Quoted price too low?

plastic-man · 24-02-2012 03:29PM #1

T-belt went, head gasket gone, water pump to be replaced, 8 new valves.

Shopping around a bit and was looking for a towing price. Found a place called recovery24.ie who gave me a quote for towing then offered to repair. Heres the deal:

Car picked up immediately, all above parts replaced with new parts and back by Wednesday next week- €450. Doesn't that seem too low? They were helpful on the phone and the guy knew his stuff as I pretended I knew nothing originally, as I'm aware of the cowboys around. Anyone any experience with this crowd or opinion on that quote?

MidlandsM · 24-02-2012 03:33PM

Can't see that as a go-er.

sure parts alone could potential be close to €400, then labour, recovery, diesel, etc......

..........no way.

Anan1 · 24-02-2012 03:42PM

I'd say that price is for throwing a replacement used engine in rather than repairing the existing one.

George Dalton · 24-02-2012 03:50PM

What car is it?

plastic-man · 24-02-2012 03:53PM

A used engine wouldn't be even that bad provided the bent valves were replaced and the head gasket was new.

Then again they could potentially not even replace the t-belt if they're doing that.

I asked about their work being guaranteed, and he said they couldn't guarantee such a job... :rolleyes:

I could be completely insane, but I'm almost thinking it's worth the risk, perhaps if he could prove all parts are new? I couldn't afford to get it done with my usual respected mechanic, it could be 450 down the drain potentially. Is there anyway initially to check the standard of their work after its done?

Wolverine_1999 · 24-02-2012 03:53PM

Seems reasonable to me. Prices have come down to norm since Irish businesses realised they can't f*** us over anymore.

MidlandsM · 24-02-2012 03:55PM

Anan1 wrote: »

I'd say that price is for throwing a replacement used engine in rather than repairing the existing one.

nahhhhhhhhhhh...

Even then it would'nt pay them, have you ever paid for a replacement engine, rooted out the old, installed the new, commissioned it etc.......

plastic-man · 24-02-2012 04:08PM

Wolverine_1999 wrote: »

Seems reasonable to me. Prices have come down to norm since Irish businesses realised they can't f*** us over anymore.

They're very open about the fact that they're a lot cheaper, fingers crossed

Pique · 24-02-2012 07:04PM

Spurious parts of questionable origin/quality?

Nissan doctor · 24-02-2012 09:20PM

As asked, what cars is it?

People are saying it sounds reasonable...but for most average cars, the parts required alone to do the job properly would come to that sort of money.

George Dalton · 24-02-2012 09:41PM

Nissan doctor wrote: »

As asked, what cars is it?

People are saying it sounds reasonable...for most average cars, the parts required alone to do the job properly would come to that sort of money.

I agree.

I think the OP should ask for a full estimate from this crowd showing exactly what parts are being quoted for and how the total of €450 is being arrived at.

On most average cars the minimum parts required would be something like:

Valves
Timing belt kit
Possibly water pump depending on the car
Head gasket (or head gasket set if you want to do it right)
Probably head bolts depending on the car
Fresh coolant
Oil and oil filter

Plus the labour

Plus the initial breakdown recovery

It is difficult to see how all that could be done for €400 ex VAT. I would be interested to see the details personally.

Anan1 · 24-02-2012 10:04PM

How do the garage even know exactly what needs doing without removing the head?

dgt · 24-02-2012 10:31PM

Anan1 wrote: »

How do the garage even know exactly what needs doing without removing the head?

Whats one to say that the pistons don't look like this?

I'd wait till the head came off for the full price

Nissan doctor · 24-02-2012 10:35PM

dgt wrote: »

Whats one to say that the pistons don't look like this?

I'd wait till the head came off for the full price

You'd be amazed how much time and guesswork a leakdown tester and a bore scope save.:)

Anan1 · 24-02-2012 11:13PM

Nissan doctor wrote: »

You'd be amazed how much time and guesswork a leakdown tester and a bore scope save.:)

It sounds from the OP's first post as though the garage quoted for this work before even collecting it, though? Now that I read it again, i'm wondering about the 'head gasket gone' bit too.. Might it be something like an 8v Punto and they're assuming that the valves are bent but everything else is fine?

Nissan doctor · 24-02-2012 11:17PM

Anan1 wrote: »

It sounds from the OP's first post as though the garage quoted for this work before even collecting it, though? Now that I read it again, i'm wondering about the 'head gasket gone' bit too.. Might it be something like an 8v Punto and they're assuming that the valves are bent but everything else is fine?

Valves wouldn't be bent on an 8v punto engine if the belt broke anyway:)

matthewsie · 14-04-2012 03:59PM

hi, just wondering how did all that turn out for ye?? would you recommend them??

let us know.

Thanks

colm_mcm · 14-04-2012 04:01PM

Send a PM to the original poster, it's unlikely he's watching this thread as it was posted a few months ago.

Quoted price too low?

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