Your car needs discs and pads sir...
Discussion
mat205125 said:
Those are the kinds of schemes that keeps the customers coming back, with any loss-leader service activities being offset by whatever they can up-sell whilst they've got the car in
Yes, you do have to keep your witts about you.Other posters have listed generic reasons, but the specific thing for us, living in a semi-rural area, is lack of courtesy cars from most general garages. I can guarantee that if I'm taking a car in and I arrange for my wife to do the picking up and returning me at the end of the day then some drama will unfold that makes it awkward for her.
I used to do all the car maintenance myself but I'm past rolling about on the ground now, and we haven't got any facilities at home, other than the drive. It's a different kettle of fish working off a 2 post lift in a nice garage.
BOR said:
The discs were at the limit, but I reckon the pads were round about 4mm which is only 50% worn.
Your new pads are only 8mm thick? Seems very thin for front pads. Offhand the last three cars I did, Mazda, Merc, my 406, were 13~14mm, 16mm, and 18-19mm thick from new.Given most people won't ever look at pads straight away even with a warning light on I don't think 4mm of material remaining is unreasonable to light a check light up, you shouldn't really be running them down to the backing plates after all or the pad integrity and heat transfer to the rest of the system starts to be an issue.
I usually change mine out at 2-3mm generally. Unless it's a bike with narrow pads or something front engined with thin rear pads as OE like an MX-5
bearman68 said:
So why do people go to main dealers for routine servicing if this is the way you are treated.
I understand if there is a warranty claim...
O/TI understand if there is a warranty claim...
Fair point, but warranty matters are another matter!
Several years ago I went to a main dealer (warranty reasons) and they had to take the front alloys off, I had aftermarket lockers on the wheels and handed over the key.
The car came back with OE lockers and I was told they were needed for safety reasons, and alloys always came with OE lockers - but was charged for them.
I pointed out that I got the alloys from them (receipt available) and they came without OE lockers. Looking at the glossy on alloys in the service area confirmed that buying allows got you a set of OE lockers included, they checked their paperwork on my account and said OK sorry, then took the charge off my invoice.
To add insult to injury I had to ask for my aftermarket lockers and the key, as they had been kept back in the service area. No names no pack drill.
Main dealers: trying it on matters. Just don't expect any further business.
mat205125 said:
Sheepshanks said:
bearman68 said:
So why do people go to main dealers for routine servicing if this is the way you are treated.
I understand if there is a warranty claim, but for an oil change? And we won't even mention the price.
Well, on the two VW / SEAT cars we have on the family fleet, they both have VAG's All In package, which for around £30/mth covers servicing (but, annoyingly, only basic - oil & filters etc - servicing), MOT, top level roadside assistance, and, the big one; unlimited mileage warranty with no excess.I understand if there is a warranty claim, but for an oil change? And we won't even mention the price.
I do use an "ordinary" garage for the Honda.
Cam belt, bodywork, batteries, brakes, bulbs, clutch, coolant pipes, CV boots, any exhaust part, tyres and wheels, washer pipers, vacuum hoses, wiper blades, washer jets, wiring and connections.
Which begs the question, what are you actually paying cover for?
I’d save yourself the money and just have a local independent service and MOT it once a year for you. There’s very little to go wrong on a 3-5 year old car apart from the above parts wearing out.
It’s just another scam to get £360 a year out of you for about £10 worth of oil and filter (cost price) and an MOT.
ChocolateFrog said:
Good idea.
I wonder what would happen in that scenario if you dig your heels in?
Either they refit your old stuff or you get free discs and pads I suppose.
Wouldn't put it past them to have a shagged set on hand for that very situation.
I kind of wondered if this had happened to me when I bought a used car recently: Part of the deal was that they would do an oil change and also change the 'Twin air strainer' since it's a known issue that it can get blocked and wreck the Twin air module. They showed me a plastic zip lock bag with one in it covered in oil, but I confess I did wonder if it was one they had kicking around (Alfa specialist, so they'd presumably done a few over the years). In the end I took it out to check a week after buying it and to be fair it was brand new and shiny. I wonder what would happen in that scenario if you dig your heels in?
Either they refit your old stuff or you get free discs and pads I suppose.
Wouldn't put it past them to have a shagged set on hand for that very situation.
I still ended up fitting a brand new battery days after buying it though because it wasn't covered by the warranty.
In response to Bearman's question: I know a few family and friends who just wouldn't question taking their car to a dealer as anything less might cause it to explode in a ball of flames.
