How many people do that catch with this?

[Gdcobra]

Just had my Superb Sportline in for a service on Monday at Simpson's Skoda Preston, left the car with the dealer early morning to pick up late afternoon.  A couple of hours in I got an SMS with a link to a vehicle health check, one item they were advising me about was "Visual check of brake pads rear" which I could choose to have corrected at a price of only £442.44 by simply ticking a check box and returning to them.  Not exactly the bargain of the century so I didn't bother, I was also somewhat surprised that my 18,000 mile car should need this kind of attention.

A little later on they called me to discuss (AKA twist my arm, it's brakes after all so safety related!), I asked how worn the pads were, "About 15% sir", obviously my response was that this hardly constituted need for change. 

"Ah yes, but the problem is the disks, they are pitted"

"Really, they looked OK to me"

"Well its on the inner face, not the face you see from outside, we do a visual check on it"

"OK, well thanks for letting me know, the car's being sold soon so I'm not looking to spend money on it.  Leave it"

 

As I'm selling the car I decided to change my wheels over last night from my winters to the proper set, while doing this I decided to have a proper look at the discs.  This was quite difficult as the shroud and the caliper obscure most of the inner disk face but I could just about see up between these and the disk (with the wheels off) and as far as I'm concerned both disks were A1, I'd be really surprised if they could see better as it's my understanding that they don't even remove the roadwheels during a service these days.

 

Now call me a cynical old git if you want (hey, less of the 'old') but I can't help thinking that this was based more on something on their checklist than any assessment of my vehicle and I suspect they trot this out to most if not all customers as a money making scheme.

They are obviously not going to catch me out with this as I'm quite savvy with automotive related issues but I do wonder how many poor customers do get caught out who are not mechanically oriented and of course being brakes they panic and immediately sign the work off.  Why should owning a car be such a minefield?

Has anyone else had similar experience?

 

I'm also struggling to come to terms with a price of thick end of £450 for a couple of disks and a set of pads even top quality items would come it way below that and even if I did it myself taking way more care than they would I'd struggle to take more than an hour, I wouldn't even bother putting the car on the lift for that, easy enough to do on a jack and axle stand.

 

I must also add that it is mainly the behaviour of Simpson's Skoda Preston which is responsible for me selling this car now after only 18months of ownership, they have made owning this an absolute nightmare, obviously I'll not deal with them again but it also means I'm done with Skoda now, at least from the point of view of owning a car where I have to deal with a dealer.  My previous, much older, car was a much better ownership experience (and what lead me to look at Skoda when wanting a newer car) as I only ever had to deal with a specialist not main dealer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ootohere]

They catch many. 

 

15% was a good one. 

Often they are claiming 80% worn when not even 20%.  The Service Desk staff have no idea what the 100% measurement would be. 

 

Interestingly there are usually Skoda Approved Used Sales Cars outside with more wear and and pitting that are service and PDI'd ready for the next owner.

[KenONeill]

12 minutes ago, Gdcobra said:

had my Superb Sportline in for a service on Monday at Simpson's Skoda Preston

Given the rest of this post, may I suggest that this main stealer is well due a report in the dealer's area?

[ApertureS]

Being in the trade myself I see this more than often.

 

so many times people will come to me for brakes cause I’m cheaper than most - when they arrive I’ll take a look and the multiple times I’ve turned people away and returned the parts because they’re brakes are perfectly fine only to find out they were told at their mot/service that the brakes are almost metal to metal or something along those lines.

 

I hate that people do this cause it gives a bad reputation for all mechanics and make us all look stupid.

 

it’s not just dealers that do this, independent garages do this too!

[Gdcobra]

59 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Given the rest of this post, may I suggest that this main stealer is well due a report in the dealer's area?

I think you are correct, I'll do that as soon as I get a minute

[Gdcobra]

13 minutes ago, ApertureS said:

Being in the trade myself I see this more than often.

 

so many times people will come to me for brakes cause I’m cheaper than most - when they arrive I’ll take a look and the multiple times I’ve turned people away and returned the parts because they’re brakes are perfectly fine only to find out they were told at their mot/service that the brakes are almost metal to metal or something along those lines.

 

I hate that people do this cause it gives a bad reputation for all mechanics and make us all look stupid.

 

it’s not just dealers that do this, independent garages do this too!

You're obviously one of the good guys and it's only fair to say that there are many about, unfortunately I think most people think main dealers with their polished image are above this kind of behaviour but it's not the case.

[Gaz]

I'm sorry to report that three of my local VAG main dealers all get up to this kind of shenanigans. Not just them though, an MOT only place I use failed a previous car for front brake pads being 'below 1.5mm', when all four were above 3mm.  I changed the pads anyway to save any further argument, but took the old ones in just to embarrass them.

 

Sad fact of life I'm afraid.

 

Gaz

 

EDIT: Just found my post from last September in the 'What annoyed you?' thread:

 

'The Polo's in for an MOT & service today.  VW 'strongly advise'.... 'urgent' work required as the rear brake pads are down to '... 4mm, and 80% worn'.  Comment made about the discs being 'scored', but when I last looked at them (last week due to a puncture) there was nothing untoward and just expected wear.  £320 quoted for discs and pads, and £974 to replace the thermostat housing, which has some 'residue', but is '..not actively leaking..' - we've not had to top up the coolant at all in five years of ownership, and this is the third year that residue (same amount) has been an advisory 🙄'

Edited 25 January, 2023 by Gaz

[Gax]

When mine was serviced at the dealership last year I got the exact same waffle about the brakes.

