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Apr 10, 2018 19:32:12 GMT
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I had to have my modern serviced today and would just like some opinion on what it cost me.
The car is modern but old and i wanted a basic fluids service and a pre mot style check .
I supplied all the parts apart from a sump plug washer .
The bill had a few advisories for minor oil leaks , a rear tyre had low pressure and some other rubbish like twisted air con pipe [ twisted from the factory ] and screenwash cap not secure .
They replaced 4 bulbs as well and with sump plug that came to £13.50 in parts .
The whole bill was £176 , so £163 to do a basic service and checks .
Does that not seem very steep ?
The chap in charge seemed curse word of with me in the morning for supplying my own parts even though it had been okayed previously and was not interested in talking about getting two injector seals changed simply saying ' no chance '
I was in no posistion to query the bill at the time but cannot help think i have been charged the F-off price to either not come back or because i had my own parts .
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Garage bill query Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Apr 10, 2018 19:58:04 GMT
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Nope - that’s about main dealer prices.
Wife’s modern got serviced at the dealers once (£200-odd for basically an oil change) - went to an Indie after that at half the price. Same parts and serviced to the same level. Didn’t get (hence pay for one way or another) a free cup of coffee, courtesy car or free WiFi.
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Last Edit: Apr 10, 2018 20:00:06 GMT by Phil H
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Apr 10, 2018 19:59:48 GMT
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No this is at a regular mid sized family garage - and i supplied the parts .
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Apr 10, 2018 20:01:23 GMT
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I would say that it depends on what service work you had done. When you say a basic fluids service - did you just have the oil changed or coolant flushed, brake fluid changed, air filter, fuel filter etc...
Seems a bit steep seeing as you supplied the parts.
Matt
* Edited ‘cause it took me so long to type
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Garage bill query Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Apr 10, 2018 20:04:16 GMT
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Ok then - the one I last paid for was an oil and filters change - £30 in parts, so £70 labour.
You had a “pre-MoT” check - half an hour? £30-40
4 bulbs replaced. 10 minutes per bulb? £40-50
That’s £160 labour quite easily.
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Apr 10, 2018 20:04:19 GMT
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Air , fuel and oil filter and oil change . I supplied all parts and oil apart from a sump washer they charged £2.50 for [ not that i mind ]
Basic mot style check .
Greased my door hinges apparently according to the bill but must have used inivisible grease !
I would like to expect that a side light bulb doesnt take a experienced mechanic 10 minutes to do !
Just think that all the work done can not have taken anything more than 1 1/2 hours at the very most so the garage is charging more than £100 and hour for labour !
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Garage bill query Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Apr 10, 2018 20:13:57 GMT
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Depends on the car - some cars take an hour to change a headlamp bulb.
I don’t want to sound patronising here, but did you know you had 4 duff bulbs? Either way, sending it in with 4 bulbs out says you’ve just given them the ability to charge as long as it took. If they lost their profit margin on the parts sale, then look at it from their side..
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Last Edit: Apr 10, 2018 20:14:50 GMT by Phil H
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Apr 10, 2018 20:21:05 GMT
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Depends on the car - some cars take an hour to change a headlamp bulb. I don’t want to sound patronising here, but did you know you had 4 duff bulbs? Either way, sending it in with 4 bulbs out says you’ve just given them the ability to charge as long as it took. If they lost their profit margin on the parts sale, then look at it from their side.. Well if thats the case thats generally seen as being dishonest . If your supplying your own parts and they are fine with it then they should not tale longer to do something or add time on to extract more money ! |
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tristanh
Part of things
Routinely bewildered
Posts: 990 
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Apr 10, 2018 20:21:26 GMT
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Agreed, bulbs on some cars are ridiculous.
Dip bulbs on an 08 Accord for example are almost impossible without the wingliner removed ffs.
Speaking as a garage owner... I wouldn't actually take on a job where the owner supplied the parts unless it was very unusual and hard sourced stuff. And any of my mates in the trade are the same.
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Whether you believe you can, or you cannot, you're probably right.
