Wheel bearings on a Matiz - advice needed

Blackpitts

hi guys
i need an advice from you.
Basically i went to Advance Pitstop to fix few things on Saturday, ie a couple of fuses were gone and some small noise from the brakes (just a small squeeky noise).
I got my car serviced within half a day and I was told that the brakes were just dirty but I can still go for further 3k miles before changing them. However I had to go back today becasue they had to buy the fuses as they were not available in the stock on saturday.
When I got the car I was told some bad news: the technician came in and he checked the car again (although I haven't asked for a second check this morning) and it seems that I need to change all 4 wheel bearings, which will cost around 450 euro :eek:
He said that I should have noticed this problem from my wobbling steering wheel, but i swear to god that my stearing wheel is not doing any wobbling at all and I doubt he went for a spin with my car so how he could see anything wrong coming from the steering wheel?

now I wonder:
- why the guy didn't tell me this before?
- is 450 euro a fair price?
- is it true that the wheel bearings are a very common issue on the Matiz? (bear in mind that my car has just done 36K miles in 8 years)
- is advance pitstop a reliable place?

I'm thinking to have a second opinion on that, can you suggest me a good mechanic in the Dublin 8 / Naas road area?

thanks

kona

Blackpitts wrote: »

hi guys
i need an advice from you.
Basically i went to Advance Pitstop to fix few things on Saturday, ie a couple of fuses were gone and some small noise from the brakes (just a small squeeky noise).
I got my car serviced within half a day and I was told that the brakes were just dirty but I can still go for further 3k miles before changing them. However I had to go back today becasue they had to buy the fuses as they were not available in the stock on saturday.
When I got the car I was told some bad news: the technician came in and he checked the car again (although I haven't asked for a second check this morning) and it seems that I need to change all 4 wheel bearings, which will cost around 450 euro :eek:
He said that I should have noticed this problem from my wobbling steering wheel, but i swear to god that my stearing wheel is not doing any wobbling at all and I doubt he went for a spin with my car so how he could see anything wrong coming from the steering wheel?

now I wonder:
- why the guy didn't tell me this before?
- is 450 euro a fair price?
- is it true that the wheel bearings are a very common issue on the Matiz? (bear in mind that my car has just done 36K miles in 8 years)
- is advance pitstop a reliable place?

I'm thinking to have a second opinion on that, can you suggest me a good mechanic in the Dublin 8 / Naas road area?

thanks

Sounds a bit odd allright. Ive never had advance pitstop do any work so I couldnt say.

ddarraghh

this is strange very strange low milage alright for 4 bearings to be failing
i would be inclined to get a second opinion
over 100 euro a corner thats expensive too

zilog_jones

I second getting a second opinion. I went to an Advance Pitstop just to get my wheels balanced - they wanted to replace my brake lines! I went to a reputable mechanic afterwards and he said they were fine. Seemed like they were just trying to make up work to do...

Blackpitts

ok guys, thank you for your feedback.
Now i need a reliable mechanic to check my wheels, do you know anyone in the dublin area please?

itarumaa

Take the car to some real carage op, also I had a Matiz that had 76 000 miles and no need to change wheel bearings.

Also 4 wheel bearings in one, sound like bull* for me. I have never ever hear a car that needs for, usually it is only one.