MOT issues - main dealer being reasonable or ripping off??

Sazot

I have a 7 year old Vauxhall Corsa which I have had from new. It has serviced annually by the main dealer to ensure that the Lifetime warranty is validated as I have claimed on this several times. There were no issues on last years MOT.

I took the car to a different main dealer due to a recent change of job, also meaning a Saturday was my only option.

This was for the annual service £175 and MOT £40.

The car failed on 2 majors - I was told I would need a full new exhaust system £340 (“about half of this price is labour”) and handbrake stripping and adjusting due to excessive pull £65. A minor but told that this was almost critical and needed addressing urgently, front brake pads and discs £296.

I was not expecting it to fail so was in shock at the potential bill of nearly £1000. Naively on my part, I was unfamiliar with the recent changes in the law with MOT. I was told by the service personnel that as it has failed then the care was rendered undriveable but they could not stop me from driving it away. This was laid on thick. I therefore left the car with them so that they could effect the necessary repairs to pass the MOT. My car is essential for my job, needed throughout the day - fortunately I am on annual leave on Mon and Tues.

Having familiarised myself with the new rules, I consider that I was misinformed and question whether this is a somewhat heavy handed sales tactic? I accept that there is a potential issue with driving the car but the failure was not on dangerous faults.

I would also question whether a full exhaust system is needed given the service history. Should any potential Issues been picked up at the last service or could the whole system just “go” within a year?
I have asked that a non Vauxhall exhaust be quoted. This has to be left until Monday as the service department was closing.

I also queried the handbrake issue as this had been subject to a fairly recent recall after I was contacted by Vauxhall. I was told that it was totally unrelated. The recall was due to spring and this was a fail due to excessive pull. However, the problem is identical to my knowledge. I have been told that the cost is due to them stripping the whole brake right back to adjust it , no parts needed. Is this right?

I have told them not to do the work to the front brakes as I wish to get a quote else where.

So, the car was left with them and do not have access to another car (no big deal as long as I get it back for work). But I am left feeling like I might be being taken advantage of due in part to my own naivety and definite lack of knowledge. I was thinking of asking them to keep the old exhaust and talk me through the problem, is this reasonable? Any other advice or recommendations would be apppreciated.

wgl2014

Prices are on the high side but are not way out for a main dealer.

Assuming you still have some time left on the current MOT I would suggest taking the car to an independent exhaust place and ask for a second opinion on the brakes. It seems unlikely that the entire exhaust would need replacing when it's possible to replace just a section and there are plenty of anecdotes where brakes with plenty of life left are recommended for changing. I also don't see why the handbrake can't just be adjusted?

For a car that is well out of warranty (edit: just noticed the lifetime warranty, so this may not apply) it is usually best to find a local independent garage with a good reputation. They rely on repeat business and in my experience do a better job for less money.

Sazot

Thanks for your speedy reply. I do still have time left on MOT, so definitely an option. I feel that the way I was advised about the work and the car being undriveable was really unhelpful and a bit of a scare tactic (like I say my own lack of knowledge didn’t help). I can’t do anything until Monday now as the service bit is closed.

The Vauxhall Liftetime warranty is 100,000 miles, whilst it has been worthwhile, this also gets you over a barrel as they have to see the car and need verification of th service to their specifications to reactivate it. I totally agree with independent garages.

tacpot12

I think you have been the victim of a hard-sell operation, but I am sure the faults exist. Only the front brakes could have made the car truely unsafe to drive, but the dealer staff agreed that they had no reached a point where the front brakes made it unsafe to drive. Tip for the future: check the wear on the front brake pads and disks before taking your car for an MOT. (The garage who fit your new brake pads will show you how) - I would be happy to drive without rear brakes so long as I was only driving from the MOT centre to home (or a garage that was going to fix them).

The exhaust probably can be replaced in sections - it would be very rare for all sections to go at once. I would have asked to be shown where the holes are to convince myself that the entire system needed replacing - the front section almost never wears out, it's the middle and rear sections that go.

The front brakes can be done cheaply by a local garage. Similarly, there is no need to use expensive main dealer labour to adjust the handbrake. However, you have agreed that the dealer should do this repair. I would go to the dealer and just pay for the work to adjust the handbrake and put the cost down to experience.

Really the only reason to use a main dealer is to get access to the software and tools that only the main dealers have. Once the software has found a fault, or the fault is one that doesn't require a special tool, taking the car to an independent garage is always going to be cheaper. You can still have genuine parts fitted. Generally, if the car has more than two years life left, I would always fit genuine parts, except for service items that wear out every couple of years; e.g. brake disks/pads/filters/etc. For longer life items such as exhausts, auxiliary drive belts, suspension bushes, etc. I would fit genuine items if the car has a life expectancy of over two years.

Sazot

Thanks for your reply. Appreciate the comments, the only reason I tend to go to the main dealer is to ensure the Lifetime warranty is activated.
I agree that the faults exist but like you say it’s the hard sell tactic and I’m sure taking advantage of my lack of knowledge.
I am going to take this up with the manager, if they are willing to listen...

sheslookinhot

Is it not the case that the Lifetime Warranty is kept active by the main dealer servicing your car. MOT work is entirely separate.