Took my classic to the stealers today
11 March 2010, 09:50 PM
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Took my classic to the stealers today
My 99 UK2000 prodrive turbo has dont 75k and needs a service, I rang 3 dealers/stealers to get prices and also a mate of mine who is a good spannerman, to get prices from.
The dealer I took it to in the end is one I have used before with the Imprezas I have had in the past and they were always far and did a good job, they said I needed a 90k big service as to the age and not the mileage, the 90k big service is as they said everything including draining all fluids and replacing, and all for £670 which sounded very fair as the other 2 dealers were more and my mate coming in at £750.
Now they rang me up today to say they were having problems getting the cam belt off and everything was seized and the car wouldn't be ready till tommorrow cause of this. They also said my car needs now it is in bits, a cam belt tensioner and idlers also altenator and A/C belt all free fitting but an extra £370 which I think should be all in the original price/quote I asked for, how can they do a cam belt service and quote a price for a complete job and then say it needs more, and surely any extra drive belt should also come into the 90k big service.
I'm going to see the manager tommorrow and have words, how do you recon I stand with this one, doesn't sound right to me and leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Also said I needed a rear shock for £90ish plus vat and 1.5 hours worth of labour.
The dealer I took it to in the end is one I have used before with the Imprezas I have had in the past and they were always far and did a good job, they said I needed a 90k big service as to the age and not the mileage, the 90k big service is as they said everything including draining all fluids and replacing, and all for £670 which sounded very fair as the other 2 dealers were more and my mate coming in at £750.
Now they rang me up today to say they were having problems getting the cam belt off and everything was seized and the car wouldn't be ready till tommorrow cause of this. They also said my car needs now it is in bits, a cam belt tensioner and idlers also altenator and A/C belt all free fitting but an extra £370 which I think should be all in the original price/quote I asked for, how can they do a cam belt service and quote a price for a complete job and then say it needs more, and surely any extra drive belt should also come into the 90k big service.
I'm going to see the manager tommorrow and have words, how do you recon I stand with this one, doesn't sound right to me and leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Also said I needed a rear shock for £90ish plus vat and 1.5 hours worth of labour.
11 March 2010, 10:02 PM
#2
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Well a belt tensioner 'could' go ... and they wouldn't know until they removed the belt.
A/C and Alternator belt may well need replacing - cheap (do it yourself, simple).
The tensioner and idlers are just something they will always say need replacing even when they don't ...... but, if you refuse then you are shafted if the belt snaps - you will have to trust them I guess? But them saying everything was siezed is laughable, were you having noises from the front of the engine?
Rear shocker? Well, you should fit both sides in any case! That's £180 + VAT?
They could be honest and you will be glad that they will sort it - but I would want the manager to show me what's wrong ........ watch out for the old trick of the mechanic squirting WD-40 onto the shocker and saying it's leaking!!!!
Of course, you may be shown old knackered idlers and tensioners ..
A/C and Alternator belt may well need replacing - cheap (do it yourself, simple).
The tensioner and idlers are just something they will always say need replacing even when they don't ...... but, if you refuse then you are shafted if the belt snaps - you will have to trust them I guess? But them saying everything was siezed is laughable, were you having noises from the front of the engine?
Rear shocker? Well, you should fit both sides in any case! That's £180 + VAT?
They could be honest and you will be glad that they will sort it - but I would want the manager to show me what's wrong ........ watch out for the old trick of the mechanic squirting WD-40 onto the shocker and saying it's leaking!!!!
Of course, you may be shown old knackered idlers and tensioners ..
Last edited by pslewis; 11 March 2010 at 10:03 PM.
11 March 2010, 10:03 PM
#3
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Sounds a bit dodgy to me, what exactly has seized that they cant get the cam belt off? 
Never take it to a main dealers, find a Subaru specialist garage nearby.
Never take it to a main dealers, find a Subaru specialist garage nearby.
11 March 2010, 10:14 PM
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tbf some of these things like aux belt may well be shagged, but there not gonna notice this until they start working on it. Pulleys n bits can be well and truly seized on, yet as they are pulleys this doesnt mean that they wouldnt spin or anything any more - just means stuck on engine.
