Good advice. I went into my local Kwik Fit to get them to look at my exhaust which was blowing. They told me I needed a whole new exhaust and that "it couldn't be done any other way" I didn't believe them so I went up the road to an independent tyre & exhaust place, they checked it said it just needed a new back box, saved myself £££'s . That must have been over ten years ago, I still have the same car. I have had to replace the back box again since, but the rest of the original exhaust is still on the car. Always get a second opinion and shop around.
I needed the front lower suspension arms for my Lexus RX400H. Local dealer wanted over £300 each. I took a chance and got some from Febest @ £32 each and approx £10 postage. They arrived from Estonia in 2 days in a very rigid box. I was impressed with the quality and 8 years later they are still looking good and working well.
Wow, that's epic! Did you fit them yourself, too? I love hearing stories of people not only realising they're being ripped off, but then sorting it themselves. That's an epic win and very satisfying for the individual 👌🏻
@@thestanleysadventures8229 Cheeres. I fit them with the help of a friend who's a car mechanic. They were difficult to fit as the subframe and engine got in the way when removing some of the bolts. You need a wholesaler account nowadays to order direct from Febest, which I don't have :(
I am an old man (72). My hobby for the last 20 years has been restoring cars, so I know a lot about them. Until recently, I was a delivery driver for Euro Car Parts, so am well aware of what parts cost. Whilst delivering to garages I would overhear some of the bull that they would give the unsuspecting customers, along with prices they would quote them, it was truly criminal. They particularly prey on the elderly and female drivers. I won't name names, but the big national chains are the worst. They panic customers into having unnecessary work done, particularly braking, by using phrases like "potentially dangerous" and "it's brakes, your life depends on them" etc.
You're sooooo right, my friend 👍🏻 that's exactly why iv put this up here. Hopefully, people will take notice and let there friends family and neighbours to get more than one quote and don't be intimidated by those kinda words. Have a great wknd
Garage charged me £380 to supply a bosh injector and £600 total to fit they had the van for a week , a month down the line another injector went bought the same bosh injector for £170 from gsf car parts and fitted it myself within 1hr and I’m not a mechanic , I’ll never use a garage again rip offs
Wow! Prob is you'd like to think they're being honest, then that happens, we'll done you 👌🏻 that's good work my friend, bit of confidence and knowledge go's a long way, most people know someone who can help or knows what they're doing, always get another opinion 100%
Garages know how essential a car is to an old person to maintain their independence and probably too frail to do it themselves even if they have the knowledge and tools. Money tree! Need to get a second opinion and hopefully find a mechanic with integrity.
Spot on there, mate 👌🏻 luckily I can do it for my dad, but so many people rely on their garage, to be honest, and unfortunately, that's not a good idea these days 😕
I got a price of two lower arms on a Fiat 500 , £650 ,got it done for£400 And the bumper has to come off .The moral of the story is don’t take your car to a Mot garage that does repairs
That's extortionate, probably more than what the car is worth! Not sure how these garages! justify those prices, I know overheads, energy prices and labour costs have all risen but those markups on the parts alone are a ripoff. I recently got quoted £260 to replace a rear shock on my Ford Focus estate, on the quote they were charging me £120 for the shock absorber alone. I sourced one myself for £38 and fitted it, a bit awkward on my drive scrambling underneath but only 2 bolts, job done, took me 40 mins tops. If I'd had access to a lift like they have at the garage, it probably would have taken less than half that time, so how can they justify £140 labour?🤔😲😳 Another thing I've noticed, they'll quote you a lower price to get the work but add on extra 'costs' when you go to pay. So I got quoted £45 for my MOT and got handed a bill for £62, I questioned it and they'd added £17 for 2 rear indicator bulbs, that I can get for £2 each at my local motor factors! Now I know they were working prior to my MOT but apparantly they weren't 'orange' enough, even though they were behind orange lenses! It normally takes me 10 mins at most to change both sides, the receptionist tells me it's quite a big job to change them! There is literally 2 screws holding the cluster on, then 2 more to open the cluster!😮 I figured they just add on some random costs to bump up the bill. Thing is because of those bulbs I won't be going back to that garage on principal, so in the long run they have lost my future business.
