Too expensive/far too long? (advice from mechanics needed)

[gaz90]

I put my car (1.2l 16v) in for an MOT, full service, tracking and balancing on Wednesday to a local garage a few people had recommended to me, I was quoted £190 for all of this to be done which I thought was decent enough.

About 15 minutes after leaving the car with them I got a phone call saying my passenger side track rod end needed replaced and that my brake caliper had seized and needed sorted and he said it would take the total to £270, I could have probably fixed/replaced these myself but I couldn't be bothered and told them to go ahead since they already had it in. I got a phone call later saying it had passed its MOT and been serviced but they didn't have time to get the tracking done so it was to go back in yesterday for an hour and it would be done.

I took it back in yesterday morning about half 8/9 and was told they'd phone me soon, 12 o'clock came and I got a phone call saying that a tie rod was seized and they couldn't get the tracking done because of this which meant they would have to 'unseize' it then get the tracking done. Half 4 and still no phone call so I phoned them and was phoned about an hour later giving me some other excuse and was told it would be ready at 11 today.

Phoned up today about half 11 to be told it STILL wasn't ready, phoned about 2ish to get told 'we need to replace the tie rod, the ball joints and get the alignment done, it will be ready by the end of the day and it will be another £70'.

So my total bill is going to be £340 for an MOT, full service, tracking, balancing, a new track rod end fitted, my brake caliper fixed (didn't replace it, just greased it I think), tie rod replaced, 2 new ball joints and the pleasure of being without a car for 3 days. Don't get me wrong the car drives great, better than it ever has since I bought it probably but I can't help thinking its quite expensive and seems to just be dragging on and on now considering some people could probably swap an engine in a day or so.

My questions are as in the title: 1. Is the price about right or what?, 2. surely 3 days for this stuff is a bit of a joke? It's like hes trying to find more jobs as each day goes on.

Any answers/advice appreciated, sorry for the essay I've wrote

 

[Mike@Rentech]

Price is fine for that work, took a while but remember yours it not the only car they have to fix.

 

[Michael Woodford MST]

Sounds more than fair to me.

 

[The Boosh!]

I think your expectations are a bit unreasonable tbh. Don't see anything wrong going off the info you've posted.

 

[gaz90]

Price is fine for that work, took a while but remember yours it not the only car they have to fix.

Cheers for the response Mike, just needed confirmation because I've been told he's a great mechanic which he seems to be and cheap but the price seems to be rising all the time and its taking longer and longer.
I've had a few issues with mechanics over the past couple of years so I feel I now have to question everything I get done but if an expert thinks he's pretty fair then I may have found my new local mechanic!

Thanks again Mike.

 

[gaz90]

I think your expectations are a bit unreasonable tbh. Don't see anything wrong going off the info you've posted.

I'm not a very patient person I think thats the problem tbh, I hate all this 'it will be ready at this time','Sorry it's still not ready, it will be ready by the end of the day' then its still not ready stuff. I've already stopped going to one of my local mechanics because of that.
I don't see why they can't just tell me it will be ready when its ready, instead of giving me different times and failing to give me my car back thats whats annoying me.

 

[Addicted]

Seems like a nice price to be honest.

 

[gaz90]

Sounds more than fair to me.

Seems like a nice price to be honest.

Cheers for that, I suppose if the price is quite decent and the car drives better than ever then I can deal with walking/getting lifts everywhere for a few days (maybe even the weekend by the looks of it), starting to wish I'd just ticked the courtesy car while car is being repaired option on insurance now haha

 

[Bren Rogers]

I think the main issue is not hitting their own deadline. That would drive me mental. It seems common practice from garages in my experience. It isn't acceptable in other industries.

 

[Thrill]

That price is reasonable as everyone else has said and you should be grateful as they've probably given the car a once over for you and found a few little niggles Atleast it's all sorted at once though!

 

[gaz90]

I think the main issue is not hitting their own deadline. That would drive me mental. It seems common practice from garages in my experience. It isn't acceptable in other industries.

I think thats the main thing that was really annoying me, I've been told about 4 different times in the past couple of days it would be ready and wasn't. At least its sorted now and running better than ever in my ownership, plus I got a wee discount for the time it took so can't moan about the price.

That price is reasonable as everyone else has said and you should be grateful as they've probably given the car a once over for you and found a few little niggles Atleast it's all sorted at once though!

Aye, suppose your right, it really is better than it's ever been in my ownership apart from the front tyres are a bit thin because of the damaged/nackered parts and the soft rubber they're made of (I think?).
He told me that the drivers side wheel bearings on its way out which I knew already and that my rear brake shoes were getting low and would need done soon but apart from that he said its a good wee runner so seems to have done quite a thorough check on it and I will definitely be using him again even if it does take a few days as he seems to be one of the best mechanics I've met by far apart from the small time scale/deadline issue.

 

[Steven103]

plus I got a wee discount for the time it took so can't moan about the price.

I think this has made the difference between "a good price" and "a good price and an honest mechanic wanting to keep you as a customer."

Glad you're loving the "refreshed" car!

 

[GiT]

It's a difficult one - because I would be thinking "Why didn't the MOT test pick up the issues", but of course many things like tie road ain't checked for siezed items.

Break down each price, and it isn't too bad I guess. Deadline issues like that though... knowing it's going for alignment - poor. If he was as good as he's being given credit for - he'd of made sure each adjustable shaft was usable and free.

