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By (user no longer on site) OP 28 weeks ago
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One of my mates bought a brand new Mazda 2 years ago. Anyway its done 5k miles now. My mate is the kind of driver that drives like a 90 year old. We were going out one time and he drove sooooooooo slow there was a convoy of traffic behind us. I told him 'you do realise theres a convoy behind us'? Like you can drive faster! But no, the old git was determined to drive way way below national speed limit. Anyways he took the Mazda in for a service today, they charged him £488 for an oil change and wheel alignment. How a car thats only 2 years old and done just 5k miles needs wheel alignment from someone who drives like a geriactric is beyound me. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 28 weeks ago
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"Wheel align is a scam. Yes it needs doing but soon as u hit pot hole it’s out. "
I think he's been done. Apparently wheel alignment for front wheel is around £50, oil and oil filter is around £65. Total is £115 labour is say £100 thats £215 plus vat is around £260. Plus inspection is total £300. So how they charged him £488?!?! But like you say 'wheel alignment is a scam'. |
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An oil change is not the only service item. Cars are serviced depending on time or mileage. Oils degrade over time whether used or not. To be honest unless a car is being stored in a controlled environment, it's never good for a car to be under used. Driving like Miss Daisy doesn't always help either. You have to get that Catalytic Converter warm before it will work. Short journeys at low revs won't help.
Wheel alignment is necessary to maintain steering geometry. If you his a pot hole get it checked again,because a check is cheaper than a tyre.
Alignment isn't cheap because gone are the days when alignment can be set using a trammil gauge, everything is done by laser nowadays and they cost money.
Major service can be expensive, but they keep something that is really expensive on the road.
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"He should of bought a service plan when he bought the car! "
This is what I am thinking if you’re gonna buy a new car and have it serviced at the dealer, then buy a plan. Otherwise go Indi and tell them to use the checklist, the recommended grade / brand of oil and branded parts to keep your warranty intact. Full service should be no more than £200. It’s been tested in court as long as they are qualified and use all the proper parts it’s valid |
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As someone said service plans are good while in Warranty.
Once out of warrenty go to a good independent.
Main dealers are horrendous for 'up sale' & technician bonuses where the tech will be ambiguous about tyres or battery etc & get a bonus if you then get new.
Never ever buys tyres from a main dealer. |
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I've got to say I have never felt ripped off by a main dealer
Agreed, they can be pricey, but a service plan helps to budget
Toyota were always spot on and I've got to say I've been surprised at how good BMW have been
I had read and heard some horror stories, but the dealer I use have (to date) been great
Maybe some the 'robbery' is franchise / dealer specific
Or maybe a service manager can see a 'soft target' a mile off |
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"I took a 3 year old Ford to a dealer in order to fix a faulty air con. They wanted to charge £250 just to run a diagnostic check on it."
Hate to stick up for a main dealer but if that involved a re-gas to diagnose it's likely not as expensive as it seems.
Newer cars also have a much more expensive Gas now than older cars. |
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"I took a 3 year old Ford to a dealer in order to fix a faulty air con. They wanted to charge £250 just to run a diagnostic check on it.
Hate to stick up for a main dealer but if that involved a re-gas to diagnose it's likely not as expensive as it seems.
Newer cars also have a much more expensive Gas now than older cars. "
Seriously? I had a diagnostic and regas on Merc estate done by an independent last month for £60 all in. If someone charged me £250 just to diagnose then I would think I was being gouged. |
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"He should of bought a service plan when he bought the car! "
Maybe he should 'of' been doing his own servicing?
But, then again, he is described as being an 'old git' so maybe he can't.
Still do at my age and save a fortune. I only pay for things I can't do and, even then, use independents with low overheads.
The idea of taking out a 'sevice plan' sounds like a licence to be ripped off regularly. |
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"Wheel align is a scam. Yes it needs doing but soon as u hit pot hole it’s out.
I think he's been done. Apparently wheel alignment for front wheel is around £50, oil and oil filter is around £65. Total is £115 labour is say £100 thats £215 plus vat is around £260. Plus inspection is total £300. So how they charged him £488?!?! But like you say 'wheel alignment is a scam'. "
Unless the car is pulling noticeably to one side, I would normally factor in a bit of uneven tyre wear into the minimal extra cost of eventual tyre replacement.
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By (user no longer on site) 28 weeks ago
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Service plans a good way of saving on costs.
Doing some jobs yourself ok, the only problen with that is most modern cars are nearly impossible to work on unless you have all the right kit.
I bought a Kia, new cars have 7yr service/warranty cover, and second hand ones - if bought within that 7yr period - still have that cover. Mine still had 4yrs to run, when it was up i took out a service plan. |
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By *inaTitzTV/TS 28 weeks ago
Titz Towers, North Notts |
I'm very lucky, my mechanic has been working on our family's cars since the 1980s and is totally reasonable. He also lives on the next street to me, so it's easy to drop my car off and then walk home  |
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Had a Merc once , like an earlier poster has said, they basically charge you £100 + VAT to walk through the door.
Admittedly we’re talking premier brand and there was a hot EE Milf on the front desk!!
Recently had a recall on the Ford I have now , also thought why I was there I’d get them to have a look at a fault on the built in entertainment system.
They wanted £99 + VAT to look at it too.
Absolute piss take |
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"I took a 3 year old Ford to a dealer in order to fix a faulty air con. They wanted to charge £250 just to run a diagnostic check on it.
Hate to stick up for a main dealer but if that involved a re-gas to diagnose it's likely not as expensive as it seems.
Newer cars also have a much more expensive Gas now than older cars.
Seriously? I had a diagnostic and regas on Merc estate done by an independent last month for £60 all in. If someone charged me £250 just to diagnose then I would think I was being gouged."
Yes seriously & I would imagine your car had Gas, pretty sure average new gas fill is around £125 before diagnostics & labour.
I'm not here to argue but no Garage will want to quote £60 & charge £200 plus so you got lucky with a more shallow hole.
My condenser went followed by the compressor & cost me £750.
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