Dealer rip-offs

[ScottyC]

I thought while my car was getting its brake fluid changed i would get John Clarks to re-allign my wheels. They told me this would take 2 and a half hours at a cost of £150!
Needless to say i took my car elsewhere(to a nationwide tyrefitters) and got the job done in 15 minutes for £24.99.
Has anyone else been quoted such a ridiculous price for this or anything similar? I'm on the verge of writing a complaint to the garage AND to BMW

Scotty

[KenL]

Not justifying the cost but I have heard of BMW garages charging about that before for the full KDS check. No idea what KDS means though but it is a full alignment check/adjustment.

I would doubt a tyre place could do as good a job. In fact I am not sure I would let them near my car expect to fix a puncture.

[T6 KFR]

I feel the same way KenL.

Before when i had cheaper cars I didnt mind where / who fixed them. but now i have my mini Id rather let the proper trained BMW mechys look at my car. You must have known when buying a BMW / Mini the rates are high.

[Mini Me]

KDS is not just a simple wheel alignment,it's a full laser guided wheel alignment with the car weighted down as if carrying passengers.and is so much more accurate and time consuming than your fast fit centres check.....Is is more expensive, but it's a totaly different procedure.

[Bignorm]

hey scottyc you have got to remember what you are paying for mate you want a job done right by pro's dont want the warrenty f#uked up now do you and just for ref the amount of times we have dug kwik-fit and national and nationwide out you would not believe

[Big Gordy]

My mate's wee garage has the full laser alignment kit:D Full 4 wheel alignment is about 70 quid I think. He does all the public track day cars for Knockhill;) :p:D:approve:

[minidriver#1]

quote:Originally posted by minime

Is is more expensive, but it's a totaly different procedure.



As apposed to straight daylight robbery.

I've had huge differences in quotes for work from different BMW garages, JC's in Dundee always looses out, usually by a few hundred.

[Mini Me]

I would say the std price is bout £150.....
If you don't want to pay it, take it else where, it's your car and your piece of mind.But to confirm what roaster said, the amount of people we get having had it done (badly)else where is incredible !!!![v]

[macblob]

Star performance in Fife do four wheel laser alignment with decent gear for about £80 odd I think :D, so I would have said £150 seems a little steep

[Mini Me]

quote:Originally posted by macblob

Star performance in Fife do four wheel laser alignment with decent gear for about £80 odd I think :D, so I would have said £150 seems a little steep


Oh guy's i aint saying it's not cheap, but do the smaller garages have the same overheads ,staff, etc to pay for.BMW labour is obviosly more expensive, and you will get it cheaper else where.....

[The Dogfather]

Minime, unfortunately some BMW garages tell you work has been carried out when it hasn't, this was the case with JCs in Aberdeen.

Now I know your guys are spot on, but unfortunately Stirling is a bit far to go for a service which is why I'll be trusting the local garage for all my repairs/servicing in future, they're cheaper as well!

[MartinSullivan]

I managed to get a free KDS check out of JC's - I got a printed sheet with the results before and after on it and I must admit at the price it was well worth it ;). My mate had his done at an independant - he got no information on before and after results and its been back 3 times because it isnt right.

[Bignorm]

hey plus remember the guys working on the cars here are fully trained to bmw/mini high standars not just some jumped up mechanic in a back street garage

[The Dogfather]

Yes your right roaster, but my local garage wouldn't dream of missing out and lying about a number of service checks just because the service was prepaid and when challenged become quite hostile. I did eventually get a full apology from the dealer principal but would you go back to a garage that did that?

BTW the local mechanic has over 15 years service working with Audi and Vauxhall.

[Bignorm]

nah i prob would not oh BTW i know what you are saying but mini's and bmw's are total differant to audi and vauxhall oh and that was directed at scottyc not you

[broken_brian]

all cars work the same way weather it is an aston martin or a lada and any qualified mechanic with a good reputation should be able to fix any problem. And as for the KDS check what if you very rarely carry passengers getting the car weighed down simulating them is a waste of time, as with just the driver in the car the suspension will be loaded up differently, there for giving different alignment from a fully loaded car. Sounds like a money making exersize to me.

