JackStrong Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Hi, Short story; week before my mot I noticed the rear drivers side drop link was snapped. Having just been on holiday was a bit skint so got hold of 2 new budget ones off EBay, as the other side was clunking so wanted to confirm it was the drop link. Due to the bad weather I didn't get a chance to fit them and at the service and mot asked them to replace the rears. Things were delayed cos I failed it needing new tyres etc, that got sorted today. Here's where it gets good; I go in to pay and all the mechanics are in there talking bout my car. The woman behind the desk explains that they've made an error. They have replaced the front genuine Nissan drop links, which were absolutely fine, with the budget ones. Of course they didn't come off easy and had to be chopped. They then say that the fronts are exactly the same as the rears and that the budgets fitted fine etc. gets better, as they can't get replacements, which I'm told aren't genuine, until Saturday and somehow are twice the price I paid for my budget ones. So few questions from that; Are the fronts drop links different to the rear ? What should I do ? Said I would call In the morning. They still have my car, haven't paid for the service and mot. Ohhhh and I've got a lovely courtesy car; 1 millilitre ford ka zzzzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bounty Bar Kid Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 They should pay for new fronts. Really OEM ones IMO. That'd be fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez @ H-Dev Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Front and rears are different. Not sure what to suggest they do really - Ideally you want replacement genuine on the front and the rears you supplied swapped to the rear. If you need any we have genuine front and rears in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackStrong Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 How did they get them to fit them ? So annoying cos I've got a lot of travelling this weekend and the last thing I want to do is use the ka Where you based Jez ? Quickest shipping method ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 They should be paying for and fitting new front ones Jez is near Newbury, Berkshire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez @ H-Dev Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Thanks Doogy - could ship tomorrow via Special Delivery - would be guaranteed for Monday but will probably get delivered on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beetleben Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 They should definitely replace fronts for original parts, its their fault Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackStrong Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 The budget rears do look very similar to the fronts. I can see how its a simple mistake, just so annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 They should be putting right what they have done and you shouldn't be out of pocket, not your mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 The fronts are completely different from the rears and they are definately not interchangable with the rears The rear links will not fit to the front and visa versa. The garage have messed up big style and they are at it. It is now down to them to fit the links that you supplied to the rear and provide links to the front free of charge of any cost whatsoever. Links in stock if required and good to go same/next day. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Jack - do let us know the outcome of this. And for your reassurance Jez and Zmanalex are two of the most experiened 350 specialists in the country so please, please don't take any more bullshit from that garage who did the butchery and sadly sound like a bunch of cowboys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Jack - do let us know the outcome of this. And for your reassurance Jez and Zmanalex are two of the most experiened 350 specialists in the country so please, please don't take any more bullshit from that garage who did the butchery and sadly sound like a bunch of cowboys. + lots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackStrong Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 This is turning out to be a frigging nightmare. Garage is only up the road so went up with a print off of a quote for the links including how Alex said direct from nissan there £120. They brought the mechanic in who said a number of things: the budget rears fitted perfectly on the fronts. I explained two 350z specialists on here said they wernt and so i dont know how you got them to fit. he expalined that when he looked at the job sheet, written down as "change drop links", he quote:"assumed" it meant the fronts and did it without checking the other folder which had the MOT, which it failed on cos of the tyres and rear broken drop link. Also said that normally cars dont have drops on the rear so it was his mistake. I took a photo of the genuine fronts and he confirmed they were them. Everyone was then shocked when i showed them the genuine cost £120 from nissan but if bought from on here I could get them cheaper, by tomorrow. Mechanic then left the room and the lady explained there must have been a reason why he removed them. I explained that there was nothing wrong with them. Also That i had only bought the budget rears so it would pass the mot etc, with the intention of getting the genuines on here soon. She went out to the mechanic and came back: So they said they would replace the ones on the front, however, not with brand new genuines but with used ones. And theres no way it will be done by tomorrow, expect to have the courtesy car for some time! I had to get back to work so gave them my number !again! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A SIMPLE SERVICE, MOT AND CHANGING DROP LINKS COULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A PAIN IN THE ARSE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 two words Solictors Letter !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 This is easy. Write a letter yourself stating what has happened, and what you expect the garage to do to fix it. Give them 7 days to respond, and inform them that if they don't fix your car as requested then you will get the work done elsewhere and take them to SCC for the cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 And its for this reason that i never trust any of my cars to garages. Nearly every single time ive had any work done at any garage they have not done it correctly. From a well known clutch chain who ended up setting fire to my car, through to Nissan who at one garage took great delight in revving the hell of of my car to hear the exhaust note, at another didnt bother reading the notes the receptionist wrote down explaining what my wifes juke needed doing and at another breaking my roof so it didnt close properly. Ive zero faith in any garages and so just do the work myself. I know thats not something everyone can do, but im lucky I can. If I could afford tyre change equipment id never take my car anywhere to have tyres fitted - its a total nightmare trying to find a garage who wont end up scratching your alloys etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Only problem is if you give them 7 days to reply the will hang on to your car..! As Alex said they should replace them with NEW grenuine ones on the front FREE and fit the ones you supplied on the back. My mate took his Zed to a Nissan dealer for a service and when he went to pick it up found some spotty teenager trying to drift it in the car park..when asked what the fluck he was doing he was told "road testing it"...!