At what point do you call it quits on a car?

[Raymond Lin]

It's hilarious what a garage will rape you for these days!
I bet they're pulling the old "we only fit parts we supply cause we get a backhanded cut on the mark up on that too" routine...

It's mental when you think for your price you could have serviced it yourself and bought the top mounts/service parts and some decent £1200-1400 coilovers - not that you'd want coilovers on a car like that, but it is still insane that you 'could' pay that disgusting amount they're quoting you for far less quality/amount of parts which are just being chucked on 83k old shocks that WILL still blow/leak/fail soon, then have to take them apart and rebuild them with new shocks again so it passes the next mot/is safe.

I never cease to get a kick out of how much I save whenever I do anything on my cars, even if the job is a pig it's always worth it, personally I like treating myself to new tools with the money I save in labour, and still having extra money left afterwards. Once you have a nice selection of manual and electric/air tools, you can pretty much do anything, then you just need to learn to weld/have a mate who does and you can keep anything forever.

On the contrary, I insisted on OEM parts. It's not "we only fit parts we supply". I thought about going for these coil overs or any other 3rd party. But since I like how the car rides with OEM, I wanted to stick with OEM, not just in spec, but Volvo part.

I know you can work on your own car, but in this case, I would be spending hundreds and hundreds...what tools would I need starting from ZERO to lift the car, take off all the bolts, springs, and put it back together? I need a jack, do springs just go on or would I need to get some compressor thing? Are those like £20?

So I did consider which part I want, I did think about what tools I need and came to the conclusion that the tools that I need would cost more than the labour. That is before tackling the job....never even changed a tyre in my life!

 

[Removed User 345456]

Personally I don't see the issue with the repair bill - it's age related suspension components that almost any car of the same age could need.

You'd need to spend considerably more than £1900 to get something else reliable that doesn't also run the risk of age related repairs

But as an example of how bad he's being scammed here, the OP could buy a set of coilovers that come with top mounts/new dampers/bushings etc etc and the filters/fluids and have a mate do it for some beer money for that price, and still have warranty on the better grade parts...

I'm not saying that he should, but for that money it is mental to think he's 'only' getting some random brand ford/volvo springs/top mounts and some fluid and filter for that...

In the OP's situation not being handy with the tools, I'd just get the Eibach springs/source top mounts/fluids/filter and pay a mate/find a garage that will fit customer supplied parts.

IF he pays that just to fit springs/top mounts to 83k old shocks, they'll still have to be refitted to a new set of shocks again when they inevitably fail, thus making his car unsafe/not MOT'able, and costing his over a grand in labour to rebuild the suspension again with new dampers... Pointless.

 

[Raymond Lin]

But as an example of how bad he's being scammed here, the OP could buy a set of coilovers that come with top mounts/new dampers/bushings etc etc and the filters/fluids and have a mate do it for some beer money for that price, and still have warranty on the better grade parts...

I'm not saying that he should, but for that money it is mental to think he's 'only' getting some random brand ford/volvo springs/top mounts and some fluid and filter for that...

In the OP's situation not being handy with the tools, I'd just get the Eibach springs/source top mounts/fluids/filter and pay a mate/find a garage that will fit customer supplied parts.

IF he pays that just to fit springs/top mounts to 83k old shocks, they'll still have to be refitted to a new set of shocks again when they inevitably fail, thus making his car unsafe/not MOT'able, and costing his over a grand in labour to rebuild the suspension again with new dampers... Pointless.

I repeat again, I specifically do not want coilovers. I specifically wanted OEM Volvo parts. So you can stop using coilovers as an alternative as it was not an option. Not sure where these "mates" you are talking about are...none of my mates are into cars, or a mechanic.

 

[jpaul]

on 83k old shocks that WILL(e:may) still blow/leak/fail soon

yes although he qualified just springs surprised it wasn't the 'complimentary' shocks at same time ... what would have been additional cost ...
that would really rejuvinate handling

 

[Removed User 345456]

On the contrary, I insisted on OEM parts. It's not "we only fit parts we supply". I thought about going for these coil overs or any other 3rd party. But since I like how the car rides with OEM, I wanted to stick with OEM, not just in spec, but Volvo part.

