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I bought a high performance car which had been imported from Japan to the UK in September 2005. I acquired the car in June 2006. I had to take it to a garage when the gearbox refused to go into reverse. Reading up on owners club sites and opinions from enthusiasts with the same model, it seemed to strongly suggest that it was a small problem and therefore wouldn't require a full rebuild. I also had a few other issues and jobs I wanted to have done at the same time.
I was asked to give them a list of my specific requirements and explained my plans for the car were moderate. When the garage gave me some prices for parts, I could see I was able to get the parts for considerably less. For example there was the clutch that I wanted fitted. I could have picked that up for around £280! The garage however suggested an item of a greater specification to that which I required and at at a price tag of around £380-400.
I expressed that I did not want or need this part and that I wanted the one I had specified. I was told by the garage it had already been ordered and it was too late.
So I accepted this and ordered many of the other parts to go on myself, including air filter, spark plugs, oil, and oil filter, front brake discs and pad for front and rear, braided brake lines front and rear, uprated hoses.
The work was carried out and on the face of it everything seemed in order, all the visible parts were visible. When I took the car for a test drive, I realized the clutch that the mechanic had insisted on fitting was not at all what I wanted and made normal driving very difficult and uncomfortable. I pointed this out to them, but they made assurances and told me that it was better in every way than the one I'd originally specified.
So I paid up the £1700 bill which I thought was too much, in fact way more than any original quote. They had included labor hour charges which couldn't really be proved. They didn't use the oil or oil filter I bought. Neither were a few smaller but important tasks carried out. Anyway since then I found out they didn't change the spark plugs and the engine mounts, wishbones have taken a battering from the shock when the clutch engages. Its a paddle clutch used in motor sport.
Help! I Don't know what to do about them, so any sound advice would be appreciated.
By: Motor Mug
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Can this be right? is there anything l can do apart from warn others about this?
Conciencious, good garage owners often know the pitfalls with cheap parts and should refuse to fit them.
I myself am a self employed mobile mechanic and if I do any repair or service I offer the customer their old parts in a carrier bag if they so require them. That way they can see the parts being supplied. The only thing I omit from the carrier bag is the old oil filter as this needs to be disposed of correctly as it still has around 1/2 ltr of old oil saturated in the filter.
A letter to the trading standards would not be such a bad thing. They say they ordered the clutch already and couldnt cancel it but did you give authority for them to order it? If not then they have done that off their own back and it is down to them to suffer the consequences.
My strong advise would be to take your car to another garage and get a second opinion on the repairs carried out. Most garages will give you an honest report about another garage as they normally view you as a new customer and want "one over the other garage". They will feel that they are nicking you as a customer from the other garage so they will not lie about things.
Sorry this garage has again dragged the motor repair industry name into the gutter. I can assure you that we are not all like them!!
Cheers
Jason
Ring your local centre, and ask for advice.
qualified mechanic.
Don't forget that you are paying for all of these things aswell as your new parts.
Besides, people very rarely ask for an approx bill, they just allow work to happen and then throw a fuss when they hear the costs.
I do understand where people are coming from though.