An expensive service !!!

[scattycat1]

Took me car into Robbo's on Saturday for it's 30,000 service, thought that there wouldnt be much to have done ... except they've come up with these to be done before it's MOT in April :

3 new tyres (admittedly they were getting low - but they woudlnt fail the MOT)
Front and Rear brake pads and disks (even tho the rear pads are only half worn)
A new alloy
Brake fluid change

Overall i've been quoted, including the cost of the MOT, £1138.

Hopefully me dad's gonna help me out with this. New tyres would get from Holburns then I can get the tyre insurance.

The new alloy, we were told that it had been badly dented on the inside rim. My boyfriend took the wheel off, and it's a slight dent on the inside of the alloy. I think if my dad wasnt paying for it, we woudlnt bother with that just yet.

[bstardchild]

Overall i've been quoted, including the cost of the MOT, £1138.

Yikes - I don't know what garage labour rates are these days but

I paid £100 for 2 good tyres 195/45/15 - fitted and balanced so lets call it £150 for three....
Brake pads won't rush you more that £20 for the rears and £50 for the fronts - discs maybe £90 per pair... Amazed if you need new rear discs after 30K
Brake fluid is a bout a £5 tops
Rest std service £110?

Alloy wheel - Ok probably expensive lets say £200

So thats £625 for parts

Time to fit 15 mins for the tyres - 1.5 hrs for the front discs and pads 30 mins for the rear pads - service time was included in my estimation for cost so lets ignore that - 0.75 hr to cover the unforseen and misc

That makes 3hrs labour

£1138 - the vat

= £938

minus the £625

= £313

Hmm £100 pounds an hour... bit worrying!!!!

Either way

[scattycat1]

I know Robinson’s are a main dealer (or stealer as my boyfriend calls them at times), and I think they’re on £25 an hour for labour. What they’ve quoted is all in, hopefully!

Below is what I’ve been quoted by Robbos :

Brake pads & discs (Front £220 / Rear £183)

Brake fluid change (£71)

Mot (£43)

1 Alloy = £216

Would be getting 3 tyres from Holburns @ £135 each (Bridgestone directional tyres – including £10 insurance)

TOTAL = £1138

[bstardchild]

I know Robinson’s are a main dealer (or stealer as my boyfriend calls them at times), and I think they’re on £25 an hour for labour. What they’ve quoted is all in, hopefully!

Below is what I’ve been quoted by Robbos :

Brake pads & discs (Front £220 / Rear £183)

Brake fluid change (£71)

Mot (£43)

1 Alloy = £216

Would be getting 3 tyres from Holburns @ £135 each (Bridgestone directional tyres – including £10 insurance)

TOTAL = £1138

Well I'd be getting a second opinion on the discs and pads - especially at the rear - rear discs need after 30K miles - they must be made out of playdough.... come to think of it if you need new discs on the front I'd be narked about that too.

Whats the minimum thickness for a disc - all manufacturers recomend that the discs are changed when they reach a min thickness but almost all also say that if it hasn't reached minimum than a pad change is acceptable and the saftey tolerance is built into that dimension.

The brake fluid change aint cheap but I can accept that quote

MOT is going rate

Ouch on the tyres though £135 ea is way more than I'd pay for a tyre on the polo - My LC only costs me £250 for each tyre and only one manufacturer makes the tyres specifically for a 180mph car!!!!

Wasn't far off on the alloy tho!!!

At the end of the day it's your money (well or your dads....)

[scattycat1]

Don’t know what the min for a disc is but the front pads they said had worn down to 2mm, and needed replacing. Cant remember what the rears were down to, but my boyfriend told me that generally when they replace the brake pads, they do the discs at the same time – something to do with new pads on old discs.

I have noticed that the brakes aren’t quite what they used to be, especially when you have to do quick braking!

I know the tyres are quite expensive, but they are very good for it, as they do stick when you’re going round corners quite fast. I know I could put 3 cheaper tyres on it, but if me dad’s willing to pay for it, then I’m going to take advantage

[KeBwOb]

Am I right in thinking that brake pads are made of a harder material now (can't use asbestos etc. anymore) so the discs have to be softer to compensate? Seem to remember reading that recently...

[Andrew B]

Hi, just thought i'd add my 2pence worth, disc's do not need replacing when the pads are changed. if you want to know what work really needs doing on the brakes take the car to a kwik fit garage and let the brake guy have a look, he will tell you exactly what needs replacing. Tthat is serious money they are asking for that service, to put it into perspective, the discs on my last car where changed after 105,000 miles. the back ones were still ok. Tyres, what size are they? sounds very expensive. But as someone above said its your dads cash