Always get a second opinion

Third Opinion · 19 Jun 2013 at 22:14

[TW]Fox;24481572 said:
The fact there is any doubt sums up whats such a minefield about garages. There should be no question of the customer paying surely?

Absolutely agree. I will also add that just because a garage has treated you well once, doesn't mean they will every time.

I find main dealers good until warranties run out or the car gets older than 4-5 years (older with some marques). They will use the service side to try and drum up a new sale.

Another problem I find with most garages, dealers or not is they prefer to just service cars, the most profitable part. Like with my sisters Nissan it kept ending up at the back of the queue because they wanted the money from the services booked in or being booked in.

Two, three or four hours labour fitting a part is still probably far less profitable than 2 annual services.

Minefield is the correct word. I also find the comical huffing and puffing when they look at a fault with you still apparent.

I trained as a technician 20 years ago with Volvo. I got out after 3 years, but I became more than accustomed to the sexing up of job sheets on older cars to make the car look uneconomical to repair.

Kenai · 19 Jun 2013 at 22:35

[TW]Fox;24481572 said:
The fact there is any doubt sums up whats such a minefield about garages. There should be no question of the customer paying surely?

Well in the case of the coilpack, it'll probably save him changing it when would have broken in the next 3 months anyway

Fuzz · 19 Jun 2013 at 22:36

[TW]Fox;24481572 said:
The fact there is any doubt sums up whats such a minefield about garages. There should be no question of the customer paying surely?

Not the customer no, it's either me or the boss

Jonny ///M · 20 Jun 2013 at 12:12

Can't you just put the old one back on and keep the known good coil pack as a tester for the future?

The last thing stupid fault finding mission ended up being a completely different part even though all signs pointed to something else.

We just did the part at trade+vat and I think brought the bill down to just above breaking even on it.

Skilid · 20 Jun 2013 at 12:22

You're always going to get good and bad indy's. You're always going to get good and bad dealers.

Atari · 20 Jun 2013 at 12:31

My BMW 'specialist' garage did an Inspection II on my 330i. It didn't need it but the car was new to me so I figured I'd just get it done. I ended up paying just under £300.

Two weeks later when we changed the rocker cover gasket, we realised the spark plugs hadn't been changed, coolant hadn't been changed, cabin filters hadn't been changed, and the oil didn't look anywhere near new (though I can't say the didn't change it as the colour doesn't really indicate its new-ness). On top of that, it came back with a ruptured expansion tank - which the 'specialist' seemed to know all about before I'd even mentioned it. They also went ahead and changed the rear brake pads without telling me beforehand even though I knew they were good.

The only thing they seem to have changed is the air filter and screen wash was topped up.

For this wonderful service, I paid £290 for 'Inspection II and brake pads', and further £120 for the expansion tank + labour.

And to think these guys are one of the most well known BMW independents in Birmingham.

Dogbreath · 20 Jun 2013 at 12:32

jumpy said:
Steering rack? Didn't think the range rovers had a conventional steering rack... unless it one of those new ones?
Good result on the local garage knowing what they're doing.

The classic Rangie had a steering box but the later ones had a conventional hydraulic power assisted rack.

FWIW a worn rack certainly can give the symptoms that Rilot noticed. Either the ball joints on the ends of the tie rods can wear, or the bushes that the rack slides within can wear giving rattling and loose steering.

jaybee · 20 Jun 2013 at 12:44

My cars visit mechanics for two reasons:

1: MOTs
2: When I CBA to do the work myself.

I've ran cars for 10+ years learning to do things myself because I just generally find them rip off merchants. If a car goes in for something, it's usually a case of "hi, please fit this to my car". I also refuse to pay them for troubleshooting problems anymore. I can find out more in an hour using a code reader, google and forums than a garage can in a day a lot of the time. Recent example, phoned Vauxhall and explained some symptoms to them of which even they themselves had "never seen before sir". 10 minute search on an internet forum and I had found the exact same symptoms as my car with full details and diagrams on how to fit the failed sensor and where to get it.

Third Opinion · 20 Jun 2013 at 14:36

jaybee said:
My cars visit mechanics for two reasons:

1: MOTs
2: When I CBA to do the work myself.

I've ran cars for 10+ years learning to do things myself because I just generally find them rip off merchants. If a car goes in for something, it's usually a case of "hi, please fit this to my car". I also refuse to pay them for troubleshooting problems anymore. I can find out more in an hour using a code reader, google and forums than a garage can in a day a lot of the time. Recent example, phoned Vauxhall and explained some symptoms to them of which even they themselves had "never seen before sir". 10 minute search on an internet forum and I had found the exact same symptoms as my car with full details and diagrams on how to fit the failed sensor and where to get it.

Garages round here refuse to take the fault codes I supply and insist using their own software (even though I use the same one). So the whack that diagnostic on from the beginning.

A little old lady down the road asked for my assistance as the rear suspension dropped on her old immaculate Metro. I jacked it up to find the pipe had spilt between the rear displacers on the hydrolastic suspension. I drove it too the local village garage and said what it needed, a bit of brake pipe and recharging.

When I went to pick it up I was amazed they charged her £400 saying they had dismantled the displacers as they couldn't find the leak. My protests fell on deaf ears and she spent over a months pension on it. Really angry to be honest as the split in the pipe was so obvious.

fonzee · 20 Jun 2013 at 16:48

exactly why i do my own work.

motor trade is full of too much BS for me to waste my hard earned on. rather do it myself and know its done right.

jaybee said:
I can find out more in an hour using a code reader, google and forums than a garage can in a day a lot of the time.

amen

Flibster · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:00

My car only goes to the local dealer. Don't trust anyone else with it.

It's where the car was bought and it's got a complete dealer service history as well, so they know it.

Other reason is, not many rotary specialists around here.

Fuzz · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:11

Jonny ///M said:
Can't you just put the old one back on and keep the known good coil pack as a tester for the future?

The last thing stupid fault finding mission ended up being a completely different part even though all signs pointed to something else.

We just did the part at trade+vat and I think brought the bill down to just above breaking even on it.

The new one is being sent back to the supplier. I'm off the hook, haha

Rilot · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:22

Jez said:
Hows the thing treating you anyway Rilot?

I am only averaging 22mpg

It's great. Such a lovely drive and it's awesome to not have to worry about the state of our roads. The Rangie just glides over everything.

22mpg is better than me. I'm averaging 17mpg at the moment. I see 22mpg on a long motorway run.... maybe.....

Jez · 20 Jun 2013 at 19:19

Yep, its amazing being in one of the biggest and smoothest cars on the roads

I drive like an utter grandad, and use a lot of motorways. That explains that difference. 17 is pretty bad

#Chri5# · 20 Jun 2013 at 19:43

[TW]Fox;24480275 said:
It seems to be the prevailing opinion online that indy = amazing and dealer = scum but to be honest I've long found that there is just as much if not more variability in competency with indys as there is with dealers. They just seem so spout all sorts and expect you to take the garages word for it as they are 'a specialist'.

Indeed. I had my Saab at the dealer yesterday for an hour and they fixed a couple of bits. The cost? £0.00

Samueltastic · 20 Jun 2013 at 22:56

Friend of mine had an similar experience. He has a Mazda 6 2ltr tdi. puddle of oil on the drive. Takes it to Mazda garage £1000 (mostly man hours) repair to replace a return hose from the turbo (really awkward place apparently).

Tell him to go to a garage I use just out of town, £150.

Gaijin · 21 Jun 2013 at 08:22

It's also worth mentioning that sometimes even the best places have bad days.

Doesn't take much to trash a reputation these days!