I know you can work on your own car, but in this case, I would be spending hundreds and hundreds...what tools would I need starting from ZERO to lift the car, take off all the bolts, springs, and put it back together? I need a jack, do springs just go on or would I need to get some compressor thing? Are those like £20?

So I did consider which part I want, I did think about what tools I need and came to the conclusion that the tools that I need would cost more than the labour. That is before tackling the job....never even changed a tyre in my life!

That's a very misinformed opinion on coilovers. You can choose multiple spring rates, anything from soft asf to stiff asf, oem or anywhere in between. And obviously set the ride height to whatever you like be it oem or lower.

If you ring Driftworks for example, they literally sell a set of HSD Dualtech coilovers for £695 which are 14 way dampening adjustable so you can literally soften/stiffen them up however you want on each corner and come with a fully assembled coilover, which is obviously height/dampening adjustable and comes with posh top mounts...

HSD Dualtech Coilovers Volvo C30 06-13

What's in the box? 4 x Dualtech coilovers 2 x C spanners 1 x Set of fitting instructions 2 x HSD stickersKIT FEATURES:Spring Rate: Front: 8K (150mm - 65mm ID) / Rear: 6K (150mm - 65mm ID)Adjustment: Height & DampingFitment Info Compatible with all Volvo C30 except AWD

www.driftworks.com

Or they sell HSD monopro's for £840-860 which come with everything you'll need and have 16 way adjustable dampening and other benefits over the Dualtech's.

HSD MonoPro Coilovers Volvo C30 06-13

What's in the box? 4 x MonoPro coilovers 2 x C spanners 1 x Set of fitting instructions 2 x HSD stickersKIT FEATURES:Spring Rate: Front: 8K (150mm - 65mm ID) / Rear: 6K (150mm - 65mm ID)Adjustment: Height, Damping & Front CamberFitment Info Compatible with all Volvo C30 except AWD

www.driftworks.com

AND they even did a how to fit guide awhile ago on youtube which covers your C30 and other models (as they'll either use literally the same suspension design/process as with the fords)

Fitting Volvo V50 HSD Coilover Suspension - Also C30 S40 C70 and Ford Focus Mk2

We fit a set of our HSD coilover suspension to Starkeys Volvo V50. This process is the same for Ford Focus Mk2 (inc ST) Volvo C30, S40, C70 and Mazda 3.►Buy ...

www.youtube.com

You could do this easily with a basic jack borrowed off a friend and a halfords toolkit, which is lifetime guarantied and very good entry level stuff that wont just round everything you touch and you can take any of their tools with a receipt to any Halfords and they'll just go grab you a new one no questions asked - I'm not a fan of Halfords but their tools are decent for the competitive price to start you off.

IF you ring Driftworks, try and speak to Alex, if he still works there, they're all VERY knowledgable regarding spring rates/parts knowledge as they are with wheels/fitment and will just work magic for someone like you who's less informed.
They carry the largest selection of springs in the country to my knowledge and will happily for a bit extra spec something more to your specific requirements despite what the item listing might say on the website, literally just ring and ask, their customer service is outstanding!

FWIW I used to run stupidly stiff expensive coilovers on my driftcar that I dailied for years and I'd simply pop the bonnet/boot turn the adjuster on each shock (takes seconds) count the clicks and set them to how I wanted and then adjust them when driven harder, it takes genuinely seconds...
If I was for example driving hours on a motorway to see friends, I'd simply set them to full soft, and those cars were slammed with poly bushes and you would never know I was running 3 times the factory spring rate, thanks to how well designed the shocks/valving/dampening/springs are and the adjustability. It also never once bottomed out.

I would do coilovers they will **** on anything you regard as good handling and you'll never look back! As YOU can set them up however you want.

OR simply get Eibach springs, new shocks like Sachs (well made german stuff like Eibach) and matching top mounts and buy a £60 set of spring clamps off ebay etc and do it myself with a £150-200 Halfords tool kit and a basic jack Or buy the parts and pay a mate/garage that accepts fitting parts. then it's ALL new going on wether you go coilies or not.

Do it ONCE do it right, those stock shocks WILL fail soon on that mileage/age and you WILL fail mot/get mist/oil everywhere and pay twice to swap everything to new shocks again. **** that!

