Garages Ripping off the Mrs
Discussion
KTF said:
Sump said:
I got sick of mechanics and having to take their car to them and constantly be in their pocket. My solution was simple, got a ramp, the tools, tyre changer, balancer, diagnostics, basically just kitted out my own workshop.
Now if I have any issues I just fix it myself at my own time and leisure.
How long did it take to recover the cost of the investment v taking it to a garage?Now if I have any issues I just fix it myself at my own time and leisure.
I think that bottom end bearing job paid for the ramp. Some timing belt jobs pretty much paid for the tyre things. I made my money back within 6 months. I've had this gear for 3 years now. Done all sorts of jobs as I help my brothers etc, we all get to use the equipment.
However, I noticed that garage equipment doesn't really depreciate if it works and is in decent condition so I could recover 75% of my investment back pretty quickly making my repair jobs nil.
This is all assuming that you are willing to tie up £4k in equipment and have the space.
To me it's more the convenience and not getting screwed around by mechanics.
However, I noticed that garage equipment doesn't really depreciate if it works and is in decent condition so I could recover 75% of my investment back pretty quickly making my repair jobs nil.
This is all assuming that you are willing to tie up £4k in equipment and have the space.
To me it's more the convenience and not getting screwed around by mechanics.
...of course you don't know why they've topped up your washer fluid with 
Thought I had found a decent main dealer locally for dealing with my wife's Qashqai. They diagnosed and fitted an engine mount easily and quickly, tried to get it covered under the warranty (just outside), and the technician was happy to talk to me and didn't talk down to me.
So I made the mistake of booking it in for a service and to investigate the non working air con (having gradually stopped working over the previous month).
Bizarrely it came back with a list of things needing doing that they hadn't done (spark plugs and air filter) - plugs were only a year old but if they needed doing why not at least ring to ask? And how is an air filter not included in the service!?
Best was the a/c - was told it was working now. When I asked what was wrong, they said they had just recharged it. I reminded them that it had been working 6 weeks prior and had just stopped, so if it had leaked out, chances were that there was a leak. Had they put UV dye in it? No they had not.
So, back to my normal Indy with it again (300 mile round trip but at least they know their are from their elbow).
Called out an ac repair guy who popped the bonnet and within 10 seconds had diagnosed the intercooler as you could see where the oil had leaked out.
Basically the garage's "investigation" was to stick it on the regas machine and charge £60!
Thought I had found a decent main dealer locally for dealing with my wife's Qashqai. They diagnosed and fitted an engine mount easily and quickly, tried to get it covered under the warranty (just outside), and the technician was happy to talk to me and didn't talk down to me.
So I made the mistake of booking it in for a service and to investigate the non working air con (having gradually stopped working over the previous month).
Bizarrely it came back with a list of things needing doing that they hadn't done (spark plugs and air filter) - plugs were only a year old but if they needed doing why not at least ring to ask? And how is an air filter not included in the service!?
Best was the a/c - was told it was working now. When I asked what was wrong, they said they had just recharged it. I reminded them that it had been working 6 weeks prior and had just stopped, so if it had leaked out, chances were that there was a leak. Had they put UV dye in it? No they had not.
So, back to my normal Indy with it again (300 mile round trip but at least they know their are from their elbow).
Called out an ac repair guy who popped the bonnet and within 10 seconds had diagnosed the intercooler as you could see where the oil had leaked out.
Basically the garage's "investigation" was to stick it on the regas machine and charge £60!
PositronicRay said:
silentbrown said:
Sheepshanks said:
I always got the impression dealers hated working on my company lease cars. I believe lease companies get hefty discounts, and take a lot of persuading to authorise any additional work.
But on lease cars it's likely to be just servicing as everything else is still covered by warranty?They also tended to need a fair bit of suspension and steering work - I ran one to 120K miles and for the last couple of services the dealer wanted the car for a few days.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 22 May 13:54
Another story.
Took the XJ in for a major service. I booked it in as a minor service. Realised 3-4 days beforehand it should be a major so changed it.
Got there and after 3 hours the service was complete. Not bad for a major, look at the invoice and they've done a minor...
They said they could do the major bits in the bext 30 mins.
WTF were they doing for 3 hours on a minor service?!
Took the XJ in for a major service. I booked it in as a minor service. Realised 3-4 days beforehand it should be a major so changed it.
Got there and after 3 hours the service was complete. Not bad for a major, look at the invoice and they've done a minor...
They said they could do the major bits in the bext 30 mins.
WTF were they doing for 3 hours on a minor service?!
KTF said:
Sump said:
I got sick of mechanics and having to take their car to them and constantly be in their pocket. My solution was simple, got a ramp, the tools, tyre changer, balancer, diagnostics, basically just kitted out my own workshop.
Now if I have any issues I just fix it myself at my own time and leisure.
How long did it take to recover the cost of the investment v taking it to a garage?Now if I have any issues I just fix it myself at my own time and leisure.
TT threw warning lights on ABS, ESP and a big beepy exclamation mark. Normally a symptom that the ABS ECU has fried itself.
Main dealer wanted £1100 for the part, plus labour!
Instead, my girlfriend took it to a local garage that we were recommended. They VAGCOM'd it for free but couldn't make it connect - another key sign that the ECU was dead. So they offered to send the ECU away for repair at £250 plus £100 to fit. Happy days. Then, whilst removing it (obscured by the ECU itself) they found some frayed wiring. Called us up, asked if we wanted to try that first - they soldered it up and it worked a treat. Total bill was £200 for the faffing about and labour.
