Hey!

I went in to Skoda for my DPF light and they brought up some other issues for me, which they've highlighted in red, but they're wanting to charge extortionate charges

 

Skoda have made the following notes:

 

URGENT:

Visual Check of Brake Pads - Front (80% PD Front Brake Pads + Discs Req as as badly corroded/pitted) Cost: £199
Other (Rear Brake Inspection Due , nsr handbrake binding, may require new shoes/cylinder) - Rear left is where the issue is apparently - Cost £59

 

 

AMBER:
Other (WIndscreen chipped) - I assume I can get that on insurance tbh
Brake Fluid Due (in 8 months - cost £49.99)

Cambelt Due (Cambelt change due in 4 months, Cambelt "only" £299, inc VAT, including water pump)

 

A) I dont even really understand what the hell that even really means, or what they do and when I asked the lady at Skoda, if she could speak in English please, she said "I beg your pardon?!" I then asked to put it in to laymans terms because tbh, I dont really understand car talk. I mean I wouldn't say to someone that their WIC card needs changing, their SFP needs changing etc.. and then patronise the customer, in my line of work. As far as Im concerned, I dont expect customers to know IT stuff, and especially not abbreviations tbh

B ) Any how, Im guessing I need the following?

 

Brake Pads:

Bosch Brake Pads (Front) Part 101440567 - would I need two?

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.6_2011/p/car-parts/car-brakes/brake-friction/brake-pads/?101440567&1&3dcb33e8cd486caeba06733727e62b685b7cbeff&000036

Cost: £22.69

 

Brake Discs:

Bosch Brake Disc (Front) Part 104441107

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.6_2011/p/car-parts/car-brakes/brake-friction/brake-discs/?104441107&1&c8b06512688378fdf5bd42e0dce5f5fb11ed131b&000027

Cost: £23.31

 

Cylinder: ??

Bosch Wheel Cylinder (Rear) Part 134440217

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.6_2011/p/car-parts/car-brakes/brake-hydraulics/wheel-cylinder/?134440217&1&af659f336eb2fbd0276bb6cd8c5a5d20839c43dc&000371

Cost: £12.30

 

Brake Shoes:

Pagid Brake Shoes (Rear) Part: 102440208 - would I need two?

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.6_2011/p/car-parts/car-brakes/brake-friction/brake-shoes/?102440208&1&ad63996f63895c743dba3ef82011d2fab2991ffd&000043

Cost: £17.10

 

Cambelt:

Not even sure what to get here:

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/timing-belt-kit

 

Water pump:

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/water-pump-gasket

 

Unless the Cambelt kit ahs the water pup kit with it?

 

It also says that the Cambelt is due in four months. My MOT is in July (6 months) Could I not wait two months and get it done then, instead? ie: a single trip to the garage?

Edited 13 January, 201610 yr by skodanooob

bump?

Why are you ordering the parts? Why not get the garage to, to ensure the correct ones are used?

None of those prices seem particularly extortionate. Running a car costs money and they are in the business of making money. They also have a duty of care to make you aware of the condition of you car hence the vehicle health check (VHC).

If your brakes are 80% worn up front then they need changing. They won't be able to see the rear shoes properly without stripping them down. There is not time allowed for this in a VHC so they are advising you of a worst case scenario which is normal practice. If one is binding it might just be over adjusted.

While Skoda Main Dealers charge £259 for a Major Service (Inspection Service) which had very little need for more time spent than a £139 Minor Service 

there is time being paid for with cars with rear drums to 'Clean Rear Drums', which obviously requires the rear wheels to come off and the drums, and the visual inspection can be done then.

 

As to the 80% wear at the front,. 

Always 80%,  never 50, 60, 70  but 80% which even a Technician called 'Tommy' without a 'O' Level in Maths can check is incorrect 

80% of the times.

 

Up selling is going on and it takes away faith in customers being able to trust the 'Report' on Condition and the Car and Maintenance Regime.

Work might need doing, Service parts and consumables, but too many are at it.

<SNIP>

I asked the lady at Skoda, if she could speak in English please

<SNIP>

I wouldn't say to someone that their WIC card needs changing, their SFP needs changing etc.. and then patronise the customer

<SNIP>

Ho, ho, ho; you appear to work in IT, famous for TLAs & ETLAs, jargon, general obfuscation and patronising Lusers - cf BOFH.

While Skoda Main Dealers charge £259 for a Major Service (Inspection Service) which had very little need for more time spent than a £139 Minor Service 

there is time being paid for with cars with rear drums to 'Clean Rear Drums', which obviously requires the rear wheels to come off and the drums, and the visual inspection can be done then.

