I need to get it through the upcoming MOT and it will fail with the suspension how it is currently. Also need at least one tyre, so I'll probably throw a part-worn or budget on there. It's all about minimising cost. Any ideas how I can get rid of the service light without taking it to a garage? Apart from the fact that it's annoying, if I was to sell the car someone would try to knock money off the already low price of the car due to it 'needing a service'. *Generally* people who are buying cars <£1k tend to want a perfect car for no moneyI run a garage, and you'd be surprised at how the hours get eaten up. Just moving cars around to get it on the ramp can be 10-15mins work, depending on the layout of the workshop. And then, if they really have done a 20point check, that could be an hour's work (if they're actually checking stuff, rather than just looking at it). Add 20mins or so to change the oil and filter, than the time to muck around moving cars & positioning on ramps etc - I reckon you could eat 90mins. Then you deduct the cost of the filter and oil, possibly £30's worth, that leaves you at £120. Then remove the VAT, that's £100 net. That's £50 p/h + VAT, which is about the going rate at most regular garages.
So yes, no question that it's more than I'd spend on the Golf, but £150 isn't as extortionate as you might think. PH is full of spanner-wielding keyboard warriors who can change a Toyota Celica clutch in 30mins, while drinking a can of Red Bull, but the reality is they're talking s
te. Stuff takes time I get what you're saying about moving cars around but that's not really my problem is it. As a customer I am only concerned with the actual work taking place on the car, not the logistics of getting it on the ramp
Is the 20 point check just an opportunity for them to point out all the things that I already know are wrong with the car and try to squeeze even more money out of me?Dr Interceptor said:
£150? I don't see the problem.
If your bill was £150, did that include VAT? If so, the garage actually keeps £125.00 Net. Lets say they've billed you the parts at £45.00, so £80 labour.
They have staff to pay, a building to heat and supply with electricity, rates to pay, mortgage or rent to pay, credit card machine rental, computer equipment....
...and they still have to earn a profit on top of all that to stay in business.
It was in for other work anyway, so was already on the ramps / in the building / being heated / drinking coffee / etc If your bill was £150, did that include VAT? If so, the garage actually keeps £125.00 Net. Lets say they've billed you the parts at £45.00, so £80 labour.
They have staff to pay, a building to heat and supply with electricity, rates to pay, mortgage or rent to pay, credit card machine rental, computer equipment....
...and they still have to earn a profit on top of all that to stay in business.
Kitchski said:
I run a garage, and you'd be surprised at how the hours get eaten up. Just moving cars around to get it on the ramp can be 10-15mins work, depending on the layout of the workshop.
If it takes you 15 mins to get a car on a ramp you should probably look into a new line of work. If labour is £50/h you're looking for £12.50 for that? Does that really factor into the cost of labour? Acehood said:
Is the 20 point check just an opportunity for them to point out all the things that I already know are wrong with the car and try to squeeze even more money out of me?
No.They don't want you bringing your £500 car in, charging you £50 for a service, then you getting down the road and your brakes failing, leading your untimely demise, and your close relatives suing the arse out of the garage for letting you leave in an unsafe car, and putting them out of business.
So for their peace of mind, and for yours, they check the car over. They will of course also point out anything that needs doing, and if they pick up extra work off the back of it, then all is well.
Toaster Pilot said:
It was in for other work anyway, so was already on the ramps / in the building / being heated / drinking coffee / etc
More than likely then the time spent on doing the other work had taken longer than expected, and they garage were trying to recoup the lost time. Again, no problems with that at all, we all have to earn a living.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff