car serviced - rip off or not ?

looking4advice

A friend of mine just got her car serviced last week and I think she got ripped off. The breakdown is as follows : spark plugs €16, oil filter €8, air filter €11, 4 ltr of engine oil €30, brake pads €38, bulbs €4 (figures rounded up). The car is about 7 years old and in relatively good nick.

Materials total was €110. Labour €110. Sub total €220. Vat €30.

Total. €250.

kmart6

Wouldn't know too much about it...but doesn't seem excessive!!

Absurdum

looks about right to me

Nonoperational

€250 for oil, filter, air filter, plugs, brake pads and a couple of bulbs is not a rip off at all in my book. It's actually quite good.

Hellrazer

Thats actually quite cheap.

You got a full service for 250 including brake pads.Not bad at all.

Harrocks

Sounds about right for a main dealer service.

Seweryn

looking4advice wrote: »

The car is about 7 years old and in relatively good nick.

It does not have much to do with the price of these parts and labour and the above rates do not seem to be on high side, in my opinion.

colm_mcm

seems spot on 2 hours labour and not excessive parts prices.

Doesn't matter how old the car is, they're still putting new parts in.

mickdw

Reasonable. this includes fitting a set of pads too so changing oil, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter together with the brake pads and other service checks is quite cheap at €110 +VAT (labour)

v240gltse

thats not a bad price at all , she done well

regards

-Corkie-

Thats very cheap!!!

CiniO

110 + VAT for parts seems to be good price, even we don't know what car was it.

110 + vat labour hmmm.
I reckon that for qualified mechanic, all above is less than 1hour work.
So labour seems to be expensive to me.

Obviously it depends what car was it, and if there were some additionall problems.

bazz26

looking4advice wrote: »

A friend of mine just got her car serviced last week and I think she got ripped off. The breakdown is as follows : spark plugs €16, oil filter €8, air filter €11, 4 ltr of engine oil €30, brake pads €38, bulbs €4 (figures rounded up). The car is about 7 years old and in relatively good nick.

Materials total was €110. Labour €110. Sub total €220. Vat €30.

Total. €250.

Just out of interest, why do you think she got ripped off?

Hellrazer

CiniO wrote: »

110 + vat labour hmmm.
I reckon that for qualified mechanic, all above is less than 1hour work.
So labour seems to be expensive to me.

Yeah if its only a service.If its a complete check over it takes a bit longer.

Standard charge for a set of pads is probably around 50-60 euros and probably more in a main dealer plus the price of the pads--lets round it up to 100 + vat = 121.00.

So take the pads out of the OP`s list and you have a full service for 130.00 euros.That in my book is a great price for a FULL service.

Plug

bazz26 wrote: »

Just out of interest, why do you think she got ripped off?

Ever see a woman bring a car to be serviced? A lot of them seem very paranoid or nervous and are convinced they are going to be ripped off:rolleyes: Not all of them though.

looking4advice

Just to clarify a few posts. It was a Ford Focus Saloon. It was not done with a main dealer- a small garage. Name available if anyone wants a pm. She has heard from her friends and colleagues who were getting it done for approx €120.

The sparks were done on the last service. She had to get the wheel tracked as well but they said they didn't do it and they would have to send it to some guy with a laser machine. I think that annoyed her as she felt they could have included that in the price

Thanks for all your replies.

biko

This is why you/her/everyone needs to learn how to do it yourselves. An hours work and get all the parts from ebay or similar for €50.
Mind, you don't get a stamp in the service book but if that doesn't bother you..
Good thread here on how to do it.

CiniO

looking4advice wrote: »

Just to clarify a few posts. It was a Ford Focus Saloon. It was not done with a main dealer- a small garage. Name available if anyone wants a pm. She has heard from her friends and colleagues who were getting it done for approx €120.

The sparks were done on the last service. She had to get the wheel tracked as well but they said they didn't do it and they would have to send it to some guy with a laser machine. I think that annoyed her as she felt they could have included that in the price

Thanks for all your replies.

