How many chances does a dealer need to repair a fault before I can take it elsewhere?

colino

Is this a high value or rare car? It isn't in its first flush of youth and you, before a repair has been done, are querying the efficacy of the repair. How do you know in its long life an updated component hasn't been fitted?
How about you wait and see the quality of the repair, reject it if it doesn't work, or if it does work, worry about what else the mystery 10 year old car will throw at you.

HarassedGranda

colino wrote: »

Is this a high value or rare car? It isn't in its first flush of youth and you, before a repair has been done, are querying the efficacy of the repair. How do you know in its long life an updated component hasn't been fitted?
How about you wait and see the quality of the repair, reject it if it doesn't work, or if it does work, worry about what else the mystery 10 year old car will throw at you.

Yes, all very valid points, I'll try and expand on them as best as I can.

The car isn't rare or high value, but it is something I've been looking for for a few months, the right model and spec, less than average mileage, FSH, excellent condition (apart from what's now the obvious fault) and even the colour was what I was after, and the price was at the lower end of the book price.

The difference between the old and new manifold is quite obvious at just a glance, old part has welded seam whereas the new part is a one piece component.

The quoted labour time for the finished job at the main dealers is 4 hours labour start to finish, the owners forum is full of posts on this repair and owners say the job time for a novice mechanic is 8 hours start to finish, there's even detailed instructions on there of how to do it. The mechanics working on my car have had it 2 and a half days up till lunchtime today and still not been able to remove the old manifold, at the last time of speaking to them they were in the process of removing a drive shaft to get it out. A quick call to my local main dealer and a chat to one of their mechanics confirmed that they shouldn't be even touching the drive shaft to remove the manifold, he said it sounded like whoever was doing the job hadn't looked at the "online service sheets" for that repair. So what should have an 8 hour job at most is now stretching into possibly the middle of next week which will be at least 9 days.

So, all in all not very convinced the car is going to be returned fully fixed, hence the bad feeling about it all.

chrisw

Abetter option might be for the garage to fit a second hand manifold.

BeenThroughItAll

HarassedGranda wrote: »

...and the price was at the lower end of the book price.

And now you know why...


Is it a BMW by any chance? Is there some reason you won't name the model?

HarassedGranda

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

And now you know why...


Is it a BMW by any chance? Is there some reason you won't name the model?

You're probably right about the first bit......

No, no reason to not name the car other than to try and keep the thread on topic and not wander off discussing the merits or demerits of this particular model, and no it's not a BMW.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

HarassedGranda wrote: »

You're probably right about he first bit......

No, no reason to not name the car other than to try and keep the thread on topic and not wander off discussing the merits or demerits of this particular model, and no it's not a BMW.

but the whole purpose of not naming the model car is delaying you peoples advice of what outcome you should expect to receive.


when the cracked manifold discussion came about I instantly thought of PUG 206 307 because they are really common to crack. now the talk of drive shaft removal and 8 hours labor times, I'm really confused.


what I will say though pitting the trader to abide by main dealer fitting instructions and recommendations is rather unfair.


main dealers usually often over quote and over estimate times for repairs. and will tell you oh they shouldn't be doing this and doing that to persuade you into taking in to let the "pro's" take up the job!.


the fitting time on my old megane for a rear boot release button from main dealer was 2 hours on their sheet, I fitted it in 10 mins, 2 bolts 1 connector!


I'm also confused about how you've searched up this fitting guide, and keep it to yourself why not drop it to the garage who can follow it to get it back to you in good order and time?