Good work on the shock swap, mate 👏🏻 I think you're 100% right there to ( bumping up costs ) when in reality as you've rightly put, you could've done that job for peanuts, I get garages have over heads, but like your situation ( indicater bulbs) not only have they lost a customer they've also lost anyone you may of recommended to!
I went to a "National" tyre and suspension garage and asked about having 2 rear dampers fitted on my Fiesta. Certainly Sir - we can do that straight away. I had looked on their website at the cost of the dampers and they were £60 each to collect. I asked them to do the work and an hour later I was presented with the car and a bill for £350. Hmmmm okay I guessed that they had used new top mounting bushes etc but no. When I got the itemised bill AFTER PAYING THEM , It was simply for 2 dampers and very cheekily £2-50 worth of GREASE that they had wiped on to assist the fitting ! The very next day the creaking noise was back again which I later traced down to the rear parcel shelf rattling and the tailgate creaking over bumps. I had to replace the tail hatch latch which I did myself and it totally cured the creaking at the same time. Needless to say - I won't be using that garage again.
@scooby2142 Wow! There's a lot of these stories popping up in the comments, thanx for adding yours 👍🏻 and nice one on figuring out your actual problem 👌🏻 satisfying isn't it.
Thanks Adam always helpful advice, your right probably because they think the older generation are more likely to just go ahead and not question it and probably use some “scare tactics” also well if you don’t have this done it could be dangerous etc, I agree they need to make money but taking an outright advantage is disgusting… 😮
I think you hit the nail on the head mate, scare tactics! They deff made him feel like taking the car home was a dangerous choice ( even though it drove there fine 🙄) and he openly admits if he didn't have me he wouldve paid it not knowing any better.
Totally get where your coming from it is expensive arms suppllied/fitted should be around £120 per side rear claiper maybe £130/140 but please dont forget its not £700 20% of that is vat!! also those suspension arms you have listed are made of cheese
I totally agree they're cheapy arms, but the local car parts place was £60, the calipers don't even need changing just a bit of time and freeing off, but no they'd rather bill out £240 for a single caliper! I'll do the whole job for him for £120 ( arms) the rest is time, scary really, and he's an old man, we should be looking after them no taking advantage.
My car has just had a rear lower arm its £300 at the dealers. Price doesn't seem that insane. Have to bare in mind the garage will use a reputable supplier and they have to warrant the work.
I would agree if your car is a large, expensive, luxury car, I know the suspension on my car ( Audi SQ5 ) it's painfully expensive, but it's not on his car, not one bit, that's just them taking advantage of an elderly man who doesn't know any better, and usually just pays the bill without question.
I do all my own work. What does it matter if the parts are not OEM? (As some of the other comments). People are just too lazy or are not capable to do it themselves. I’m the only one in my neighbourhood who gets out and does my own maintenance. I’m certainly not paying for these garages rent and running costs of their fancy workshops. If my neighbours like getting ripped off, then more fool them.🔧😛👍
Thanx mate 👍🏻 and good on you for doing your own work 👌🏻 you don't need to be qualified to do it ( not saying your not qualified) , just have a good eye for detail and be methodical in your approach, stay safe and have a great wknd.
I am, I'm just trying to get it out there that you should never settle for what your garage states it'll cost and to look out for your elderly and less knowledgeable family to stop them being ripped off.
Those prices are extremely excessive and far too high this garage are con artists and rip-off merchants preying on and taking advantage of the vulnerable they obviously have no conscience and how these people sleep at night is beyond me it's a good job your Dad has you looking out for him 🐕🐾🐕
@@thestanleysadventures8229That's very true mate I'm lucky myself my parents have both gone but I have three brothers and one sister and four adult children all of whom I am close to and can count on if I need help and vice versa please keep these videos coming 🐕🐾🐕
@@thestanleysadventures8229Yes you are absolutely right mate a lot of people don't but i myself am lucky I have a large family whom i can turn to if I need help and I'd do the same for them keep up the great work with the videos I am eagerly waiting for the next one 🐕🐾🐕
In all honesty, neither did I, but I bought a new one anyway, the laws change all the time, and I don't keep up with them anymore, I only work on family and friends cars now.
