Rip off garages

[Gordon R]

Eldest lad runs a Mercedes EQC 400 and his wife runs a V Class Merc. He took the V Class for a service last week to the Mercedes main agents. They gave him a free health check, which showed he needed two new tyres and discs / pads all round. His MOT was booked in for today.

He had me on standby to do the brakes tomorrow and I had rung round for prices. He has just rung to cancel tomorrow. It must be the warm weather, but the tyre tread has increased, the brake discs have self healed and the pads have increased thickness by 2mm. No advisories. 

He has already spoken to the Customer Service Manager, who has apologised. I have no idea why he goes to Mercedes. They had previously told him that a tyre, which they had fitted a month earlier, was borderline. When he complained last time, he was told that the mechanic had transferred from BMW, who have different tyre depth gauges - NOT.

All credit to the MOT tester, but the numpty who did the health check needs a severe word. They had quoted him £800 for the brakes, which would have cost me £288, using Pagid, Mintex, Ferodo etc.

[dipper]

Took my car to the Merc dealers in Bolton .Booked it in over phone said I had a transmission leak .She said it’s just short of £200 to confirm it’s a transmission leak .Needless to say I took it elsewhere.VW are just the same .

 

[Rupert]

Its not just Merc, all main stealers are at it. They will be bonused on revenue.

[Gordon R]

dipper - I believe we are talking the same Merc garage.

They owned a few Vauxhalls for his wife's business and those used to go to the Bolton Vauxhall dealer. They would go in for a service and come out with suggested repairs - normally around a grand.

Edited May 7 by Gordon R

[JohnfromUK]

1 hour ago, Gordon R said:

Eldest lad runs a Mercedes EQC 400 and his wife runs a V Class Merc. He took the V Class for a service last week to the Mercedes main agents. They gave him a free health check, which showed he needed two new tyres and discs / pads all round. His MOT was booked in for today.

He had me on standby to do the brakes tomorrow and I had rung round for prices. He has just rung to cancel tomorrow. It must be the warm weather, but the tyre tread has increased, the brake discs have self healed and the pads have increased thickness by 2mm. No advisories. 

He has already spoken to the Customer Service Manager, who has apologised. I have no idea why he goes to Mercedes. They had previously told him that a tyre, which they had fitted a month earlier, was borderline. When he complained last time, he was told that the mechanic had transferred from BMW, who have different tyre depth gauges - NOT.

All credit to the MOT tester, but the numpty who did the health check needs a severe word. They had quoted him £800 for the brakes, which would have cost me £288, using Pagid, Mintex, Ferodo etc.

When I had a BMW I took it in for a recall action (re-route a cable that might chaff or similar) - and they carried out a 'free' health check.  Bloke came out with a long list and a quote for well into 3 figures - most of which were trivia - but one did interest me - clutch fluid below recommended level.  Well, my car was an automatic and the model (335D) was never sold with a manual transmission.  So I asked the "service executive" to show me where the clutch reservoir was as i had some fluid and would top it up when I got home.  He said he'd have to get someone from the workshop to show me - so I said "yes please" an off he went.  Workshop man arrived - looked at the car, didn't even open the bonnet and asked me where I got the list.  Pointed to their service reception and he just shook his head. 

Mercedes dealer just as bad - my SLK when nearly new went in for the roof not operating.  Twice 'fixed' under warranty and didn't work by the time I got home either time.  3rd time I asked them (when they told me they had fixed it) to "show me - now". It wouldn't even work in their car park before leaving the premises!

I can however report that BMW dealers have very good coffee and passable biscuits.

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, You really have to be careful with Garages, i had a MOT back a few years and checked over before it went in, tried to charge for 2 bulbs that i knew were ok

[oowee]

I have an excellent local garage in the nearest village. I just drop it in and they do whatever. There are some things they wont do (automatic transmission fluid change ?) and I have to take it to the main dealer in Bath. It's always a heart in mouth moment when I collect it. 

[Rewulf]

One of the biggest 'earners' for main dealers is the servicing, recalls and parts.
Many of the less prestige brands are fully prepared to discount their new car sales so much , that there is very little profit in actually selling the cars.
The real money is keeping the franchise, so they can over charge for 'services'

[oowee]

21 minutes ago, Rewulf said:

One of the biggest 'earners' for main dealers is the servicing, recalls and parts.
Many of the less prestige brands are fully prepared to discount their new car sales so much , that there is very little profit in actually selling the cars.
The real money is keeping the franchise, so they can over charge for 'services'

That would explain the ever decreasing new car sales space and the rammed out servicing car park at my dealers. 

