Car service at your own risk

I have taken my car back to Banwell garage now for the 4th time with the same fault, this is after being charged twice before for various parts to fix the problem,(missfire on my bmw) and being assured it will be fixed for good this time, oh yeah!. they have scratched the bonnet and wings. although they refuse to admit it. and just to take the biscuit they have said it may cost even more!!!! what kind of cowboys have I let loose on my pride and joy. I cant just take it else where as I am running out of money.

Never mind about your local garage, I think you should all be weary of the main dealers. I own a 107 brought it to a main dealer as the horn was not working, they said I need a new horn thought fair enough need to have it done, asked for a quote to have fitted,i thought the labour charges was a little high for a couple of screws and to disconnect and reconnect one wire, so I asked them to supply the horn only and I will fit it myself, collected car and horn and thought to myself maybe I should do some basic checks myself before taking things apart, located fuse box checked fuse link to the horn and of course fuse had blown, changed fuse and I was beeeeeping all the way back to the dealers with there beeeeeeping horn. Now that my 107 is out of warranty I now service my car myself, the first time it took me most of the day that was because I wanted to get the right tools and make sure I did it 100% correct next time round ill be able to do the same service in about 1 to 2 hours max at a fraction of the price with genuine parts, but not from the dealers. Just like home cooking you know what goes into your food unlike take away foods.

Hi Nick I can belive it, I also had taken my car into Worleys Garage to get a part exchange price, useless guy sat in a corner could not even be bothered to look at me I just walked out. No matter went over to Aylesbury done a deal and now have a brand new C3 Picasso, lovely to drive.

Hi, too many people want to blame the garage for problems with their car. Cars are machines and go wrong all the time, unfortunately paying to get your car fixed is a fact of life- and I can't see here what this garage is meant to have done wrong? They picked up your car 3 times free of charge, and diagnosed a fault with the vehicle for free -WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO?

Yes I totaly agree with you but proving it is a hard thing to do ,I hate going to garages and tend to do most the work myself at my mates garage,he is as good as gold and helps all the taxi lads out. Its hard finding someone you trust with your motor but as you said you had good experiences in the past but if a mechanic has changed then how are you to know.Its really frustrating and I hope you get it sorted out.

took my Citroen into worleys High Wycombe, rubbish, rubbish,rubbish, please don't take your for anything.Used to be a great place up to about 5 years ago. Since then you feel like a number no personal service anymore. I have talked to so many people who did use them for many years and the place has gone down hill, appears to be different staff who just do not care.

Can I warn people about a company called Service Stop ?
Service Stop is a fatastic idea and they did come collect my car on time and returned it on time with the work completed. So far so good. But then things went quickly down hill.
I used them in Aug 2009 to replace breaks on my Jaguar XKR. I wanted to keep the integrity of my car and its service history, so paid a premium to have the correct ( Brembo ) breaks fitted. However, when it came to getting a reciept for the work thjey did then it seems the whole company is full of liars ? I was told numerous times that a detailed reciept had been sent, but none ever arrived. I chased up several people many times, got mre promises but no reciept. As a result I have spent nearly £2,000 to get the work done to the right standard and with the right parts, but have no proof to show anyone when I come to sell the car. I may as well have saved myself £1200 and just fitted standard breaks and parts for the good it did me.
So - if you have a car you cherish and have been looking after carefully, then Service Stop may save you a few quid on some work, but you will pay 10x that when you come to sell your car with no proof of the work they did.
Shame really - as I said this is a great idea and should work well.
However, some simple admin seems beyond them and they dont seem to care less quite frankly !!!

depends on which service you were having it may not have included the power steering oil
your leak of oil was from the main sump underneath .So this may have been a coincidence.
Most of the honest working garages (independants ) a good clue is they are normally busy ,if you find a good one stick with them ,stay away from the big chains even for MOTs

These problums do occur ,recently took my truck in for a loose whining belts ,too hard to get at myself and when I went to collect ,and started the truck the ,belt and pulley came off ,ripped air flow fan radiator apart , I had to leave the truck with them , the drive main pulley had fractured , cost £200 , if that had happened on the road it would have scrapped the engine , good garage even showed me the pulley and they havent even billed me yet .( 2 weeks before xmas )

I got ripped off by the slimey old dog Chalie Reeves, when this guy stole my $1100.00 and made my vehicle not work anymore, he took money out of my kids mouth and I am enraged by the thought of my babies being hurt in any way. He is a real sorry sucker.
name: Charlie Reeves
business: Unique Auto Repair / An Honest Mechanic / Aries Automotive (all of these names to cover up his scam)
address: 1021 Lavon Dr., Garland, TX 75040 and 3135 Weathervane Lane, Dallas, TX 75228
phone numbers: 972-681-1241, 214-227-2452, 214-868-4933 (all of these are cell numbers, they are probably cut off)
D.O.B.:02-01-1952
business I.D. #: 304-60-1851
Everybody out there who ran into this guy, get justice by suing him in court.

Mondeopensioner, really feel sorry for your loss and stress,

Can only suggest count your losses, and look out for a good old Volvo,

Don't spend any more than £500-00.

Forgot to put the name of the garage. TMC Gaspower in Biggin Hill Kent.

I just had to get this of my chest. I feel really aggreaved and hard done by. My 1998 Mondeo (with auto gas conversion) had to towed to my local garage when the engine emitted a severe grinding noise. A you will say cam belt. Yes and that is exactly what the mechanic said. "You are a very lucky man" he said confidently."It could have been very serious but you have got of lightly. All it will cost you is £256 for a new cam belt and retainer. "Sounds good" I said.
Later in the afternoon he called back."We replaced your cam belt but the valves have touched and there is very little compression- basically the car is US but you still owe £256. I thought at least I could drive to webuyanycar.com who offered me £148 for the vehicle in the condition its in.
Only problem the car drove about 40yards before clattering to a deafening silence.
I have been a loyal customer to this garage for the last five years. What price loyalty when it comes to garages. This garage anyway!