VW Polo replacement wiper arm - how much?

Jimmy Bottlehead · 11-10-2010 12:57pm #1

Hey.

Girlfriend persuaded me to use a drive-through car wash for the first time - as my luck goes, the damned thing ripped one of my wiper arms off.

She's gone ahead and sourced one for 55e inc work (I didn't tell her to), I'm convinced I can get it cheaper somewhere else. What would you guys recommend?

EPM · 11-10-2010 1:19pm

Ring a parts department and a couple of motor factors for a part price. They're usually a simple fit. Did it on my rear wiper lately and it was only about €20 for the part. Did it on the front a while back due to a suicidal pigeon and can't remember the exact price but the part was pretty cheap too and that was for a bloody big wiper arm that takes the big aero blades. Spanner was all that was required to change it over. 5 mins tops.

Jimmy Bottlehead · 11-10-2010 1:24pm

Well she's just text me to say she's rang the dealer and they claim they've already put the order in... any chance they'll cancel?! Or any excuse she can give them? Considering she's given them her ****ing Laser card number :mad: Oh and I assumed the 55e includes fitting... of course it doesn't...

*tries not to rant about women and cars*

Jimmy Bottlehead · 16-10-2010 11:07am

Paid €50e for the replacement wiper arm, tried to replace it and ended up breaking the linkage bolt as it was either stuck or rusted on tight.

Anyways, Topaz said they'd pay for the repairs, so i took it to a mechanic I've used once before. However, the replacement link he sourced (2nd hand) was €45, and the 90 minutes labour brought the overall price up to €110. When I said I'd need a receipt (to give to Topaz), he said that he'd have to add VAT to it. Just not sure if it's a decent price, or getting ripped off?

sean1141 · 16-10-2010 5:12pm

if topaz are paying why worry

Jimmy Bottlehead · 16-10-2010 5:14pm

sean1141 wrote: »

if topaz are paying why worry

Well number one as they're not obliged to pay anything... says on the car wash (as they all do) that they're not liable for any damage... I just chanced my arm talking to the manager and he said as it was the wiper, which isn't a normally damaged thing, he'd send the invoice to head office. Just hoping they don't flip when they see the bills and refuse to pay.

sean1141 · 16-10-2010 5:34pm

well just give the the bill for the wiper arm as you broke the linkage yourself.. might be better to get a small bit of money than none at all

Jimmy Bottlehead · 16-10-2010 5:57pm

I'm gonna see if they'll cover all of it - in fairness, if it wasn't for the poxy carwash, I'd not have had to break the link, which would have had to be broken anyways. Jet wash from now on!!

Esel · 17-10-2010 4:49am

90 minutes labour? I'm assuming you told the mechanic Topaz were paying?

Jimmy Bottlehead · 17-10-2010 10:13am

If only... No, for all he knew 'til it was finished, I was paying. The smaller the bill I can give to Topaz, the better.

Mechanic told me to sit in the waiting room at 9.15... I had work at 11.30 so assumed I'd be outta there at 10... But at 10.55 I had to go into the garage as I had to go and the mechanic was standing there with the bonnet closed, then said "oh it's just finished, was more complex than we thought".

Can't help but think I was taken for a chump

VW Polo replacement wiper arm - how much?

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