6K service for a Cerbera 4.5 - how much should I be ?

[Zarkingfardwarks]

dear PH-ista
have been quoted 550 for a full 6K service on my 4.5 Cerbera......good figure or "expensive"/ this is with VAT and parts inc though

ta

[ukkid35]

Depends how much of the service schedule is actually completed. I expect some places consider some items can be 'safely' overlooked/forgotten without the customer being any the wiser. I was certainly a victim to this approach when I paid other people to work on my cars, which I no longer do (apart from wheels/tyres/alignment/MOT).

[Gazzab]

I wouldnt buy on price. Buy on the reputation of the garage first, price second.
The service price is generally irrelevant as there will be a list of niggles to cover off in addition.

[JensenA]

That price is about right, but only from a respected Indie who knows what he is doing. If the final bill comes to 550 you've either got an outstanding car or they're a crap garage :-)

[K4TRV]

A respected Indie ( I use him and have had no probs - read testimonials say) and with Courtesy Car, but prob not a TVR !!!

http://www.neilgarner.co.uk/TVR_specials/

HTH

Trev

[.Mark]

K4TRV said:

A respected Indie ( I use him and have had no probs - read testimonials say) and with Courtesy Car, but prob not a TVR !!!

http://www.neilgarner.co.uk/TVR_specials/

HTH

Trev

Seem like keen prices too

[Gazzab]

K4TRV said:

A respected Indie ( I use him and have had no probs - read testimonials say) and with Courtesy Car, but prob not a TVR !!!

http://www.neilgarner.co.uk/TVR_specials/

HTH

Trev

I assume that the OP wants an indie closeish to home rather than 200 miles round trip?
There are a number of good indies closer to home I would think?
As was stated earlier you want to ensure the price covers the cost of doing the job (eg n hours with quality oils etc).

[scotty_d]

ukkid35 said:

Depends how much of the service schedule is actually completed. I expect some places consider some items can be 'safely' overlooked/forgotten without the customer being any the wiser. I was certainly a victim to this approach when I paid other people to work on my cars, which I no longer do (apart from wheels/tyres/alignment/MOT).

This
Do it your self save a heep and have piece of mind the job is done right.

They are very easy cars to work on don't see what all the drama is about with them they are just nuts , bolts and plastic

[.Mark]

scotty_d said:

They are very easy cars to work on don't see what all the drama is about with them they are just nuts , bolts and plastic

I'm with you on this. I was very precious about the Chimaera when we got it, but both are now keepers and so more and more work is being done by me.
Slightly different with the Cerbera I think, will still send her off to Andy for tappets and adjustment and stuff, but the usual spanner work I'll be doing myself.

[JR]

http://www.parkersteve.dsl.pipex.com/serviceschedu...

[scotty_d]

.Mark said:

I'm with you on this. I was very precious about the Chimaera when we got it, but both are now keepers and so more and more work is being done by me.
Slightly different with the Cerbera I think, will still send her off to Andy for tappets and adjustment and stuff, but the usual spanner work I'll be doing myself.

Yeah with valve clearances, tappets fair enough i will be getting showing how to do it the first time by a mate of mine who is a mechanic but after that will be doing it myself the rest of the car is pretty basic next to modern cars.

[billy no brakes]

Yeah with valve clearances, tappets fair enough i will be getting showing how to do it the first time by a mate of mine who is a mechanic but after that will be doing it myself the rest of the car is pretty basic next to modern cars

I have just helped my friend to do the tappets on my Cerb and its awkward but do able you just need the tool to hold the timming chains in place when you take the camshafts out. We also did a full service, took the rear Nitrons off and got them rebuilt not refurbed and put them back on, changed all the hoses for act silicone hoses and changed the metal pipes as well as they sprung a leak. straightend out one of the exhaust (sports exhaust)as I reversed it into a kerb, set the throtlle pots, changed the big fuse cleaned up the earth points, then a missfire occured and traced it to a plug lead on the Saturday afternoon 2 days before i was going to Le Mans managed to get on and put it back on and all for the sum of £1300 including parts and she is running better than its ever done

[Mr Cerbera]

Cerbera ownership: - Pull the Pin and Hope.

My 12K service was quoted at £750
Bill was £1800

[scotty_d]

Mr Cerbera said:

Cerbera ownership: - Pull the Pin and Hope.

My 12K service was quoted at £750
Bill was £1800

£1800

I take it needed a shed load of things doing then? Major engine work or the likes?

[ukkid35]

scotty_d said:

Major engine work or the likes?

An extra grand doesn't sound like Major engine work....

[scotty_d]

ukkid35 said:

An extra grand doesn't sound like Major engine work....

Does in my book but i am a tight jock and every penny is a prisoner to me.

[Byker28i]

JensenA said:

That price is about right, but only from a respected Indie who knows what he is doing. If the final bill comes to 550 you've either got an outstanding car or they're a crap garage :-)

Neil Garner is brilliant and has often gone above and beyond when working on my car and very good attention to detail. On top of that he's a very decent chap to talk to. I wouldn't go anywhere else. £550 is about right bearing in mind that's a lot of work plus 6.5 litres of mobil one oil.

Last service I had was 12K service, £550 + 4 hours labour for the tappets. I do provide my own oil.
TVR club members get a discount.

Mine's booked in for MOT and service in about a weeks time.

[Byker28i]

Mr Cerbera said:

Cerbera ownership: - Pull the Pin and Hope.

My 12K service was quoted at £750
Bill was £1800

My 12K service was also the time I had the ACT manifolds fitted, so final bill was £3036. That was £500 for the 12k service, 2 front disks, a gearbox mount, £1k for the manifolds, then whilst it was all apart I got him to clean and repaint all the chassis bars around the engine bay and waxoil everything.

Plus 13 hours labour, 7 of which were for the manifolds and I know he had them on/off and fettled for about a week (One kept touching the chassis) before he was happy with the fit and there's no way he charged me for all the time he put into them.

The thing is, I'm happy to do it properly whilst it's there i.e. cleaning, stripping and repainting the engine chassis rails etc made perfect whilst the manifolds were off as there was good access. I plan to have my car a long time so it gets things done as needed.