Advance Pitstop for servicing?

Barack Obama

Are they any good? Anyone know what type of oil they use and if it's possible to pay extra for fully synthetic??

Barack Obama

Oh - and do they stamp your book??

-Corkie-

Do a bit of searching here about them. My answer would be no dont use them..

mhigh86

Don't bother with garage chains, two many targets to be met many shortcuts made.
Look for a local independent garage, ask around how's good and stick with them if they are, better service better prices, and stay away from main dealers...

Barack Obama

Cook - ok lads. Thanks for the advice :cool:

BTW - I found that some main dealers have good offers as well (more expensive than Advance obviously), but they will use genuine parts and fully synthetic oil.

Thatnastyboy

Barack Obama wrote: »

Cook - ok lads. Thanks for the advice :cool:

BTW - I found that some main dealers have good offers as well (more expensive than Advance obviously), but they will use genuine parts and fully synthetic oil.

Fully synth oil is not necessarily the "best", the correct type of oil should be used as specified for the car,

What is your car?

Barack Obama

Thatnastyboy wrote: »

Fully synth oil is not necessarily the "best", the correct type of oil should be used as specified for the car,

What is your car?

Saab 9-3 diesel. Fully synth oil is the spec to use

Thatnastyboy

Barack Obama wrote: »

Saab 9-3 diesel. Fully synth oil is the spec to use

Perfect,

I would hope that anywhere/anyone that would service it would use fully synth, not just on request

biko

I wouldn't swear by them but whenever I need stuff done asap and can't do it on the driveway I use the people in AP Ballybane shop.
Never let me down yet.

Keedowah

I used the one up beside Croke Park a few years ago, never again.

Rich11

hate any of those places, except for tyres, dont even like getting tracking done there anymore,

last time i went there for 2 new tyres and tracking, inbetween all that they said to me my break pads and discs were worn and would need to be replaced, i knew they werent, asked him to show me, and i laughed at him, then he started going on about he meant to say in a few months, 3-4,000 miles and they are still on the car, in all fairness discs probably need to be done this time but still.

anyway, got the new tyres and tracking done, grand, got into the car, and the steering wheel was at a 40 degree angle with the wheels straight, like WTF, went back into him and said it and he said to me.... "is it", after he just drove it out off the ramp, like how do you not notice that....

Times before that they said to me wishbones are cracked, track rod ends are worn,............ just do the tyres are leave me alone, please

I must look like a thicko who knows nothing about cars

TestTransmission

Rich11 wrote: »

hate any of those places, except for tyres, dont even like getting tracking done there anymore,

last time i went there for 2 new tyres and tracking, inbetween all that they said to me my break pads and discs were worn and would need to be replaced, i knew they werent, asked him to show me, and i laughed at him, then he started going on about he meant to say in a few months, 3-4,000 miles and they are still on the car, in all fairness discs probably need to be done this time but still.

anyway, got the new tyres and tracking done, grand, got into the car, and the steering wheel was at a 40 degree angle with the wheels straight, like WTF, went back into him and said it and he said to me.... "is it", after he just drove it out off the ramp, like how do you not notice that....

Times before that they said to me wishbones are cracked, track rod ends are worn,............ just do the tyres are leave me alone, please

I must look like a thicko who knows nothing about cars

Stop going in there for tyres would be my advice if you feel that strongly about it

dr.fuzzenstein

Went to a pitstop outlet in Limerick once and got 4 new tires.
Told them I want all four balanced. Drove off, my car was an ass-shaker.
Brought it back and complained and was told "Sure the rear tires don't need to be balanced, it's only so the steering doesn't wobble".
Needless to say I made them balance the rear wheels and never went back to them again.
Just a general note: If anyone tells you this, along with "Sure you only need to align the front wheels, it's only for steering, like", leave that garage immediately, never return and warn all your friends and neighbours about them, it's the hallmark of clueless cowboys.

Rich11

TestTransmission wrote: »

Stop going in there for tyres would be my advice if you feel that strongly about it

dont get me wrong:rolleyes:, i like them for tyres....... but just tyres, thats it:)

W0bble5

I got a mate of mine who was a supervisor in Advance Pitstop to replace brake pads on a car years ago. He did them in my garden while I was there with him. Couple of weeks later I dropped the car into the garage he works in to get new tyres. Few hours later the bloke fitting the tyres rang me to say I'd need new pads fitted.
I was like, eh, no I don't they're grand. He tried to tell me the brake pads were dangerous & I'd need to get them done. So I asked for my mate (his supervisor) by name and told him what your man was saying.
He laughed, told me not to worry about it & later on told me the lads were all under pressure to get their massive bonuses for upselling....even if you don't need anything done!
The place is a joke - I wouldn't touch them.

biko

Yeah with them you need to know what you're doing and don't buy into any spiel.

Rich11

Rich11 wrote: »

dont get me wrong:rolleyes:, i like them for tyres....... but just tyres, thats it:)

whoopsadaisydoodles needed a new tyre for her Volvo S60 - was getting rid of the car so only wanted an economy tyre. Advance pitstop quoted me €155 for an ECONOMY tyre. Rang a different branch and got quoted €145. Went to Fast Fit and they were shocked at the prices given by AP. €80 paid and tyre replaced. Would have gotten a pretty decent tyre for the prices they were quoting for economy.

Two weeks ago Fast fit quoted €99 for a full oil change including fully synthetic oil. I have absolutely no idea if this is good - haven't looked into it yet but my Saab 9-3 TID is coming up to 10k/km so I should probably do that soon!

luckyfrank

there robbing bastards

donegal30132

stay away from advance pitstop!
I purchased a voucher for a full car maintenance check up. I rang the garage and asked them what exactly did this include. They mentioned a range of things including checking oil, filling oil up (up tp 1 litre), coolant, checking general maintenance of car. I got this service done 6 weeks ago.
I went to another garage yesterday for a quick check up and they were shocked to hear I had a maintenance check up done 6 weeks ago. They said that the bonnet wasnt even opened!!!
my oil was very dark and pretty much empty, coolant was empty, air filter was filthy, residue on air coolant i.e engine wasnt checked at all!! As a result my head gasket has blown causing 1500 euro worth of damage, which could have been avoided if the check up was done at all.
When I got the car maintenance done at advance pitstop they didnt inform me about any issues regarding my engine, telling me that the engine was perfect but I needed 3 new tyres!!!
.....what a joke!

Seth Brundle

W0bble5 wrote: »

I got a mate of mine who was a supervisor in Advance Pitstop to replace brake pads on a car years ago. He did them in my garden while I was there with him. Couple of weeks later I dropped the car into the garage he works in to get new tyres. Few hours later the bloke fitting the tyres rang me to say I'd need new pads fitted.
I was like, eh, no I don't they're grand. He tried to tell me the brake pads were dangerous & I'd need to get them done. So I asked for my mate (his supervisor) by name and told him what your man was saying.
He laughed, told me not to worry about it & later on told me the lads were all under pressure to get their massive bonuses for upselling....even if you don't need anything done!
The place is a joke - I wouldn't touch them.

I've had that happen with a Peugeot main dealer (who became a ford dealership and now I believe have entered liquidation).
Some Advance employees may up upsell like this but they are not the only ones out there!

luckyfrank wrote: »

there robbing bastards

That's your contribution to this thread? :rolleyes:

MCAutocare

Rich11 wrote: »

Times before that they said to me wishbones are cracked, track rod ends are worn,............ just do the tyres are leave me alone, please

I must look like a thicko who knows nothing about cars

maybe if you had done these parts before fittin tyres and tracking then your tracking would have been right

Sully

Father had awful problems there with his Avensis. They were to do some welding on the exhaust and ended up damaging it. Took a battle to get the money back!

Rich11

MCAutocare wrote: »

maybe if you had done these parts before fittin tyres and tracking then your tracking would have been right

there was nothing wrong with my tracking, never said there was but its advised when you buy new tyres i thought, well i always like it done when i buy a new set of tyres.

and the guys in there could be telling you all sort about needing parts replaced on your car to scare you and make you get it done

when i was told these things i have either checked myself or went to my mechanic, who i have used(when i need him, try/like to do things myself), friends have used, and there was nothing wrong with the parts mentioned

and this sums it all up:

W0bble5 wrote: »

I got a mate of mine who was a supervisor in Advance Pitstop to replace brake pads on a car years ago. He did them in my garden while I was there with him. Couple of weeks later I dropped the car into the garage he works in to get new tyres. Few hours later the bloke fitting the tyres rang me to say I'd need new pads fitted.
I was like, eh, no I don't they're grand. He tried to tell me the brake pads were dangerous & I'd need to get them done. So I asked for my mate (his supervisor) by name and told him what your man was saying.
He laughed, told me not to worry about it & later on told me the lads were all under pressure to get their massive bonuses for upselling....even if you don't need anything done!
The place is a joke - I wouldn't touch them.

eth0

Got an exhaust from that shower once. Barely lasted 2 years. Lining of a coke can would be thicker

MCAutocare

well you are entitled to your opinion about the company itself, but the lads that work there are either qualified mechanics or tyre fitters, this is a well known fact. if you want your car serviced or have the mechanicals checked then obviously it should be done by a mechanic and not a tyre fitter. but the case in advance is(and this is fact) the manager has the call to put who he wants to work on your car when you are gone.

now heres the best bit(and its fact) if say a tyre fitter is put to do your service or timing belt and the tyre fitter says "i'm not qualified to do that" or "that's not my job" the usual managers response would be something like "if thats the case then you know where the door is" or "i'm your boss and you do what i tell you to do" and the best one of all is "you have to be a team player, we all have to do the same jobs". THIS IS ALL BASED ON FACTS

i dont blame lads for posting their views on the company, but the workers on the floor CANNOT be blame for the "circus act" that goes on there. i know the athlone branch better than most posters here and have witness some of the bullying and abusive behaviour that is dished out to the floor staff. let me put it this way, if someone treated me the way their boss treats them, i'd be up for GBH. i have quite a few FACTS about the place that i may share with ye over the next week or so.

Colonel Sanders

Got a service done on a 03 golf in the one by Croke Park. Was told my timing belt needed doing. Was a bit surprised as I only had the car 18 months. Rang the garage I bought it from. They were able to tell me the exact mileage it had on it when I bought & that they'd changed the belt before I bought it. Looking online the recommended interval was 2,000 miles after what was on it when I bought it so it all checked out. Not only that they quoted 570 + VAT for the timing belt change

They Also noted a few other things, brought it to a friend (indo). He looked at it & said no way would he recommend any of it bar changing one tyre & a few of the issues written down made zero sense to him

Have rang them for quites the odd time & have found their pricing to be astronomically expense

miller50841

Reminds me a lot of the tyre place in the Simpsons when homer goes in with his voucher for free tyre balancing;).
They get him for the whole lot and stand outside the window laughing at him:D

trixyben

I was passing my local Advance garage about a year or so ago and they had a sign offering a free pre nct chek over, so as my test was nearly due i decided waht the hell sure ill call in and get this free check...

Now i had already given the car the once over and replaced a few things and it was already for the test but sure free is free or is it????

So up on the ramp the car goes and the tech proceeds with his clip boards in 1 hand and straight away starts writing away, so he said car needed 2 new tyres, 2 new front shocks, brake pads were below legal limit and the discs needed replacing, a hole in the exhaust and a few other minor things...

Told him I put new pads on 2 months ago and to show me these below legal limit pads, he didn't know what to say, asked him to show me hole in exhaust, told me i couldnt see it but he could tell there was a hole somewhere, told him not to bother quoting any work and to forget it...

Since that time I heard similair storys from various people about that place and not supprisingly it has since closed down.

sheehan12

they are COWBOY

miller50841

There cowboys ted shoody shoddy work

goz83

A couple of years back, my 318 was due its NCT. The test was for the afternoon and I wanted to give the car a quick once over before bringing her up. The only thing I needed checked was the headlight alignment. Long story, short, I forgot to go to the usual garage and only remembered when it was time to leave for the test. I dropped into the AP in Santry for a quick headlight alignment check, telling the guy I was in a bit of a rush for the NCT. So, he takes the car in and a few minutes later he comes out and tells me one of my headlight bulbs are gone. It was fine when they were driving it into the garage (i usually left the lights on all the time), so i was a bit surprised it had blown within a couple of minutes. Say I need 2 bulbs because they should be replaced with the same brand at €20 per bulb :eek: PLUS labour. I tell him i have spare bulbs in the boot. "Sorry, we can only put our bulbs in". It was looking like the bill was gonna be €100, so I asked for my keys and went to the NCT. Checked my car in, but left the bonnet open. I was taking the blown bulb out and noticed a mark on the glass, like it had been banged off something. To this day, I think they just broke the bulb, looking to rip me off. New bulb in and car went through no problem at all. a few weeks later, I notice a "under new management" sign on the garage. Still, wouldn't touch them. I use a local Atlas garage and I have to say, they are brilliant. I do know one of the lads there, which helps me have confidence, but I have often dropped in to have things checked and haven't been charged at all. Only the other day, there was a rubbing noise from one of my wheels. Dropped into Atlas and it turned out to be the dust shield around the brake disc was rubbing. No charge.

