Sounds a little on the piss-take side to me...

[maxlifo]

Just got this quote from my local Seat stealers. For my 2005 FR 20VT, which has done 75K miles.

I need a few bits done, along with a 'minor' service. Namely a new rad, as it’s leaking very slightly (Garage confirmed this on last service and I've topped up more than normal). Yes I know I should have got it fixed, but hey, I couldn't afford it at the time. I also need the Cupra TCA rear bush upgrade and a new ARB, as the one I have is cracked (and the handling is terrible at the moment).

After some to-ing and fro-ing, explaning what I need done, they just quoted me in writing:

Service: £129 for it’s “90K (?) service”

Radiator Replacement:

Parts: £140.92 ( radiator & coolant)
Labour: £182.28 (2 hours)
Total: £323.20

Wishbone bushes / Anti-roll bar & bushes replacement:
Parts: £89.34
Labour: £319.00 ( 3.5 hours)
Total: £408.34

4 Wheel alignment to follow repair:
£58


£918.54 all in What do you reckon guys? Complete rip-off, or a little bit expensive (I can deal with that as it’s a dealer)?

Looks like it’s wayyyyoverpriced to me.

Cheers!

 

[VWscooby]

91.14 an hour for labour? Screw the dealer, go somewhere else!

 

[seatcupramad23]

that could be done for less than half that, get a 2nd hand rad and coolant is only £25 , bushes aren't that expensive and labour should be more than 250-300 all in

 

[747_727]

Find a small local garage to do it for you. They normally charge about £40-£45 an hour and in my experience can be trusted as it normally the person who owns the garage doing the work.

 

[Guinness]

The rad is only £115 he could do it himself in the time the dealer has listed. A normal garage can do those jobs no problem for £35 an hour labour and at a lot quicker time.

Just using a normal garage will save you arround £300.

 

[mymorph]

if your anywhere near midlands try: midland VW,a local independant VAG garage - seem ok to me.

 

[Martin_FR]

Aren;t the bushes just £7? Are you talking about the rear bushes on the front wishbone? I had them replaced on my FR, bought the parts from Dave @ Sere Motors and had a local garage fit them. Does take a few hours as the old anes are usually siezed in there and need a bit of force to get them out.
Labour is always more expensive at a dealers, so better off getting a independant garage to do the work, and if you want dealer servicing then just stick it there for a service. Seat's service prices aren't too bad as its all fixed price, although a basic / minor service really is just an oil change that you can do for £60 yourself

 

[Crafoo]

The rad is only £115

Speak to David from SereMotors, £80 for the rad, I know this as I asked him for a price about 2 days ago.

If I was the OP I would be buying all the parts and taking it to a reputable garage that charges a sensible hourly rate to get the work done as others have said.

£900 is just silly money.

 

[maxlifo]

Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to reply. Some really useful advice/suggestions. It's good to confirm my suspicions that the stealers were indeed on the rob! Hardly a surprise really.

Funnily enough, I actually messaged David at Sere shortly after I made my initial post, asking for a price for those parts. I'm hoping he'll get back to me in the morning. I've got a few local garages in mind, so I'll call around tomorrow assuming Sere can sort me out with a saving or two. A longshot, but can anyone recommend any decent garages in the Cambridge area? You never know!

Once these jobs are sorted, I'll stick it into the Seat garage for a service and stamp for the old book, as suggested up there ^^^

Cheers again for all the tips. Love this place.

 

[maxlifo]

Bit of an update.

Thanks again for all the advice. It ended up costing me about £360 including parts from David at Sere. Quite a saving. Turns out my folks know someone who knows someone. One man band kind of thing. He fitted the Cupra bushes and the new rad (showed me the last one which was knackered), but saw no reason to fit the new ARB that Seat reported as "Cracked" the last time it went in for service there. He said a little bit of paint had flaked off, which he greased up to stop any more corrosion. "It's a solid bit of metal mate, they're taking the piss", he said. He fitted the new ARB bushes I bought. I've now got an ARB sitting in my shed unused. Drove it off and it felt loads better, grippier, tighter and no more knocking.

