Main Dealer - attempted rip off.
Discussion
No names...
However, main dealer of large car company, service advice. Need new brake and clutch fluid, arms have gone, possible new steering rack needed, front brakes advice is to replace disks.
Smelled a bit fishy at the time, no obvious play or handling issues. Anyhow, went elsewhere for MOT the other day... I mentioned all the items and asked for them to be specifically checked. The MOT station struggled to find any play on the front at all, possibly extremely minor amount on one side but not even worth advisory. discs less than 50% worn on the front. Changed fluids at my request but could have been left another service or two.
Said dealer will be getting a call from me on Monday...probably won't make any difference except they have lost one customer. I've heard plenty of stories about this in the past.. didn't realise how bad they can be.
However, main dealer of large car company, service advice. Need new brake and clutch fluid, arms have gone, possible new steering rack needed, front brakes advice is to replace disks.
Smelled a bit fishy at the time, no obvious play or handling issues. Anyhow, went elsewhere for MOT the other day... I mentioned all the items and asked for them to be specifically checked. The MOT station struggled to find any play on the front at all, possibly extremely minor amount on one side but not even worth advisory. discs less than 50% worn on the front. Changed fluids at my request but could have been left another service or two.
Said dealer will be getting a call from me on Monday...probably won't make any difference except they have lost one customer. I've heard plenty of stories about this in the past.. didn't realise how bad they can be.
Worked in main dealer's for 20 year's, always the same they want the money in your pocket, end of story, if the techs are on a bonus scheme it's even worse as targets are set for up selling services and goods, reason I left and went to the railways, fed up of having to rip people off to get a decent wage.
A lot of dealers will recommend things that will be due (in their opinion) before the next service. So with some cars being on 20k intervals brakes may be advised even though plenty of life in them currently. it would be interesting what they thought was wrong with the rack etc.
IMO main dealers are no better (sometimes worse) than decent indis who rely on building a business on trust.
I for one prefer my local indi, no coffee or pretty receptionists but you do get to speak to a bloke that knows about and works on cars.
IMO main dealers are no better (sometimes worse) than decent indis who rely on building a business on trust.
I for one prefer my local indi, no coffee or pretty receptionists but you do get to speak to a bloke that knows about and works on cars.
PurpleMoonlight said:
Strangely I've just had the opposite. Brake work that will need doing within the next 1000 miles that I would have preferred they told me so they could have done it while they had the car.
Now I have to book it in again in a few weeks time.
Funny old world huh.
But is it really.Now I have to book it in again in a few weeks time.
Funny old world huh.
Sadly have experienced similar things myself - all to frequently, so I now buy genuine parts and get a trusted mechanic to do the work.
Rates Ford (Thurrock / Grays) were an exception. They'd suggest what would need doing next time and give an idea of costs. Always did a great job and would even grease door catches properly.
Rates Ford (Thurrock / Grays) were an exception. They'd suggest what would need doing next time and give an idea of costs. Always did a great job and would even grease door catches properly.
G1ABB said:
discs less than 50% worn on the front.
Did anybody actually give any measurements...?G1ABB said:
Changed fluids at my request but could have been left another service or two.
How long since they were last changed? DOT fluid _should_ be changed every two years, because of the hygroscopic nature.I had this problem a few years ago. Three year old car went back to main dealer for MOT and service. Three recommendations were made (can't remember what exactly) that I was told needed attending to in the next 6 months or so. Next MOT and service the following year I took the car to a local garage and suggested they check these three advisories out as they probably needed doing now. I was told there was no problem with any of those things, and there wasn't for the next few years either!
With regard to long intervals and things like pads, a Renault dealer I once used was very fair. "Front pads are low-ish. Absolutely fine for now, but probably won't make it 18k til the next service. Tell you what, pop it back in in about 10,000 miles and we'll check them for you free of charge."
Amazingly I had one dealer try an pull one over me when I had already explained I actually worked for the manufacturer as a design engineer, I had already found the problem and had the relevant paperwork that proved 100% that the car had had an incorrect part fitted when built - a driveshaft.
Despite also looking on another car of the same model and showing that it had a different (and correct) driveshaft to mine, they still tried to tel me it didn't matter, and wasn't the cause of the symptom (a vibration) that alerted me to it in the first place.
I pointed out that they either did the job properly, or I would come back when they were busy and make a scene of the likes they hadn't seen before, and then I wouldn't phone the manufacturers customer care, I would personally walk in, and find the most senior person to make a complaint to.
I won that one ....
Despite also looking on another car of the same model and showing that it had a different (and correct) driveshaft to mine, they still tried to tel me it didn't matter, and wasn't the cause of the symptom (a vibration) that alerted me to it in the first place.
I pointed out that they either did the job properly, or I would come back when they were busy and make a scene of the likes they hadn't seen before, and then I wouldn't phone the manufacturers customer care, I would personally walk in, and find the most senior person to make a complaint to.
I won that one ....
Main dealer service is intended to keep you running for the next 10,000 miles without further maintenance. It's no surprise how often you hear people with a cheap indy complaining, "I only had the car serviced 3 months ago but now the brake pads need replacing". You can't have it both ways.
Friend took her 2009 car to main dealer for service, was told it will need new exhaust and rear shockers to pass next MOT.
Partner took for independent inspection day after - no issue with exhaust or shockers.
Partner returns to dealership at weekend (putting his rouge traders disguise on) and asks for car to be looked at as 'noise from exhaust' - different technician looks at car. No issue found.
Partner took for independent inspection day after - no issue with exhaust or shockers.
Partner returns to dealership at weekend (putting his rouge traders disguise on) and asks for car to be looked at as 'noise from exhaust' - different technician looks at car. No issue found.
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