These things happen, doesnt mean they are trying to rip you off.
As for the rear shock - most garages are legally required these days to carry out a vehicle safety check whenever they work on a car, and anything noticed has to be reported to the customer - otherwise the garage is liable if anything was to happen to you. If your car was a bit of an **** to work on, chances are theyre probably hoping your gonna say no to the extras like the shock lol
These things happen, doesnt mean they are trying to rip you off.
As for the rear shock - most garages are legally required these days to carry out a vehicle safety check whenever they work on a car, and anything noticed has to be reported to the customer - otherwise the garage is liable if anything was to happen to you. If your car was a bit of an **** to work on, chances are theyre probably hoping your gonna say no to the extras like the shock lol
11 March 2010, 10:20 PM
#5
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No need to take the idlers off the engine to do a CamBelt change ...... so, what were they doing taking them off???????
If they were seized (not turning) then they are going to be making some noise as the belt passes over them.
Nah, I suspect you are being bent over ...................... but I trust no-one!!
If they were seized (not turning) then they are going to be making some noise as the belt passes over them.
Nah, I suspect you are being bent over ...................... but I trust no-one!!
11 March 2010, 10:30 PM
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personally dealers are better i think and always will be but due to the nature of scoobynet it's the other way round and always will be,
tensioner as said above you can't see and the belts you can do your self or say not now maybe next month no ones saying you can't have your car back unless they do them. also remember that the classics are about 10yrs old now so it's inevitable things are going to seize and brake off and going to a specialist wouldn't of changed that.
the strut labour is a bit excessive though so i would look into getting a bit off that but the rest sounds ok,
remember they can't quote for bits they can't see or if the cars not with them at the time of the quote,
tensioner as said above you can't see and the belts you can do your self or say not now maybe next month no ones saying you can't have your car back unless they do them. also remember that the classics are about 10yrs old now so it's inevitable things are going to seize and brake off and going to a specialist wouldn't of changed that.
the strut labour is a bit excessive though so i would look into getting a bit off that but the rest sounds ok,
remember they can't quote for bits they can't see or if the cars not with them at the time of the quote,
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11 March 2010, 10:35 PM
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Thanks guys,
Just seems to me they are giving me a good price to get the work and then adding more bits to make it worth their time doing the job.
Dont know of any good indys near me in Oxfordshire.
Got to trust the stealer at the end of the day, but they are pulling a fast one IMO
Just seems to me they are giving me a good price to get the work and then adding more bits to make it worth their time doing the job.
Dont know of any good indys near me in Oxfordshire.
Got to trust the stealer at the end of the day, but they are pulling a fast one IMO
11 March 2010, 10:49 PM
#9
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Talk to them .... watch their eye contact - if they look away a lot they are telling porkies.
A seized idler would mean the belt will get very hot passing over it ...... in my experience idlers just rumble and squeal if at the end of their life (all they do is spin around on bearings - nothing much to go wrong).
The garage is going to make money on the idlers, on the tensioner, on the shocks, on the aux belt ..... they have then added labour on too - it's a nice little earner for them if the customer agrees to the work (they are in the area to replace in any case with the original labour charge).
To be honest, just get it done ..... if you feel OK about it - OR (and this is what I would do) kick up a stink and negotiate a 50% discount on the 'extras'
When was the car MOT'd? As the shocker would have been picked up then .... ask if it would fail an MOT on the shocker.
A seized idler would mean the belt will get very hot passing over it ...... in my experience idlers just rumble and squeal if at the end of their life (all they do is spin around on bearings - nothing much to go wrong).
The garage is going to make money on the idlers, on the tensioner, on the shocks, on the aux belt ..... they have then added labour on too - it's a nice little earner for them if the customer agrees to the work (they are in the area to replace in any case with the original labour charge).
To be honest, just get it done ..... if you feel OK about it - OR (and this is what I would do) kick up a stink and negotiate a 50% discount on the 'extras'
When was the car MOT'd? As the shocker would have been picked up then .... ask if it would fail an MOT on the shocker.