[ScottyC]

ok guys i stand corrected, i can see where you're all coming from. i would still never pay £150 to get my wheels alligned when i know they're going to need it done again in a few months time. i personally think theres a false pretence in there to make you think you're getting a better deal. i really don't see what difference a bmw uniform is going to make to the quality of the job that gets done. the lads in the tyre bay (all michelin trained) at my work looked appalled at the price. i know bmw prices are inflated, i'm not a fool. but considering you're wheel allignment can be knocked out by something as simple as hitting a pot-hole in the road you'd be as well throwing your money in a river. no matter how you dress it up, that to me doesn't represent value for money

[Scottie]

well I know nothing that's technical but take for example a VW Touareg

The Laser thingy has to be done with a certain amount of fuel in the tank then at certain ride height (air suspension) and quite a few other must have factors. This information is not made available to the local tyre dealers so if you end up with extreme edge tyre wear after 5k no way are you going to get them replaced under warranty and at £150+ per tyre that can end up a hefty bill.

However the biggest factor is VW offer the service for FREE although I can't complain;) with what I paid;) for 2 KDS carried out by my friendly BMW dealer.

I for one would not put the motor to my local tyre dealer for the KDS to be done your lucky these days to get a decent wheel balance.

[N12 JLK]

you cant fit quicker than a kw#* fi? fitter. Oh i think youve got a baldy tyre at the back and oh my darlin your shocks look knacked,Oh but my cars only 3 months old , oh thats normal ,ok there £600 you kind man for pointing that out.

NOT!

[Clare1]

I know if i was in the position to need to have to pay to have my own car wheels aligned then my only stop would be a BMW dealer. Not only are the technicians MINI or BMW fully trained to the high standards of BMW but the problems that can be caused by NOT having it done or done properly could end up costing you fortunes....new tyres etc..!

[The Dogfather]

Just because they are trained to BMW standards doesn't mean they work to them. In my case my local BMW dealer failed to spot two illegal tyres on a full service. They actually wrote down that every tyre had 6mm of tread depsite the front ones being 12 months old whilst the rears were only 1 month old.

They also didn't give me any warning that my front brake pads were ready to be changed.

[ScottyC]

thats pretty unforgivable bdm. can't blame you for not going back! not getting tyre depths right is school boy error (and obviously the figures on the form were made up) and you'd expect fair warning on your brake pads. after all they tell you the best time to change them is just before they need it. they'd have made money out of it too! maybe there was a kid on work experience pottering about on your motor but at least if he had bmw coat on he'd be better than the kid with a ford or a vauxhaull one

[Bignorm]

hey scottyc why come on here and bitch like a little girl if you can afford a mini you should be able to afford to pay if any thing goes wrong or any thing needs done and if your dealer is so crap then dont go back

[sh@z]

roaster thats a bit unfair, why come on here and preach that every BMW technician is perfect and nothing can EVER go wrong. BMW techs are no better than their equivalents for the other car brands, just they have specialist knowledge in BMW and the others have their knowledge in the marque they deal with. A alignment check doesnt require this knowledge, just the right equipment and knowing how to carry out the check.

Also the quality differs from dealer to dealer, and you will only know one is bad after a bad experience with them, which then means you have to either go back numerous times to get it fixed, or go elsewhere, the "why come on here and bitch like a little girl if you can afford a mini you should be able to afford to pay if any thing goes wrong" is a bit harsh and uncalled for.

[GAJ]

Yellow card to roaster21!

[broken_brian]

Why dont you all just trade in your minis for motorbikes then you can do your own wheel alignment with a ball of string from the 99p shop.:clown::p:clown:

[Big Col]

quote:Originally posted by roaster21

hey scottyc why come on here and bitch like a little girl if you can afford a mini you should be able to afford to pay if any thing goes wrong or any thing needs done and if your dealer is so crap then dont go back


lol. I thought this one was worth quoting in full since it has to win the most ridiculous post award so far this year. I'm just back at work after a week off and was all depressed but your piece of diatribe just cracked me up roadster. Cheers mate. :)

[Duncan Stewart]

quote:Originally posted by bad dog mini
They also didn't give me any warning that my front brake pads were ready to be changed.

