Full service with MOT... £1170!!!

[MonkeyJug 0]

here's the invoice:

MOT:

failure items:

bal & align - headlamp align (headlamp aim incorrect) £10.25

electrics - offside rear fog light not working £4.40

exhausts - rear exhaust mounting broke/insecure

advise items:

exhaust system overall poor condition

front - exhaust front pipe corroded £83.63

cent - intermediate silencer corroded £159.30

rear - rear box corroded, mounting broken £123.84

others:

wiper blade - front & rear wiper blades not clearing screen. front blades £15.80

SERVICE REPORT:

others:

filter fuel (amber) replace £25.09

electrics:

plug leads perished/tracking (red) £97.17

brakes:

disc front pair (amber) front discs badly scored £152.93

pads front (red) pads 85% worn, replaced £88.27

offside rear caliper sticking (red) strip and clean £25.00

offside rear disc has overheated/scored/corroded (amber) disc rear pair & bearings £114.65

pads rear (amber - recommend new disc pads with new discs) £68

fluid flush (red - recommend brake fluid change, below min boil point) £29.40

others:

rear wiper blade £6.30

total £1172 inc vat (minus £72 goodwill) = £1170!

[ Edited Sat Mar 12 2005, 08:39PM ]

[acf8181 0]

well, considering the parts that were replaced that is a fair price....whether all the parts really needed replacing, or whether you coudl have got them cheaper second hand (exhaust mainly) is another question tho.

[andy 0]

That's outrageous. The only bits that were actually required for the MOT cost less than £20. Add the cost of an mot and you're looking at £60. Can't believe you've had to pay £1200 ish. Had you noticed any problem at all with the brakes or exhaust before you took it in?

[stu h 0]

well i spose thats quite a lot that needed doing, but not £1200 worth!

its true you could have probably got it done a lot cheaper if you'd have sourced the parts yourself from specialist vw suppliers. you could have got a good stainless exhaust for the price you've paid.

£90 for front brake pads sounds bloody pricey too.

on the plus side the car should be in top condition!

[MonkeyJug 0]

That's outrageous. The only bits that were actually required for the MOT cost less than £20. Add the cost of an mot and you're looking at £60. Can't believe you've had to pay £1200 ish. Had you noticed any problem at all with the brakes or exhaust before you took it in?

the exhaust was in a bad state - i knew that.

also, there were a few occasions when i remember thinking the brakes could be stopping me a bit sooner!

its done now, though...

[MonkeyJug 0]

btw, the guy said i should take it easy on the brakes for about 500 miles. does that mean i can't rag my baby about for a while?

[acf8181 0]

nice of him to explain that in detail, hey!

ok, what you need to try and do is press the brakes lightly, but for long periods to start with, then gradually increase the pressure a bit at a time (but still for long periods). its so you bed the pad in, if you go and and stand hard on them you'll screw the new pads/discs and end up with warped brakes (so the wheel will vibrate under braking).

now, what i do to speed up the process is drive along at about 60mph on a dual carriageway and whilst still on the throttle i left foot brake (very very lightly at first) for about 10-15secs, then let off them for a min or so to cool them and do it again. i gradually increase the pressure. be warned, if you try this though, you do it too long or hard and you'll warp them. also, if you've never left foot braked you wont be able to use the pedal smoothly.

[VRVIRGIN 0]

Thought i got done over. Feel for you m8, not sure, but wouldn't you have gone for some uprated parts had you known the price? Bit unfair the prices on those original parts i think. Well if the car is now legal and running right, then i suppose it was worth the investment. I've just realised that i've had to replace a part that was still under guarantee and the engine doesn't sound as healthy as it should. Hope they did a good job on yours.

[acf8181 0]

yeah, i'd say the brakes are a sensible buy...i bet the car stops very nicely now. its only that the exhaust could prob have been left for a while, and that you coudl have collected second hand parts.

[candleman 0]

if it's any consolation my first service at AMD 70k miles was £970 :@ and then they advised me that the front discs were on there last legs!! (did them myself)

[Slim 0]

I'm guessing the prices next to the parts includes the labour charge for each part? But if he's doing the front discs and brakes, then that would surely mean less time taken? Also, £30 to flush and refill the brake fluid? Hmm.

I say you go onto the GSF website or ECP and price up how much they're charging for all the parts you got fitted, my guess is that it would be considerably lower. If the garage claims that genuine VAG parts were used as you'd expect at that price, ask to see his purchase invoice.