7yr old low mileage Citroen beyond economical repair?

Casdix

I bought a c3 pluriel a year ago. It is 55 reg and had 29000 on the clock - I've done about 10000 miles.
All running fine til Thurs evening when the steering was juddering. Got it towed to a Citroen dealer for diagnostics suspecting it might need a new battery as the light had stayed on a few times and I know this can affect steering sensor.
They phoned yesterday to say it needs a new steering rack and ECL at a cost of £2800. We paid £4500 for it but I think the list price is lower.
I've done some research online and it seems others have been told this when there are potential cheaper solutions (such as resetting the ECL or refurbishing the steering rack.
At the moment I'm thinking of asking for an appointment with the service manager on Monday (we are away for the weekend) and talking through the options. I was thinking of showing them what I had found online and also asking whether Citroen migh contribute owing to the age and low mileage on the car.
Any ideas?
Am devastated as I need a car for work and loved my little car!

spiro

Main dealers will only fit new manufacturer parts they wont fit OEM or recon because they would loose their dealership. You may need to take it to an independent.

thefishdude

that os a horrendous price try an independent cant think of any reason why it shold cost that much apart from main dealer greed

and what is the ecl ? what does it stand for ?

interstellaflyer

spiro wrote: »

Main dealers will only fit new manufacturer parts they wont fit OEM or recon because they would loose their dealership. You may need to take it to an independent.

OEM is Original Equipment Manufacturer and that's exactly what they would fit.

LincolnshireYokel

A local garage can fit a second hand rack and reset the ECL at a tenth the price .Thats what I would do.

Dealership prices are just unrealistic fantasy, i dont understand why anyone pays them.

khcomp

I wouldn't bother with a second hand rack - a decent, local independent garage could fit a replacement exchange rack for around £400 - £500 all in (the rack is £225 from ACS power steering - google them). The issue will be either with the rack OR the ECU - if you have a garage suggesting you change both, then they haven't carried out proper diagnosis & you should take your business, and your hard earned money, elsewhere.
There are loads of independent Citroen specialists around too - they tend to have a good, in depth knowledge of common problems & their most economical solutions. Good luck.

Joe_Horner

interstellaflyer wrote: »

OEM is Original Equipment Manufacturer and that's exactly what they would fit.

Not entirely. OEM is the original manufacturer for the part - the company that supplies the car maker.

As an example, many years ago during an appreticeship at a car maker in Cheshire, one of the things that happened in the parts department was electric window motors were received in Bosch boxes (same motor used on a couple of Fords, retail in a Bosch box about £80 at the time). They were removed from those boxes, a manufacturer's data / part number label was attached, and they were repackaged in shiny new Cheshire Car Company boxes. Replacement cost £750 + labour.

If you had one of these cars, the local dealer could NOT fit one still labelled Bosch, even though they were the OEM for the part.

colino

You really do have to find your local Citroen specialist, who will be able to diagnose and fix this common fault for a fraction you have been quoted. Unfortunately with that car at that age it is the only solution, it is a keeper as few people want a middle-aged Pluriel and no one wants a faulty one.

cyclonebri1

khcomp wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with a second hand rack - a decent, local independent garage could fit a replacement exchange rack for around £400 - £500 all in (the rack is £225 from ACS power steering - google them). The issue will be either with the rack OR the ECU - if you have a garage suggesting you change both, then they haven't carried out proper diagnosis & you should take your business, and your hard earned money, elsewhere.
There are loads of independent Citroen specialists around too - they tend to have a good, in depth knowledge of common problems & their most economical solutions. Good luck.

I would, it's the only way you will get this thing back on the road from the info you have disclosed, for a decent budget.

Just ensure whover is doing the work has diagnosed the issues, and will stand by their judgement, and is offering you the option of S/H parts to fix it.;););)

Casdix

A quick update - had my car towed to an independent garage and they fixed it (including recovery) for £650!!
ECU wasn't needed after all - they fitted a recon rack with a 12 mth warranty.
Feels like I won the lottery!
Thanks for all the advice

cyclonebri1

:D

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I would, it's the only way you will get this thing back on the road from the info you have disclosed, for a decent budget.

Just ensure whover is doing the work has diagnosed the issues, and will stand by their judgement, and is offering you the option of S/H parts to fix it.;););)

Well I thought it was worthy of a thankyou, :(:(:(:(

Ohhh I got one thanks,