I put 2 new rear callipers on just over a year ago. It's been sat barely moving for far too long, just needs driving and freeing off, it's also got all new discs and pads that I done at the same time.
Robbin baskets!😮 Glad you saved your dad xx cost me £150+ labour for a soddin screen wash bottle! It had a crack in it and if I'd remembered to top it up before it's MOT I'd have gotten away with it 🙄 I don't trust garages fullstop.
The rear callipers are only a year old, they just aren't used enough, as is the discs and pads, the garage even commented that there's 95% life left on both sets of discs and pads.
Good advice. I went into my local Kwik Fit to get them to look at my exhaust which was blowing. They told me I needed a whole new exhaust and that "it couldn't be done any other way" I didn't believe them so I went up the road to an independent tyre & exhaust place, they checked it said it just needed a new back box, saved myself £££'s . That must have been over ten years ago, I still have the same car. I have had to replace the back box again since, but the rest of the original exhaust is still on the car. Always get a second opinion and shop around.
Thanx mate 👍🏻 and good on you 👌🏻 hopefully this will help people save some money
I needed the front lower suspension arms for my Lexus RX400H. Local dealer wanted over £300 each. I took a chance and got some from Febest @ £32 each and approx £10 postage. They arrived from Estonia in 2 days in a very rigid box. I was impressed with the quality and 8 years later they are still looking good and working well.
Wow, that's epic! Did you fit them yourself, too? I love hearing stories of people not only realising they're being ripped off, but then sorting it themselves. That's an epic win and very satisfying for the individual 👌🏻
@@thestanleysadventures8229 Cheeres. I fit them with the help of a friend who's a car mechanic. They were difficult to fit as the subframe and engine got in the way when removing some of the bolts. You need a wholesaler account nowadays to order direct from Febest, which I don't have :(
@SimonCoates
It's great you've got a mate who's got your back 👍🏻 wwll done mate, good luck in the future, have a great wknd 👌🏻
The price of 'Free"
Any mechanic business offering free or cheap safety checks or services steer clear of.
Totally agree, it's a fishing tactic, he didn't ask for them to fo it they just did it and sent a video of all the problems with his car !!!
I am an old man (72). My hobby for the last 20 years has been restoring cars, so I know a lot about them. Until recently, I was a delivery driver for Euro Car Parts, so am well aware of what parts cost. Whilst delivering to garages I would overhear some of the bull that they would give the unsuspecting customers, along with prices they would quote them, it was truly criminal. They particularly prey on the elderly and female drivers. I won't name names, but the big national chains are the worst. They panic customers into having unnecessary work done, particularly braking, by using phrases like "potentially dangerous" and "it's brakes, your life depends on them" etc.
You're sooooo right, my friend 👍🏻 that's exactly why iv put this up here. Hopefully, people will take notice and let there friends family and neighbours to get more than one quote and don't be intimidated by those kinda words. Have a great wknd
Garage charged me £380 to supply a bosh injector and £600 total to fit they had the van for a week , a month down the line another injector went bought the same bosh injector for £170 from gsf car parts and fitted it myself within 1hr and I’m not a mechanic , I’ll never use a garage again rip offs
Wow! Prob is you'd like to think they're being honest, then that happens, we'll done you 👌🏻 that's good work my friend, bit of confidence and knowledge go's a long way, most people know someone who can help or knows what they're doing, always get another opinion 100%
@@thestanleysadventures8229 thanks mate 👍
@JohnBingo-x5l
Well deserved my friend, I love a home mechanic.
love your video you 100% the world we live in rip off in a nice way
Thanx 👍🏻 they smile whilst happily taking our last penny.