Having worked in several garages and being on the front desks and heard the crap workshop managers and mechanics spout - I cannot believe you're getting the full picture.
​

 

[gaz90]

I think this has made the difference between "a good price" and "a good price and an honest mechanic wanting to keep you as a customer."

Glad you're loving the "refreshed" car!

Thats it, it's worked for him too as I would definately use him again and again for anything I needed done as he's a good mechanic and seems quite fair.
Its brilliant, now most mechanical things are sorted I just need to get myself a job and I can sort out the things that annoy me

 

[gaz90]

It's a difficult one - because I would be thinking "Why didn't the MOT test pick up the issues", but of course many things like tie road ain't checked for siezed items.

Break down each price, and it isn't too bad I guess. Deadline issues like that though... knowing it's going for alignment - poor. If he was as good as he's being given credit for - he'd of made sure each adjustable shaft was usable and free.

Having worked in several garages and being on the front desks and heard the crap workshop managers and mechanics spout - I cannot believe you're getting the full picture.
​

You're probably right, I'm probably not getting the full picture but he did mention when I collected it that he had 5 clutches and a gearbox and clutch to do since yesterday, I'm guessing that takes up quite a lot of time if only 2 people work there?
Even with the deadline issues i will still use him again, though I'll say to him when I leave it with him to phone me when its done instead of making deadlines for himself and not meeting them thats what annoyed me. Seems fair, well priced, knows his stuff and doesn't seem to just chuck parts at a car in hope it fixes it like I've seen/experienced with other garages just a bit slow lol

 

[Ek-greeny]

Cars are unpredictable, I know this as a mechanic. Sometimes crap happens.
For example, it fails mot on rear pads to thin and play in the track rod end. Realistically around 1.5-2 hours work inc tracking
So you quote your customer 2 hours. You go to change rear pads, turns out the caliper slide pins are siezed solid, so that half hour it should have took then takes you over an hour as you need to remove the carrier, get it in a vice to work the pins free, clean them, clean the carrier, re-grease and re-fit.
so your already behind now as the pads on the other side still need changing and that's if the slide pins there aren't shagged aswell


you then get to the track rod end, turns out some butcher has been on it previously and battered and rounded the lock nut - you can see how it goes and how easy these deadlines get put back!
Especially when he's probably got another customers car that's desperately needed for the same day

not defending him, because for all I know he's crap and has been lying through his teeth, but I'm just telling you how it is on my side of the trade

 

[gaz90]

Cars are unpredictable, I know this as a mechanic. Sometimes crap happens.
For example, it fails mot on rear pads to thin and play in the track rod end. Realistically around 1.5-2 hours work inc tracking
So you quote your customer 2 hours. You go to change rear pads, turns out the caliper slide pins are siezed solid, so that half hour it should have took then takes you over an hour as you need to remove the carrier, get it in a vice to work the pins free, clean them, clean the carrier, re-grease and re-fit.
so your already behind now as the pads on the other side still need changing and that's if the slide pins there aren't shagged aswell


you then get to the track rod end, turns out some butcher has been on it previously and battered and rounded the lock nut - you can see how it goes and how easy these deadlines get put back!
Especially when he's probably got another customers car that's desperately needed for the same day

not defending him, because for all I know he's crap and has been lying through his teeth, but I'm just telling you how it is on my side of the trade

I know exactly what you mean mate, I'm an electrician and give people deadlines of some sort if I'm rewiring a house, etc. then something goes wrong, I'm there for hours longer than expected and people start hassling me/moaning at me/being a d!ck (pretty much what I end up doing to mechanics when deadlines aren't met being honest). I just need to learn to have more patience with these things I think and accept the fact that a good job done properly takes time.

Funny you should say that he did mention something about a rounded off nut somewhere, can't remember where but. also said that when they went to adjust the tie rod or loosen it or something that it was stuck solid to the point it snapped. There was a really nice gold M3 in for a MOT, service and a few other bits I'd imagine that took a lot of their time up.

Just need to be more patient in future.

 

[Mike...]

I think the main issue is not hitting their own deadline. That would drive me mental. It seems common practice from garages in my experience. It isn't acceptable in other industries.

Annoys me so much, this!

My mate took his car in for an MOT yesterday, was told to take it in at 12 and they would get it done, waited half an hour before they started, then the test took about an hour (usaully half an hour to 45 mins doesn't it?) it failed on two rear tyres, so he said ok, change them, thats what another half an hour max? They sent him away, told him to come back at 3 o' clock he arrived just after, and it wasn't even on the ramps with the wheels off, the MOT was started about 45 minutes later and he left 40 minutes after that! So almost an hour and a half after he was told to get there! All this from a so called specialist (Not a Renault one).

Worst I have experienced is asking to be called when it is ready to pick up when it's done and not getting a call so can't complain too much!

 

[JoeHumphreys91]

Annoys me so much, this!

My mate took his car in for an MOT yesterday, was told to take it in at 12 and they would get it done, waited half an hour before they started, then the test took about an hour (usaully half an hour to 45 mins doesn't it?) it failed on two rear tyres, so he said ok, change them, thats what another half an hour max? They sent him away, told him to come back at 3 o' clock he arrived just after, and it wasn't even on the ramps with the wheels off, the MOT was started about 45 minutes later and he left 40 minutes after that! So almost an hour and a half after he was told to get there! All this from a so called specialist (Not a Renault one).

Worst I have experienced is asking to be called when it is ready to pick up when it's done and not getting a call so can't complain too much!

This is me he's on about. Only good thing about it was MOT was part of sale. so it didn't cost me a penny. Just annoying it cost me about 6 hours of my life for a 2 hour job!