Service Cost Whinge

[michael gould]

FatFrank said:

michael gould said:

....just making the point that fat boy slim seems to have paid over £1000 to have some brake discs and pads fitted which is completely nuts

Okay, so I got out the invoice. Here are the actual itemized costs shown:

Brake pads front $596.51
Lead sensor (pack of 4 x 2) $116.80
Brake rotors front $585.13
Brake pads rear $530.51
Pad wear lead (pack of 4 x 2) $92.68
Brake rotors rear $537.25

Total parts $2458.88
Labor $894.00

Total: $3352.88

The parts prices didn't really seem too bad to me. I noticed at AstonArtinBits.com that they have original front discs for £230.00, rear discs for £250, front pads for £256, and rear pads for £237. This totals £937 or $1460 without any shipping or taxes compared to my US Main dealer supplied price of $2249 for the same pieces. I suppose $894 for the labour coud be seen as a little steep, but the invoice does also list "completed Aston Martin bedding in procedure" as a line item in the labor

Well I can't believe it takes more than 2 hours to replace the discs and pads all round which means they are charging $450/hour. Perhaps the enlightened could advise how long it would take

[BingoBob]

I would guess 2 hours to change the brakes on all 4 corners, working leisurely, for a non professional like me. Those brembo calipers are a breeze to work on. Don't know if there are complications due to the handbrake pads?

[michael gould]

As I've said previously I had the discs and pads replaced on my VW recently which cost £80 labour at my local garage .......the inflated prices of the parts the Fat Frank has paid seem totally unreasonable

[rog007]

michael gould said:

Its Friday so I thought I would have a whinge …….I had my Golf R32 serviced last week for £240 and my wife’s VW Toureg serviced yesterday for £325…….both prices included VAT and both cars had “long life “ services which means next serviceis in two years’ time. On my wife’s car they fitted a new brake release handle and a new bulb at no extra cost (apart from the parts which were £17.89) and both cars came back cleaned inside and out. Why is it that when my service is due at the end of August it’s going to cost me well over £1000. Is it because my Aston is not as well built as my VW’s and requires more attention, or is it because manufacturers such as Aston Martin believe we should just pay more for the privilege of owning one ?

Or should I just pay up and stop whinging and smile at the nice service manager as he extracts as much money as possiable from my credit card ?

Ask VW for a quote?

[michael gould]

rog007 said:

michael gould said:

Its Friday so I thought I would have a whinge …….I had my Golf R32 serviced last week for £240 and my wife’s VW Toureg serviced yesterday for £325…….both prices included VAT and both cars had “long life “ services which means next serviceis in two years’ time. On my wife’s car they fitted a new brake release handle and a new bulb at no extra cost (apart from the parts which were £17.89) and both cars came back cleaned inside and out. Why is it that when my service is due at the end of August it’s going to cost me well over £1000. Is it because my Aston is not as well built as my VW’s and requires more attention, or is it because manufacturers such as Aston Martin believe we should just pay more for the privilege of owning one ?

Or should I just pay up and stop whinging and smile at the nice service manager as he extracts as much money as possiable from my credit card ?

Ask VW for a quote?

you stick to the watches forum and let us posh people conduct our business

[sportie]

My experience is that AM charge silly prices for comsumable items.

My DB9 is going in for its 7 year service this week which means the plugs need changing. So the AM price for a set of NGK plugs is £238.00 including the vat. So i bought a set from a car parts shop for £40.90 including the vat.

These prices are for exacctly the same plug, so clearly AM are seriously inflating the true costs.

PS, My independant AM service garage is happy to fit then for me saving £198 on one item alone!!!!

[michael gould]

It's the same with the oil.....Mobil 1 is £7.40 per ltr from Costco or £24 per ltr from a dealer ......and £160 per hour to shove the stuff in the hole marked oil.......stupid us for putting up with it

[BingoBob]

At least you can take your own oil and negotiate the prices. In France the next nearest dealer is 400 miles away. Oh, and it's the same owner. So is the other one at 450 miles away. As a result a basic service on my Vantage will cost about £1200 - almost the double of the UK. And there's nothing I can do about it.

[Neil1300R]

BingoBob said:

At least you can take your own oil and negotiate the prices. In France the next nearest dealer is 400 miles away. Oh, and it's the same owner. So is the other one at 450 miles away. As a result a basic service on my Vantage will cost about £1200 - almost the double of the UK. And there's nothing I can do about it.

Yes there is! come to the UK to get it serviced at an independent, make a holiday of it. And get some decent food and wine whilst staying here

[BingoBob]

I'm seriously considering it.

[George H]

BingoBob said:

I'm seriously considering it.

You're actually considering coming to the UK for a holiday? Why?!