1. If spark plugs were done on last service, so what was the point in changing them now?
2. As you said 110 + vat was just the parts, so the whole thing couldn't cost 120.

3. Wheel tracked??? Do you mean balanced? Just one? How did she know that she needs one wheel to be balanced? Or am I missing something?

BengaLover

they also have to charge for disposal of the oil.
edited to ad, im a woman and i shop around for the best price, and have never paid over 180 for a full service as described here.

Harcrid

I would imagine that the friends or colleagues getting it done for €120 are just getting a simple oil change and oil filter.

challengemaster

biko wrote: »

This is why you/her/everyone needs to learn how to do it yourselves. An hours work and get all the parts from ebay or similar for €50.
Mind, you don't get a stamp in the service book but if that doesn't bother you..
Good thread here on how to do it.

Exactly. I don't know how people think it's acceptable to pay 250 for the above. Recession me arse

andyseadog

CiniO wrote: »

1. If spark plugs were done on last service, so what was the point in changing them now?
2. As you said 110 + vat was just the parts, so the whole thing couldn't cost 120.

3. Wheel tracked??? Do you mean balanced? Just one? How did she know that she needs one wheel to be balanced? Or am I missing something?

in most older petrol cars, of which i reckon the mk1 focus is one, spark plugs are to be changed every service.

the price seems competitive really. nothing special but certainly not a rip off.

110+vat in labour, which i'd like to think was in the ballpark of two hours really isn't that bad at all.

not aimed directly at Cinio but people will always moan, no matter how cheap they get the job. there is a crystal clear breakdown of pricing in the OP and it looks perfectly fine.

Hellrazer

looking4advice wrote: »

Just to clarify a few posts. It was a Ford Focus Saloon. It was not done with a main dealer- a small garage. Name available if anyone wants a pm. She has heard from her friends and colleagues who were getting it done for approx €120.

They were probably getting a service ONLY.Brake pads are not part of a standard service and only need changing when they hit a certain level.

So that why it was costing friends only 120.00

CiniO

andyseadog wrote: »

in most older petrol cars, of which i reckon the mk1 focus is one, spark plugs are to be changed every service.

In my 01 Fiat Bravo, service manual says to change spark plugs every 40k kms.
That's every second service.

I think it's usual interval.
I was never changing spark plugs more often in any of my cars, as there is not really point in it.

godtabh

looking4advice wrote: »

A friend of mine just got her car serviced last week and I think she got ripped off. The breakdown is as follows : spark plugs €16, oil filter €8, air filter €11, 4 ltr of engine oil €30, brake pads €38, bulbs €4 (figures rounded up). The car is about 7 years old and in relatively good nick.

Materials total was €110. Labour €110. Sub total €220. Vat €30.

Total. €250.

I got a service done recently

Oil
Filter plus
Air con filter
Wip blades
Rear break pads

€290 for an 05 Saab 93

I get it done by a good lad out in Celbridge

Nonoperational

challengemaster wrote: »

Exactly. I don't know how people think it's acceptable to pay 250 for the above. Recession me arse

That's ridiculous in my opinion. It might not be politically correct but there is no way on earth the majority of women are going to go getting under a car and changing oil, changing plugs, fitting new brake pads, etc etc.

Every time people get a car serviced by a garage the same nonsense comes up. A lot of people have absolutely zero intention of doing their own work on a car. They just wouldn't be able and they have absolutely no desire to.

As for the question originally asked, that price was fair.

andyseadog

CiniO wrote: »

In my 01 Fiat Bravo, service manual says to change spark plugs every 40k kms.
That's every second service.