 

As to the 80% wear at the front,. 

Always 80%,  never 50, 60, 70  but 80% which even a Technician called 'Tommy' without a 'O' Level in Maths can check is incorrect 

80% of the times.

 

Up selling is going on and it takes away faith in customers being able to trust the 'Report' on Condition and the Car and Maintenance Regime.

Work might need doing, Service parts and consumables, but too many are at it.

The car didn't go in for a service so the rear brakes wouldn't have been stripped down and inspected.

Yes but my point is that,'clean rear brakes' was on the Inspection Service's. In 'fixed pricing' then disappeared. So not arguing that you do not know untilthe drums are off

But as we know that is not stripping down but seen when cleaning out the drum, and a broken return spring has been common

£259 surely merits actually doing something. Then the extras like Brake Fluid change can be charged for.

Why are you ordering the parts? Why not get the garage to, to ensure the correct ones are used?

 

Hmm I could do tbf, but I was wanting to order the parts, because I figured it'd be cheaper. At any rate, my MOT is due on May apparently

 

 

Ho, ho, ho; you appear to work in IT, famous for TLAs & ETLAs, jargon, general obfuscation and patronising Lusers - cf BOFH.

 

With all due fairness vxh26, I know many people who know a hell of a lot more than myself, so I dont think it's really worth patronising other people tbh. And yah I have noticed this about some people in IT. Hoarders of knowledge if you wish. That really quite irks me, as Im very willing to share any knowledge I know

Only cheaper really if you are fitting the parts or getting someone to do the work at Mates Rates.

Probably not if you want a Garage to fit them for you unless they ask if you want to get the parts yourself.

Only cheaper really if you are fitting the parts or getting someone to do the work at Mates Rates.

Probably not if you want a Garage to fit them for you unless they ask if you want to get the parts yourself.

 

I remember with my Honda, a car dealership wanted to charge £300 to fit an oxygen sensor (£250 for the part, £50 for labour) for an oxygen sensor that cost £85 that I sourced on the interwebs, so I dont really want to pay a ridiculous amount again

You do not need to then if you can DIY.

But they buy parts cheaper than you can, (even with you going to a Trade Counter and giving them a profit.)

that is them marking up the price that you pay.

You do not need to then if you can DIY.

But they buy parts cheaper than you can, (even with you going to a Trade Counter and giving them a profit.)

that is them marking up the price that you pay.

Oh no. I can't DIY it. I was just pointing out that I bought:

Product A for £89

 

The garage sourced product A (As in the exact same product, that I found out about later as Eurocarparts wrongly said it would fit my car; they sent their one back and I sent mine back after I said "no") They wanted to charge £250 for an £89 product (And a further £50 for installation)

 

I then bought the one MEANT for my car for £85, and a garage charged me labour costs to fit it in

 

That's what Im trying to stop from happening ie: a garage deciding that they can try and charge me almost three times the value of the product's RRP just for the item itself. I understand that it takes time and effort in terms of labour and Im happy to pay for that. Im not so happy with paying almost three times the value of a product (in terms of how much they'd charge at sale value) THe other thing is I'd know that all the things I buy is good quality stuff

 

I hope that brings some clarification to things?

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by skodanooob

It is Crystal Clear i have never been in doubt as to what you mean.

You just need a Main Dealer that is going to accept from you the Brake Discs, Pads and rear shoes you want them to fit.

Then your water pump and kit, which is highly unlikely, so maybe go to an Independent.

 

Likely the car does not need Front Discs as it is.

(I buy a set of Ferodo front and rear discs and pads all round for £140 so i know the prices.)

 

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/national-pricing/maintenance

Non participating Dealerships are free to offer lower prices.

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

Also worth noting that a dealer doesn't set the retail price for parts, the prices are all on the parts catalogue sent from Skoda.

Also worth noting that a dealer doesn't set the retail price for parts, the prices are all on the parts catalogue sent from Skoda.

Course. I get that. I'd rather go independent as they usually charge less (except when they don't. See the above, where a garage almost tried to charge me three times the cost of an oxygen sensor, without fitting - the exact same oxygen sensor I bought for £89)

Edited 20 January, 201610 yr by skodanooob

It is Crystal Clear i have never been in doubt as to what you mean.

You just need a Main Dealer that is going to accept from you the Brake Discs, Pads and rear shoes you want them to fit.

Then your water pump and kit, which is highly unlikely, so maybe go to an Independent.

Likely the car does not need Front Discs as it is.