Sadly they all live too far away for me to be able to help, at least regarding finding somewhere that won't pull similar tricks to the OP. As for changing disks/pads at home, for many it will be easy(ish) to do IF there's no issues.
However, what if caliber seized, can't pull back the piston, catch/break the brake hose or connector.
For some of us, we can deal with that at home, for many that will result in a car that they can't drive so can't take to a garage so have to pay over the odds to get it transported or wait for a mobile mechanic.
Inevitably, that will happen on a Sunday afternoon (most to busy to do car DIY on weekdays/sat) and need to use the car Monday morning
Remember they are paying NOT JUST for the replacing of brakes, but that it WILL be done in that 1 or 2 hours AND they can also deal with any complications (seized stuff etc..) arising....
However, what if caliber seized, can't pull back the piston, catch/break the brake hose or connector.
For some of us, we can deal with that at home, for many that will result in a car that they can't drive so can't take to a garage so have to pay over the odds to get it transported or wait for a mobile mechanic.
Inevitably, that will happen on a Sunday afternoon (most to busy to do car DIY on weekdays/sat) and need to use the car Monday morning
Remember they are paying NOT JUST for the replacing of brakes, but that it WILL be done in that 1 or 2 hours AND they can also deal with any complications (seized stuff etc..) arising....
Edited by Dracoro on Wednesday 17th May 15:32
MDMA . said:
I bought a new Golf in 2005. Still have it today, 18 years on. It has oil and filter and an MOT once a year. Less than £130 all in. The All in package doesn’t cover the following :
Cam belt, bodywork, batteries, brakes, bulbs, clutch, coolant pipes, CV boots, any exhaust part, tyres and wheels, washer pipers, vacuum hoses, wiper blades, washer jets, wiring and connections.
Which begs the question, what are you actually paying cover for?
I’d save yourself the money and just have a local independent service and MOT it once a year for you. There’s very little to go wrong on a 3-5 year old car apart from the above parts wearing out.
It’s just another scam to get £360 a year out of you for about £10 worth of oil and filter (cost price) and an MOT.
I've got a diemma coming up on wife's 4Motion, Turbo diesel, DSG Tiguan as it'll be 8 yrs old and All In ceases at that age. There's a lot to go wrong on that car and much of it could cost a fortune to fix and I'll be very nervous running it without a warranty. All In has been cheaper (much cheaper if going for the 'official' VW warranty) than buying a warranty on that car. So everything else is free.Cam belt, bodywork, batteries, brakes, bulbs, clutch, coolant pipes, CV boots, any exhaust part, tyres and wheels, washer pipers, vacuum hoses, wiper blades, washer jets, wiring and connections.
Which begs the question, what are you actually paying cover for?
I’d save yourself the money and just have a local independent service and MOT it once a year for you. There’s very little to go wrong on a 3-5 year old car apart from the above parts wearing out.
It’s just another scam to get £360 a year out of you for about £10 worth of oil and filter (cost price) and an MOT.
Even on daughter's pettol manual Ateca, which falls smack in age-range you said, it's had a couple of faults that needed Roadside, and then the car recovering to the dealer, and the cover produces a hire car. It was effortless. One of the faults was the a/c compressor packing up so the cost of that job was about the same as the 2yrs premium on the plan.
Maybe we could do it cheaper, but we don't have spare cars kicking around and don't want the hassle of trying to run around in a panic trying to get a cost effective repair done.
EmailAddress said:
Or, get them to do it, and ask for the old set back while you wait.
Then ask the Manager what exactly is wrong with them and why you should be paying.
I did that to some extent in about 1990 with a ‘quick’ fitting place.Then ask the Manager what exactly is wrong with them and why you should be paying.
They told me the McPherson strut on my rear suspension (of a Mk1 Fiesta?!) was leaking and needed replaced. I needed an MoT that day, so gave the go ahead, but asked for parts back. On finishing ‘parts are in the boot sir’, I looked in the boot - no parts. Pointed this out, and watched the guy go to a skip and pick up a front strut from what I think was a Vauxhall cavalier. Complained to general manager and got the mot and bits for free (cool story etc).
ChocolateFrog said:
It should be criminal.
I struggle to distinguish between the guy who tells the old lady she needs some roof tiles replacing and these shyster dealers.
It is and there isn't really any difference, other than that saying there is only "Xmm" or "20%" may be accurate, but means very little to Joe Public who don't know muc about these things.I struggle to distinguish between the guy who tells the old lady she needs some roof tiles replacing and these shyster dealers.
