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Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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GuiltyByDesign
New User
Jul 26, 2017, 12:08 AM
Post #1 of 7
(1460 views)
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Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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Hey All
I'm not very technical when it comes to cars so I would like to ask something from someone who knows, I have an '06 Honda Civic 1.8 Ivtec and the lat couple of MOT's the company I normally use have had to change breaks and front shock etc costing me quite a bit, not this year I decided to try a different garage down the road, I explained that I wasn't sure if the original garage was rinsing me as there's always something wrong. he quoted me £410 to replace a front spring coil, both rear break disks and pads and the MOT. That was his original price, he since said for cash he could do it for £340. and since I said no I'll look elsewhere to see if I can get it cheaper, I found the parts online and Euro Car Parts for £147.66 and he has now said if I get the parts he will fit them for £100... so that's £410 down to £247.66... that's a big drop considering all things.
Last year (10.08.16) during my MOT the other garage charged me to replace my "Front Shock + Links" and "Rear Break Pads".
This may sound stupid but are "Front Shocks" and "Front Coil Spring" the same thing just worded different or not? I'm not sure, because if so then it should still be under the garage's one year warranty right?
Also I know break pads need to be changed but surely not annually? I only drive to work and back (approx 25 mins a day) most days and don't really drive my car far, so it's no in excessive use, these were changed on the MOT last year less than a year ago, but I'm not sure where I'd stand with these, would there be a years warranty on these or would they not be?
I'll take any advice from people who know their stuff.
thanks in advance
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 26, 2017, 1:19 AM
Post #2 of 7
(1458 views)
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Re: Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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This site US based so can't know pricing for your repairs to pass the "MOT" test.
You said you are not technically inclined which you made clear by spelling "brakes" > "breaks" as in a coffee break at least 5 times.
Friend - Brakes are not just replacing pads. The suspension is the MacPherson Strut design a person's name requires an alignment as well on top if replacing both entire units or a single coil spring would never be suggested. You should be doing either brake work or suspension parts in pairs.
Both the repairs may require entire units and more than you can see quickly at some age of this thing whole units new would be in order for many things.
It's easy to understand you don't want to overpay for a service or repair but in the effort to short cut the work may cut off your nose to spite your face. Brakes, suspension are a system each unknown how much it will cost in total till parts are itemized required to do the job properly.
You've expressed a lot of interest in warranty? If you short cut work you probably voided any warranty? Read that on details of your bill.
I suggest find the right shop and person to tend to your repairs qualified to do them properly first and ask up front the costs for that. Yes, they make money on parts because they are selling the parts to you not where they acquired them and then take responsibility for their choice. Doing it backwards you will probably find you are "rinsing" yourself,
Tom
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GuiltyByDesign
New User
Jul 26, 2017, 2:01 AM
Post #3 of 7
(1452 views)
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Re: Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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Sorry Tom I seem to have upset you somehow? I was writing on my phone and therefore auto correct has taken it's toll, which is very annoying. but you did at least understand what I meant with brakes and breaks so there wasn't really a need to comment on that. I can appreciate it is a US site, but the costs were only to show how significantly the garage had suddenly changed it's pricing after I didn't just say to carry on, which raised my suspicions even further. I don't expect anyone here to quote me on any works.
I think you've misunderstood though, I'm not looking to get the job done cheap or with carry out repairs myself, they will be done by a qualified mechanic, I'm just wanting to see if he was trying to rip me off or not, as I have explained.
I've also explained I'm not technical so where you've had the idea I would be looking to carry out repairs myself I don't know? I only mentioned getting the parts myself rather than through the garage, and after mentioning that the cost drastically dropped as well,
My initial question though was are the front shocks and front coils the same thing or not, as I don't know, I'm aware it's a US site but I would have thought even cars in America have same components as here? are you able to help me with that? As nobody should pay for the same repair twice. especially if the last repairs are still under the warranty/guarantee of the same garage. The warranty I refer to is not manufacturers, but with the garage that carried out the repairs less than a year ago.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not about get it done cheap or to cut corners as you've suggested, I'm trying to understand if it's correct. I will pay what I need to pay to get my car sorted properly.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 26, 2017, 2:36 AM
Post #4 of 7
(1446 views)
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Re: Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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Sorry back at you. My fool device "auto corrects" spelling to wrong without me noticing too.
The question always is to me is this the same car sold to the US and Canada vs anywhere else? That I can't know for sure as larger car makers can easily change out more costly ways for most non US destinations when new.
Bear with me - been up all night - I'm 5 hours behind you this is my night-time now on my own not the clock.
The "struts" forget the names you can find just coils or whole ones ready to bolt on if a problem with a coil spring (they do break/crack) sometimes could get just one but with the other used wouldn't be right or may not even set level again. Just removing those you also need an alignment again and again if you do those one at a time. The shock absorber is part of it as an assembly or not when you look up parts.
Same with brakes. Pads are in a caliper that may not be good and most rotors do not tolerate machining them to true again well plus there's a rubber flex hose there to consider is really the technician's call or a shop's policy to do lots more than you may like for price. They do not want the job back or worse a failure!
So in short you need to meet minds with the shop and technician so you both understand what will work out for both of you. It's tough to price shop alone plus most places here anyway do not want parts you find or bring they would want to use and get their own.
About the honesty of vehicle repair. Seems universal that the trade is out to get people for all they can and make fast money. It really isn't any worse than anything else in my opinion but is very costly to be able to do it just having tools, experience and where I am the place to do this costs 1/2 the expense for many!
Sorry - again, I'm tired now just common for me to be a 3rd shift type or call that "night shift" if you wish then tired till mid-day which is hours away,
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 26, 2017, 4:58 AM
Post #5 of 7
(1439 views)
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Re: Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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One point you seem to be missing here is that any business exists to make a profit. There is always a markup in the parts they sell you. They are entitled to that as this is how they are able to give you a guarantee on the parts. Yes, if you shop around there are discount suppliers on the Internet that will cost less but by doing this you are releasing the installer of all obligation to give you any warranty on these parts so not only will they likely charge you more labor because of this but if any of those parts fail, you will have to pay them all over again to remove and replace them which is only fair along with having to deal with the parts supplier yourself.
What you might want to do is get a second opinion on the whole job as replacing coil springs is a very rare thing for a car to require.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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GuiltyByDesign
New User
Jul 27, 2017, 12:24 AM
Post #6 of 7
(1400 views)
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Re: Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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Thank you both for your input.
Hammer, I haven't missed the point that a business exists to make a profit at all, I work for a business and I know this more than anyone. However there's a bit difference in making a profit and ripping someone off. I did seek a second opinion as standard and it turns out that my suspicions about being ripped off were correct as I've had a new quote to replaced these parts for £200, that's less than half what the original garage quoted me at £410. I was only coming here as I was looking for advice from people who knew more about cars than myself.
The issue has now been resolved so I'm not sure these forums policies are but you can lock/delete the thread as required.
thanks again for your input
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 27, 2017, 2:09 AM
Post #7 of 7
(1398 views)
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Re: Advice: Car repairs following MOT
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Thread closed
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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