MOT Failure - Coil Springs

djventsi

Hello to everyone. Thats my first post here. I'm living in UK from 2 years and I've got my own car since July 2014 (Peugeot 207 1.6HDi GT 110 - 57 Plate). Today was my first MOT ever. I decided to do that one with the main dealer - in that case Arbury Peugeot in Leamington Spa.

I've booked the MOT online for today (Monday - 12.01.2015) and recieved no exact time to be there, just the date. I've been there about 9:00 in the morning and they told me that my car is more likely to be ready in the afternoon (my girlfriend was wating me with my 3 months old baby on the nextdoor cafe) so I've picked them lef them at home and left the car in the garage about 11:00.

Recently I've changed my front right tire with my spare one because of problem with the cylinder of the tire. When I left the car the guy which received it mentioned a problem with my front right tire and said that this will be a MOT failure probably - ok that's fine. I've asked them if it is possible to fix my old tire which is in the back of the car.

Take a taxi and back at home, waiting for news from the garage.

About 16:00 I recieved a phone call. They said that there is two failures - the front right tire and broken coil spring. They told me that this can't be sorted today and to find my way to go to work tomorrow. And they told me that I will recieve a phone call till the end of the day for pricing.

During that waiting I were checking the prices for coil spring for my car in eBay and car parts dealers. The cheapest was in eBay about 20 pounds, the most expensive which I found in my quick look was in eurocarparts about 36 pounds for spring. I was wondering how bad will be the suprise of that MOT failure in the end.:sad:

So ... after about one hour they phoned me:
- the tire with the broken air cylinder could be fixed for 18 pounds
- 2 coil springs about 480 (150 for the springs, rest of the amout for labour)
- 1 ball joint about 130 (later I've checked that one as well it is about 25-30 pounds)

Before about two months I've changed master cylinder with few bulbs in the same garage - almost 190 pounds.

So in total if decide to sort the springs and the joint with them that means - 18+480+130+190=818 pounds for six months. Just adding that I bought the car for 5500.

I will be happy if people with more experience let me know what they think about the pricing and the whole case. Feel free to give me advice what to do.

Sorry for my English, still learning

Best Regards

straighttalker

If the work does in fact need doing, I'd be tempted to take the car away and try and get a quote somewhere else. Maybe try a local independent garage or go off recommendations from friends or relatives of a decent, honest garage. I think your first mistake was taking the car to a main dealer where labour prices are quite a lot higher than an independent garage.

welfayre

4 Step plan for you;

1. Collect your car from dealers, pay the MOT fee

2. Take your car to a local independent garage and get them to do the repairs

3. Return to dealers for retest (or if you don't want to go back get other garage to MOT it again, this will incur another test fee however)

4. Don't go to dealers....

tberry6686

Main dealer prices are a rip off. The springs should be about £100-£150 each side (depending on what other parts they need to replace) The ball joint will depend if it is a bolt on, press on or (with some cars) a new arm/wishbone.

As Straighttalker has said. Find a good independent garage

arcon5

Wow just wow. Crazy price.
200-250 local garage. 300 absolute max.
Take it for repair elsewhere.

In future avoid main dealer prices.

Marktheshark

When does the MOT expire ?

djventsi

Thank you for all your advices guys. MOT expired on 10th of Janury.

patman99

I've never paid more than £100 to have a coil spring replaced.
The main dealers are ripping-you off.

straighttalker

Also, they maybe recommending changing two springs when only one is broken. It's best practice as the other one maybe ok but on it's way. It's your decision whether you do one or two.

reddwarf2002

straighttalker wrote: »

Also, they maybe recommending changing two springs when only one is broken. It's best practice as the other one maybe ok but on it's way. It's your decision whether you do one or two.

That's not the only reason for changing in pairs. Coil springs do weaken as they age and therefore having a new spring on one side and old on the other can cause the vehicle to be slightly uneven in handling.

Also, some springs are not progressive, especially the cheaper ones. Whether you notice it or not would be down to how old the ones that are being replaced and the quality of the replacement part. Usually if you fit genuine parts (i.e. from same manufacturer) you are less likely to notice any difference when replacing a single coil spring.

BeenThroughItAll

Another tip is once the car's repaired, get rid of it and buy something else that doesn't have the timebomb 1.6HDi engine fitted, or your next thread may well be about spending a hell of a lot more than a few hundred quid.