Garages know how essential a car is to an old person to maintain their independence and probably too frail to do it themselves even if they have the knowledge and tools. Money tree!
Need to get a second opinion and hopefully find a mechanic with integrity.
Spot on there, mate 👌🏻 luckily I can do it for my dad, but so many people rely on their garage, to be honest, and unfortunately, that's not a good idea these days 😕
Same as motorcycle hence why I became a bike mechanic....its not fair on anyone
Good on you mate 👍🏻 that's exactly that attitude more people need.
I got a price of two lower arms on a Fiat 500 , £650 ,got it done for£400 And the bumper has to come off .The moral of the story is don’t take your car to a Mot garage that does repairs
Exactly, and always get at least 2 more quotes 👍🏻
That's extortionate, probably more than what the car is worth!
Not sure how these garages! justify those prices, I know overheads, energy prices and labour costs have all risen but those markups on the parts alone are a ripoff.
I recently got quoted £260 to replace a rear shock on my Ford Focus estate, on the quote they were charging me £120 for the shock absorber alone.
I sourced one myself for £38 and fitted it, a bit awkward on my drive scrambling underneath but only 2 bolts, job done, took me 40 mins tops.
If I'd had access to a lift like they have at the garage, it probably would have taken less than half that time, so how can they justify £140 labour?🤔😲😳
Another thing I've noticed, they'll quote you a lower price to get the work but add on extra 'costs' when you go to pay.
So I got quoted £45 for my MOT and got handed a bill for £62, I questioned it and they'd added £17 for 2 rear indicator bulbs, that I can get for £2 each at my local motor factors!
Now I know they were working prior to my MOT but apparantly they weren't 'orange' enough, even though they were behind orange lenses!
It normally takes me 10 mins at most to change both sides, the receptionist tells me it's quite a big job to change them!
There is literally 2 screws holding the cluster on, then 2 more to open the cluster!😮
I figured they just add on some random costs to bump up the bill.
Thing is because of those bulbs I won't be going back to that garage on principal, so in the long run they have lost my future business.
Good work on the shock swap, mate 👏🏻 I think you're 100% right there to ( bumping up costs ) when in reality as you've rightly put, you could've done that job for peanuts, I get garages have over heads, but like your situation ( indicater bulbs) not only have they lost a customer they've also lost anyone you may of recommended to!
I went to a "National" tyre and suspension garage and asked about having 2 rear dampers fitted on my Fiesta. Certainly Sir - we can do that straight away. I had looked on their website at the cost of the dampers and they were £60 each to collect. I asked them to do the work and an hour later I was presented with the car and a bill for £350. Hmmmm okay I guessed that they had used new top mounting bushes etc but no. When I got the itemised bill AFTER PAYING THEM , It was simply for 2 dampers and very cheekily £2-50 worth of GREASE that they had wiped on to assist the fitting ! The very next day the creaking noise was back again which I later traced down to the rear parcel shelf rattling and the tailgate creaking over bumps. I had to replace the tail hatch latch which I did myself and it totally cured the creaking at the same time. Needless to say - I won't be using that garage again.
@scooby2142
Wow! There's a lot of these stories popping up in the comments, thanx for adding yours 👍🏻 and nice one on figuring out your actual problem 👌🏻 satisfying isn't it.
Thanks Adam always helpful advice, your right probably because they think the older generation are more likely to just go ahead and not question it and probably use some “scare tactics” also well if you don’t have this done it could be dangerous etc, I agree they need to make money but taking an outright advantage is disgusting… 😮
I think you hit the nail on the head mate, scare tactics! They deff made him feel like taking the car home was a dangerous choice ( even though it drove there fine 🙄) and he openly admits if he didn't have me he wouldve paid it not knowing any better.
Totally get where your coming from it is expensive arms suppllied/fitted should be around £120 per side rear claiper maybe £130/140 but please dont forget its not £700 20% of that is vat!! also those suspension arms you have listed are made of cheese
I totally agree they're cheapy arms, but the local car parts place was £60, the calipers don't even need changing just a bit of time and freeing off, but no they'd rather bill out £240 for a single caliper! I'll do the whole job for him for £120 ( arms) the rest is time, scary really, and he's an old man, we should be looking after them no taking advantage.
