Randy_Baton Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) I left my car at a garage that was recommend by a couple of people on here (not an official trader though). I put it in for a full service and had everything changed that should have been done at some point in the last 10 years. Basically I wanted the service record to start again. I brought all the parts but non of the oils/liquids. I also had a few other things done and it came to £1k which was the upper limit of what I expected. When the mechanic was about to take it for a drive he hit the brakes hard and one of the rear brake pipes (not lines) exploded. He took a look at it and said both pipes were corroded and would need repairing. The bill for this has come in at £1800! He said the brakes disks were also corroded and needed replacing but he went ahead and did this without telling me. He also said the drop links would need replacing at some point and they would cost ~£250 each (parts only). I've checked on-line and its more like £80 each so I can't help but feel like somethings not right. I also had a front end respray which was quite cheap, but he just rang me up and said the car has been resprayed before and they didn't have the right tint to match the new colour so would need to respray it again when the new tint arrives on Monday. However the car would also be ready to be picked up on Monday. they have an oven so can paint and dry in a few hours, does this sound right? The bill is heading on towards half the amount I paid for the car but I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if its reasonable or not. All prices he gives are ex VAT, who doesn't pay VAT on car repairs? Edited October 25, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Who are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Baton Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Don't want to start a slander topic, you probably wouldn't have heard of them if you weren't from the South East, but its an independent Jap specialist. Edited October 25, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 All sounds a bit dodgy to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 WOW..That hurts.. . Hope they showed you the old parts they took off, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I wouldn't pay without a receipt for every part they claim to have replaced. Sound like a bunch of rip off merchants. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Baton Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) They have said they have kept the old parts to show me. I think the only parts they have replaced and not fabricated are the corroded brake discs. Edited October 25, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimboy2 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'm from the south. Can you tell me so I don't go there ? I guess that's why most choose a specialist. Like others have said, ask to see all the parts. Not sure what gives him the right to just replace brake discs. What happens if you was planning on changing them yourselves and have bought updated parts? Sounds very dodgy to me but not sure what you can really do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sounds way too expensive to me mate. Get a breakdown before you pay and let us all have a look at it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a2orry Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Was it a bugatti you took to the garage. Prices are way over the top 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_89 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 COWBOYS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sounds like a garage I know in the South East but if they're not a full paid trader here then I'm surprised. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 250 quid for a drop link?! Alarm bells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 If they completed work you did not authorise then you are in a good legal position to question the bill. I'm a touch confused. As he charged £800 ontop of the original £1k for the brake pipes, or has he charged a further £1800 on top? Either way it's ridiculous. Even top end brake discs will only be £300 a pair. And braided hoses don't exactly cost much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouthwash Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Hi Randy, I was surprised when I was at the garage when they told me how much your brake overhaul was going to cost but they said they spoke to you when I asked if you knew how much it was going to cost..! In my mind the price is way over the top and I would seriously be questioning what has gone on. From the look of it they made you custom brake lines from the engine bay for all 4 hubs which I guess is where the money came from? Rather than buying off the shelf stuff. Try and work it out in your head how much it should cost, £65+vat/hour + parts.. How many hours does it to take to make, fit and bleed 4 brake lines/pipes? (I'm not sure) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Baton Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Even top end brake discs will only be £300 a pair. And braided hoses don't exactly cost much. Its not the hoses its the fixed metal pipes that run from the front to the back. They said they cut out the corroded parts toward the rear of the car and fitted in new pipes that they fabricated themselves. You've got me questioning the price perhaps he did mean 1800 in total rather than 2.8k. I'd be more okay with that! Guess I'll find out on Monday. Edited October 25, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeezeebaba Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sounds like your being ripped off, seek another opinion from an approved outfit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouthwash Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Also to note, I did see all of your discs/lines etc that were removed and they were a state but that doesn't mean the cost is justified. Edited October 25, 2014 by mouthwash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leet8845 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'd more concerned as to why he was slamming on the brakes whether it was before he drove it or whilst he was driving it. Anything less than I had to stop to avoid an accident I'd be wanting them to pay for breaking the hose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Baton Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Hi Randy, I was surprised when I was at the garage when they told me how much your brake overhaul was going to cost but they said they spoke to you when I asked if you knew how much it was going to cost..! In my mind the price is way over the top and I would seriously be questioning what has gone on. From the look of it they made you custom brake lines from the engine bay for all 4 hubs which I guess is where the money came from? Rather than buying off the shelf stuff. Try and work it out in your head how much it should cost, £65+vat/hour + parts.. How many hours does it to take to make, fit and bleed 4 brake lines/pipes? (I'm not sure) They never mentioned cost and said the front of the car was fine 'like brand new' because the heat of engine had probably dried out any water trapped in the pipes. I was just expecting work carried out on the rear section of the pipes. Edited October 25, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Baton Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) I'd more concerned as to why he was slamming on the brakes whether it was before he drove it or whilst he was driving it. Anything less than I had to stop to avoid an accident I'd be wanting them to pay for breaking the hose. Car was stationary in the bay, I had my brake fluid changed and brake pads changed so he was testing them out. I was there at the time. Edited October 25, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouthwash Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) I'm not 100% but when I was there they were bleeding the front, that's not to say they replaced those lines? I just assumed they had. Edited October 25, 2014 by mouthwash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sorry fella but if replacing the brake lines cost you 1K you have been bent over and royally rogered. Ask for a fully itemised bill, listing all the parts replaced (that you didn't supply) and a breakdown of labor costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a2orry Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 No garages I know of buy brake pipes from dealers. It is very cheap and very easy to make them .The pipe and fittings cost no more than a tenner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Just for comparison - I had 20% of the metal brake pipes on my 300zx replaced at the last MOT as they were all corroded. They were done from scratch by the garage (not bought in). It cost me less than £50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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