Scammed by used car dealership?

2ndAccount

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

I think the general opinion is that you will have to swallow this.

Said the Bishop to the choir boy.

angrycrow

I note various references from the op and other posters suggesting the selling garage put a dodgy mot on the car hiding advisories. Time line does not support this. Op purchased car 6 months ago and has just had to mot it so must have bought it with 6 months mot on it. On this basis the selling garage had nothing to do with the previous mot unless they had the car in stock for 6 months which is unlikely.

The corrosion and ware to the rear suspension could well be in keeping with the 11 year age of the car depending on where in the country it has been driven.

BeenThroughItAll

beakysian wrote: »

The broken spring may be recent, extensive corrosion must have been developing for a long time.

Happy to share the invoice details when I get home. I wouldn't like to try to remember what's on it and get it wrong.

I don't particularly care who is at fault, I just feel that I've been 'had' somewhere here. If you re-check my OP, I haven't said that my garage is 'trusted', It's a busy independent I use because it's the only one in walking distance from my office. I have no idea if I should be trusting them.

Well, yes. Probably since 2006. Springs corrode - so would you if you were hung under a Focus for a decade and exposed to the elements.

If you want a selling dealer to provide a car with no corrosion on the suspension components, you really need to go to one with brand new cars - and even then they could well have spots of corrosion from being stood around in stock.

System

beakysian wrote: »

I don't particularly care who is at fault, I just feel that I've been 'had' somewhere here. If you re-check my OP, I haven't said that my garage is 'trusted', It's a busy independent I use because it's the only one in walking distance from my office. I have no idea if I should be trusting them.

Springs get surface rust on them, that's what they do. All the underside suspension components get rust on them unless the car is garaged and never sees a road from October to March.

You've been had by your garage. A spring is around £20 and an hours labour to fit, change expected out of £100.

The car is 10 years old, there's a possibility at some point a spring will snap especially given the state of roads in our country.

Absolutely zero chance of any comeback against the dealer.

tedted

you have never changed a rear spring on a focus then as they can be right sod even if you have the right spring compressor

beakysian

For those who were asking here is the invoice and the MOT failure sheet. The coil spring isn't on the MOT as it was found after the lower arms were removed. I was told they are replaced in pairs and it wasn't a repair I could postpone (I tried to avoid it). From your responses it's sounding increasingly like the garage has taken advantage of me being a gullible mug. And yes, I know I should have checked all my bulbs beforehand...

jimjames

beakysian wrote: »

I bought a 2006 Ford Focus last August with 45k, 10 service stamps and a clean MOT (no advisories). I presented it for MOT and service this week and the MOT work has just cost me £1000 at my regular independent garage .

I'm confused. What exactly cost £1000 for MOT repairs? The invoice above totals around £475 which for all the bits doesn't sound excessive and I can't believe springs were £525. If they were then you have definitely been ripped off.

jobdone1

I'm sure if your rear suspension was that bad for a long time you would have noticed with noise, road handle etc. I think you are trying it on imho

arcon5

Are those prices parts only? Or parts and labour?
Basically a couple of lower arms and a road spring. General repairs, I'm struggling to understand how £1k was reached. Looks like they are psrrsnprices though!!! Eek.

I'd expect a bill like this
(Excl)
2x springs £60
2x lower arms £100
1x wheel bearing /hub unit £50
Tyre including fitting £35

Labour for arms and spring 1hour each side
Labour for rear hub 1 hour absolute max with other work
Wheel alignment £30

Typically £40ph £150 plus parts £245
Plus vat £80 rounding up 475

These aren't major repairs, it's everyday maintenance. You've been fleeced.

As for the spring they can go at any time.

BeenThroughItAll

beakysian wrote: »

For those who were asking here is the invoice and the MOT failure sheet. The coil spring isn't on the MOT as it was found after the lower arms were removed. I was told they are replaced in pairs and it wasn't a repair I could postpone (I tried to avoid it). From your responses it's sounding increasingly like the garage has taken advantage of me being a gullible mug. And yes, I know I should have checked all my bulbs beforehand...

Mmm, and your tyres...

Lower arms are available for ~£20 each
Springs are available for ~£50 each
Wheel bearing is available for ~£80

All retail prices, not including any trade or other discount. So they've made decent money on the parts, and if the labour they've charged makes up the other half of the bill, it's not the dealer you should be worried has 'scammed' you - it's the garage.

I'd love to have seen the old parts.