Proffesional mechanics out there. Help please.

[muddyjames]

I have taken my rover 620 (with honda engine in) for an MOT today and I was wondering if anyone who has a garage could give me a quote to the work needed, as I have never used the garage it might go to, so dont want to be ripped off. I'm not asking for a detailed quote, just a rough ball park figure please. Hope this isn't too cheeky to ask. 

This is what it has failed on.

steering gaiter split (again) 
cv joint excessively worn. *DANGEROUS* (it says on the mot sheet   )

both front wheels and 1 back wheel mechanical brake has restricted movemnet. (could just be a clean and replace job. Rear brake has been in use for sometime apparantly. could be a new disk if it is too rusty to clean.

a joint in the middle part of exhaust is rusty so needs welding up
hand brake below efficeiency
Off side hand brake below efficiency. *DANGEROUS* (that will be due to handbrake cable snapped and not working at all!)

Parts I need is
Hand brake cable,
drive shaft (outer piece)
steering rack gaitor
sundries (what ever they are.


Good thing is that the blowing in the flexi bit of exhaust I thought it would fail on they seem happy that it is only slightly blowing. Thats £140 saved for the part. Horah at that!

Lets wait for a quote to come back from them now then. eeek   

And for all you ladies out there, my body will be for sale on ebay soon to pay for some of the costs! :lol: Road tax for disco at the end of this month as well! 
 

[electricbluebadger]

223000 on the clock..... is it worth spending the money on?? especially if it turns out to need new calipers and such... be careful and get a written quote and garantee they wont exceed without contacting you.

If its a cheap runaround then another car may be cheaper

Cheers Steve

[muddyjames]

Well, I keep having that idea of selling but I really just can't do it. the thought of it brings tears to my eyes. (sad I know but it does)

Reasons for this is

Had engine rebuild 5 years ago after I went through flood.

Replaced gearbox 2 years ago for a low mileage one. Last one did 190k so this 60k one should go for ages.

There is very little rust and the paint work is fantastic.

It is extremely reliable and tows my previous caravans better than the disco does,

It is just SO comfy on long journeys and still does 22p a mile / 30mpg ish and that aint bad I think for a 2L 16v engine in todays state.

If the quote is £500, then it is a gamble. Pay £500 for repairs to the devil I know or spend £500 on another car that may break down a month after I buy it and need money chucking at it to get it going again. I havnt had any repair bills this year for the Rover since the last MOT. and in 9 years it has only failed 2 MOT's, this being the 2nd.

But the main reason is this, it used to be my Dads car and it is my first car. I have very few things that I have that give me memories of my Dad (he passed away 3 years ago) This is the thing I am most attatched too that reminds me of him. I have to let go one day but...... I couldn't ever take it to the scrap yard, I would have to pay someone to take it for me. It would be like my Dad dieing all over again. 

[fudge]

Can I have a reg number to price the parts....

[Mash]

steering gaiter split (again) 
cv joint excessively worn. *DANGEROUS* (it says on the mot sheet   )

Labour times for the steering gaitor just over half an hour
and the CV joint is about an hour depending on what your replacing

Assuming your car is 2.0l petrol

These times are from autodata


Jon

[muddyjames]

Can I have a reg number to price the parts....

L507 JJB

[muddyjames]

I have just had the nice lady on the phone giving me a quote. (and yes she is nice looking too :D ) I am so glad I was sitting down! wait for it, £420.93 

cable = £25
drive shaft £133  :shock: :shock:
steering gaiter £13
brake cleaning and welding stuff £8.50
and 4 hours labour at £176

Grand total of one upset bunny! I have said I will think about it. I can buy my own parts if I find them cheaper apparantly.

Also dont forget, that price could go up if I need a new set of brake disks and off the top of her head she said they are between £40 and £60 and thinks Rovers are the low end of that budget.

I am puzzled on why my cv gaiter keeps on splitting at least once a year?

So say £500. As I have had no other problems this year with it £500 into 12 months isnt too bad. £41 a month. I was hoping to spend £500 better else where to be honest like on my HGV license. I think that is going to go by the board now. :(

[Mash]

I am puzzled on why my cv gaiter keeps on splitting at least once a year?

CV gaiter or steering gaiter they are 2 seperate things ?

They should only rip if its not put on corectly, age, or is catching on something

[muddyjames]

steering rack gaitor

I know it has lots of grease behind it as the N/S front wheel is always covered in oily grease when it blows and then put my hand behind when I am washing the car I notice it all. Eww

[Guardian.]

FIX it mate :)

[L90OOK]

Have it fixed by them...you should get the MOT retest done FOC saving you another £50  :roll:  But be quick  :shock:

[muddyjames]

I like your thinking mate  :D ;)

I have just done some quick sums as I was freeking my self out, and the freeking is true.

I spend as much money on paying for mot, insurance, tax for both cars (excluding any repairs or fuel) as I do on my house hold bills (tax, gas, water, leccy) each year. now that is scary!

[muddyjames]

Have it fixed by them...you should get the MOT retest done FOC saving you another £50  :roll:  But be quick  :shock:

they did say if the work is done by them they will not charge me a 2nd mot. I have 10 working days. think me needs to book it in fast with them!  :roll:

[muddyjames]

Can I have a reg number to price the parts....

hi fudge. what price do your parts etc come in at please? If they are cheaper I may even go through you. Like to keep business in the Mc if and when possible!!! :D

[fezzy192]

i,d get another driveshaft and throw that on it will work out cheaper by alot
and try and get a brand new exhaust but fit it yourself as it saves alot of money

[muddyjames]

Update. Car has gone in today.

They have started the work on the brakes, which we were all hoping would be a strip and clean but, No dont be silly! It needs 1 new calliper and new disks and pads at the rear. this now makes the bill about £550  :shock:

Good news though. I dont need a new hand brake cable. thats £25 less.   Woopie do in the grand scheme of things. :roll:

Off to go and cry now!

[Range Rover Blues]

That, I'm afraid, is cars for you.  You're doing the right thing though given the car's history because £500 doesn't buy you a lot these days.

Just kkep all those bills becase if you are unlucky enough to have it written off you'll be arguing with the insurance company as to how much it's worth.  They'll offer you next to nothing.

[L90OOK]

Update. Car has gone in today.

They have started the work on the brakes, which we were all hoping would be a strip and clean but, No dont be silly! It needs 1 new calliper and new disks and pads at the rear. this now makes the bill about £550  :shock:

Good news though. I dont need a new hand brake cable. thats £25 less.   Woopie do in the grand scheme of things. :roll:

Off to go and cry now!

How's it going  :-k

[muddyjames]

Well I picked the rover back up again on Friday and drove it the 1mile journey home. the breaks feel better in 1 way in it feels like it stops using the back wheels as well but also in a bad way, as when I sit there with foot on the brake pedal it slowly sinks to the floor. It never used to do that. Brake fluid is ok (clutch fluid needs topping up though). The pedal is lower down on biting point too than before. So appart from that and £600 lighter it is done.

I will pop back to the garage afterwork tomorrow and ask them to give the brakes another bleed. They may just need bedding in so will take it to work tomorrow too. Must remember to do very gentle braking for thenext 200miles as when I have had disks changed before they have a tendancy to warp really badly.  :roll:

Oh and RRB. I have every reciept I have ever had in the nearly 9 years of me owning the car and a huge long print out from the AA of what they did when they had the car. Only missing info is what my Dad did to it before me and after the AA.  :D