Kwik-Fit

mrk · 22 Jan 2010 at 22:23

Biohazard said:
don't ever buy exhausts from kwik fit.

its the cheapest crap you can get from the motorfactors with a markup of about 70%.

even though they show you the book that shows you the oe system, what the actually pull it out its normally horrendous.. especially the backboxes. Get ready for a godawful drone throughout most the rev range

70% markup?

When my Civic had a dog's tail I had a new backbox fitted by Kwik-Fit - they fitted a bigger pipe backbox that was a bit louder too (bonus) but best of all it was £45 and lasted well into my ownership of it!

Janesy B · 22 Jan 2010 at 23:03

My kwik fit backbox sounds fine, bit pricey but I didn't have much choice as my back box fell off

BigglesPiP · 23 Jan 2010 at 00:05

New info on Kwik-fit MOTs:

As a measure to clean up Kwik-Fits act of simply failing items they think they know how to replace, the ministry has changed their MOT licence, and National Tyres'.

Instead of having an MOT licence per garage like regular garages, they have one licence for the entire company, if they loose it, they can't do MOTs anywhere.

Dad has just done his MOT refresher course, and the Kwik-Fit testers all have an extra 2 weeks training each from Kwik-Fit. They reckon they're some of the most honest tests in the country now.

Also, on an unrelated note, only tread with wear-bars counts as tread, any tread with less depth (little step) doesn't count. If a measurable groove has worn completely bald, and the others within the centre 3/4 are legal then it's a pass, as the tester can't prove there was a groove their to start with.

LizardKing · 23 Jan 2010 at 01:05

^^Ouch,
I would not like to be the one responsible for loosing there MOT testing license!

Biohazard · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:03

mrk said:
70% markup?

When my Civic had a dog's tail I had a new backbox fitted by Kwik-Fit - they fitted a bigger pipe backbox that was a bit louder too (bonus) but best of all it was £45 and lasted well into my ownership of it!

according to my friend who works at one yes, on most the bits markups that high.

they buy that much they get fair discount as well.

bledd · 23 Jan 2010 at 10:46

BigglesPiP said:
New info on Kwik-fit MOTs:

As a measure to clean up Kwik-Fits act of simply failing items they think they know how to replace, the ministry has changed their MOT licence, and National Tyres'.

Instead of having an MOT licence per garage like regular garages, they have one licence for the entire company, if they loose it, they can't do MOTs anywhere.

Dad has just done his MOT refresher course, and the Kwik-Fit testers all have an extra 2 weeks training each from Kwik-Fit. They reckon they're some of the most honest tests in the country now.

That's somewhat reassuring

CaptainRAVE · 25 Aug 2010 at 14:05

This is the choice I will have for the MOT for my SLK just after christmas. The next service is only a few months after too.

Kwik-fit - will probably "find" things wrong with it. Have heard some nightmare stories about them. Close to where I work though.
Mercedes-Benz - will charge the earth and will do an OKish job.
Mercedes-Benz specialist in Bristol - will charge less than Mercedes-Benz, but will have all the same equipment. A little far away from me though.
The motor garage around the corner from my dad's house - seemed trustworthy when my dad took his last car there, seem to be pretty well setup and are very honest. Also well-priced and didn't even charge my dad for some stuff! Decisions...

DM · 25 Aug 2010 at 14:13

Its an MOT Quick fit are fine, if its going to pass they will pass it.

Bill101 · 25 Aug 2010 at 14:29

DiamondMark said:
Its an MOT Quick fit are fine, if its going to pass they will pass it.

And if they have front discs in stock in your size there is a good chance that they will fail it.
''Your in luck, we can do that job right now. No need to come back or check the price anywhere else''

DM · 25 Aug 2010 at 14:36

Bill101 said:
And if they have front discs in stock in your size there is a good chance that they will fail it.
''Your in luck, we can do that job right now. No need to come back or check the price anywhere else''

Well then if you have 10% of a brain and you know your discs are fine you go somewhere else.

My experience of business is that you dont **** a multi million MOT contract for a 70 quid set of discs.

233 · 25 Aug 2010 at 14:49

does no one use their local councils mot centres?

blun · 25 Aug 2010 at 15:01

Took my car in for a new tyre and new brake pads, for the same reason as you (close to work).