 

When I collected my car, amongst the paperwork was a sheet attached which I assume was attached in error...it was a 'Successful/Lost Sales' section and in that section someone had logged that they had attempted to sell me some brakes and that I had declined.

 

You know, if it was down in a 'Safety' checklist that's one thing, but down as being a 'lost' sales opportunity tells you all you need to know.

[gav_is_con]

It’s all about the upsell in dealers now. All staff must have competitive targets against each other be it in the workshop or the service counter. I have seen a board in the workshop of a Seat dealer a few years back. League table of sorts. 

[Donweather]

They’re not called stealers for nothing. 

[Gdcobra]

Sorry not to have been back sooner (been an busy time) and thanks for all the responses.  Seems I'm far from the only one getting this.

Funny thing is I've generally done my own maintenance, only have this one to the dealer as servicing was part of the deal when I bought the car.  Many people look at me strangely when I tell them I do my own work, I guess that's just not fashionable these days, or maybe because I'm poor!

My main reason for doing this is not to save money but because I have "trust issues" with garages (actually with all trades people), at least when I do it I know it's done properly.

I don't know how anyone runs a car at that rate.

[Aspman]

BMW used to just go off the computer, I gave the counter guy a hard time when he said "Sir you car has 1500 braking miles left you should consider changing them (for whatever crazy dealer price)".
When askd him what "braking miles" were he couldn't tell me and when I asked if they'd measured the pads and discs the answer was no. "Don't try that ****e on me" I think was my answer.

I've never had it again, they've always measured.
But I had had the inner wear report but it actually turned out to be true, although I had the brakes done at an indy anyway.
Mini like to do the tick box for work as well to authorise.

I think for dealers anything to do with brakes is a simple 'no, you're too expensive'. LR wanted £1100 to do the front brakes on mine. Had them done at a 4x4 specialist for £400 and he apologised for that.

Conversely Mini wanted £600 to do the front brakes on the JCW, I was £550 at the indy. Again they apologised and actually showed my the trade price of the discs they were so shocked. But I guess no pattern parts for a JCW.

Edited 6 February, 2023 by Aspman

[Jim H]

I went to my local Ford dealer last week for an MOT which I can't complain at only £40, however on their inspection sheet they gave me a (not for MOT) an advisory warning or low tread levels on tyres. They were 4.5mm and 4.7mm, ie half warn! I questioned this and they said it was some European guidance, to advise when at 5mm or below.  Do other car dealers do the same?  I admit my car does have all-season tyres all round (Goodyear & Crossclimates)  which I think have 2 types of wear indicators. The standard one (1.6mm) and one at about 4 mm which I understand is minimum for snow performance. 

 

They also measured the brake pads incorrectly. On the sheet the front ones were 6mm which I thought was strange as 6 days before I fitted band new ones at 10mm. Is there a minimum pad thickness for an MOT? I guess it would fail if the wear indicators were showing (light or metal pin), but mine doesn't have it (Fabia didn't have one either). 

[@Lee]

4 hours ago, Jim H said:

They were 4.5mm and 4.7mm, ie half warn! I questioned this and they said it was some European guidance, to advise when at 5mm or below.  Do other car dealers do the same? 

 

Bit weird blaming EU guidance still isn't it?

Never had an advisory for my tread depth here in Germany so can't comment on if they do that here. I can ask around though.

IIRC tyres usually start life at 7mm for standard and 9mm for winters or with M&S mark so to give an advisory at the depth you mentioned seems OTT. 

Edited 28 February, 2023 by @Lee

[Jim H]

I had a look at Camskill and if I bought Toyo R888Rs for my car or an ST (on 17s) they would have 5 mm tread brand spanking new! I wonder if Ford would give a warning for low tread? 

 

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m117b0s4744p169940/Toyo_Tyres_Trackday_Track_Day_Toyo_Proxes_R888R_-_205_45_R17_88W_XL_(GG-Medium)_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_F_Wet_Grip%3A_E_NoiseClass%3A_2_Noise%3A_70dB

Edited 1 March, 2023 by Jim H

[Gdcobra]

On 28/02/2023 at 18:11, Jim H said:

I went to my local Ford dealer last week for an MOT which I can't complain at only £40, however on their inspection sheet they gave me a (not for MOT) an advisory warning or low tread levels on tyres. They were 4.5mm and 4.7mm, ie half warn! I questioned this and they said it was some European guidance, to advise when at 5mm or below.  Do other car dealers do the same?  I admit my car does have all-season tyres all round (Goodyear & Crossclimates)  which I think have 2 types of wear indicators. The standard one (1.6mm) and one at about 4 mm which I understand is minimum for snow performance. 

 

They also measured the brake pads incorrectly. On the sheet the front ones were 6mm which I thought was strange as 6 days before I fitted band new ones at 10mm. Is there a minimum pad thickness for an MOT? I guess it would fail if the wear indicators were showing (light or metal pin), but mine doesn't have it (Fabia didn't have one either). 

 

 

Sorry not to have been back for a while, been in hospital for the past 7 weeks with other things on my mind!

That's a really good on, European Guidance, guess all that Brexit lark passed them by?  Sounds a bit like "Space Corp Direcitve xxx" for those who remember Red Dwarf.

 

Car has been sold now which is quite interesting in itself but I'll open a new thread on that.