citroen c4 repairs

[Steve]

I know its a little "out of favour" to ask about prices, however, I have been quoted £360 for:

Track rod end ball joints (too much play)
front brake pads and discs
one front tyre (budget)
brake fluid change (how do they know it needs changing)
headlamp refitting (i wedged the bulb in - couldnt get it to fit right oops)

price also covers service and MOT.

Does this sound fair? Its at a fast fit place with about 30 branches.

To add, i knew front brakes were a bit ropey and would need doing, same with tyre. Do the others sound like the timing is right for a 3yr old car?

TIA

 

[wotan]

I think £360 is in about the right ball park.
A service approx £100 MOT £40 parts in the region of £80 tyre £25...Fluid change and headlamp refitting, say another £20.
This leaves £95 for labour @£30 hr just over three hours work, yes it's about right.

Wotan

 

[CortinaV8]

Track rod ends £10-15 each
Disks and pads £80-100
Tyre - £50/60
Probably another £10 in fluid etc
MOT will be around £40
Service parts maybe another £50

So yeah, factoring in labour at AT LEAST 3 hours it doesnt seem too bad.

If they are doing the track rod ends I would assume you are paying for a wheel alignment somewhere among all that also.

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

I thought MOTs were £50 a shot? In anycase shouldn't a three year old car be serviced by a franchised dealer? It may be still more expensive, but ain't nominating Kwik Prix genner impact on FSH and residuals?

 

[CortinaV8]

Must depend on the area, I paid £35 a couple of weeks ago, as for servicing at a non main dealer reducing the value, the fact its a 3 year old citreon probably contributes somewhat towards the issue.

 

[Steve]

Thanks Guys I feel a bit better now.

breakdown as follows:

MOT £24.95
SERVICE £73.86
TIE ROD END £8.99
LABOUR £13.79
ALIGNMENT £21.74
TYRE £28.86
VALVE £3.06
BALANCE £5.87
DISPOSAL £1
BRAKE DISCS TOTAL £67.98
BRAKE PADS £39.99
BRAKE FLUID £29.95

No charge: air filter, oil filter, 5w/30 oil

Its out of warranty so I took it to a non-franchised place. The wad of paperwork they gave me will go in the file. And I dont see why it would spoil a FSH. The books been stamped for 4 services now, but I dont have any previous invoices for servicing (I got the car a year ago), so theres not much "evidencial" FSH to spoil really.

Main reason I take it to these guys is that they are friendly and helpful, and theres an element of trust too. I took it to them last year for their well advertised "free brake check", and after 10 mins looking and all wheels off they found nothing wrong and told me that. Anywhere else would have made something up to charge for - you dont get much for nothing these days!

 

[Spark123]

Why do they charge separately for a tyre, valve and ballancing?
Why does ballancing cost so much?

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

Thanks Guys I feel a bit better now.

breakdown as follows:

MOT £24.95
SERVICE £73.86
TIE ROD END £8.99
LABOUR £13.79
ALIGNMENT £21.74
TYRE £28.86
VALVE £3.06
BALANCE £5.87
DISPOSAL £1
BRAKE DISCS TOTAL £67.98
BRAKE PADS £39.99
BRAKE FLUID £29.95

No charge: air filter, oil filter, 5w/30 oil

Its out of warranty so I took it to a non-franchised place. The wad of paperwork they gave me will go in the file. And I dont see why it would spoil a FSH. The books been stamped for 4 services now, but I dont have any previous invoices for servicing (I got the car a year ago), so theres not much "evidencial" FSH to spoil really.

Main reason I take it to these guys is that they are friendly and helpful, and theres an element of trust too. I took it to them last year for their well advertised "free brake check", and after 10 mins looking and all wheels off they found nothing wrong and told me that. Anywhere else would have made something up to charge for - you dont get much for nothing these days!

Fair enough. Is it an independent outfit or multi-national? One thing, though, I would not have gone for the budget tyre. They usually do not perform as well the standard factory fit jobs and can send the wrong message to prospective buyers.

 

[Steve]

Fair enough. Is it an independent outfit or multi-national? One thing, though, I would not have gone for the budget tyre. They usually do not perform as well the standard factory fit jobs and can send the wrong message to prospective buyers.

They have about 30 branches. Formula 1 autocentres. Sure they wont mind me mentioning, given its all good.

I am aware of the downfalls of budget tyres, and I'm not planning to sell the car anytime soon.

Cheers.