Overcharging?

DonalB1

Hi all,

Just a quick one regarding my mechanic. I have an audi, it’s due for nct but the engine light was showing so I brought it to the mechanic.

He serviced the vehicle and fixed whatever issue that was causing the light to show for €220.

The following day I start the car and the light is showing again. Also during the day my window stops working. I bring it back in to him and and he tells me he will try and identify what is the problem with the engine and says the issue with the window is the window regulator. He tells me the only part he can find is for €375. So I went and sourced a part myself for €90.

A couple of days later he rang and told me the car was finished and the bill is €275.

Does anyone else know if this is excessive? The part he used to fix the light the second time was a rocket cover oil separator which cost €115 and he charged €160 for labor on replacing the separator and window regulator.

Maybe all of the above is completely normal and maybe even a great price but I’ve never had that much cost with any other car (2 bmw’s) or mechanic. I just want to get a rough estimate so I know for future.

Thanks in advance for any info and just for the record I’m in no way criticizing the mechanic, he may well have been giving me a very fair deal.

conor2469

Given the time it could have taken to diagnose the oil separator issue, plus the time required to fix it, plus the time required to dismantle a door and change a window regulator, I don't think that was a bad price IMO.

Squidgy Black

Sounds like he just cleared the code the first time, and didn't actually fix anything. Depending on the model, and what the service included, it probably isn't miles off what most places would charge.

160 in labour for the two other jobs isn't bad at all, taking apart the door cards on some of those audis can take a bit of time.

Leonard Hofstadter

Were you told why the light was on the first time? It's possible that it had a fault, which was rectified, and it came on again but it was a new issue.

The cynic in me thinks he just reset the light the first time....

mickdw

What car have you got?

DonalB1

Leonard Hofstadter wrote: »

Were you told why the light was on the first time? It's possible that it had a fault, which was rectified, and it came on again but it was a new issue.

The cynic in me thinks he just reset the light the first time....

I think he admitted this to me after the first servicing. He then ran tests and found what he thinks may be the problem and then repaired it

DonalB1

DonalB1 wrote: »

I think he admitted this to me after the first servicing. He then am tests and found what he thinks may be the problem and then repaired it

audi a4

V8 Interceptor

Was there a charge included that initial £220 for fixing something relating to the warning light or was that just the normal servicing charge?

DonalB1

V8 Interceptor wrote: »

Was there a charge included that initial £220 for fixing something relating to the warning light or was that just the normal servicing charge?

The normal servicing charge. But I wasn’t fussed about the service, I just wanted the light off for the nct

antodeco

What sort of service was done on it?

w211

You got properly screwed! He only erased the codes and when you collect the car it looks like ok. Soon as car computer finished the testing and find the errors, it turns again on the money lights. Keep away from that garage and share that on facebook (here is not allowed, no idea why). The good garage should have at least some kind of short warranty time. Every car are bit different and finish the testing on different time/distance. Some are ready after 5km, some needs much longer.

robtri

w211 wrote: »

You got properly screwed! He only erased the codes and when you collect the car it looks like ok. Soon as car computer finished the testing and find the errors, it turns again on the money lights. Keep away from that garage and share that on facebook (here is not allowed, no idea why). The good garage should have at least some kind of short warranty time. Every car are bit different and finish the testing on different time/distance. Some are ready after 5km, some needs much longer.

maybe because they dont want to ruin someones business based on hearsay...

also 220 for a service depending on what was done is quite possibly a good price for an A4
depending on the code he probably just cleared it, that doesnt make his business a bad or untrustworthy business

ted1

DonalB1 wrote: »

The normal servicing charge. But I wasn’t fussed about the service, I just wanted the light off for the nct

It’ll pass the NCT with the light on. The nct check for safety not mechanics.

In future buy a Bluetooth ECU reader from eBay. You can clear faults yourself and diagnose issues

Eoinbmw

220 for oil and filters(service) is extortionate!

Fann Linn

ted1 wrote: »

It’ll pass the NCT with the light on. The nct check for safety not mechanics.

In future buy a Bluetooth ECU reader from eBay. You can clear faults yourself and diagnose issues

Thanks for that. I always thought the NCT failed for ECU lights.

robtri

Fann Linn wrote: »

Thanks for that. I always thought the NCT failed for ECU lights.

nct will fail...
i failed two days ago with one on...

robtri

Eoinbmw wrote: »

220 for oil and filters(service) is extortionate!

where did u get that what was done??

Fann Linn

robtri wrote: »

nct will fail...
i failed two days ago with one on...

That's what I thought.

ted1

robtri wrote: »

nct will fail...
i failed two days ago with one on...

Is yours a diesel ?

https://www.google.ie/amp/www.thejournal.ie/decoding-dashboard-warning-lights-3871823-Feb2018/%3famp=1

robtri

ted1 wrote: »

Is yours a diesel ?

https://www.google.ie/amp/www.thejournal.ie/decoding-dashboard-warning-lights-3871823-Feb2018/%3famp=1

petrol

and the article linked specifically states the car will fail for having lights on...

ted1

robtri wrote: »

petrol

and the article linked specifically states the car will fail for having lights on...

States for diesel.
***
Engine warning light: If this light remains on, then the smoke test on diesel-engined vehicles cannot be carried out until the issue is rectified.
***
No mention of failing here : http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/NCT/New%202018/NCT%20Manual%202018.pdf

What exactly did it say ?

greasepalm

No mention of what service was done or parts used so cannot say if e220 was over the top.
We get plenty of german cars in with lights on all the time and if customer is beside me i would ask if they have a camera phone to take a photo of fault codes stored before there cleared for good or temporary.If same faults come back more checking into that issue and possible new part needed.

w211

It is easier to fix the problems before the NCT than go again and again to NCT. It is not the rocket science but I see way too many guessing. Yes I guessing too here because not enough data.

EDIT: This is very bad if they erase the codes and hope to fix the problem(s) by that way. If it goes right to the next garage, they must make a long test drive to repeat the problem(s). The code must erased only if the problem are fixed. There is not such thing as magic!

V8 Interceptor

robtri wrote: »

220 for a service depending on what was done is quite possibly a good price for an A4

Apparently the OP didn't want a service.

robtri

ted1 wrote: »

States for diesel.
***
Engine warning light: If this light remains on, then the smoke test on diesel-engined vehicles cannot be carried out until the issue is rectified.
***
No mention of failing here : http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/NCT/New%202018/NCT%20Manual%202018.pdf

What exactly did it say ?

the article says fail

if the smoke test can't be completed they cant do the NCT.. therefore fail