They tried to charge me 50% more than agreed for the pads, so told them to put the old ones back on or charge me the agreed price. After a lot of arguing, they reluctantly agreed to charge the agreed price.

Then when I got home I noticed they'd broked the hub cap when changing the wheel.

I took the car to the petrol station to check the tyre pressures and found the new tyre was 50% higher in pressure than it should have been.

So... I'd recommend that 7 mile walk!

DM · 25 Aug 2010 at 15:04

blun said:
Took my car in for a new tyre and new brake pads, for the same reason as you (close to work).

They tried to charge me 50% more than agreed for the pads, so told them to put the old ones back on or charge me the agreed price. After a lot of arguing, they reluctantly agreed to charge the agreed price.

Then when I got home I noticed they'd broked the hub cap when changing the wheel.

I took the car to the petrol station to check the tyre pressures and found the new tyre was 50% higher in pressure than it should have been.

So... I'd recommend that 7 mile walk!

The man wants an MOT not a new set of brakes.

I wouldnt trust Kwik Fit to adjust my tyre pressure but they are welcome to do an MOT on a car i know is going to pass, i mean who gives a toss where the MOT comes from?

Abyss · 25 Aug 2010 at 15:04

Through lack of choice/time I took my old Focus to Kwikfit in the spring of '09 and suprisingly had no problems at all, I even had an air-con regas (at my request) for something like £30.

I still wouldn't touch them with a bargepole for exhausts / brakes / tyres though.

BigglesPiP · 25 Aug 2010 at 17:17

Bill101 said:
And if they have front discs in stock in your size there is a good chance that they will fail it.
''Your in luck, we can do that job right now. No need to come back or check the price anywhere else''

They will not do this, see my previous post:

BigglesPiP said:
New info on Kwik-fit MOTs:

As a measure to clean up Kwik-Fits act of simply failing items they think they know how to replace, the ministry has changed their MOT licence, and National Tyres'.

Instead of having an MOT licence per garage like regular garages, they have one licence for the entire company, if they loose it, they can't do MOTs anywhere.

Dad has just done his MOT refresher course, and the Kwik-Fit testers all have an extra 2 weeks training each from Kwik-Fit. They reckon they're some of the most honest tests in the country now.

Also, on an unrelated note, only tread with wear-bars counts as tread, any tread with less depth (little step) doesn't count. If a measurable groove has worn completely bald, and the others within the centre 3/4 are legal then it's a pass, as the tester can't prove there was a groove their to start with.

Kwik-fit are the worst people in the world to be doing work on your car, but the MOT is an honest one.

Happy · 25 Aug 2010 at 18:23

I've been done there for a couple of small issues, and they have had a look and and fitted some bits and bobs for less than a £10 a time. So I've only had good experiences with my local one.

taximike · 25 Aug 2010 at 18:56

I had a very good experience today at Kwik-Fit. The guys working there were extremely polite. I had an odd noise coming out of my compressor. I googled it and it said it was probably low freon levels. I took it to them and they measured the temp coming out of the vents when everything was set on min temp max fan speed and said it was 2.5ºC so everything appeared to be working. However they said they'd re-gas it for me and if it sorted out the fault they'd charge the £49 and if the noise was still there they wouldn't charge. The did the regassing and now there's no noise, plus the air-con is now absolutely FREEZING (I used to always set my climate control to 18, now it's set to 21) so I'm happy.

With any big company I think it just depends on who happens to be working there. If they are employing monkeys you will get a bad service.

m4cc45 · 25 Aug 2010 at 19:23

Hmm I've had mixed tbh. I had some breaks replaced there free of charge due to me having the previous owners receipts. They changed the pads on the rear and they were making a noise - literally after driving 200 yards a nasty grinding noise. I took it back again and they said they needed to wear in (first time i've ever heard of this) so I said it was wrong and they looked into it again and found out they ordered the wrong pads.

Bearing in mind this is a replacement. Anyway start to finish was 3 days. Basically of having no car.

M.

Origin · 25 Aug 2010 at 19:35

Take it to your local council run MOT Centre if you can. Find your local one here...

Council centres test for pass or fail only. They do not "find work" to be done as they do not do any work on site for the public, but you are allowed to book in for a test there.

DM · 25 Aug 2010 at 19:36

There is a pattern forming here, everyone has a horror story about Quik fit work, which is great except the fella dont want any work done, he wants an MOT.

Anyone had a bad MOT experience at quik fit?