Servicing requirements for cars are fairly minimal nowadays.
They are charging £100s for an oil change, possibly an air filter, possibly a cabin filter (or at least pretending to change it), telling you how much/little is left on your tyres/brakes and very little else.
As above, if you are capable of doing it, spending an hour or so changing your worn-out brakes and another hour changing the oil, rather than driving to and from a place who will do the same thing for ££££s, is a no-brainer.
If you are incapable of it, then fair enough.
When cars are EVs, there will be even less to actually service, and brakes will possibly last the life of the car, although manufacturers will dream up various "important" things to check at regual intervals at great expense.
On the flip side, I took mine in for a service two weeks ago and rather expected the same (main dealer, but a franchise sort of place) as I knew my fronts were starting to lip a bit and are probably at 50% so was anticipating the call.
…and nothing. They even emergency MOTed it for me as I let it lapse out of stupidity. Whole process took an hour. It was even very reasonably priced!
(Just for balance)
…and nothing. They even emergency MOTed it for me as I let it lapse out of stupidity. Whole process took an hour. It was even very reasonably priced!
(Just for balance)
My LPG Duster is in for a service on 1st June and it’s first MOT. The Service is £199 and the MOT is £45 including the VAT. My local garage could do these for about £200. I’ve decided as this is the last within warranty service and the MOT might throw up some nasty to let them do it.
There is an ongoing fault with the LPG system they haven’t fixed since it returned broken last June when they serviced it. They have had the car 9 times that I remember and they can’t seemingly fix it. Before I drop it off I will be emailing the DP to ensure he is aware of their ongoing ineptitude.
There is an ongoing fault with the LPG system they haven’t fixed since it returned broken last June when they serviced it. They have had the car 9 times that I remember and they can’t seemingly fix it. Before I drop it off I will be emailing the DP to ensure he is aware of their ongoing ineptitude.
s most of them.Some balance to this:
Lloyd Colne BMW: £54 for an MOT test including a wash and vac. No up sell and done in a couple of hours. Very good service
Lloyd Blackpool BMW: One tyre £20 more than the online lot (Kwik fit ét al) and swapped over my winters to summer and wahed an vacc’d. Also had some sort of health check.
Overall very good service and good value. I shall be using again.
Car: 2017 three series
Lloyd Colne BMW: £54 for an MOT test including a wash and vac. No up sell and done in a couple of hours. Very good service
Lloyd Blackpool BMW: One tyre £20 more than the online lot (Kwik fit ét al) and swapped over my winters to summer and wahed an vacc’d. Also had some sort of health check.
Overall very good service and good value. I shall be using again.
Car: 2017 three series
Last time I was at a main dealer for a service (out of warranty but still had a service plan) they advised changing the front tyres because there was "only 6mm left", unsurprisingly I declined.
They did say it needed a couple of minor bits, so I booked it at my local independent garage to be checked, it needed only one of the minor bits they mentioned (an anti roll bar link at nearly half the price of the dealer quote), my mechanic laughed at the suggestion of front tyres.
They did say it needed a couple of minor bits, so I booked it at my local independent garage to be checked, it needed only one of the minor bits they mentioned (an anti roll bar link at nearly half the price of the dealer quote), my mechanic laughed at the suggestion of front tyres.
OldSkoolRS said:
However, I can understand people not feeling confident about doing a safety critical part like brakes themselves. I often find in conversation that friends can't/won't do some jobs on their cars/house because they just aren't mechanically minded and it's not a question of them looking down on me because I can...in fact quite the reverse usually.
Agree that many people perceive it as too dangerous or complicated but there's also aspect of having the necessary tools/kit. Also the knowledge of how to use them of course.For instance my in-laws 'tools' consist of a couple of bent screwdrivers, a hammer and a dodgy adjustable. Hanging a picture is about their limit and wall plugs are an alien concept, there's no way they'd attempt anything on their cars.
When I'm putting away the pile of stuff after changing my pads and discs I can kind of see why they wouldn't contemplate doing similar. It's amazing how much is needed, e.g.
Socket set, socket wrench, spanners, Torx bits (sometimes), wire brushes, decent jack, wheel chocks/bricks, big rubber mallet, axle stands, copper grease, caliper press, something to tie the caliper up, bleed kit, brake fluid, torque wrench and I've still likely missed stuff off.
A lot of people wouldn't get as far as buying the socket set.
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