11 March 2010, 10:57 PM
#11
Tis a hefty price, from a very well known and trusted subaru specialist for a couple of hundred less i got
new clutch/lightened flywheel supplied/fitted
new cambelt supplied/fitted
refurbed oil pump supplied/fitted
as said, £1000 for a service is alot !!!!,Apart from the cambelt,the other stuff could be done by yourself pretty easily
new clutch/lightened flywheel supplied/fitted
new cambelt supplied/fitted
refurbed oil pump supplied/fitted
as said, £1000 for a service is alot !!!!,Apart from the cambelt,the other stuff could be done by yourself pretty easily
11 March 2010, 11:05 PM
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I told the dealer to MOT it too so it has a 13 month ticket and they said the shock was leaking but not an MOT problem just an advisorey.
They are fitting all the new part free as part of the service, so I'm just buying extra parts from them, a 50% discount on the extras sounds more fair to me as they should have had good customer relations and said at the start that it may have needed more parts and money thrown at the job.
What other jobs could I have done myself to make it cheaper
I'm better off doing my job to earn money and let them do theirs and add extras to make me pay more 
I could in the time I serviced my own car have earned more money doing my job because I'm quick at my job and slow at servicing compared.
They are fitting all the new part free as part of the service, so I'm just buying extra parts from them, a 50% discount on the extras sounds more fair to me as they should have had good customer relations and said at the start that it may have needed more parts and money thrown at the job.
What other jobs could I have done myself to make it cheaper
I'm better off doing my job to earn money and let them do theirs and add extras to make me pay more I could in the time I serviced my own car have earned more money doing my job because I'm quick at my job and slow at servicing compared.
11 March 2010, 11:39 PM
#13
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Checking fluids is simple .....
Oil and Filter change is simple too - worst part is that damned under engine cover!!
Air Filter is 2 minutes ....
Brake fluid change is OK - just a bit time consuming as a DIY .... but simple ....
Gearbox and axle fluid change simple too ......
There are reasons why they put the Apprentice on Services, because it's easy and relaxing.
The only thing which is a little tougher (but not hard at all) is the cambelt - and this is what is costing you the money, £150 for the CamBelt change + £150 for a new tensioner + £60 for the idlers? + £10 for Aux Belt = £370 ...... BUT, the cambelt part is included in the £670 Service Charge!!!!
The extra charge should be £370 - £150 = £220 IMO.
Oil and Filter change is simple too - worst part is that damned under engine cover!!
Air Filter is 2 minutes ....
Brake fluid change is OK - just a bit time consuming as a DIY .... but simple ....
Gearbox and axle fluid change simple too ......
There are reasons why they put the Apprentice on Services, because it's easy and relaxing.
The only thing which is a little tougher (but not hard at all) is the cambelt - and this is what is costing you the money, £150 for the CamBelt change + £150 for a new tensioner + £60 for the idlers? + £10 for Aux Belt = £370 ...... BUT, the cambelt part is included in the £670 Service Charge!!!!
The extra charge should be £370 - £150 = £220 IMO.
12 March 2010, 08:07 AM
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12 March 2010, 05:56 PM
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Checking fluids is simple .....
Oil and Filter change is simple too - worst part is that damned under engine cover!!
Air Filter is 2 minutes ....
Brake fluid change is OK - just a bit time consuming as a DIY .... but simple ....
Gearbox and axle fluid change simple too ......
There are reasons why they put the Apprentice on Services, because it's easy and relaxing.
The only thing which is a little tougher (but not hard at all) is the cambelt - and this is what is costing you the money, £150 for the CamBelt change + £150 for a new tensioner + £60 for the idlers? + £10 for Aux Belt = £370 ...... BUT, the cambelt part is included in the £670 Service Charge!!!!
The extra charge should be £370 - £150 = £220 IMO.
Just got back and still feel ripped off and pissed with them
They charge for the following parts ....