[welsh1]

I bet the local trading standards would be interested in the merc dealership mentioned.

[Charliedog]

Toyota have been a breath of fresh air, well organised, no nasty surprises, great coffee, nothing to complain about

[Gordon R]

Quote

I bet the local trading standards would be interested in the merc dealership mentioned.

I have been into his ribs before about both garages. He hasn't been ripped off and he says he won't because he doesn't let them repair anything. He has the comfort blanket of me, who does any necessary repairs. He doesn't see the point in pursuing it. I think about the poor **** who don't have any mechanical knowledge and get mugged.

[JohnfromUK]

6 hours ago, Charliedog said:

Toyota have been a breath of fresh air, well organised, no nasty surprises, great coffee, nothing to complain about

That's good: I have recently moved to Toyota and have to have serviced by them to preserve their 10 year warranty.

[oowee]

1 hour ago, JohnfromUK said:

That's good: I have recently moved to Toyota and have to have serviced by them to preserve their 10 year warranty.

They might not be the most exciting cars but they are the most reliable. I will swap my Honda back to a Toyota as soon as I get a chance. 

[JohnfromUK]

47 minutes ago, oowee said:

They might not be the most exciting cars but they are the most reliable. I will swap my Honda back to a Toyota as soon as I get a chance. 

I have not had a Toyota before, but I have had 3 Hondas.  The first two were USA manufactured (Accord Aerodeck and Civic coupé) and were both excellent.  I moved to a Civic 5 door due to ageing parents not being suited to 2 door and the 5 door was UK (Swindon) built and was a series of endless recalls and repeated visits for a variety of issues - and my local Honda dealership closing - the alternative being inconvenient regarding access and lifts etc.  That's when I moved to BMW.

No experience of Toyota service, but the sales side was a bit 'mixed', but mainly good.  My (2 year old) car was immaculately prepared and I have not had any issues so far (only been with me 10 weeks).

[oldypigeonpopper]

10 hours ago, welsh1 said:

I bet the local trading standards would be interested in the merc dealership mentioned.

Hello, i have often thought to give a garage details to the trading standards office but told they stopped those on the spot checks ??

[welsh1]

15 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, i have often thought to give a garage details to the trading standards office but told they stopped those on the spot checks ??

About 15 years ago my uncle marked his oil filter and air filter because he thought the garage were not doing what they said on services, he is old but not daft, so it went in for a major service and came back with the same air filter and oil filter, he reported it and they were taken to court and fined about £2000. if garages do this to one person how many others might they do it to. i use a local garage dealt with the dad for years and now the son, great service, very honest and will tell me it straight.

[London Best]

Welcome to the motor trade.

[oldypigeonpopper]

14 minutes ago, welsh1 said:

About 15 years ago my uncle marked his oil filter and air filter because he thought the garage were not doing what they said on services, he is old but not daft, so it went in for a major service and came back with the same air filter and oil filter, he reported it and they were taken to court and fined about £2000. if garages do this to one person how many others might they do it to. i use a local garage dealt with the dad for years and now the son, great service, very honest and will tell me it straight.

Hello, i remember back in the day when this was quite common for garages to try this, it happen to a friend with her car and petrol tank before i could tell her not to go ahead, she had a mini , even now i have doubts on what garages say needs doing and what actually needs doing ??

[JohnfromUK]

5 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

i use a local garage dealt with the dad for years and now the son, great service, very honest and will tell me it straight.

It's nice to be able to do that and my (old) Defender has been exclusively to the same small local(ish) garage for 28 years now.  One man (plus assistant) band.

However, I think that many modern cars need so much specialist stuff and also IT literate technicians that the small local garages may well struggle with modern cars.

As for electrics ........ don't ask.  I have no doubt that there will be (and already probably are) indies specialising in 'electric cars'.  My guess would be that the investment in the new 'infrastructure' to deal with the batteries may prove a stumbling block for true independents?

[welsh1]

54 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said:

It's nice to be able to do that and my (old) Defender has been exclusively to the same small local(ish) garage for 28 years now.  One man (plus assistant) band.