Either way gives you multiple options. Hope this helps.

 

[Delta3D]

That's astronomical costs for springs, top mounts and service.

I'd have been shocked at anything above £6-700 tops.

 

[Raymond Lin]

That's a very misinformed opinion on coilovers. You can choose multiple spring rates, anything from soft asf to stiff asf, oem or anywhere in between. And obviously set the ride height to whatever you like be it oem or lower.

If you ring Driftworks for example, they literally sell a set of HSD Dualtech coilovers for £695 which are 14 way dampening adjustable so you can literally soften/stiffen them up however you want on each corner and come with a fully assembled coilover, which is obviously height/dampening adjustable and comes with posh top mounts...

HSD Dualtech Coilovers Volvo C30 06-13

What's in the box? 4 x Dualtech coilovers 2 x C spanners 1 x Set of fitting instructions 2 x HSD stickersKIT FEATURES:Spring Rate: Front: 8K (150mm - 65mm ID) / Rear: 6K (150mm - 65mm ID)Adjustment: Height & DampingFitment Info Compatible with all Volvo C30 except AWD

www.driftworks.com

Or they sell HSD monopro's for £840-860 which come with everything you'll need and have 16 way adjustable dampening and other benefits over the Dualtech's.

HSD MonoPro Coilovers Volvo C30 06-13

What's in the box? 4 x MonoPro coilovers 2 x C spanners 1 x Set of fitting instructions 2 x HSD stickersKIT FEATURES:Spring Rate: Front: 8K (150mm - 65mm ID) / Rear: 6K (150mm - 65mm ID)Adjustment: Height, Damping & Front CamberFitment Info Compatible with all Volvo C30 except AWD

www.driftworks.com

AND they even did a how to fit guide awhile ago on youtube which covers your C30 and other models (as they'll either use literally the same suspension design/process as with the fords)

Fitting Volvo V50 HSD Coilover Suspension - Also C30 S40 C70 and Ford Focus Mk2

We fit a set of our HSD coilover suspension to Starkeys Volvo V50. This process is the same for Ford Focus Mk2 (inc ST) Volvo C30, S40, C70 and Mazda 3.►Buy ...

www.youtube.com

You could do this easily with a basic jack borrowed off a friend and a halfords toolkit, which is lifetime guarantied and very good entry level stuff that wont just round everything you touch and you can take any of their tools with a receipt to any Halfords and they'll just go grab you a new one no questions asked - I'm not a fan of Halfords but their tools are decent for the competitive price to start you off.

IF you ring Driftworks, try and speak to Alex, if he still works there, they're all VERY knowledgable regarding spring rates/parts knowledge as they are with wheels/fitment and will just work magic for someone like you who's less informed. They carry the largest selection of springs in the country to my knowledge and will happily for a bit extra spec something more to your specific requirements despite what the item listing might say on the website, literally just ring and ask, their customer service is outstanding!

FWIW I used to run stupidly stiff expensive coilovers on my driftcar that I dailed for years and I'd simply pop the bonnet/boot turn the adjuster on each shock (takes seconds) count the clicks and set them to how I wanted and then adjust them when driven harder, it takes genuinely seconds, if I was for example driving hours on a motorway to see friends, I'd simply set them to full soft, and those cars were slammed with poly bushes and you would never know I was running 3 times the factory spring rate, thanks to how well designed the shocks/valving/dampening/springs are and the adjustability. It also never once bottomed out.

I would do this, or simply get Eibachs, new shocks like Sachs (well made german stuff like Eibach) and matching top mounts and buy a £60 set of spring clamps off ebay etc and do it myself with a £150-200 Halfords tool kit and a basic jack Or buy the parts and pay a mate/garage that accepts fitting parts. then it's ALL new going on wether you go coilies or not.

Either way gives you multiple options mate. Hope this helps.

Thank you but your post doesn't help as none of them are STOCK or OEM, I don't know how else to say it for the 3rd time for you to understand, am I not saying it right? I wanted stock Volvo parts.

 

[nlel1975]

Thank you but your post doesn't help as none of them are STOCK or OEM, I don't know how else to say it for the 3rd time for you to understand, am I not saying it right? I wanted stock Volvo parts.