So I take it into Seat a week or so later for the service (want the stamp for the book) and to get the 4 wheel alignment done. They wouldn't do the 4 wheel alignment because:

"Report back from tyre bay was that tracking is within spec, although steering wheel slightly off centre. Until ARB & Bushes replaced, alignment isn't needed"

They also tried to rip me off again(!)

My headlamps are cracked (brackets on top), because of a very low speed collision late last year. I told them this before they had it in and that I didn't want them to fix it, as I'm gonna do it elsewhere at a later date. They wanted £501.72 to replace and fit both light units. Dave at Sere tells me there are repair brackets available at £15 per light. Bumper off, lights out, brackets on, lights in, bumper on. £501.72?!

The rear washer had stopped working again (told them before they started work on it I would fix myself - again) and they wanted £45.58 to fix that.

"ARB cracked and bushes possible knocking" - £423.42!!!

Front and rear brakes 60% remaining, despite what they said at the last service, "only 40% left". I haven't had anything done on them in between, so no idea what they're talking about. The drivers rear side brake is screeching, which they put down to a "binding" issue - They want £136.70 to fix that.

That's a total of £1107.42 they wanted off me.

The front end was also wobbly again, as if they'd started messing about with the tracking etc and left it unfinished or something.

I'm literally never going to Seat again. Sod them.

So, some advice please

The car went in for 4 wheel alignment this morning and I got the mechanic to check out the ARB. They said, "nothing wrong with it mate". They did the alignment for me on a hunter system, which cost me £60. It was pulling to the left before (always has to some extent since I bought it). I took it in and it still seems to be pulling to the left, annoyingly. I've attached the printout they gave me. Any advice before I phone them up? Notice the left front caster is red, before and after (assuming it's because it's out of spec).

Here's the printout:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2vwc15o913pbxi4/2012-05-29 10.47.38.jpg

About the rear brake "binding" issue. What am I looking for here? I'll have a search around in the meantime.

Cheers for your help in advance. Sorry about the long-ass post.

maxlifo.

 

[ayacoub92]

The rear washer had stopped working again (told them before they started work on it I would fix myself - again) and they wanted £45.58 to fix that.

maxlifo.[/QUOTE]

what was wrong with the washer mate? mines is functioning fine but the scoosher (technical term) seems to be blocked up...most frustrating thing ever

 

[maxlifo]

The pipes pop off under the boot lining, or boot trim occasionally, which are common issues. You may need to stick a pin in yours to get it flowing? Not sure what the "Scoosher" is, TBH.

 

[ayacoub92]

The pipes pop off under the boot lining, or boot trim occasionally, which are common issues. You may need to stick a pin in yours to get it flowing? Not sure what the "Scoosher" is, TBH.

haha i'll have a look at it later on today, just meant the washer really, cheers.

 

[maxlifo]

Anyone with experience in wheel alignment have any words of wisdom regarding the 'Hunter' produced report? Should I be worried about the readouts here?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2vwc15o913pbxi4/2012-05-29 10.47.38.jpg

Cheers.

 

[ibiza20vt]

Castor will usually only affect the self centring motion of the steering wheel And is the angle at which the strut makes with the direct vertical . Not really any way to adjust it on most modern cars. If the vehicle is pulling to the left I would expect to see either excessive n s f toe out or o s f toe in. Or n s f pos camber/ o s f excessive neg. A thing you might want to look at is the date codes on your tyres, make sure there all the correct Way round. Even on none directional tyres due to the way a tyre is made one side will be heavier and in extreme cases can make vehicles pull.

 

[ibiza20vt]

Besides the castor on your vehicle is so minutely out I wouldn't expect it to make a lot of difference to the handling characteristics.

 

[gregorsco]

put a raw egg into your radiator and thatll cost you 5p lol and no more leak