Does it ever end.

Tr1p

Tr1p

Tr1p

Associate
Joined
20 May 2009
Posts
303
Took my car to the garage today and had a full service and cambelt change done, when they were doing the service they replaced a dipped beam bulb which was an extra £20 so the total came to £481 :(.

Not only this, but next month, the MOT and TAX are due and the garage gave me a list of work that needs doing which includes 3 new tires, a new strut bar as ones leaking, brake pads as there 95% worn on the front and a few other little bits and bobs. Comes to £526 to get this work done.

So next month, it's probably going to cost me the price of a MOT at £60, parts and labour £526, TAX for 6 months at ~£145. A few months back it cost me £200 to get a new exhaust from the catalytic converter back. Shocking thing is, the car has been well looked after before I bought it with a full service history and only every failing 2 MOT's in it's 9 year life. Just decides it wants to throw the bills at me now :(.
 
Tr1p said:
...a new strut bar as ones leaking...
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Say what now?

I can sympathise though. My 11 year old A3 was as good as gold for about 18 months, just needing MOT and servicing. Then just before christmas last year she whacked me with a £700 bill for a new sump and other shenanegans. You just have to look at it as x months (hopefully) free motoring between bills.

Anyway, only muppets buy used cars. New cars are far more economical ;)
 
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Tr1p said:
Took my car to the garage today and had a full service and cambelt change done, when they were doing the service they replaced a dipped beam bulb which was an extra £20 so the total came to £481 :(.

Not only this, but next month, the MOT and TAX are due and the garage gave me a list of work that needs doing which includes 3 new tires, a new strut bar as ones leaking, brake pads as there 95% worn on the front and a few other little bits and bobs. Comes to £526 to get this work done.

So next month, it's probably going to cost me the price of a MOT at £60, parts and labour £526, TAX for 6 months at ~£145. A few months back it cost me £200 to get a new exhaust from the catalytic converter back. Shocking thing is, the car has been well looked after before I bought it with a full service history and only every failing 2 MOT's in it's 9 year life. Just decides it wants to throw the bills at me now :(.
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shocking that a 9yr old car needs a cambelt service/new tyres/brake pads/exhaust and some tax ?
 
It's not shocking, it's just all the bills come at once and when I don't have thousands of pounds saved because of other things, it's just a little bit annoying.

Cars a Fiat Brava 1.6, 104,000 miles.
 
If they're charging £20 for a light bulb, maybe look the get the MOT done else where.

Is this with the official Fiat dealership?
 
Tr1p said:
It's not shocking, it's just all the bills come at once and when I don't have thousands of pounds saved because of other things, it's just a little bit annoying.

Cars a Fiat Brava 1.6, 104,000 miles.
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tyres/pads/cambelt services/tax don't just spring out from no where you must have had some idea the bills were comming and saved a bit ?
 
Lethal' said:
£20 for a bulb is pretty shocking
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I know it is, but they had done it and saves me doing it ;)

Anyway some guy at work paid £40 for one bulb on his 02 plate Clio. That's shocking!

G J said:
Is this with the official Fiat dealership?
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It was with a Alfa/Fiat/Audi specialist. Heard good things about them so used them.

mattx2 said:
tyres/pads/cambelt services/tax don't just spring out from no where you must have had some idea the bills were comming and saved a bit ?
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Actually the tyres were done about a year ago and the pads around the same time, it's in the service history so didn't think the pads would be 95% worn. Suppose as said, once all the works done won't have to worry about the bills for a little while after. Plan on getting rid in ~June next year.
 
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Tr1p said:
I know it is, but they had done it and saves me doing it ;)

Anyway some guy at work paid £40 for one bulb on his 02 plate Clio. That's shocking!
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Bulbs cost a couple of pound. Halfords will fit it for a couple of pounds. If it's not a HID or similar then you just paid £20 for a £2 bulb.
 
There's places round here that advertise them for £35 so might give them a try. Can just see it coming back with loads of faults knowing my luck :D
 
Tr1p said:
Took my car to the garage today and had a full service and cambelt change done, when they were doing the service they replaced a dipped beam bulb which was an extra £20 so the total came to £481 :(.
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Presumably they told you the bulb needed replacing and got your consent before replacing it? Any garage that did extra work on my car without letting me know (and then promptly billing me for additional costs after) wouldn't be getting my business again.
 
Personally i would say two things,
The first being that a 1.6 Fiat Bravo is not a car i would run with that sort of mileage & secondly your Garage is having your pants down.
Just my opinion of course. :)
 
The tyres, why don't you look at them once in a while and it then gives you some idea of when they need changing or if they are legal/safe to drive on ;)

Same with the pads, if you can see them through the spokes of the wheels then its even easier you don't even need any tools, just an eye.
 
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