My advice is don't trust any garage unless you hear good things about them from people you know.

Nissan doctor

goz83 wrote: »

A couple of years back, my 318 was due its NCT. The test was for the afternoon and I wanted to give the car a quick once over before bringing her up. The only thing I needed checked was the headlight alignment. Long story, short, I forgot to go to the usual garage and only remembered when it was time to leave for the test. I dropped into the AP in Santry for a quick headlight alignment check, telling the guy I was in a bit of a rush for the NCT. So, he takes the car in and a few minutes later he comes out and tells me one of my headlight bulbs are gone. It was fine when they were driving it into the garage (i usually left the lights on all the time), so i was a bit surprised it had blown within a couple of minutes. Say I need 2 bulbs because they should be replaced with the same brand at €20 per bulb :eek: PLUS labour. I tell him i have spare bulbs in the boot. "Sorry, we can only put our bulbs in". It was looking like the bill was gonna be €100, so I asked for my keys and went to the NCT. Checked my car in, but left the bonnet open. I was taking the blown bulb out and noticed a mark on the glass, like it had been banged off something. To this day, I think they just broke the bulb, looking to rip me off. New bulb in and car went through no problem at all. a few weeks later, I notice a "under new management" sign on the garage. Still, wouldn't touch them. I use a local Atlas garage and I have to say, they are brilliant. I do know one of the lads there, which helps me have confidence, but I have often dropped in to have things checked and haven't been charged at all. Only the other day, there was a rubbing noise from one of my wheels. Dropped into Atlas and it turned out to be the dust shield around the brake disc was rubbing. No charge.

My advice is don't trust any garage unless you hear good things about them from people you know.

There has never been an Advance Pitstop in Santry

If your talking about the one on the corner opposite Morton stadium, that used to be fastfit years ago and is now first stop I think.



Good to hear your happy with Atlas though:D

goz83

Nissan doctor wrote: »

There has never been an Advance Pitstop in Santry

If your talking about the one on the corner opposite Morton stadium, that used to be fastfit years ago and is now first stop I think.



Good to hear your happy with Atlas though:D

My bad....yes...that's the one. Does it still have the "under new management" sign above it?

This is the one I was talking about...

https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=53.398447,-6.243622&hl=en&num=1&gl=ie&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.398685,-6.24331&panoid=2YRqUvqXZbHgvm5O8d3fKQ&cbp=12,307.51,,0,0.81

Nissan doctor

goz83 wrote: »

My bad....yes...that's the one. Does it still have the "under new management" sign above it?

Not sure tbh, I haven't passed there in a while but it did the last time I noticed.

Rich11

trixyben wrote: »

Told him I put new pads on 2 months ago and to show me these below legal limit pads, he didn't know what to say, asked him to show me hole in exhaust, told me i couldnt see it but he could tell there was a hole somewhere, told him not to bother quoting any work and to forget it...

same happened to me, asked him to show me, he did and started bulls**ting, and i just laughed:D

Tea 1000

Rich11 wrote: »

dont get me wrong:rolleyes:, i like them for tyres....... but just tyres, thats it:)

How do you like them for tyres? They're the most over-priced cowboys I've ever wasted my time on the phone getting a price from. They haven't a clue what any premium tyre is, and quote silly prices for plastic muck.

Tea 1000

miller50841 wrote: »

Reminds me a lot of the tyre place in the Simpsons when homer goes in with his voucher for free tyre balancing;).
They get him for the whole lot and stand outside the window laughing at him:D

"I'm sorry mister, but that wheel won't take a balance..." Classic episode.

StudentDad

Advance in Wesport seem okay - bought four new tyres from them recently - contis - €95 per tyre - balanced etc - I paid extra for tracking but because I was buying four tyres he knocked €20 off the cost of the tracking.

Maybe the crowd in Dublin are just a bunch of chancers

SD