They also treated Rach like a human being instead of a silly girl who shouldn't worry her pretty little head.
Well done St Pauls Garage in Cheltenham.
Main dealer wanted £1100 for the part, plus labour!
Instead, my girlfriend took it to a local garage that we were recommended. They VAGCOM'd it for free but couldn't make it connect - another key sign that the ECU was dead. So they offered to send the ECU away for repair at £250 plus £100 to fit. Happy days. Then, whilst removing it (obscured by the ECU itself) they found some frayed wiring. Called us up, asked if we wanted to try that first - they soldered it up and it worked a treat. Total bill was £200 for the faffing about and labour.
They also treated Rach like a human being instead of a silly girl who shouldn't worry her pretty little head.
Well done St Pauls Garage in Cheltenham.
As a younger me I Took a Megane to a tyre fitter type place (not KF) as I'd spotted the CV gaiter had become detached. Made it very clear I needed the car that afternoon and couldn't afford a big repair. Call shortly after saying new driveshafts needed, knocking on the door of £500 and would be off the road for the weekend and was unsafe to drive.
Phoned the Renault dealer I'd bought it from who told me to get it repacked with grease and a new clip put on it. Lasted for a year like that with no issues. Learned a lot that day...
Phoned the Renault dealer I'd bought it from who told me to get it repacked with grease and a new clip put on it. Lasted for a year like that with no issues. Learned a lot that day...
Ice T ( the rapper, not drink) began to wear a Mercedes badge as a symbol of wealth/class/good taste.
Mike D of Beastie Boys adopted that fashion and slightly took the piss with the VW badge.
Public Enemy had that dude that wore his kitchen clock around his neck.
Run DMC were famous for their Adidas.
As far as getting ripped off by a garage? I have nothing to add.
Mike D of Beastie Boys adopted that fashion and slightly took the piss with the VW badge.
Public Enemy had that dude that wore his kitchen clock around his neck.
Run DMC were famous for their Adidas.
As far as getting ripped off by a garage? I have nothing to add.
silentbrown said:
V8A*ndy said:
I remember the first ever time I was charged for topping up the windscreen washers.
One reason Audi keep me happy. This with just a £40 MOT test. Car collected and returned FOC, and it's an hours drive each way...
Pass, two advisories, in case you wondered.
irob said:
Ice T ( the rapper, not drink) began to wear a Mercedes badge as a symbol of wealth/class/good taste.
Mike D of Beastie Boys adopted that fashion and slightly took the piss with the VW badge.
Public Enemy had that dude that wore his kitchen clock around his neck.
Run DMC were famous for their Adidas.
As far as getting ripped off by a garage? I have nothing to add.
Will you post this again in a few more pages time, people might miss reading it otherwise Mike D of Beastie Boys adopted that fashion and slightly took the piss with the VW badge.
Public Enemy had that dude that wore his kitchen clock around his neck.
Run DMC were famous for their Adidas.
As far as getting ripped off by a garage? I have nothing to add.
Mrs 2CV was sold a Citroen service plan by a main dealer for her C1 that had her paying back 2-3 times the cost of the actual services over the term AND they said certain things were exempt and tried to charge her for some service items that were on the service checklist. Needless to say I exploded at them when i found out, but she hadn't even worked it out or thought it was in any way out of order. She's an intelligent woman, she just made the assumption it would be a fair deal.
silentbrown said:
One reason Audi keep me happy. This with just a £40 MOT test. Car collected and returned FOC, and it's an hours drive each way...
Pass, two advisories, in case you wondered.
All things that any reasonably conscientious car owner would do themselves as a matter of course. The dealer could (and probably does) stick that on the bottom of every single MOT invoice they give out and the average car owner would be delighted, irrespective of whether those things had actually been done.Pass, two advisories, in case you wondered.
Mr2Mike said:
silentbrown said:
One reason Audi keep me happy. This with just a £40 MOT test. Car collected and returned FOC, and it's an hours drive each way...
Pass, two advisories, in case you wondered.
All things that any reasonably conscientious car owner would do themselves as a matter of course. The dealer could (and probably does) stick that on the bottom of every single MOT invoice they give out and the average car owner would be delighted, irrespective of whether those things had actually been done.Pass, two advisories, in case you wondered.
Test it
report any failures
fix it
retest
Those look like separate items to the MOT
saaby93 said:
I didnt think they were allowed to do stuff during the MOT test itself?
Test it
report any failures
fix it
retest
Those look like separate items to the MOT
It wouldn't (or rather, shouldn't) be a part of the MOT but its probably a part of the 'complimentary vehicle health check' (which is the basis of upsale) or done out on the wash to every car.Test it
report any failures
fix it
retest
Those look like separate items to the MOT
But I suspect its all relative. If you came in with the plenum flooded with water and the drains absolutely clogged with leaves and debris on a A4 I doubt they'd just crack on and clear and clean it all out as per that invoice suggests given its a 1/2 a hour - 1 hours of feasibly chargeable labour.
saaby93 said:
I didnt think they were allowed to do stuff during the MOT test itself?
Test it
report any failures
fix it
retest
Those look like separate items to the MOT
Yes they look like separate things to me as well, which is why I suggested they are put on some kind of invoice (or perhaps a service record?).Test it
report any failures
fix it
retest
Those look like separate items to the MOT
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