Garages for Vans - 10 years old

mark55man

Hi

Just sounding out people with more experience on behalf of my son - or rather so I can help him with some advice. He has a van for his small but busy tour business and has done about 20000 miles in 5 months - not uncommon for a man with a van.

He bought a Mercedes Sprinter Long Wheel Base and has just taken it into a dealer following the temperature warning light coming on - previous services done by the seller and by Halfords including replacing the water pump.

The dealer has presented him with an estimate for £7k (just under the value of the van) covering

• £500 Relacement of all fluids
• £2000 Stabiliser Bar and supports
• £1000 Power Steering
• £1000 Fuel System
• £1000 Coolant System
• £1000 for all Seat Belts

We are both just staggered - I have said that main dealers are a poor choice for older vehicles, but what are the options - my local garage won't do commercial. He is doing routine maintenance - oil and water checks before each outing. His research and budget indicated he should expect £1500-£2000 of repair/servicing costs

Plus can someone in the know give me some indication of whether this is a complete overkill or indicative of a very sick van. Also what mans with vans normally do. He bought it off a more established operator with whom he had a good relationship from earlier work together

I know there's lots missing in the above but it really feels like we are being treated as mugs and I just need some more information to help him

vansboy

It is, as you say, all a bit vague.


The quotes don't really mean much, so I'm guessing, that they are guessing too!



How old is the van and how many miles and what use did it have before he bought it, and was there any servicing records (might show some sort of repair history, to give an idea what's been lurking and already repaired.



But he's done well, to get that mileage, without any surprises, already, so it could be 'just wear n tear'. With main dealer rates of maybe £150/hour or more, plus VAT, it is easy for cost to be high. As with most older cars and vans, it is quite often better to find a local independent to look after your vehicles. But bigger vans need a bigger repair facility and more specialised know how.


Word of mouth and ask others locally, in similar business, where they get their vans fixed, is maybe the way to go.


VB

EssexExile

There must be local garages that do commercial vehicles, look around, ask around.

Herzlos

EssexExile wrote: »

There must be local garages that do commercial vehicles, look around, ask around.

This. There are a lot of vans and people must have found somewhere to service them that's not a main dealer. I'm surprised your local garage couldn't suggest anywhere?
If not, ask around if you know other van owners, or try somewhere like a burger van since they are usually pretty friendly and have lots of van driving customers.

sevenhills

mark88man wrote: »

He bought a Mercedes Sprinter Long Wheel Base and has just taken it into a dealer following the temperature warning light coming on - previous services done by the seller and by Halfords including replacing the water pump.

The dealer has presented him with an estimate for £7k (just under the value of the van) covering

All the work does not look like its related to the temperature warning light, so I assume they are saying that the work needs doing in the future.
Not that it needs doing immediatly.
£1,000 for the seat belts, seriously?

mark55man

Thanks all. Sorry to have posted and not got back. Some excellent ideas and I will pass them on.

mark55man

vansboy wrote: »

It is, as you say, all a bit vague.


The quotes don't really mean much, so I'm guessing, that they are guessing too!



How old is the van and how many miles and what use did it have before he bought it, and was there any servicing records (might show some sort of repair history, to give an idea what's been lurking and already repaired.



But he's done well, to get that mileage, without any surprises, already, so it could be 'just wear n tear'. With main dealer rates of maybe £150/hour or more, plus VAT, it is easy for cost to be high. As with most older cars and vans, it is quite often better to find a local independent to look after your vehicles. But bigger vans need a bigger repair facility and more specialised know how.


Word of mouth and ask others locally, in similar business, where they get their vans fixed, is maybe the way to go.


VB

10 years old - previous mileage about 150k. Thanks

mark55man

Good points too about work not needing done immediately. Although would need to find out bit more about what could go wrong.

vansboy

mark88man wrote: »

10 years old - previous mileage about 150k. Thanks

Thats avery lowmileage for the age and type of vehicle, so every chance it isnt correct.


But it is an old vehicle, so the way to go is at an independent repairer.


The seat belts issue is a surprise, unless someone has removed or modified the seating arrangements, as they don't tend to 'wear out'


VB

System

As said if it has only done 150k in 10 years that's quite low, one place I worked they were on 300,000 within 3-4 years.

You've taken it to a main dealer, you've got main dealer prices. Was this a Mercedes car dealership or truck and van? I'd be surprised if that were the bill from a Mercedes Truck & Van dealership.

I'd find an independent local garage that does Class 7 MOTs which means they've got a ramp and a garage roof high enough to be able to work on vans. Seatbelts I'd be doing myself as its only a couple of bolts.

Takmon

vansboy wrote: »

The seat belts issue is a surprise, unless someone has removed or modified the seating arrangements, as they don't tend to 'wear out'

The seat belts are often mentioned in the service schedule and replacement of the belts and pretensioner after 10 years is a pretty common requirement, although i doubt many people actually do it.