Help! £500 quote from garage that seems a bit much!

edde

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Clio wheels are a wierd 65 profile, still not too expensive, expect £60 each, BUT, you really should be capable of determining for yourself if your car needs 4 new tyres? No offence, just common sense.;)

Not all are 65 anyway its not that wierd a size you can always chnage for a different one easy enough.

MrsE_2

goldspanners wrote: »

you paid your road tax yet?

You smart a$$, its on my car now:rotfl:

cyclonebri1

edde wrote: »

Not all are 65 anyway its not that wierd a size you can always chnage for a different one easy enough.

Alright, our Clio had 65 profile tyres then:p And you are't going to be able to change them without affecting the cars ride/handling/economy, unless you change the wheels too.

Silverbird

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Clio wheels are a wierd 65 profile, still not too expensive, expect £60 each, BUT, you really should be capable of determining for yourself if your car needs 4 new tyres? No offence, just common sense.;)

Yes ... and that's why I started the thread querying the work being quoted.

Anyway, we took to an independent garage last night and dropped the car off there this morning.

The rear wheel bearings have apparently collapsed in on themselves slightly and need replacing. The tracking needs to be done after that.

As for the wheels ... they will need changing, but not right now. We were told they'll easily last us until the MOT is due in March next year.

The total quote is £178. Bit of a difference to £500.

Just for some info, when new wheels are required hubby can get all 4 'nearly new' for £60 at a trusted place where we used to live and he knows the family that works there.

When OH went to collect the car from Nationwide they kicked up a right fuss and said that they shouldn't be allowing him to travel on the roads and he was a danger to himself and other people and he needed the work doing. They also said that they'd knock £30 off! :rotfl:

Anyway, we're very pleased at the HUGE reduction in quotage and shall be getting the car back today and getting the wheels done in March when the MOT is done.

Thanks to all! x x

TiTheRev

Never use 'nearly new', how can you know that they've not been weakened by a pothole but the tread's ok? Get budget if money is a factor, at least they will be safer...

Hintza

TiTheRev wrote: »

Never use 'nearly new', how can you know that they've not been weakened by a pothole but the tread's ok? Get budget if money is a factor, at least they will be safer...

I've used "runners" before but I agree with Ti on this better getting cheaper tyres than 2nd hand ones the other thing is you don't know how old they might be.

Better safe than sorry.

Silverbird

TiTheRev wrote: »

Never use 'nearly new', how can you know that they've not been weakened by a pothole but the tread's ok? Get budget if money is a factor, at least they will be safer...

My apologies - they are indeed budget tyres that he gets and not 'nearly new'. I think I'd gotten confused with what a colleague said she got.

Car has been collected and all seems fine. Thanks everybody x x

edde

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Alright, our Clio had 65 profile tyres then:p And you are't going to be able to change them without affecting the cars ride/handling/economy, unless you change the wheels too.

You can change them hence why many owners do change them eg 195/50/15 are very close to 185/55/15 that many people fit them to clios with 15 inch wheels for exmple.

photome

Silverbird wrote: »

My apologies - they are indeed budget tyres that he gets and not 'nearly new'. I think I'd gotten confused with what a colleague said she got.

Car has been collected and all seems fine. Thanks everybody x x

I agree with others on not using nearly new, but I wouldnt use budget either, not if you want to stay on the road in the wet.

congrats tho on getting a cheaper quote and thanks for coming back with an update

ArsenalFC

This is for future reference, since you already had the work done. Next time find a good local mechanic as the work will most likely to to cost less than the indie who you took the car to. I recently had to buy a rear wheel bearing for a relative's bmw 323Ci coupe, got it for £16.50 delivered from gsf parts online from ebay, their website charge £37 delivered for the same part. So I recommend people to look at their ebay shop before buying parts from the website.

My trusted local mechanic guy charge £40 labour to change the bearing on the bmw, whereas a local indie wanted £180 all in for it, this indie place claim it would cost £330 to change at bmw - so to make it seem like a bargain. My mechanic would charge £30 labour to change the bearing for the clio as he has done my old micra for that price. Tracking cost about £20-£25 so £178 still is way too much.

Another good example on price my mechanic charged me last year, same bmw car - needed all brake pads, rear discs and a front wheel bearing change for £100 labour, I supplied the parts. Finding a good honest mechanic who charges low prices are pretty difficult so I'm quite fortunate in that sense.

As regarding tyres, agreed with most that one shouldn't buy 2nd hand. As said, buy brand new budget if cost is an issue. As for changing tyre size, as long as it is similar circumference to original tyres then there isn't most problem.