Tensioner...£152 + vat
No. 2 idler...£98.98 + vat
cambalt...£110.76 + vat
Only managed a £25 diccount at the end, and he said it was a good will jesture on his behalf.
Oil and Filter change is simple too - worst part is that damned under engine cover!!
Air Filter is 2 minutes ....
Brake fluid change is OK - just a bit time consuming as a DIY .... but simple ....
Gearbox and axle fluid change simple too ......
There are reasons why they put the Apprentice on Services, because it's easy and relaxing.
The only thing which is a little tougher (but not hard at all) is the cambelt - and this is what is costing you the money, £150 for the CamBelt change + £150 for a new tensioner + £60 for the idlers? + £10 for Aux Belt = £370 ...... BUT, the cambelt part is included in the £670 Service Charge!!!!
The extra charge should be £370 - £150 = £220 IMO.
Just got back and still feel ripped off and pissed with them
They charge for the following parts ....
Tensioner...£152 + vat
No. 2 idler...£98.98 + vat
cambalt...£110.76 + vat
Only managed a £25 diccount at the end, and he said it was a good will jesture on his behalf.
12 March 2010, 07:02 PM
#17
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You have been right royally shafted at those prices, to be honest ......... I would have stuck his £25 goodwill gesture up his .....hole!!
Anyway, done now .... lesson learned, do it yourself
Anyway, done now .... lesson learned, do it yourself
12 March 2010, 07:50 PM
#19
Ouch, thats probably a third of the value of the car.....find aspecialist you can trust who wants you to come back because of their service, as oposed to nice showroom, pot plants and coffee machine.
12 March 2010, 09:55 PM
#21
£350 for a cambelt and tensioners !! Then fitting
over a grand
you could of driven up to alans at as performance stopped in a top class hotel took the misses to the metro shopping for half a dozen dresses and still had change left
too dear down south
over a grand
you could of driven up to alans at as performance stopped in a top class hotel took the misses to the metro shopping for half a dozen dresses and still had change left
too dear down south
13 March 2010, 03:32 PM
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it's only easy if you know what you are doing any thing is, but a lot of people don't have the confidence to do some things especially when if they get it wrong there could be an even bigger bill at the end of it but i don't think by reading his post they have charged him twice for the cambelt
and where on earth did you get your prices from! if only it was £10 for a genuine alt belt, they are more like £30-£40
and there is some news, subaru are apparantly going to do a line of parts specifically aimed at the older subarus that are cheaper a bit like the snap on/blue point thing
according to my local dealer anyway
and where on earth did you get your prices from! if only it was £10 for a genuine alt belt, they are more like £30-£40
and there is some news, subaru are apparantly going to do a line of parts specifically aimed at the older subarus that are cheaper a bit like the snap on/blue point thing
according to my local dealer anyway
13 March 2010, 04:10 PM
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Good idea.
Porsche used to step the prices down on the older parts catalogues as they saw a well maintained older Porsche as a mobile advertising board.
Porsche used to step the prices down on the older parts catalogues as they saw a well maintained older Porsche as a mobile advertising board.
13 March 2010, 08:30 PM
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Well, the bright side is you've had a full service done at the dealers so hopefully your engine should be running sweet. Those prices are extortionate. I've got a '99 too but afraid would never use a dealer. I do all my own service work, mainly because I then know the work HAS been done. There are some good independents around now, next time you'll be prepared and check for any 'extra' costs that may arise.
13 March 2010, 10:10 PM
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I wouldn't buy a car that was home serviced unless the owner was a mechanic and knew his way around the car.
Servicing it yourself and thinking you saved money it one thing but how about all the bit you didn't do that you dont even know about.
I'm a plumbing and heating engineer and I've never seen a job done by any DIYer that looks close to being good or of the standards a trained tradesman would do though they are all chuffed and think it is great to their untrained eye, same with most things.
Servicing it yourself and thinking you saved money it one thing but how about all the bit you didn't do that you dont even know about.
I'm a plumbing and heating engineer and I've never seen a job done by any DIYer that looks close to being good or of the standards a trained tradesman would do though they are all chuffed and think it is great to their untrained eye, same with most things.