Ok here's a good one, well I think it's outrageous the charges (well parts) for work on my daughters car. I really think the garage are taking the wee wee.

My daughter complained of a noisy alternator, we are talking Kia here so off to the Kia dealer she went and was told yes it's noisy but ok as is, bring it back if it gets worse.

Whilst there they said you need a new belt though, £131 later new belt fitted.

She then decided, well if that alternator lets me down unexpectedly I better get it done, so she takes it in (Kia dealer again) and they get one fitted. Whilst there working on the car they reported her brake pedal was soft and said both front calipers had seized and the slide pins seized also. The discs had ridges on the outer edges too, denoting wear. She is a bit OTT on servicing and always has it done, sometimes before it's due, same with the MOT, always gets it in early. So ok, they have spotted a problem with the stuff on the car that most likely (I hope) needed doing but the costs involved are my worry.

 

So have a educated guess folks what a new alternator (no refurbed one offered) 2 new front calipers (no refurbed ones offered) and 2 front brake discs cost and fitted?

 

Car is a Kia Carens '10' plate, if it makes much difference, it's a diesel.

 

1k

Alternator £300

Calipers £300

Discs and pads £300

 

£900 - £1000? 

^^^ Yes new pads would have been fitted of course in the above work, forgot those.

 

We aren't close so far.

No idea, but you could buy all those parts with a free car thrown in for less than £3k... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705115330496?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=nn40td&radius=1501&model=CARENS&sort=sponsored&make=KIA&year-from=2009&page=1

I'd be off to a decent indy if you can find one. Brakes might need a clean but probably not much more. And a grove on a disk doesn't always mean a lot. Korean cars are knonw for dear parts and servicing are they not? HP printer business model?

19 minutes ago, Aspman said:

I'd be off to a decent indy if you can find one. Brakes might need a clean but probably not much more. And a grove on a disk doesn't always mean a lot. Korean cars are knonw for dear parts and servicing are they not? HP printer business model?

 

Should have said the discs had a lip on the edges. What they mean by that I guess is they are worn.

 

Yes an indy was suggested by me before she ever took the car to Kia. Being as your offspring never listen to your wise old parents she went ahead and had the work done.

 

Good one RapidPaul I can well see the logic in that. She has the 7 seater though, not much in price difference though I guess.

35 minutes ago, MickA said:

 

Should have said the discs had a lip on the edges. What they mean by that I guess is they are worn.

 

 

Ah the old 'disks are slightly pitted' rouse. Usually they wait for MOT time to use that one.

 

It means nothing without a measurement of thickness of the disk. Sometimes it's true and the lip means you need new disks. Sometimes your decent indy will knock off that lip with a mallet and tell you to carry on for another year.

But it;s your daughter so it's not up to you.

 

If it's a lot of work a second opinion would be worth getting or at least having a bit of a haggle with the garage.

 

Once-upon-a-time BMW tried to hit us for £1000 for new brakes all round. They were just going off the computer they hadn't measure the disks. Car did another year and passed MOT without an issue without doing the brakes.

 

The answer is...

£1600

...and only 3 hours labour was charged on that job @ £60 ph.