Expensive head gasket

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

Talking to a mate/customer of mine today, and he told me that his wifes car was at a garage for repair (she cleared off a week or two ago, otherwise I'd be doing it).

They initially told her that the head gasket had gone and it needed a valve.

Price £1000

They then told her that the whole engine was knackered and was fitted with all the wrong parts

Price £3500

This is an 'N' reg BMW 318!

Out of the goodness of their hearts, apparently they've also said that if she doesn't want to get it repaired, they'll dispose of it and use the scrap money to cover their costs.  Well it has only got 8 months tax. And a CD stack system...

Ain't they generous??

[Lee_D]

Main Landy dealers quoted my £650 plus VAT to do the head gaskets on a Rangie VM turbo diesel.

Did it myself in the end, thought it must be a hell of a job so bought a £250 sierra to run around it.... had it done in a day, cost just over £100 for the parts inc workshop (proper £60!) manual. Sold the Sierra at a profit  :lol:

Still, had to do it again 2 years later...damn those VM engines! That  time cost me around £600 but did head gaskets , pistons, associated bearings and turbo recon along with lots and lots of    sump sealer  

Robbers they are, just robbers!  :roll:

Lee

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

This isn't even a main dealer - just a local garage.  They've taken one look at a pretty 24 yr old blonde and thought 'thick'

[thermidorthelobster]

Friend of mine had a Punto with an obviously disastrously failing wheel bearing.  The garage (who had a warranty to honour) said there was nothing wrong with it.  I drove it and it sounded like the bloody thing was going to fall apart any minute.  Normal noise, my ass.  At best, they were trying to rip her off;  at worst, they could have been criminally negligent, if she'd had an accident.  Lousy scumbags.

[muddymart]

They should be named and shamed garages like that, i took a peugot 205 gti for a head gasket replacement, many years ago , price was very cheap,
until i got down the motorway and the socket he left on one of the timing sprockets came loose and totally wrecked the belt and sprockets.

We had a few choice words that afternoon !!

[BrumLee]

Sounds like a job for the Office of Fair Trading, who will organise an independant engineer to check out what they are claiming. Usually this scares the rouges into changing their tactic    

[DISCO-CHRIS]

should of bought it to me!!! 24 and blonde i,d have probably valeted it too!! :lol:

[Damonski]

Im with BrumLee, get it investigated, you'll more than likely find one of the people at the garage has taken a fancy to the car, and wants to obtain a cheap BMW lol

Get them investigated.

[Evilgoat]

Get another quote. BMW's are expensive but thats taking the biscuit. The car's got to be worth a fair chunk on Eblag even if it is dead.

[The Fat Controller]

dave if it was me ,i'd be on the phone to these people to cost a replacement engine

http://www.bmw-spares.com/

worst senario taken care of.then phone your friend/customer with the total costs of implanting the replacement and collecting the car from where it is.
you've then done as much as you can for your friend/customer until he says GO FOR IT.if you go for the car you will need your friend to go with you so that there is no confusion at the collection point.
this sounds like a cry for help from your friend

[Hightower]

Head gasket on my TD5 two years ago at a main stealers was £550.

A grand seems a bit steep to me.  As suggested, get somebody independent in to check these guys out, or just take the car somewhere else for a second opinion.

[spy]

What a joke!  Like others said, report them.  I could have the car transported up to merseyside, fixed and returned for less.  Surely there has to be something wrong there? :(

Its scum like this that give all garages a bad name and create the atmosphere where women wont take their cars for fear of being robbed.  Makes my blood boil.  

As far as I am aware they cant legaly hold the car?  I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong but I would think that she should demand the car back.  Tell them she has no intention of paying and they are welcome to take her to small claims court to recover costs (which they probably wont).  If they intend on permanently depriving the rightful owner then that is theft and I would call the police.  Get it back, and get it somewhere else.      

Just my 2p worth...


Mike

[muddymart]

I'd have told the garage they are ripping me off and if i couldnt get the car back lawfully,i'd tell them to keep it,as it's obvious the repair bill is more expensive than the car is actually worth.

[spy]

it's obvious the repair bill is more expensive than the car is actually worth.

It isnt tho, its just not worth as much as their silly bill.  

Come on, name and shame em!

[Paul]

Come on, name and shame em!

No please don't, Not on here.

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

Don't know who it is - although one place instantly sprang to mind due to their reputation.