Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 01/12/2024
Our SUV the dealer charges about £120 per hour. To replace a sensor cost us just over £800 so thanks go to the EU and their zero carbon policy!
That is why I never go to main dealers. Our local garage charges a fraction of main dealer prices and probably does a better job. As a young lad I once worked for a main dealer as a mechanic, and I was just self-taught. I'd had no formal training whatsoever. Our local garage has been in the same family for years and they all know exactly what they are doing. I know who I'd rather trust! A family business whose reputation is at stake, or someone who would employ the 17 year old me.
My local Citroen dealership (it's a nationwide chain) offers a two tier pricing option for servicing - they will do the full main dealer experience at silly parts prices (BUT not as outrageously obscene as some brands!), OR they do a cheaper basic option using approved pattern parts, that generally brings the service bill down to comparable with local independent garages.
But they do still take liberties if you're unwary! Last service they reported a blown headlight bulb and quoted IIRC around £60 to fix! I declined with probably my usual blunt response to 'thieves', DIY repair took me all of 5 minutes with a £5 bulb I had as a spare! I'd done the bulbs before, I already knew it was a simple job done in minutes!
They also reported that the auxiliary (alternator) belt needed replacing soon, quoted something like £140 in total, with the belt costing £45! Declined! Took it to my local independent to be done along with MOT, took him all of 20 mins to swap out while I watched, and the quality branded belt cost £20 - total cost £35!
Fully appreciate that garages HAVE to invest in lots of diagnostic machines and special tools these days to stay in business and that ups their costs, but they don't seem to 'know' anything any more, bit like trained chimps reading the diagnostic readout, and that's as good as it gets! Then they just keep fitting parts, usually very expensive parts, until the problem is sorted (if you are lucky!). There is little understanding of a fault at fundamental levels.
Used to use a main dealer years ago, who had a brilliant service department manager, at the mere mention of a problem, he'd proffer a likely culprit out of his head long before any computers or 'chimps' got dragged into the process, rarely wrong, THAT was true knowledge! Sadly, they first moved premises, too far away to be convenient, then went out of business.
Last major job I did on a car was about 10 years ago, changed the timing belt and all the associated pulleys, and the water pump as false economy not to do so when it was accessible in the strip down, on my Diesel Citroen C5. In principle, a relatively simple job, in practice a time consuming task that took far longer than it should because of the way the car was built, with manufacture a priority over servicing! Also had to buy a number of 'odd' sized Torx type tools to deal with one or two fasteners! Been quoted £800-£900 by garages to do the job, cost me a little over £100 in quality parts, and a day of my time, would have been easier and quicker if I'd had a hydraulic ramp, as needed to keep swapping from under the car to into top of engine bay!
Think that convinced me I needed the money less than the aches and pains in old bones that came with grubbing around under cars! These days, I think it's even worse, EVERYTHING has got more difficult to deal with, and I definitely don't need more aches and pains on top of the one that come from simply getting out of bed!
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 01/12/2024
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Incidentally Monty, I have heard that the easiest way to change the water pump on my car is to take the engine out first.
Now that doesn't surprise me in the slightest! In fact what amounts to 'WTF was going on in the designers head' seems to be the norm these days!
I think a lot of it comes from the quite impressive life expectancy of modern mechanicals, which is often 150k miles, 15 years or so, or even more, without major works required, so almost a built and sealed for life type construction.
On the other hand, I'm of 'it needs a decoke every year' vintage, and 40K-50k was pretty good going before looking at a 're-con' engine! .... IF there was any bodywork left to fit it too!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Cost of repairs..