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Garage bill query Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Apr 10, 2018 20:26:50 GMT
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Did you get a quote for the work beforehand?..if not, then c’est la vie.
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Apr 10, 2018 20:42:12 GMT
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I’d imagine that they would’ve charged you for a couple of hours labour at least (even if it took 1.5 hours) - £75 an hour...
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Apr 10, 2018 22:36:36 GMT
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The garage owner supplying the parts is where they make a few ££ off the customer I.E trade and retail prices, I do the same myself. The price quoted for labour does seem a bit steep.
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Apr 11, 2018 11:04:28 GMT
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Service would be around 3 hrs
Pre MOT check 30 mins
Change bulbs 30 mins
Plus time to get the car on the ramp, off again, collate the bill etc etc
Price seems very reasonable
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Garage bill query slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Apr 11, 2018 11:39:01 GMT
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Change your own oil next time!
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Apr 11, 2018 12:17:28 GMT
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What car is it?
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Its not broken, its resting!
Max signature image height: 80px
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Darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,684
Club RR Member Number: 39
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Garage bill query Darkspeed
@darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member 39
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Apr 11, 2018 12:21:30 GMT
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Considering labour rates are between 45 and 60 per hour - and less Vat 163/1.2 = £135/45 = 3hours total /60 = 2-1/4hours fair enough for the work.
TBH - as supplying your own stuff is taking the mick a bit then I would expect a bit of that in return from the garage - I know if it were my business and someone said they wanted to supply all of the consumables I would also say - yep that's fine. But be assured that any money that I would have lost by not supplying them would be added into the bill - its a business not a charity. I would have also given you back the old oil, old filters etc. to dispose of yourself.
I think if you feel that the price was a F-off price then you have answered your own question.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Garage bill query ChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Apr 11, 2018 13:01:18 GMT
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As said, what car is it?
On most E46s for example, changing the plugs is a simple task. Getting to the plugs is another matter. Read 30 minutes with removing the HVAC cowling and then the engine covers as well as putting them back on again.
In some instances it's nice if a little time is taken; I know that to do the lights in a Clio is a good 10 minutes. You can do them in less than 5 but the risk of misalignment and breaking things goes higher.
It sounds a little steep but nothing crazy TBH.
My garage generally doesn't make alot of the parts and lately has been happy for me to supply the parts; ECP will generally sell cheaper to the public than him during their 'sales'. But I've also been using him for years and years to get that relationship. If something went wrong who does the liability sit with? The parts supplier(you) or the garage?
He's not the best mechanic out there but for most usual jobs he's pretty decent.
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Last Edit: Apr 11, 2018 13:05:35 GMT by ChasR
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,961
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Garage bill query MiataMark
@garra
Club Retro Rides Member 29
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Apr 11, 2018 17:35:24 GMT
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I've just paid £152 at an independent garage for a fluids and filters change on my Alfa, £90 labour, £37 parts rest VAT.
As has been said depending on car model changing bulbs can be time consuming, I keep putting off putting in better full-beam bulbs on the Alfa because I think you have to take the 'bumper' off to do it.
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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Garage bill query Deleted
@Deleted
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Apr 11, 2018 18:14:24 GMT
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I think supplying your own parts is pretty much like going to a restaurant with your own wine then bitching about having to pay corkage fee. If I bring you a Manifold to tig weld up,and I supply you with gas,fillerwire, preground tungsten electrodes,consumables and cleaning material will you give me a better price? Doubtful as you will be out of pocket and out of business very quickly . So whilst he hasn't pulled your pants down as much as he could of,he has made his profit margin that he needs to make his business a viable ,going concern. 🙂
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Last Edit: Apr 11, 2018 18:20:18 GMT by Deleted
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Apr 11, 2018 19:19:13 GMT
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Well that's shown me the view from the other side which I could not see. Honestly thought garages charged a little on parts seen as Labour charges are high and that's where they made £30+ an hour profit on the Labour.
I only supplied the parts as I had them given to me free so thought they would have said no if they did not like that idea.
Anyway thanks for the input it's made see things differently even if I slightly disagree with the lack of communication or being up front about things.
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