However, I think that many modern cars need so much specialist stuff and also IT literate technicians that the small local garages may well struggle with modern cars.

As for electrics ........ don't ask.  I have no doubt that there will be (and already probably are) indies specialising in 'electric cars'.  My guess would be that the investment in the new 'infrastructure' to deal with the batteries may prove a stumbling block for true independents?

On you tube there is a bloke that travels round the country in his electric van servicing electric vehicles, he does brake pad changes, suspension repairs etc as well, interesting watching him plan the day round the mileage in his electric van and where and when he can charge up.

[Dougy]

I had a 205 1.9 gti years back, took it to main dealer to look at a metallic knock each time I went over a small bump. They suggested it COULD be drive shaft and hand over £300, so I asked what if it wasn't that.

Answer  " You'll have a new drive shaft"  I told the chap he was a funny lover and walked off. 

Took it to a mechanic, he drove it into the bay onto the ramps, waved me over while he lifted it up.  Pointed at the driver side suspension strutts, " This has gone mate, I'll do both now because the other one will go too" took him 25 yards and 3 minutes to diagnose. All fixed for less than £100. 

[7daysinaweek]

Just had my auto gearbox oil changed in my 56 plate xc90 last month at cost of £420 as it was dipping a little inbetween changes and from the previous service history it appears it not been done before. The price appeared to be a good after shopping around and then came a recommendation from my local garage who I know well, with very good online reviews I went with the recommendation. From my understanding they used a special vaccum system to pull the old oil out and put the new stuff in. I walked past the machine when I went in, it looked like a big square unit with lots of pipes, knobs and dials. 

I service the engine myself, changing the engine oil, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter with genuine Volvo consumables, saves a few quid I would have thought. Belts, brakes and any other mechanicals it goes in to my local. They won't touch gearboxes.

Lovely and smooth now at a 142000 miles and won't need doing again before it dies or outlives me. 

As Gordon says it is amazing what you can save if you do a little bit of tinkering yourself (if you enjoy that type of thing). Here is a example. A few months back I had in the space of a month the fuel automatic opener actuator fail, I got to the station to fill up and it would not open, a quick google search and found out how to open it from the inner boot rear manually by removing a panel. Thank christ for google.

Now back to fixing the problem, a quick youtube search and found a video on the diagnosing the probable problem and how to fix it. It took me five minute job to remove the unit, match the part on ebay and the cost was about £18. About a week later the rear top split boot would not open. After stripping down the rear inner covers which was a bit of a faff and investigating, I noticed that you could not hear the motor, another youtube search found a video on how to change the unit. New unit was around the £160 and by some miracle Knowsley dismantlers who are about 4 miles from me had the exact unit in with a full working short guarantee for £25 so I went and collected it and fitted it and it now works perfectly.

When I had initially stipped the back tailgate down I noticed that the handle hinge and bar were virtually corroded through and the pull handle was slipping on the pinion bar a little. I had noticed it was not returning to its original position fully and it would be only a matter of time before it went fully. Another google and search and this appears to be a very common thing on the early xc90, quotes online just to have the handle fix on volvo forum etc come up with anything from £500-£700 and the whole handle unit would need replacing from Volvo. Another youtube search and I struck gold finding a video of how to remove the handle,with the exact diameter steel bar needed and how to fix it. The 10cm steel bar cost me £5 off ebay and following the intructions on the video I got the job done, the corroded one was a bit of a beggar to get out, had to put it in the vice and give it a good old thump. I could not find the correct return spring despite a thorough search and in the video the chap used a strong clothes peg spring and that is what I used and it worked at treat. All put back together, motor unit pully in, rear handle fix and the whole backend works like new. 

A good bit of faffing and ******* and jeffing but I enjoy tinkering when I can and it must have have saved me a good old lump.

I wonder what quotes I would have had to diagnose and fix all three of these problems.

 

 

[Lloyd90]

The real question is why does your son keep going back to them? 🤦‍♂️🤣

[Gordon R]

They are the nearest Mercedes agents and he hasn't taken up their advice to have unnecessary repairs. Personally I wouldn't go near the place.

He had a brand new E class supplied by them and written off after a month due to perished wiring. In fairness that wasn't down to them - more the fact that the "brand new" car had been sat outside Paris for 18 months, with a rubber grommet missing from the bulkhead. This allowed water to settle in the floor, where a large chunk of the wiring sits.