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Wed 17 Jul 2019 20:30
- Palcouk
SP: Hourly rates, the excesive hourly rates are to provide the rubber plant, comfortable seating, free coffee, papers and many staff that main agents have. I used to go to France to have my MB serviced at a dealer there, less than half the price of my local Kent based MB, and I got to go shopping as well!
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Wed 17 Jul 2019 21:46
- mmmmm

So notwithstanding your heavily implied criticism, bet you enjoyed your comfy seat, multi cups of coffee, read of a paper, being looked after by the highly trained and polite staff and more besides...so given that this is a business we are talking about and they have overheads, capital expenditure, training costs and MUCH more, why do you call their rates excessive (with two s's)?. Hope your merc agent reduced/reduces your p/ex allowance for not enabling them to work on your car locally, adding insult to injury, seeing the continental service stamp on the SH paperwork.

Edited by Avant on 23/07/2019 at 00:09

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Thu 18 Jul 2019 02:32
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 20-07-2019 Part 2 - HandCart

(you're)

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Thu 18 Jul 2019 21:24
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 20-07-2019 Part 2 - Palcouk
I purchased an MB new, after less than a year it developed a fault with the glow plug system. The highly trained attentive staff tried to fob me off saying it was a wear & tear item and not a warranty issue. I made my point and they agreed to repair under warranty. They did so, two weeks later the car broke down and was recovered to another MB agent, I was presented with a repair bill of about £1k, and was told the previous repair had caused damage to a seal resulting in overheating.
I advised the original MB agent that I expected them to make good the repair cost. They didnt do so until I wrote to the dealer princilple a letter of intent.
Some years later I purchased an S class from a main dealer, it developed a fault after a couple of weeks, they declined to repair and I had to make a Small Claim to recover monies.
And no I have better things to do that sit in a dealer taking coffee and reading papers. I'm now on my third Lexus from the same dealer
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Sat 20 Jul 2019 07:42
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 20-07-2019 Part 2 - TTToommy

Had very similar issues with a BMW main dealer, despite being unable to start the car the service manager and dealer principle told me with a straight face as the car's computerhad no error codes there was nothing they could do as BMW UK wouldn't pay them to repair the car.

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Wed 17 Jul 2019 22:36
- Craig_
And I thought the £96 per hour with VAT that Arnold Clark charge was excessive. I take it to a local mechanic who charges £30.
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Fri 19 Jul 2019 12:27
- Captain-Cretin
Not just the main dealers taking the p***.

Took my car to a specialist as it was due timing belt changes and I wasnt happy with the attempted rip-off by the main dealer on the previous belt change.

They over tightened the sump plug to the extent it took an inspection ramp and an extension bar on the spanner to loosen; they also filled the car with a diesel specific oil, despite it quite clearly being a petrol engine.
(Reduced mpg by 25%)
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Fri 19 Jul 2019 15:29
- Scot5
Almost impossible getting info out of VAG regarding cambelt change intervals as every dealer seems to have their own take. Have also seen different intervals listed for the same engine depeding whether the car is SEAT, VW, Skoda or Audi.

It used to be four years or approx. 60k miles ( which ever came first ) before a change ( or was that inspection - VAG being vague again ) was recommended but that changed to 5yrs or 75k, 80k, 90k or was it 100k? ( depending on which VAG dealer you spoke to ).

But this is the first I've heard of the intervals returning to 4yr. It doesn't quite sound right.

VW website currently has this as 5yr, can't find mention of it on the 3 others.

www.volkswagen.co.uk/need-help/owners/cambelt-chan...e

Obtaining servicing intervals for any VAG product has always been a complete mess with not only different dealers withing the same motor group often giving conflicting info, but different members of staff within the same garage giving conflicting info. It's a real mess.
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Sat 27 Jul 2019 13:22
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 20-07-2019 Part 2 - PeteTheChicken
The info I got from my local VAG dealer is anything registered before 2009 is a 4 year change and anything after is 5 years (on my 15 Passat it's 5 years/150,000 miles). If you let VAG change the belt/tensioners etc they give you a 5year warranty on the work. I have seen some motoring sites imply that it is 4 years across the board for a change but VAG were quite definite that that only applies to the pre '09 vehicles.


Edited by PeteTheChicken on 27/07/2019 at 13:25

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Fri 19 Jul 2019 23:18
- Falkirk Bairn
HJ "The Lexus warranty is only £450 for two years extension of the original 5-year warranty."

Lexus UK offers 3 years as standard but you can buy extensions

Lexus ES & Toyota Camry are non - identical twins
Lexus 3 yrs warranty
Toyota 5 years warranty & for £500 you get another 2 years cover
Same floor pan, engine gearbox etc etc - different body panels & equipment/ finish but is there more value for money in the Toyota
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Sat 20 Jul 2019 11:34
- stojom
Re service costs.
Ok guys I’m convinced. When I win the lottery I won’t be buying an expensive so called prestige German car despite being able to afford it. I’ll stick with a company who values its customers.
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Sun 21 Jul 2019 11:57
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 20-07-2019 Part 2 - Captain-Cretin

Better to buy a car that doesnt break down.

If I had the money today, I would buy a Kia EV; but I must say I have been very impressed with my Mitsubishi Grandis - if not impressed with the dealers.

Over nearly 11 years of ownership (nearly 12 y/o car), it has needed only one non service part replacing - at a cost of £9.65.

Still running the original clutch, shocks and brake discs as well.

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Sun 21 Jul 2019 18:16
- jchinuk
Regarding 'local mechanics', my old neighbour (now deceased) was a "trusted man" who many swore by to service their cars at reasonable prices. I wouldn't have trusted him near a lawnmower, let alone my car. He thought changing the oil was a "waste of time", though he charged for it.
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Sun 21 Jul 2019 21:35
- glidermania
Re The bigger the worser. I know a couple of local indies for 'prestige' cars who charge roughly £10 a hour less than the main dealer.

Yes, by all means use an indie if they are 1, good and 2 significantly cheaper than the main dealer.
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Mon 22 Jul 2019 16:26
- stojom
Captain cretin.
Something about these Japanese, my first verso 2005 still going strong, had it 6 yrs. passed to son , he’s just sold to another relative. Only had 1 battery,plus tyres , still original exhaust, never broke down and never failed an mot! That’s why I bought another.
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