FREE MoT failure,surprise surprise!!!

I

ijedgar

A2OC Donor
Just got the A2 back after the free MoT & it was found to be needing new anti roll bar bushes at a cost of nearly £300.00.
I am no mechanic but this seems a little excessive even with a labour charge of £85.00 per hour plus the dreaded vat.
Am I being miserly here or is this a lot of money for a small,simple job with minimal parts.
Does anyone know of a good independant in the Brighton/Worthing area that I could get a second opinion from?
 
The parts needed are about a fiver and you're being quoted for labour plus a track/alignment I guess, which just isn't needed!

If you have the old style bar, without the welded on collars to stop movement, then I'd advise you to change it whilst the bushes are being done - this will on'y add around £65 or so to the cost and if you get it done by a good independant, then it'll still come in at around half the Audi cost.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Thanks for that Mike,sounds a bit more reasonable.
I do not know any Audi Independents in this area & a Google search has proved fruitless.
Any members out there with information on one?
How do I find out which type of bar I have?
 
ijedgar said:
Just got the A2 back after the free MoT & it was found to be needing new anti roll bar bushes at a cost of nearly £300.00.
I am no mechanic but this seems a little excessive even with a labour charge of £85.00 per hour plus the dreaded vat.
Am I being miserly here or is this a lot of money for a small,simple job with minimal parts.
Does anyone know of a good independant in the Brighton/Worthing area that I could get a second opinion from?
Click to expand...

I also had an issue like this last year and was quoted £180 for parts and 2 hours labour at £80 an hour... I laughed in the guys face, rang Audi stealership in Bolton and was quoted £6 +VAT for parts. I asked the mechanic my pretty blonde mrs had taken the car to, to explain this, he couldn't, I took it elsewhere and got the job done for £20 and it took less than 30 mins to fit 2 bushes.... The moral is, the world is full of lyin' theivin' b*****ds and its better to get a second opinion especially if you're a pretty blonde woman!!!

Si:)
 
Thanks Widdy.
I`ve given them a ring & they are getting back to me.
I will post the quote when I get it.
Wheelbase are looking for £200 inc to replace the whole assembly.
 
ijedgar said:
Wheelbase are looking for £200 inc to replace the whole assembly.
Click to expand...


would it not be as well for you to just buy the parts and then take them to a local small garage and ask them to fit them? To be honest I doubt the roll bar would need changing just the bushes and like I said, they were £6 from Audi. Might save you a few quid if you were to do it that way. And the whole lot could be done in less than an hour....

Si :)
 
It would,though I don`t know any reputable local garages.
Also I want to get future servicing etc done through as independent Audi garage so now seems like a good time to try & find one.
 
ijedgar said:
It would,though I don`t know any reputable local garages.
Also I want to get future servicing etc done through as independent Audi garage so now seems like a good time to try & find one.
Click to expand...

In my opinion its a good thing to ask around. See if there is some old backstreet garage thats been there for years. These tend to be places that do a job properly first time and don't charge the earth. Its yer Kwik Fits and franchises that are the ones that don't really give a monkeys and charge a fortune for the smallest thing. I can understand the desire to keep your book stamped from the dealer etc but to be perfectly honest, you have to be a complete moron if as a garage you can't undo 4 bolts and tighten them back up again!!! I was always told that these places are still around for a reason.... it tends to be because people keep going back to them!

Si:)
 
Quite agree,when we were in Wales & also Hailsham we had our cars looked after by small/one man businesses & they were brilliant.
Unfortunately can`t seem to find one in this area by recommendation.
Not too fussed about the service book stamps as I don`t intend to sell the car.
I had my 2nd hand diesel Passat estate for nearly a decade,I tend to keep a car for a fair while if it suits & this one certainly does.
Comfortable,economical & very utility with the back seats down or out.
 
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