Is this the going rate for replacement parts/labour - MOT fail

MickeyD_2

Hi guys,

I wonder if you can help me. I sent my car in for an MOT today, and it came up with two fails - the front coil spring was broken and the front shock absorber was corroded, both of which needed to be replaced.

I was charged £215 for parts and labour for the coil spring and £110 parts and labour for the shock absorber, for a total of £325.

However, I have just been told by a friend, in his words, that this was 'excessive'.

If any of you could clarify if this is the going rate, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Many thanks!

Stooby2

Unfortunately money saving experts aren't blessed with the ability to read your mind. What make/model/year please.

MickeyD_2

Sorry, thought these parts would have been more generic. It's a Ford Fiesta, 05 plate.

patman99

Shocks - £85 + 1 hours labour
Springs & £35 + 1 Hours labour
(if both parts are on one side, then 1 hours labour for the lot).
Max. £250 with VAT. Min £200 with VAT.

molerat

Are those prices the wrong way round as shock would be dearer than spring. The labour price should be about the same for each as it is pretty much the same job. Spring about £50 and shock about £90 at garage prices plus 3 hours labour for the pair.

Stooby2

This place seems cheap, but "you pays your money, you takes your choice" applies...

http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/buy/FORD/FIESTA/1.6/2005/__/101/steering-suspension/suspension/shock-absorbers/

http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/buy/FORD/FIESTA/1.6/2005/__/102/steering-suspension/suspension/coil-springs/

Adjust for your engine size, but they're pretty much the same price.

Providing nothing's rusted into place, it's a fairly straightforward job. An hour a side max.

addyboy1982

My local garage is £57.50 per hour + VAT for labour. On the dearer side of reasonable but as a family we have been going there for 20+ years and they are superb.

As an aside, I paid proportionally £280 for shock, spring and fitting on the OH's Vectra last month at said garage so £325 is definitely top end.

Ultrasonic

MickeyD wrote: »

I was charged £215 for parts and labour for the coil spring and £110 parts and labour for the shock absorber, for a total of £325.

When you say 'charged' do you mean the work has been carried out and you have paid this amount, or is this what they have quoted for the work to be completed? I'm guessing the latter from the time-frame but it isn't quite what you said, and this does rather affect the type of advice you're after...

bigjl

Not sure why you would have to pay two lots of labour to replace the shocks and springs, it is actually a little easier to replace a shock and spring, especially if you change the top mount at the same time.

It is difficult to give a proper idea of if you have been overcharged without knowing which part of the country you live in as labour rates do vary a lot.

It also depends what quality of parts they have used.

They might have used Ford original parts which cost more or cheap Chinese rubbish which are cheap.

Probably an hour each side plus parts.

Two hours labour can easily be £80 but could also be just as likely to be £150.

If they have charged the labour to fit a shock and then the labour to fit a spring to the same side then they have certainly over charged.

forgotmyname

If they are changing the springs and shocks why are they charging you the labour twice?

They need to remove the shocks to fit the springs. And vice versa.

You cannot replace one without removing both.

Springs and shocks should be replaced in pairs.

£70 per side for parts and an hours labour per side.

You paid or are being charged too much. If thats for one side only then its seriously too much.

I paid £120 for a pair of front springs supplied and fitted for a Mondeo a while back. If i replaced the shocks the labour charge would have been the same (£60). Just extra for the parts.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

corrosion is common on festa shock, unless its leaking and is causing listing then i cant see where a fail is on that one.

the spring on the other hand are prone to failure, many have been sold over this last winter, my BIL (manager of a motor factors) sold 30+ in one week just after we had snow and availability went a scarce for a while.

looks like labour was charged twice, one for removal of spring and refit and one for removal of shock and refit, unless it was shock on one side gone and spring on other side gone i cant see how one can charge twice for taking one part on and off as its less labour time doing one side only.

sounds like a quick fit outfit you had your MOT done at.

PS best to change springs and shocks in axel pairs.