I think it's usual interval.
I was never changing spark plugs more often in any of my cars, as there is not really point in it.

in most 90's petrol engines at least i reckon plugs were to be replaced at every service. i change mine every 10k miles, sure its only a tenner for 4 plugs once a year, rather be safe than sorry. i'd hate to be hundreds of miles from home and running off a cylinder because of a dud plug.

if plugs were terribly expensive i could understand an inspection of them, and i know now with the advent of platinum/ iridium plugs that can last up to 60k+ that changing plugs is not as common as it used to be. its a common way to scrimp on maintenance though by taking a chance with them.

mickdw

My interval for spark plugs is 90,000 km. I figure changing sooner would be better though.

Seth Brundle

Plug wrote: »

Ever see a woman bring a car to be serviced? A lot of them seem very paranoid or nervous and are convinced they are going to be ripped off:rolleyes: Not all of them though.

My wife left her car in to Appleyard before: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=59443834

biko

biko wrote: »

This is why you/her/everyone needs to learn how to do it yourselves. An hours work and get all the parts from ebay or similar for €50.
Mind, you don't get a stamp in the service book but if that doesn't bother you..
Good thread here on how to do it.

and the pads?

Atlantic Dawn

I really don't know why women assume they always get ripped off when getting their cars serviced, these are the same people who shell out €100 for a hair cut that has about €5 in parts used, ie shampoo, colour and hairspray

OldmanMondeo

Its not a bad price, I know the spark plugs for that car are pricey. Not all garages have the machine to get tracking done. I would say she got good value.

looking4advice

CiniO wrote: »

1. If spark plugs were done on last service, so what was the point in changing them now?
2. As you said 110 + vat was just the parts, so the whole thing couldn't cost 120.

3. Wheel tracked??? Do you mean balanced? Just one? How did she know that she needs one wheel to be balanced? Or am I missing something?

Not sure what the correct term is - the steering wheel is not in line with the wheels i.e. its only out an inch or so.

There is also one tyre needed. Would a tyre garage do both?

-Corkie-

looking4advice wrote: »

Not sure what the correct term is - the steering wheel is not in line with the wheels i.e. its only out an inch or so.

There is also one tyre needed. Would a tyre garage do both?

The car obviously needs to be tracked so. A normal garage cannot do this..

You need to go to a tyre centre.

looking4advice

-Corkie- wrote: »

The car obviously needs to be tracked so. A normal garage cannot do this..

You need to go to a tyre centre.

Any recommedations (near Dublin City centre north)

-Corkie-

looking4advice wrote: »

Any recommedations (near Dublin City centre north)

Atlas tyres in Drumcondra.:)

andyseadog

surely most garages that offer servicing have tracking equipment unless they are a very poor operation

andyseadog

andyseadog wrote: »

surely most garages that offer servicing have tracking equipment unless they are a very poor operation

Most garages that do servicing would not have 4 wheel laser tracking equipment. On a modern car that's what's needed.

Nissan doctor

looking4advice wrote: »

A friend of mine just got her car serviced last week and I think she got ripped off. The breakdown is as follows : spark plugs €16, oil filter €8, air filter €11, 4 ltr of engine oil €30, brake pads €38, bulbs €4 (figures rounded up). The car is about 7 years old and in relatively good nick.

Materials total was €110. Labour €110. Sub total €220. Vat €30.

Total. €250.

For a full service/inspection as well as brake pads etc then that price is far from a rip off.
The people who are saying they are getting 'it' for €120 simply aren't having the same work done.

langdang

Nissan doctor wrote: »

For a full service/inspection as well as brake pads etc then that price is far from a rip off.
The people who are saying they are getting 'it' for €120 simply aren't having the same work done.

It reeks of some "know-it-all" relation or colleague telling her she got completely ripped - "Shur I got my yoke fully servished for a hunderd n twenty oh bejaysus they saw you coming haha"

Nissan doctor

langdang wrote: »

It reeks of some "know-it-all" relation or colleague telling her she got completely ripped - "Shur I got my yoke fully servished for a hunderd n twenty oh bejaysus they saw you coming haha"

Yup, family/friends who 'know about cars'....the bain of every mechanics life.:rolleyes:

Beryl Walsh

I recently brought my car to a local garage to fix my reverse lights cause I had an NCT coming up. The shortened version of this is I paid €220 for them to be fixed and guess what I failed my NCT on??!! Now the same garage is asking for another 200 to fix them!! What can I do??

