Kwik Fit - quote for work too high?

KatieDee

Greetings everybody,

Today I took my beloved Mini Cooper to Kwik Fit to get the MOT done. Yes, I know, I've already lost your respect but my original plans fell through and this was the most convenient place!

Unfortunately it failed on the following things:

• Nearside front suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement
  
• Offside front suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement
  
• Offside front Brake pipe excessively corroded
  
• Nearside front Brake pipe excessively corroded
  
• Nearside (front to rear) brake pipe excessively corroded
  
• Offside (front to rear) brake pipe excessively corroded

Absolutely gutted as I thought it would sail through but such is the life of a car owner...

Anyway, I have been quoted £450 to have all the brake pipes replaced, brake fluid replaced (apparently a must), two new "anti-roll bar bush" and a wheel alignment which will apparently need to be done.

Simple question - am I being shafted here?

He told me the brake pipes alone should have cost £500 and he was doing me a deal and charging me £250. He originally quote me £490 but I got him down to £450. Still think it's dear though.

harveybobbles

Not the worst KF quote to be honest.

Are they replacing the full arms or just doing the bushes, do you know?

DoaM

What age vehicle, and mileage?

KatieDee

DoaM wrote: »

What age vehicle, and mileage?

55 plate, 36000 miles.

harveybobbles wrote: »

Not the worst KF quote to be honest.

Are they replacing the full arms or just doing the bushes, do you know?

Not entirely sure...there's no mention of arms, just bushes.

Marktheshark

Once you let them start, they will find a host of "other issues".
Take it to another test centre.

cajef

Kwik Fit are notoriuos for finding work that does not need doing, best advice is as above by Marktheshark.

Strider590

cajef wrote: »

Kwik Fit are notoriuos for finding work that does not need doing, best advice is as above by Marktheshark.

Not only this, but sometimes they don't even do the work they charge for or even bodge it completely and you don't find out your car is dangerous until the next MOT.

With all the bad press they get, I really don't know why people use them.......

KatieDee

Strider590 wrote: »

Not only this, but sometimes they don't even do the work they charge for or even bodge it completely and you don't find out your car is dangerous until the next MOT.

With all the bad press they get, I really don't know why people use them.......

I can't speak for the rest of their customers but my reasons were to do with convenience (and being an idiot).

I am gutted having to pay £30 for the actual test (and obviously a re-test if I go to somebody else) but I'd rather do that then cause issues with my car in the future.

My only issue is that the MOT runs out tomorrow 11:59pm, therefore I'm limited to where I can take it to get the work done or another test done.

DoaM

If you need to get a later test date, that's OK. You're allowed to drive it to the test centre, even if the MOT has expired. (You're just not legally allowed to otherwise drive it).

KatieDee

DoaM wrote: »

If you need to get a later test date, that's OK. You're allowed to drive it to the test centre, even if the MOT has expired. (You're just not legally allowed to otherwise drive it).

Thanks for this, DoaM. I wasn't entirely sure about the rules regarding driving to your MOT.

Do you think £450 for everything above is too much? Or should I be more concerned that Kwik Fit will add on additional problems once they're in there? He did say everything else was fine and I'm literally only looking to get it to pass its MOT at this point.

PETIE

I would get under the car and actually check the brake pipes are 'actually' corroded,
they like to mention brake pipes as it scares people into paying up.

I have had MOT say same to me in past over a little speck of rust on pipe, was nothing wrong with them whatsoever