I had a similar problem with my Mini serviced just before we went on holiday last year, only for the brake pad warning light to come on half way through our holiday.
We protested to the dealer and were told they do not remove the wheels in the service, only push a little rod through a hole on the outside of the caliper to measure the outer pad depth. Our inner pads had worn out first so not their fault :mad:

[Mini Me]

quote:Originally posted by roaster21

hey scottyc why come on here and bitch like a little girl if you can afford a mini you should be able to afford to pay if any thing goes wrong or any thing needs done and if your dealer is so crap then dont go back


Norman........don't be a tit :mad:

[Julz]

quote:Originally posted by bad dog mini

Just because they are trained to BMW standards doesn't mean they work to them.

I'd have to totally agree, considering that it took my 'previous' dealer 3 attempts, 3 weeks and over £2k of my own money to sort a problem which should have apparently been identified straight away and repaired within a couple of hours and all under warranty as nothing I had done to the car caused the problem (or even if I had to pay for it myself it shouldn't have been more than £600!):mad::disapprove:

[Clare1]

Norman, this is a 'nice' website ya roaster!
Everyone deserves their own opinion, i know whos being a little bitch....YOU! ;0)
Good job myself n Iain arnt at work today.

And yes, we are all human, and yes things dont always go to plan. But i agree, missing 2 bald tyre aint on. thats bad.

[Scottie]

quote:Originally posted by Clare1

Norman, this is a 'nice' website ya roaster!
Everyone deserves their own opinion, i know whos being a little bitch....YOU! ;0)
Good job myself n Iain arnt at work today.

And yes, we are all human, and yes things dont always go to plan. But i agree, missing 2 bald tyre aint on. thats bad.


Norman is not that bad really. (I'm needing good discount):p

It's where he comes from that's just how they talk I'm afraid;)

[Clare1]

LOL!!! Norman is a nice guy, youve met him Fiona. ;0)

Its true, where he comes from (and MINIME) they talk funny, dont understand them myself sometimes! lol

[AndyP & Lenore]

quote:Originally posted by Clare1
Good job myself n Iain arnt at work today.



Wait a minute.... wait a minute.....

If you're not in work. And Iain's not in work.... WHO THE HELL'S SELLING MINI'S:question::eek::eek::question:

[The Dogfather]

They don't need salespeople they sell themselves ;)

[Clare1]

Hmm...wouldnt go that far! Clever cars they are but they cant talk (most dont) nor quote on finance!! lol

We are multi talented people who can enjoy life and sell MINI at the same time!!!

[The Dogfather]

quote:Originally posted by Clare1
We are multi talented people who can enjoy life and sell MINI at the same time!!!


Surely some mistake, are you saying that Iain is talented? Come on, were not so daft to believe that pile of poo!:evil:;):D

[ScottyC]

"hey scottyc why come on here and bitch like a little girl if you can afford a mini you should be able to afford to pay if any thing goes wrong or any thing needs done and if your dealer is so crap then dont go back"
that doesn't even deserve a response roaster! but i'll give you one anyway.

i posted this topic because i was astounded at the price quoted. the service assistant at JC's didn't explain the process and to me it was just a price for plain and simple everyday wheel allignment. had they told me what they did i'd have understood a bit better. although it still does seem to be around twice the price of the same job from somewhere else. of course i can afford it but even now i'd never pay that. you're obviously middle class and don't think anything of throwing money away. mini's were never ever meant to be aimed at the middle classes and if thats what bmw are trying to do then they've missed the point. i can't see the sense in weighing a car down so it gives a representation of a loaded car with passengers when 90% of the driving i do is on my own. and how much does a passenger weigh anyway? i don't doubt you get excellent results from it but it seems so inane. it would be different if i had the luxury of driving on nice newly tarmac'd roads with no bumps and potholes or if i didn't have to park on the kerb occasionally. the allignments really going to be spot on in a months time isn't it!
and i never said my dealer was crap. i've never had a problem with them apart from a very annoying clerical error a couple of years ago. they're service has been good the half dozen times i've had it in.
so why don't you stick your dummy back in and come back with an opinion after you've grown your adult teeth

[Bignorm]

hey scottyc dont think you know what u are talking about mate anyway cheers you really crack me up oh and middle class ha ha you must be joking

[sh@z]

lol roaster, your having a laugh arent you ...