Don’t worry mate some people who can do this kind of stuff themselves or have mates who can help them are bound to make it sound easy and that you are being ripped off. If they can do it themselves at a fraction of the cost them fair play to them, we’re not all in that position.

 

[Raymond Lin]

That's astronomical costs for springs, top mounts and service.

I'd have been shocked at anything above £6-700 tops.

It was until you realise stock Volvo parts are expensive. The parts alone is like £800..and since I wanted to keep the car stock...what else should I do? Get 3rd party parts and pretend it's stock? Then I have to declare the mods to insurance and all that stuff. I am going into this eyes open, Volvo parts are not cheap, and I don't want 3rd party coilovers.

 

[Removed User 345456]

Thank you but your post doesn't help as none of them are STOCK or OEM, I don't know how else to say it for the 3rd time for you to understand, am I not saying it right? I wanted stock Volvo parts.

Why though? For what reason? Insurance not allow mods? They WILL be a worse quality spring/shock than a Bilstein/Sachs/Eibach shock and spring combo? Are you misled into think this will hurt resale or for some reason not last as long?

If you're whiling to waste triple the price on OEM then I guess I can't help you. Seems pointless though. Especially when for that price the added insult you could have very nice coilovers that would outlast the car and mean it's adjustable.

Or just save a bomb and buy better spring/shock combo and have like £500-800 sat in your pocket towards either some tools or labour and still have money left after, and a lot of it.

Either way I'd look into seeing if you can source the OEM parts elsewhere and do it yourself with the aforementioned video guide I've provided/tools you can buy, as you did ask me earlier how hard it'd be. No matter what you do you'll save a stupid amount doing it yourself.

As for a service you should at the very least do this yourself as decent oil will only cost you at worst £60-80 for 6Litres and filters are around £15 depending on which your service bothers to change, a drain pan is again about £12-20 on ebay for a 12L one, a basic jack around £60, and you'd only need basic spanner/socket to undo a sump plug/undo the undertrays...

 

[Demon]

I think the point people are making is that as your car gets older, there is more of a case to be more 'savvy' with parts and just repairs in general.

This all factors in to decisions on 'when to quit'..

An example:
- I wanted to refresh my suspension on my E46 M3 - Main Dealer and Indy wanted £2800+ for all 4 control arms, track rods, springs, shocks, mounts etc..
I went to ECP, bought lemforder control arms, drop links and track rods, sourced Bilstein OEM rate B4 shocks and springs for a total of £650. I paid a specialist garage to fit them for £300

So £2800 vs £950 - this hugely factored in to me getting that work done and what was appropriate to spend on the car.. if every bill was £2800 then I may have considered letting the car go..

No mates involved, no manual labour required, just finding a garage happy to fit parts with no 'warranty' which I had no problems doing.

You do not have to declare OEM spec parts to insurance..

Personally I shop around a bit, I don't always buy my own parts, I'm happy for garages to supply/fit if I think they are being reasonable, but then I also check out what parts are of suitable quality, that might be looking at who makes the OEM part and seeing if they do an identical non-branded version..

The reason I do this is simple, I've seen some horrific gouging of prices by garages time and time again..
Often I'd ask for a quote, they've quote be say £1000 for a small job, and I see the ECP van pulling up outside dropping off parts, so I know they use ECP, I just check the ECP website and find the exact part the garage is going to fit (or if they claim OEM, phone the mail dealer and check prices) and often they are doubling parts prices, then adding VAT on top of that.. And they buy the parts cheaper then I can, which is even more of a mark up..

A lot of garages are just in this period of being able to blatantly inflate prices beyond what is reasonable and people tend to accept it..

Surprisingly there are times main dealers are cheaper than indy's.. I generally check and there is often no excuse..

 

[Raymond Lin]

Why though? For what reason?

Because I want to keep the car stock.

Is that not reason enough?

 

[Removed User 345456]

Don’t worry mate some people who can do this kind of stuff themselves or have mates who can help them are bound to make it sound easy and that you are being ripped off. If they can do it themselves at a fraction of the cost them fair play to them, we’re not all in that position.

