Is there a site which shows how long car repairs...

RedBern

Should take? I seem to recall that there's somewhere that shows the average time a mechanic should take to do, for example, change a wheel bearing. I've just had a bill for replacing the anti roll bar on a megane, which seems a bit steep. However if the job should take 3 hours, then it may be fair!!

mikey72

On our zafira you have to drop the engine and subframe, so it may be fair.

mustrum_ridcully

It varies from car to car, what might be a simple job on one car might be a total nightmare on another.

forgotmyname

There are trade books that list times and special requirements for most jobs. But nothing
really in the public.

Would be a big task to list every car with every variation, I have books that list parts ie thermostats, Shows how many
different models they make and what cars they fit. Its like war and peace in large print.

Weird_Nev

Phone up a garage and ask them what the book time is for a anti roll bar change - specify front or rear as it may be important. They use a system which gives them book times for jobs. They tend to charge book even if they can do it quicker - which they usually can.

The anti roll bars on my cars have been 20 minute jobs, done myself on my drive with limited tools and experience! Sometimes they're wrapped around subframes, fuel tanks and exhausts and can be a pig to get at though.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

depends what megane you have megane 1 or megane 2 diesel or petrol?
megane 2's have the antiroll bar up high over the subframe and the deisel is a PITA to change a roll bar in as there next to no room to pull it out.

RedBern

Thanks for all the replies. It's a megane e classic saloon, we got the replacement bar from a scrappie and the guy suggested it was a straight 'in and out' replacement. I just thought £70 was a bit heavy, but I suppose a couple and a half hours would cover that.

rodenal

£70 if it's just a gumtree "mechanic" who's coming to your house to swap arbs is steep even if he has travelling time involved - if that's a garage it's fine, they arent charging you for even two hours work, cheapest you're going to get any work done on a proper premises is £50 an hour, if it's getting done as a homer don't pay more than half that.

Lum

£70 an hour is not abnormal these days, it's a bit steep for South Wales, but if you went to a big franchised dealer that charges the same rates everywhere then that is probably what you paid.

Next time, find a decent independent?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Lum wrote: »

£70 an hour is not abnormal these days, it's a bit steep for South Wales, but if you went to a big franchised dealer that charges the same rates everywhere then that is probably what you paid.

Next time, find a decent independent?

agree dearest labour charges from independant i found in my area was £57.80 cheapest about £30 P/H. but franchises are just as dear as dealers in their labour rates.

Strider590

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

It varies from car to car, what might be a simple job on one car might be a total nightmare on another.

Very true and it could even be a nightmare on one of two identical cars, you only need one wheel nut that refuses to move, then breaks off and suddenly your in a right mess.... Could add hours to a job.
Unfortunately "admin types" don't understand or account for this when they set ridged job times (which is why I never use dealerships).