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chubby Ninja Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Will i think the spotty teenager would have to go to hospital to get my boot removed from his ar$e! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 It's what you have to do legally. Yes, it's a PITA, but if you don't do it correctly then they'll never have to give you your money back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackStrong Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Prepared a draft: Make sense ? ____________ Tuesday 12th March ~9:45am – After previously booking an appointment I brought my Nissan 350z in and went to reception, explaining that the car required a full service, MOT and that the previous weekend I had found the rear driver’s side drop link had broken, but that I had got some replacement links that I had left on the passenger seat of the car, so replace both links. Later that day I received a voicemail explaining the car had failed the MOT because of the tyres. After lunch ~3:00pm; I went back to the garage reception and explained that I didn’t want the tyres they had sourced but instead I would order Falken specific tyres and have them delivered to the garage. Although I ordered them before 4pm from camskills.co.uk they were not sent out for delivery in time. Thursday 14th March – I was following the tracking progress of the tyres, by courier company city-link. I did call Shepherds at lunch time to ask if they had arrived but they explained they hadn’t yet. At ~3pm the courier website tracking link confirmed the tyres had been delivered, signed by a “PIGGOTT†so at ~4pm I went to the garage to confirm when the car would be ready and at first the lady behind the desk said they hadn’t arrived. She then spoke to a mechanic who explained he had signed for them but hadn’t notified her. After calculating a quote for the work she then said to come back around ~6pm to pick up the car and pay then. I came back at ~6pm, to see my car still up on the stands and when I went into reception, I was informed they had made an error. The mechanic when replacing the drop links had instead removed the genuine Nissan front drop links. Corrosion on the links thread had meant the front drop links needed to be cut off. It was then that he saw the driver’s side rear drop link was snapped and realised he had replaced the wrong ones. I questioned how they got my replacement rear links to fit on the fronts but they said they fitted fine. This I found odd as the website listing advertised two separate item listings for front or rears. The lady explained he hadn’t looked at the MOT report which noted the rear drop link was broken. The only information he checked was the information that was filled in by the lady when I had given them the car, which was written;“change drop linksâ€. They then asked where I bought my drop links and I explained they were budget links off eBay, at £30 for the pair, A quick replacement so the car would pass its MOT. A different mechanic then said that he could source non genuine replacements for £30 per drop link. I had prior commitments so explained I would call them tomorrow to decide what to do, but that I would look at prices of drop links. I was given a courtesy car. Friday 15th March I am part of a Nissan 350z club and posted a forum thread, explaining the issue and what they would recommend to do. I contacted two trader specialists who both have very high reputations; both saying the front and rears were different. The general consensus from the forum was that the garage should sort it out and that I shouldn’t have to do anything. My concern was that the garages intention was to replace the fully working genuine front drop links, now destroyed, with budget replacements. I got a quote for an individual front genuine drop link, from the specialists, which were ~£80, compared to direct from Nissan ~£120. At lunch time I took this information and written quotes from the 350z specialists explaining the drop links should not fit, to the garage. I spoke to the same lady and explained I had sourced replacement genuine drop links and that I did not want them to replace them with budget ones, as after all they had removed genuine working ones. The mechanic who worked on my car was then brought in and explained he had made an error, saying several comments: “I did not look at the MOT report, just the document which said change the drop links, so I assumed it was the fronts†“Most cars do not have drop links on the rear and I didn’t look†The employees also said that the replacements I had got, fitted fine on the front, regardless I showed them the written quotes from the 350z specialists I had spoken too, saying they were different. I questioned whether they had to manoeuvre the wheel suspension to get the part to fit. I then presented the quotes for new genuine links and explained I could get the parts by tomorrow. At this point the mechanic left reception and the lady tried to justify that the mechanic must have had reasoning for him to remove the front, possibly they were faulty. I then explained they were fine and that could she ask him did they look damaged. He returned and repeated that he had made a mistake, quoting “assume†again and that there was nothing wrong with them, just presumed I wanted them replaced. While she had been speaking to him outside of reception they also discussed replacements, and that they would have to find genuine used front drop links. Later she told me that they would have to find some and that the garage would source and replace them. I asked what the turnaround time would be and she said the earliest could be Monday. After then she confirmed the courtesy car could be used for longer and so I left the premises. This whole process has been very frustrating. Contact from the garage has been awful, they should be contacting me. I have tried calling many times but the line is always busy so just drive over. The Nissan 350z is my only car and though a courtesy car has been provided it has not been appreciated as the garage is not sorting the problem out fast enough. 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spursmaddave Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 (edited) Very detailed but all you have done is detail what has happened, you need to state what you expect them now to do to rectify THEIR mistake, i.e. replace the OEM front links with new ones at their cost and install the cheap ones on the rear if they haven't been shagged installed incorrectly on the front. I would also not expect a bill for the original work for all of the aggro caused. Mistakes happen and no real harm done if it is all sorted sensibly but I don't see why you should accept 2nd hand parts fitting, how do you know they are not worse than what was on there Edited March 15, 2013 by spursmaddave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Yeah, that. Tell them what you want and the timeframe you want it completed it (reasonably). Bearing in mind they don't have to give you a courtesy car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC350Z Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 They must replace with correct oem parts on front do not except any thing else trading standards or wheres ricey when you need him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I think Ricey has retired since the squirell went away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Ricey will be along soon with some poop in a box japery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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