My car has just had a rear lower arm its £300 at the dealers. Price doesn't seem that insane. Have to bare in mind the garage will use a reputable supplier and they have to warrant the work.
I would agree if your car is a large, expensive, luxury car, I know the suspension on my car ( Audi SQ5 ) it's painfully expensive, but it's not on his car, not one bit, that's just them taking advantage of an elderly man who doesn't know any better, and usually just pays the bill without question.
@@thestanleysadventures8229 my cars a ford smax the part is pretty cheap. Things are just expensive now.
I do all my own work. What does it matter if the parts are not OEM? (As some of the other comments). People are just too lazy or are not capable to do it themselves. I’m the only one in my neighbourhood who gets out and does my own maintenance. I’m certainly not paying for these garages rent and running costs of their fancy workshops. If my neighbours like getting ripped off, then more fool them.🔧😛👍
Thanx mate 👍🏻 and good on you for doing your own work 👌🏻 you don't need to be qualified to do it ( not saying your not qualified) , just have a good eye for detail and be methodical in your approach, stay safe and have a great wknd.
if you are a mechanic do it yourself
I am, I'm just trying to get it out there that you should never settle for what your garage states it'll cost and to look out for your elderly and less knowledgeable family to stop them being ripped off.
Stupid comment
It's the same if a woman goes into a garage.
Totally agree mate, which is sad and wrong!
Those prices are extremely excessive and far too high this garage are con artists and rip-off merchants preying on and taking advantage of the vulnerable they obviously have no conscience and how these people sleep at night is beyond me it's a good job your Dad has you looking out for him 🐕🐾🐕
Your right mate, but not everyone has someone to rely on
@@thestanleysadventures8229That's very true mate I'm lucky myself my parents have both gone but I have three brothers and one sister and four adult children all of whom I am close to and can count on if I need help and vice versa please keep these videos coming 🐕🐾🐕
@@thestanleysadventures8229Yes you are absolutely right mate a lot of people don't but i myself am lucky I have a large family whom i can turn to if I need help and I'd do the same for them keep up the great work with the videos I am eagerly waiting for the next one 🐕🐾🐕
@@martinpugh1008
Thanx mate 👍🏻 your much appreciated 👌🏻
No mention of whether quoted parts are genuine or non genuine.
No, but they deal in Seat's, so prob is genuine parts, still insanely expensive for what they are, unless that garage it charging over £100ph
@@thestanleysadventures8229 agreed, would expect the garage to offer a quote on aftermarket too especially given the age of the vehicle
@wellsr44
2004 seat leon, and a 83yr old driver! As you've said at least offer a cheaper option, let the customer decide.
Didn6think rear wipers were a mot fail
In all honesty, neither did I, but I bought a new one anyway, the laws change all the time, and I don't keep up with them anymore, I only work on family and friends cars now.
People go to europarts and they are crap. Seat parts are expensive
They are expensive but there not that bad 😳
I put 2 new rear callipers on just over a year ago. It's been sat barely moving for far too long, just needs driving and freeing off, it's also got all new discs and pads that I done at the same time.
you would need calipers depending of year of car.No one repairs calipers .You want your father safe i would ner repair calipers.
Iv put nothing but the best quality discs pads ( brembo) and new callipers last year to ( on the rear)
Robbin baskets!😮 Glad you saved your dad xx cost me £150+ labour for a soddin screen wash bottle! It had a crack in it and if I'd remembered to top it up before it's MOT I'd have gotten away with it 🙄 I don't trust garages fullstop.
Just lucky im a mechanic, eh, that's insane gor a washer bottle you can get on ebay for £20 🙄 unfortunately iv got hundreds of stories like that.
No workshop will strip a brake calliper down and free it off - it needs new...
The rear callipers are only a year old, they just aren't used enough, as is the discs and pads, the garage even commented that there's 95% life left on both sets of discs and pads.