Everyone has to learn how to do anything what are you talking about?

If you can afford to waste that kind of money then you are being ripped of and you are in the position to learn if you're whiling to spend £1900 on service and to swap 4 springs, you can easily afford reasonable tools/a jack and the parts be it OEM or aftermarket. And STILL have hundreds left in your pocket and tools left to use in the future for further saving.

What an ignorant mindset. I spose we just naturally can build PC's without learning as with anything else in life yeah? I even provided a video of how to do it on the floor or with a lift.

 

[nlel1975]

Building a PC is a hundred times easier than doing mechanical work to a car.

 

[Removed User 345456]

Because I want to keep the car stock.

Is that not reason enough?

So then take the last option I just suggested instead of being selective with your replies, and just buy the parts elsewhere OEM and do it yourself or get quotes elsewhere from garages that will fit parts you supply.

You will save a killing.

You literally asked me earlier how hard it'd be to do with basic tools yourself, I answered that. That applies to fitting springs/shocks/top mounts or coilies, it makes no difference you still have to fully remove the stock units/reassemble them or build new ones and refit, the same as fitting a coilover that comes prebuilt and just needs adjusting, so regardless be it oem/aftermarket/fully rebuilt, the process is the same...

Considering you asked how hard it'd be, I thought you could be tempted to buy some basic tools and save a killing and have said tools to do future things and build up your confidence? That applies to OEM or anything you fit? I mean you are literally whiling to burn £1900 on basic labour/parts at a horrific inflation. So why not give it a go yourself and get the satisfaction/saving of doing it yourself and the bonus of tools to use for various future things? Can't loose.

 

[Removed User 345456]

Building a PC is a hundred times easier than doing mechanical work to a car.

To who? That's ridiculous statement to make!

I know mechanics who cannot do anything with PC's let alone build one! So they're thick are they?

If you can build lego, take apart anything from a radio as a kid to fixing a pushbike/skateboard it is all relative and learnable, the fact in seconds I could link the video how to do it on or off a ramp proves how easy anyone can learn anything without training/knowledge just via YT or google. You make zero sense.

 

[lordrobs]

Totally get wanting to stay OEM spec but can't get my head around why they have to be Volvo parts. Volvo almost definitely purchase springs from a standard supplier like Eibach or Bilstein so all you are doing is paying a Volvo markup on the price.

Its zero issue if price is no object but as has already been mentioned it fits into the equation of when the car becomes uneconomical to keep on the road.

 

[Removed User 345456]

Totally get wanting to stay OEM spec but can't get my head around why they have to be Volvo parts. Volvo almost definitely purchase springs from a standard supplier like Eibach or Bilstein so all you are doing is paying a Volvo markup on the price.

Its zero issue if price is no object but as has already been mentioned it fits into the equation of when the car becomes uneconomical to keep on the road.

I said this but he won't believe us haha.

I also provided a guide of how to do it after he asked and multiple options be it OEM or aftermarket or coilovers, and even a video of how to do it on the floor yourself or with a lift. And customer service to help him over the phone from the supplier, he's not interested.

I don't think he can be helped.

 

[nlel1975]

I know mechanics who cannot do anything with PC's let alone build one! So they're thick are they?

Mechanics are tradesmen, they’ve been thoroughly trained. There is no trade in the art of building PCs.

 

[Demon]

Fitting yourself is not 'easy'.. its only easy if you know how, and people worry about safety, not only hurting themselves if the car falls on top of them, but also their own safety if they don't do the job right..

Building a PC is 'easy' but only if you know how..

It's not intelligence related.

I only do certain jobs on cars myself, I would prefer it done at a garage, but will attempt brakes/basic suspension, alternators, sensors, that kind of thing.. the limit is if I have to try to strip half the suspension down with corroded bolts and don't have all the proper tools.

I will check youtube, find a video of someone doing that job and decide if it looks easy/fairly fool proof then I may have a go if I can save several hundred pounds..

The drop links I did on my daughters Ka was hilariously easy... I saved £280 and it literally took 30 minutes a side never having attempted it before, it took longer to jack it up, put it on axle stands and get the wheel off then it did to undo two easy nuts and replace the drop link..