(I buy a set of Ferodo front and rear discs and pads all round for £140 so i know the prices.)

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/national-pricing/maintenance

Non participating Dealerships are free to offer lower prices.

Tbh I'm happy to go independent all the way and tbh I'm actually OK for them to charge me what is an OK amount ie: not say three times as much that the product costs, before actually fitting the thing in. That's my only major issue here. Oh that and I'd know exactly which part has gone in my car

No idea what job you do but with a Garage like a Main Dealership that Guarantees their Work and the parts supplied have a 2 year warranty 

it is a total PITA if a customer supplies parts, a vehicle is booked in, the work is started, on a Lift, wheels removed, job begins and the parts supplied are incorrect, possibly fake, sub standard etc.

If the store or factor delivers the wrong parts that is the Dealerships issue and delay and they need to suck it up, and get the parts in ASAP.

 

Some will not even accept your own supplied Oil, Filters, Spark Plugs etc etc, 

 

There are plenty of Independents around if the Main Dealer pricing is not what you are prepared to pay.

No idea what job you do but with a Garage like a Main Dealership that Guarantees their Work and the parts supplied have a 2 year warranty

it is a total PITA if a customer supplies parts, a vehicle is booked in, the work is started, on a Lift, wheels removed, job begins and the parts supplied are incorrect, possibly fake, sub standard etc.

If the store or factor delivers the wrong parts that is the Dealerships issue and delay and they need to suck it up, and get the parts in ASAP.

Some will not even accept your own supplied Oil, Filters, Spark Plugs etc etc,

There are plenty of Independents around if the Main Dealer pricing is not what you are prepared to pay.

That's why I posted here ie: so I can actually get these good parts and not say be charged three times the RRP just for the sale of the item.I have no issue with being charged labour costs

I've generally always supplies my own service parts to a dealer tbh. They've then just charged me labour and the car has ran nicely after.

Good you are sorted then.

Good you are sorted then.

Sorry? So the parts I've linked should do the job? If indeed they need changing?

There are lots of tutorials on youtube that explain how all the mechanics on cars work. Perhaps it would be a good idea to educate yourself. Heres 2 to start with that explain a basic diesel engine like yours. After that I would find out how the cam belt / timeing belts works and you wil see how important it is to change that before it fails. The guy in the first video pronounces valves a bit funny (voles) but its still a good explanation.

 

 

Edited 22 January, 201610 yr by m8t

So you would first have to send the car in for a proper, full inspection to see if all those parts are needed, then order all the parts it needs and wait for them to come in, then go back and have them fitted. Firstly that's too much effort to justify by any means as like said above those prices arent massively exaggerated, and for three trips to the dealers that's just wasting time effort and money, cutting your nose off to spite your face so to say. If it isn't under warranty then order mon genuine parts and go indipendant, or go I do and get them to get the parts at trade prices. Secondly, is your car still under warranty? If so and you order your own parts then when you take the parts back they may not accept them as genuine as you could have swapped them and they may effect your warranty. So either go to the dealers and get them to do the job or go somewhere else. End of.

Edited 22 January, 201610 yr by Outofthi5world

I found Bosch brake pads to be quite nice in feel and stopping. You will only need one set as it'll be all four pads, ( front right and left wheel). Discs often sell single, often in pairs so check first to be sure. Again, Bosch, Pagid or EBC should be ok. Where you looked was a single disc so two needed. Very worth investing in a brake piston reset tool if you can afford it as it helps push the pistons back in the bore and does it easier then a g-clamp. About £14 should get you one.

 

Cambelt... You could wait six months, you could wait six years, it could snap in six miles! The recommended intervals to change these always er's to the side of caution... Firstly to prevent very costly engine failure, secondly, better turnover of customer maintenance = more profit! (Brake fluid, air- con gas another common recommendation for early replacement). Brakes worn to 80% mean you have 20% left... About 10% to be safe and legal as they will give you the wear level, not the grinding down to the rivets level. Don't rush out and waste a fortune doing them!

 

If that cam belt change was fully inclusive of parts, water pump and VAT, I think I'd pay as its a crap job, if done poorly could be worse then leaving. Too tight will cause wear, too loose and - well you get the picture, big engine failure. The actual belt is only about £20 but the tensioners, water pump, guides needed, etc make £299 seem worth it!  The rear brakes can be a little trickier then the fronts but if they are only a minor problem, there was a post stating the new Haynes manual is due out soon so invest in that and do the tasks you feel you can manage and only pay for what you need!

BTW, What was the issue with your DPF?