Rads & Henley Heritage (& quality)
Discussion
Since I received such seasoned advice for my last post I am back.
Henley are telling me that when they got the car there was a small pool of coolant under the radiator, but they have since been unable to find a leak. They are electing to do nothing, unless I want to spend £400 replacing the rad (in addition to the £752 they are charging me for a 12K service and an additional £131 for replacing the clutch master cylinder).
My questions are:
1. Is there some simple and cheap solution to the rad problem that will save me breaking down on Dartmoor in the middle of the night?
2. Does this represent good value for a 12K service?
I am not against paying a premium for genuine service (of both the human and engineering variety), but it is certainly not true that you always get what you pay for. I have abandoned BMW official services for my 5 year old 328, because all the London dealers are useless - and damn snotty.
Incidentally I am surprised these pages are not used more for dealer comparison, as it is a potentially very painful part of TVR ownership. Is it taboo? I don't think it should be...
Apologies for waffling on
Cajun
Henley are telling me that when they got the car there was a small pool of coolant under the radiator, but they have since been unable to find a leak. They are electing to do nothing, unless I want to spend £400 replacing the rad (in addition to the £752 they are charging me for a 12K service and an additional £131 for replacing the clutch master cylinder).
My questions are:
1. Is there some simple and cheap solution to the rad problem that will save me breaking down on Dartmoor in the middle of the night?
2. Does this represent good value for a 12K service?
I am not against paying a premium for genuine service (of both the human and engineering variety), but it is certainly not true that you always get what you pay for. I have abandoned BMW official services for my 5 year old 328, because all the London dealers are useless - and damn snotty.
Incidentally I am surprised these pages are not used more for dealer comparison, as it is a potentially very painful part of TVR ownership. Is it taboo? I don't think it should be...
Apologies for waffling on
Cajun
cajun
Could the pool of water under the rad not just have been a gathering of rain water coming through the grill, or was it deff. coolant ? If so why not get the rad recored. I had my rad recored with a larger capacity and greater air flow core. Much improved temp control. All in, with 2yr warranty £120. ( not a dealer
)
As for the 12k service, no idea, a mate of mine with a garage did my last 12k service for £60 obviously plus parts. and I know the work has actualy been done !!
But reading many other threads on servcing probably about right for a thieving dealer job. Thats the price you pay for a stamp these days.
Could the pool of water under the rad not just have been a gathering of rain water coming through the grill, or was it deff. coolant ? If so why not get the rad recored. I had my rad recored with a larger capacity and greater air flow core. Much improved temp control. All in, with 2yr warranty £120. ( not a dealer
) As for the 12k service, no idea, a mate of mine with a garage did my last 12k service for £60
obviously plus parts. and I know the work has actualy been done !! But reading many other threads on servcing probably about right for a thieving dealer job. Thats the price you pay for a stamp these days.
Your expansion tank could have overflowed a little, creating the pool of coolant. I suggest not having the radiator done - then watch the coolant level like a hawk for a hundred miles.
Chimaera radiators do seem to go more often than many cars, but no point in doing this if it is not necessary.
I hope your service is a good one, main dealers are not exactly cheap these days.
T/.
Chimaera radiators do seem to go more often than many cars, but no point in doing this if it is not necessary.
I hope your service is a good one, main dealers are not exactly cheap these days.
T/.
These rad leaks don’t always show up on standard pressure tests (had mine done a few times by SERK’s who confirmed this) any reputable TVR dealer or specialist should also know this.
If a dealer sells a car knowing the rad is leaking (their admission) I’m amazed they wont replace it (in reality they’ll probably just re-core it) when you highlight it to them.
With regard your dealer service cost’s, all main dealers are expensive, but will give you the basic price in advance and should ask you before they commence any additional work.
As to value for money from Henley’s I couldn’t comment, but I’ve used TMS a few times, and yes they are expensive though I felt confident and happy that I got what I’d paid for, all things considered. I also bought my Griff from them which I soon discovered had a leaky rad, which they replaced no questions asked and no charge.
I’m quite confident in the mechanical condition of my car now and in future will probably not be using TMS any more purely on cost basis. From what I’ve read on these and other groups I shall most likely give Joospeed ring for my next service.
Cheers,
Simon.
If a dealer sells a car knowing the rad is leaking (their admission) I’m amazed they wont replace it (in reality they’ll probably just re-core it) when you highlight it to them.
With regard your dealer service cost’s, all main dealers are expensive, but will give you the basic price in advance and should ask you before they commence any additional work.