*looks at minime & clare*

[Burple]

quote:Originally posted by sh@z

lol roaster, your having a laugh arent you ...

*looks at minime & clare*


/stands beside Shaz...

Hey guys.. can I play? :D

What's the big problem... Yes, I would say £150 is bloody exensive for a wheel alignment, but if it's the 'all singing all dancing' method , and you get printed 'before and after' proof, then yes, very occaisionally it might be worth it, if not.. there's always the Trade Descriptions Act! :p
Personally I wouldn't want to pay that kinda cash if I could avoid it! :D

Lets not bring Class into this, there really is no need to go down that road here is there? ..Unless you got your Brownie points and yer waiting for your mum to sew the badge on. :p
Now, I have a house Roaster? Do you? If something went wrong big time with it, can YOU afford to fix it? I know I'd struggle. Everybody's got their own perspective, own side of the story, and they're perfectly entitled to it, in this country free speech is for everybody, not just those that shout loudest, so there's no need for personal insults is there?
That's the beauty of these lovely Internet Forums..
So Roaster, come on, dinnae act like a tool! :p

Scotty, if you write that letter, you kow what you'll get back (if you geta reply) will be a huge pile of BMW rhetoric explaining the ins and outs of their business, and how much it costs to train their friendly and customer-focused employees, and how exactly the seemingly huge cost of their wheel alignment will help keep you and your passengers safe on the roads.
Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet.. and if you want it cheaper, then go somewhere else :D

Come on kids.. calm down, it's only Monday..
:p:D:clown:

[Burple]

quote:
Surely some mistake, are you saying that Iain is talented? Come on, were not so daft to believe that pile of poo!:evil:;):D


Hey... now you've met him..
you've seen ho they can train these sales monkeys to stand up AND breathe at the same time! :p:p;);):D:D:D

/Hides behind Shaz again :p:p:D

[sh@z]

well said wee man, but i dont know if im entirely comfortable with you standing behind me :p

[Burple]

quote:Originally posted by sh@z

well said wee man, but i dont know if im entirely comfortable with you standing behind me :p



You'll have to take your chances..... :p:p




Feeling lucky??? :cool::p:eek:




Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha :D

[sh@z]

with your height, unless i fall over or something, yeah i think i am :D

[Burple]

quote:Originally posted by sh@z

with your height, unless i fall over or something, yeah i think i am :D


/Hides box of Marbles
//Swooshes black cape
///Twiddles moustache :evil::p:clown:



Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ha ha ha ha ha ha :evil::evil::D:D:p:p:eek:

[sh@z]

uh oh... sneaky wee.... *gets nervous*

[The Dogfather]

quote:Originally posted by low_n_loud1
Hey... now you've met him..
you've seen ho they can train these sales monkeys to stand up AND breathe at the same time! :p:p;);):D:D:D


He even managed to talk and stand up at the same time, although he looked a bit shaky, I put that down to the smirnoff ice :D

[Clare1]

Monkeys? Sales Monkeys?!!! lol

OK OK I admit, sometimes i believe the world is a big zoo, crazy folk!!! Especially those 'sales monkeys' hahahaha

[ScottyC]

"hey scottyc dont think you know what u are talking about mate"

you're right i don't and thats why i posted it in here! i only know how to top up oil, water and check tyre pressures. anything else is for a mechanic. theres heaps of members on this forum been good enough to put me straight and i can see the bigger picture. theres still nothing been said to make me change my opinion though. if theres anything else i should know that could change my mind otherwise it'd be more helpful if you were to point out the facts rather than giving abuse.

lnl, i wouldnie dream of writing a complaint now that i know what they do. i would however find they're excuses for costs laughable as i know for a fact that a company can offer the best services at the lowest prices and still pay they're staff wages that are higher than any other in the sector. and even after that they can still line they're shareholders pockets!

[T6 KFR]

my god this thread is getting crazy.

What is the point coming on here to argue over stupid issues...havent you got anything really important to worry about ....surely you have an easy life eh. :mad:

Know i wouldnt be wasting my time with bitchy posts.

Im on ur side ScottyC, you came on here to discuss your thoughts and concerns at the price, good on ya mate.. (oh am i bitching;))