Good garages do exist!

thecremeegg · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:01

Well as a few may be aware, I started a thread last week regarding changing of brake fluid. I got all prepared for it and then couldnt get the nipples undone

Got fed up so took it to the local garage that I've never used before and they said fine we'll do the change for you.

I went armed with my 4 litres of brake fluid from Halfrauds and they went ahead and did the job in about 30 mins or so. When it came down to payment the manager just said if you let us keep the fluid then we'll call it quits! So I got it all changed for just the cost of the fluid, so £15 or so.

Needless to say I'm very happy and will likely be going there again. So good to see that decent garages do exist

Matt82 · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:03

fantastic.

name and shame!

bleeding brakes shouldnt take a long time with the right equpiment

Firestar_3x · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:04

Depends on the brake system, having the car on ramps makes it 20 billion times faster.

Jez · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:17

Forgive my mechanical n00bness, but why would they want the used brake fluid as payment? :confused:

Vigoro · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:19

Jez said:
Forgive my mechanical n00bness, but why would they want the used brake fluid as payment?

Probably means the unused stuff that didnt go into the car

Chris1712 · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:28

Anyone know respectable garages in Bristol? Yet to find one after 3 years living here

.

The Running Man · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:31

my garage is awesome. he';s an ex toyota mechanic, who also used to work on land rovers... so he now does my dads series 3 ex MOD land rover, and looks after my T sport, he used to own a T sport and has done lots of really cruddy jobs for me for not that much money, such as: swap motormounts, he failed the first time as i needed a facelift rear, so i bought that and he fitted it for no extra cost on a seperate occasion! (and the rear is a PITA the gearbox is meant to be removed etc!)

he works out about £25 per hour max and he's friendly and willing to discuss his cars. he's a biker, and builds trikes in his spare time. he also has an old celica GT4 sat in his yard ...

Chris1712 · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:32

Nickg said:
my garage is awesome. he';s an ex toyota mechanic, who also used to work on land rovers... so he now does my dads series 3 ex MOD land rover, and looks after my T sport, he used to own a T sport and has done lots of really cruddy jobs for me for not that much money, such as: swap motormounts, he failed the first time as i needed a facelift rear, so i bought that and he fitted it for no extra cost on a seperate occasion! (and the rear is a PITA the gearbox is meant to be removed etc!)

he works out about £25 per hour max and he's friendly and willing to discuss his cars. he's a biker, and builds trikes in his spare time. he also has an old celica GT4 sat in his yard ...

As a fellow T-Sport owner, I feel you must divulge this information and have him open up a Bristol branch

.

thecremeegg · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:34

Jez said:
Forgive my mechanical n00bness, but why would they want the used brake fluid as payment?

The unused stuff I meant

I had 4 litres of it, they didnt need it all

Chris1712 said:
Anyone know respectable garages in Bristol? Yet to find one after 3 years living here .

If you travel to the outskirts of Bristol/Bath where I am then you'll find one or two. The one I used today was Timsbury Service Station

Clarkey · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:36

Vigoro said:
Probably means the unused stuff that didnt go into the car

Indeed, 4 litres is way too much. I changed my fluid last week, used less than 500ml.

Matt82 · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:40

i put some ATE blue stuff in my golf last year. the whole system was about 800ml and you know exactly when the new stuff comes out because it comes out blue

Westyfield2 · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:44

My local one is really good too. Combe Down garage (Bath). Loads of the Westfield club have started using them too now.

There's a few of us Bath/Bristol folks in this thread! *Waves*

Jez · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:46

thecremeegg said:
The unused stuff I meant I had 4 litres of it, they didnt need it all

If you travel to the outskirts of Bristol/Bath where I am then you'll find one or two. The one I used today was Timsbury Service Station

Ah ok, i didn't realise that the capacity of the systems are so small

Cyanide · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:47

My local garage is great too. Took the Prelude in a coupe of weeks ago and they did the cambelt, water pump, coolant (it's a pig to bleed), alternator belt, p/s belt and an oil+filter change for £100 labour. I got the parts myself, totalling £140. Great deal

Matt82 · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:51

crikey... oh for sensible cars! the cambelt bits on mine cost more than £140 by themselves!!

thecremeegg · 1 Feb 2010 at 16:59

Jez said:
Ah ok, i didn't realise that the capacity of the systems are so small

Nor did I which is why I bought so much of the stuff

The Running Man · 1 Feb 2010 at 18:02

Chris1712 said:
As a fellow T-Sport owner, I feel you must divulge this information and have him open up a Bristol branch .

lol he's pretty much a one man band. up Chadderton way near Manchester if you ever really need a dab hand to take a look at your motor.

Ev0 · 1 Feb 2010 at 18:10

It's nice when you find a garage you actually trust. The guy I've been going to for the last 5 years or so is great.

The Running Man · 1 Feb 2010 at 18:55

yea theres acually a car garage about 50 yards across the road from my house but they dont give me much time, and they always leave my car in till last thing even when i drop it off at 9am or whatever...so ive just sacked them off completely...

id prefer to drive out for 10-15mins, pay a taxi home and know my car is in good hands.

Nick1881 · 1 Feb 2010 at 19:00

My dad is a mechanic so he does all my work, unless he makes me do it myself.

He is the most honest mechanic you will ever meet, he is also an ex engineer and a bit of a perfectionist who takes pride in his work. I wouldn't want anyone else touching my car even if I had to pay my dad more than any where else lol.