Is there anywhere like a regulator for mechanics in Ireland?

Mar4ix

Beryl Walsh wrote: »

I recently brought my car to a local garage to fix my reverse lights cause I had an NCT coming up. The shortened version of this is I paid €220 for them to be fixed and guess what I failed my NCT on??!! Now the same garage is asking for another 200 to fix them!! What can I do??

Is there anywhere like a regulator for mechanics in Ireland?

Sound to me like rip off... but ... depend what car you have. if your bulbs are fine (you should be able check yourself), then problem in reverse switch in gearbox. Some cars has easy access to that ... 20 min work, in some cars to gain access to reverse switch , need lift car, or worse .. take off gearbox.

You failed nct because of rear lights doesnt work after fixing in garage ? i think it should be some warranty on any work/parts... at least couple months.

Beryl Walsh

At first they thought it was the reverse switch and sent for one from Nissan but it turned out it wasn't so they had a look at the wires and now they say it's the bcm and that that would cost me €435 plus €100 labour!!
I'm just really annoyed cause the problem I asked them to fix they didn't and still took €220. They even charged me for a reverse bulb!!

It's an 03 Nissan Micra with 47,000 miles so it's not been driven into the ground.

Mar4ix

op, price is right, i cant expect women service her car herself, but if we look in to part price, it look normal regular price, and labour charged right. If i would do that work for somebody(privately) , i would charge 70 for labour, but 120 in garage it is right price.

Beryl Walsh

but they didn't do anything! They didn't put the switch in so they fixed nothing for the money. I think €220 is a bit much for no work.

guil

Beryl Walsh wrote: »

but they didn't do anything! They didn't put the switch in so they fixed nothing for the money. I think €220 is a bit much for no work.

i presume he was referring to the op with the post about labour price

Beryl Walsh

Yeah I know the part prices seem right. Just annoyed that it wasn't done at the start. I'm thinking about trading it in, they seem to have a lot of problems.

Mar4ix

Beryl Walsh wrote: »

At first they thought it was the reverse switch and sent for one from Nissan but it turned out it wasn't so they had a look at the wires and now they say it's the bcm and that that would cost me €435 plus €100 labour!!
I'm just really annoyed cause the problem I asked them to fix they didn't and still took €220. They even charged me for a reverse bulb!!

It's an 03 Nissan Micra with 47,000 miles so it's not been driven into the ground.

strange, first to change reverse switch, it has to be checked ... with tester, or connect 12v, to see if current reach bulbs. Ill bet, there is easy access to micras reverse switch.

never heard that bcm fail in micra (i even wouldnt be sure there is one, a specialy for reverse light, cos it is very simple system), try shop around, some other garages. at the end, you could go to nissan dealer, and ask only to diagnose fault, wouldnt be expensive for diagnostic.

But for garage, might worth speek to manager, or owner, and explain situation... get money back, or get fixed properly. it is high price for micras reverse switch.

According ebay reverse switch prices ... - http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=nissan+micra+reverse+switch&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Beryl Walsh

Thanks for that, I will look them up. Yeah I'm not sure the garage had a clue what they were doing, I originally thought it was the switch myself but when they said it wasn't I believed them
I did think it was strange for the bcm to affect the lights. I am going to bring it to Nissan during the week and get a proper check and they can tell me what's the problem and then I can fix it.
In regards to the garage I rang them and spoke to the manager to tell him it failed the nct on that one thing and he shouted down the phone at me!! I was just asking about the break down of the bill, he really didn't like that. I will go in tomorrow to speak with him directly, he robbed me for sure.

Beryl Walsh

I'm so annoyed now cause the garage were charging me €65 for the switch plus the cost of them driving to get it (that's what they said) and then labour when it's only 10 pounds on ebay, grrrrrrr