Mini £150 per hour labour charge?

philng

Wife has just had Mini serviced under the TLC package & they have highlighted an oil leak from the solenoid. They say it is a known fault on the Mini & Mini will pay the £80 for the part BUT there will be a £150 labour charge for 1 hours work!
We have complained as this works out at £300000 per year!
Car is coming up to 4 years old so out of warranty. although part is a known fault hence Mini paying for part it is not a recall hence labour cost.
Where do we stand?

Iceweasel

It depends whereabouts in the UK you live.

BMW labour costs can be over £200/hour in London.

Try shopping around a few BMW/Mini dealers in your area and see what they will charge.

vikingaero

The labour rate is a common problem for premium marques especially on sharaed premises. So a MINI driver is often charged the same as a BMW driver. Some Smart car owners pay the same as the guy servicing his Mercedes worth 20 times as much. But then some dealers have different rates for each marque.

Nodding_Donkey

Ask'em for the part and take it to an independent

Gavin83

vikingaero wrote: »

The labour rate is a common problem for premium marques especially on sharaed premises. So a MINI driver is often charged the same as a BMW driver. Some Smart car owners pay the same as the guy servicing his Mercedes worth 20 times as much. But then some dealers have different rates for each marque.

I actually don't think the labour charge should change depending on the make/value of the car. At the end of the day your paying for a mechanics time, this doesn't change regardless of the vehicle and the skills required are essentially the same. The only thing that should change is the cost of the parts.

This sums up exactly why I attempt to do my own car repairs where possible. However if you aren't willing to do this I'd suggest taking it to an independent. I know an independent mechanic who is extremely well regarded who only charges £35 an hour labour. I personally wouldn't pay anymore than £50.

daveyjp

The cheap TLC service packages have to be paid for by someone. Once out of warranty this is how they can recoup the money. Take car in for a TLC service, find a fault not covered, kerching.

Hintza

Gavin83 wrote: »

I actually don't think the labour charge should change depending on the make/value of the car.

I guess economics and accounting were not your strong points?

flashg67

I think labour rates of £150 are extortionate but look at the flip side - paying mechanics who studied for years to be qualified and have to keep up to date with latest models, untold £000's in equipment/ramps/tools etc purchased by the dealer to do the repairs, rent, rates etc etc etc...

You are unlikely to get the part for free and fit it yourself - but if you can get it fitted elsewhere for less than £70 in labour, you could save some money that way.

LandyAndy

Gavin83 wrote: »

I actually don't think the labour charge should change depending on the make/value of the car. At the end of the day your paying for a mechanics time, this doesn't change regardless of the vehicle and the skills required are essentially the same. The only thing that should change is the cost of the parts.

This sums up exactly why I attempt to do my own car repairs where possible. However if you aren't willing to do this I'd suggest taking it to an independent. I know an independent mechanic who is extremely well regarded who only charges £35 an hour labour. I personally wouldn't pay anymore than £50.

Do you genuinely think that that is all the labour charge has to cover? :rotfl:

Gavin83

LandyAndy wrote: »

Do you genuinely think that that is all the labour charge has to cover? :rotfl:

No of course not but I'll justify my POV.

Mechanics is mechanics. I very much doubt the mechanic of an Aston Martin has trained any different to the mechanic of a Ford. While I accept different cars have different components they are all essentially the same. While I'd expect the mechanic of a luxury car to earn a little more than that of a basic brand I really doubt it's that much different.

Both the basic and luxury dealer garages will have similar tools and running costs, except maybe a slight rent increase for the luxury brand due to generally being in a more expensive area.

I guess the real difference is that by logic the owner of a supercar can afford to pay more than the owner of a basic car and therefore they'll charge more. They are also more likely want their repairs completed by the dealer garage rather than an independent.

They should really list a seperate charge called 'premium car surcharge' or even just 'additional costs' but I guess this would be too transparent for them.

colino

Of course Jimmy operating from the railway arches is cheaper than James operating from the sealed floor, glass and chrome palace down the road because of the massive difference in overheads. However, "Mechanics is mechanics" is so embarrassingly off the mark, you really don't have a clue. A lot of basic servicing and bread and butter repair work will be done by overseen apprentices and improvers. In most garages they will outnumber the Technicians and Master Technicians. Go on and believe, "Mechanics is mechanics" and get your Veyron looked after by Jimmy. I'm sure He'll give it a go.