Dodgy motor traders

[cogito]

I had my Alfa serviced recently by my local franchised dealer. They advised me that I needed new drop links for the anti-roll bar (which I knew about) and quoted me £230 for the work. They also told me that my handbrake cables needed renewing and quoted me £165.

I've never been happy with them and got a second opinion. I've had the drop links replaced for £85 and been told that there's nothing wrong with the handbrake cables.

I'm cheesed off that they would have charged me for work that doesn't need doing and feel like taking it up with the service manager. Is it worth the bother?

[TiTheRev]

It's all relative. I imagine the links you got for £85 were pattern parts and therefore inferior quality and only a 1yr guarantee. You pay more for better quality in every market. The cables, I would imagine, are stretched? When we recommend work at our garage it's on the basis that we wont see the car until X date. X being the next MOT/Service etc, so if we see work that needs doing before that date we will advise it and offer to do it before it gets serious and potentially causes more damage. Failed brake cables could result in the car rolling down a hill and causing damage or injury. The dealer was probably just insuring that they get done before they need replacing because they've snapped!

[cogito]

They said the handbrake cables were splitting and could admit water and freeze up. The other dealer said there was no sign of splitting.

[mr_accountant]

Try going to an Alfa owners club website and see what they have to say, this rogue garage may be know in the Alfa community.

Btw most main dealers try it on, as they know the majority of people who come for a service know very little about cars, add to that business is quiet at this time they have to try everything in the book to raise revenues. Find a good independent is my advice, Alfa dealers are on the whole useless.

[saintjanet]

Try going to an Alfa owners club website and see what they have to say, this rogue garage may be know in the Alfa community.

Btw most main dealers try it on, as they know the majority of people who come for a service know very little about cars, add to that business is quiet at this time they have to try everything in the book to raise revenues. Find a good independent is my advice, Alfa dealers are on the whole useless.I have to agree with this advice,there are rouge garages and the main dealers are expensive,i use a small independent to service my mx5,they do a good job,don't find things that don't want doing and cost less than half of what i paid at mazda.
I must add that apart from cost i had no complaints about the mzda dealer.

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

It's all relative. I imagine the links you got for £85 were pattern parts and therefore inferior quality and only a 1yr guarantee.

Drop links for my Merc are about £17.50 per side IIRC. Alfa won't make their own, they'll get someone to do it for them. Its very easy to buy them yourself and save a packet on the price.

The track rod ends I recently replaced were half the price of the dealer, when buying from ECP. I know what I'd rather do.

The the OP, the only thing you can do is never visit that garage again.

[hewhoisnotintheknow]

The second garage could of told you that your handbrake cable didnt need doing for a couple of reasons
1) they are probably not alfa specialists and might not know the common problems etc with the car
2) by telling you something doesnt need the work doing, they probably win your trust, so winning your business for the first bit of work. Then when the handbrake paccks up you might possibly take it to them to do. You make 2 trips instead of 1 to them for the same amount of work and end up paying more all together

[cogito]

I do know the owner of the second garage quite well and trust him but used my Alfa dealer while my car was within warranty for understandable reasons. The Alfa dealer network inspires little confidence and the local dealer has regularly failed to find any fault with my car even when I've told them the exact nature of the problem.

I've got two Alfas and love them but the dealer network is rubbish.

[Premier]

I do know the owner of the second garage quite well and trust him but used my Alfa dealer while my car was within warranty for understandable reasons. ....
What understandable reasons? :confused:

As long as the car is maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations, it doesn't matter who services the vehicle; it won't affect the warranty.