MOT bill £1500

naveenk87

I bought a '08 Vauxhall Vectra for £2200 in Jan18 and today I gave the car for MOT.
The garage has quoted almost £1500.

* 2 tyres need replacing * 1 brake pad and disc brake needs replacing * Streering rack needs replacing * Suspension springs need replacment

I dont know if its worth paying almost 2/3rds the cost of the car to get it repaired. Has anyone come across similar situation? Any suggestions?

Browntoa

Sounds like a kwik fit quote

Or is it a small garage

naveenk87

It is a small garage quote. They were referred to me by a friend.

tacpot12

Not had a bill that large for a car. You could do with these costs breaking down. Tyres fitted should be less that £100 each. Discs and pads should be less than £150 if for the front and less than £120 if for the rears.

Steering racks are expensive, it usually you can find a second-hand one off a rear-ended donor car at a scrapyard. Obviously if you want the garage to source a second-hand until you will need to pay them for their time.

If the costs turn out to be correct, I would scrap the vectra and buy some thing else (with 12 months MOT) for the money. The garage might give you a good price on the vectra.

Final thought is has the steering been clunking or stiff before now? If not, it might be worth getting a second opinion on it.

naveenk87

This is the breakdown cost
* OSF and OSR tyres require replacing (£62.40 each).
* Rear brake pads worn out and rear discs damaged (£165).
* NSR and OSR suspension springs broken (£82 each).
* Steering rack seals have failed and steering rack requires replacing (£720 inc geometry).
* Engine warning light on. EGR unit requires replacing (£235).

Arklight

naveenk87 wrote: »

This is the breakdown cost
* OSF and OSR tyres require replacing (£62.40 each).
* Rear brake pads worn out and rear discs damaged (£165).
* NSR and OSR suspension springs broken (£82 each).
* Steering rack seals have failed and steering rack requires replacing (£720 inc geometry).
* Engine warning light on. EGR unit requires replacing (£235).

I could swallow most of that but the steering rack is a bridge too far. I think you're better off putting that £1500 towards a better car.

foxy-stoat

Theres a steering rack on ebay for £34.99 delivered.....I suggest they look at fitting a secondhand one.

Springs for Vectras are about £35 each and pretty quick to change.

Maybe get another quote from a different garage as well.

naveenk87

I just spoke to the guy at the garage and he said he is happy to fit a second hand steering rack, but most the cost is labour charge. He said brand new one would have a 12 month warranty and that I am better off with a new one.
I guess, If I have spend £1500 on the car, it is better not using a second hand product to save £100 - £150.
I might just have to bite the bullet and get the repairs done

System

naveenk87 wrote: »

I bought a '08 Vauxhall Vectra for £2200 in Jan18 and today I gave the car for MOT.
The garage has quoted almost £1500.

* 2 tyres need replacing * 1 brake pad and disc brake needs replacing * Streering rack needs replacing * Suspension springs need replacment

I dont know if its worth paying almost 2/3rds the cost of the car to get it repaired. Has anyone come across similar situation? Any suggestions?

So £100-£150 for the tyres.
£100 for the brakes.
£40-£50 for the springs. I find his claim they're £82 each taking the absolute Michael.
£1100-£1200 for the steering rack. That's one hell of an expensive steering rack. If he's saying most of the cost is labour what are his labour rates, £200-£300 an hour? There's no more than 5/6 hours worth of labour for the whole lot.

Personally the quotes you've shown are beyond belief. Reconditioned steering racks with a guarantee are £100-£150 and its an hour labour to change. Tracking is done as part of the job and even if it wasn't, £30 is the normal charge - even ATS only charge around £45.

They're the kind of quotes I'd give when I don't want the job in the hope the customer will sod off elsewhere.

[Deleted User]

I've just paid £172 for another year of motoring.

Front spring and 2 tyres.

Nice crisp new MOT.

NCC-1707

Reconditioned steering rack on ebay for £145 with three year warranty.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/263134639866?chn=ps&adgroupid=52130532935&rlsatarget=pla-411617462780&abcId=1133946&adtype=pla&merchantid=7380084&poi=&googleloc=9046949&device=c&campaignid=1057748120&crdt=0

My 13 year old Astra passed it's MOT on Saturday, cost £34.50.