As to value for money from Henley’s I couldn’t comment, but I’ve used TMS a few times, and yes they are expensive though I felt confident and happy that I got what I’d paid for, all things considered. I also bought my Griff from them which I soon discovered had a leaky rad, which they replaced no questions asked and no charge.
I’m quite confident in the mechanical condition of my car now and in future will probably not be using TMS any more purely on cost basis. From what I’ve read on these and other groups I shall most likely give Joospeed ring for my next service.
Cheers,
Simon.
Howe can £750 be "good value" for what I imagine to be an Oil and Plugs change (a filter too perhaps), top up of fluids, and visual inspection of the car..??
Sounds like
daylight robbery to me... but I suppose I'm used to cheaper/older cars... 
I suppose in my mind I think, how longs it going to take... 3 hours max.. so thats £250 an hour.. BARGAIN!!!
Sounds like
daylight robbery to me... but I suppose I'm used to cheaper/older cars... I suppose in my mind I think, how longs it going to take... 3 hours max.. so thats £250 an hour.. BARGAIN!!!
Thats a coincidence. My Cerbera went in to Henley on Monday for a 24K service and they also found a pool of liquid under my radiator.
Noticed it going down a bit over the summer but nothing serious (about 3 litres in 3 months)
Thankfully mine should be covered by warranty though otherwise I was looking at £400 as well.
The radiator went less than 5000 miles agao as well so the warranty company might be getting a bit suspect soon!
Oh.. and don't ask how much a 24K service for a Cerbera is ! Not to mention the list as long as my arm of faults they've found with it... DOH !
Noticed it going down a bit over the summer but nothing serious (about 3 litres in 3 months)
Thankfully mine should be covered by warranty though otherwise I was looking at £400 as well.
The radiator went less than 5000 miles agao as well so the warranty company might be getting a bit suspect soon!
Oh.. and don't ask how much a 24K service for a Cerbera is
! Not to mention the list as long as my arm of faults they've found with it... DOH ! quote:
If a dealer sells a car knowing the rad is leaking (their admission) I’m amazed they wont replace it (in reality they’ll probably just re-core it) when you highlight it to them.
If you did buy the car from them then it must be of merchantable quality i.e. not having a leaky rad. How long ago did you get the car?
I had my Chimaera in for a 6000 mile service with Dave Batty recently, who did the required service, waxoyled my front wishbones, sorted out a few niggles for me, put the car through it's MOT and charged me £250-odd all-inclusive.
Considering Dave (and any other good independant for that matter) will do a better job than most dealers and really cares about the car, I think its a bit of a no-brainer deciding whether to go to a dealer or an independant.
When I come to sell the car I will use this argument with any potential purchaser who queries the fact that it "only" has a full independant service history and not a full dealer service history.
Besides, even if the car does fetch less at resale with an independant service history, I'd be prepared to bet that the difference in value would be less than the extra money spent on maintaining that dealer history.
Considering Dave (and any other good independant for that matter) will do a better job than most dealers and really cares about the car, I think its a bit of a no-brainer deciding whether to go to a dealer or an independant.
When I come to sell the car I will use this argument with any potential purchaser who queries the fact that it "only" has a full independant service history and not a full dealer service history.
Besides, even if the car does fetch less at resale with an independant service history, I'd be prepared to bet that the difference in value would be less than the extra money spent on maintaining that dealer history.
quote:
Incidentally I am surprised these pages are not used more for dealer comparison, as it is a potentially very painful part of TVR ownership. Is it taboo? I don't think it should be...
Cajun, the reason dealer comparisons don't take place is that it's a very subjective thing. There are good and bad stories about each dealer which get exaggerated/mistold and before you know it you've got a lawsuit on your hands for libel. Hence I ask that people contact each other offline to discuss more contentious (sp?) items.
quote:
Take it to Thames Valley Racetech, just up the road from Henley in Sonning Common. 0118 972 3153.
Did that with mine as I wasn't happy with the brake pedal feel after a 6K dealer service. Can't recommend highly enough. They spotted a slight missfire missed by the dealer, identified some drive shaft bolts loose (sticking out half an inch) missed by the dealer and on checking the brake pads noticed 2 were split in half.
New pads all round, the above sort and brake fluid changed to AP 600 race stuff £220 in VAT.
Oh and offered free checs on the car before any track days to ensure all was A OK.
PS. I won't be going back to the dealer again (5 year relationship down the pan)
>> Edited by adamb on Thursday 19th September 12:31
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