Service & MOT

[mickymost]

There are several small, but reliable garages in the local area that charge anything from £99 to £175

for a basic service and MOT.

This year I just had the basics because of the current situation I had not used the Murvi much.
Next year hopefully with a long trip or two behind us, it will be more.

c'est la vie

Dezi

Dezi hats off to them for providing a "service" to do your service at a bargain basement price but retaining the quality of work of all the Big Boys who charge 3 times that price.

 

[mickymost]

The bloke on the spanners is probably only paid 10 quid. The garage only pays £2 to VOSA for the MOT. 2 filters and oil maybe 50 quid, (trade costs maybe even less)

Total COSTS less than 65quid. So 50 quid to be distributed between profit and overheads in 1 man hour. Still sounds reasonable to me.

And at those prices will get more work so small profit BUT big turnover of jobs.

 

[runnach]

I have read a few of the comments ex industry, Steve3 I suspect is right the bargain basement services are overhead contribution better a ramp produces something per hour than nothing at all.

As regards education Marie is sending off to have a cable made up, the reality is not that long ago it was standard work the norm that someone in a bread and butter garage was capable of making up a cable on site ( normally one of the elders ) Equally the older guys could skim heads in the workshop as part of head gasket replacement what at one time was considered good practice.

The youngsters can only learn what they are taught but consider this the oldies are a dying breed unless you are competent with it in today’s market it’s a short term career

 

[runnach]

And at those prices will get more work so small profit BUT big turnover of jobs.

If only it worked that way, 4 ramps 32 hours a day to sell whether the jobs are profitable or not ... workshop times cut to the bone Icme times...difficult for technicians to hit efficiency targets. One benefit for the independents is not being shafted on warranty work

 

[harrow]

We need to be making things durable rather than 5 minute wonders that end up on a scrap heap or in landfill somewhere.

Thats very true about washing machines, they are very heavy and don't last very long, every time our ones goes wrong it goes out the back door, I repair it and sell it on.

We have had about 7 or 8 so far. I don't mind small appliances, but the washing machines never come back in, once I have lifted it out the back door, we just buy a new one.

 

[Dezi]

Thursday was the service & MOT. = £114.99

Today I have just taxed the van online = £270

Next week insurance is due = £570 up from £550 last year.

I wouldn't mind but I have hardly bloody used it this year.

Dezi, disgruntled, peeved, fed up motorhomer.

 

[in h]

The focus for kids today is to go to Uni to study anything from Engineering right down to Underwater Basket Weaving but get to Uni whatever the cost.

A year or two ago we stopped at Coates in Somerset (they have a free CR) and went on the factory tour.
They have a real problem attracting apprentice basket weavers. Only one apprentice was from the UK - young people just don't seem to want to do it.
The majority of the staff seemed to be from Eastern Europe, where they had trained as basket weavers.
OK they weren't weaving underwater, but the willow does spend a lot of time underwater.

 

[Nabsim]

I don’t see how they make a living at that price if they have used good quality materials and done the mot,
I do my own servicing and only use genuine parts and good quality oil, and my parts and oil alone come to more than that.
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the bill

I had my 4tonne motorhome MOT’d a few months back, didn’t do anything else just the test, must have taken 40 minutes and it came to £28! How can that pay?

 

[in h]

Thats very true about washing machines, they are very heavy and don't last very long, every time our ones goes wrong it goes out the back door, I repair it and sell it on.

We have had about 7 or 8 so far. I don't mind small appliances, but the washing machines never come back in, once I have lifted it out the back door, we just buy a new one.

Your choice. Not necessity.
Last time I bought a washing machine, I bought a Miele. I could have bought one of a different brand that seemed the same for half the money.
A year or two ago, there was a water leak in the utility room. I suspected the washing machine, so I took the top off. I was astonished. Despite being ten years old, it looked brand new inside. Nothing rusty, nothing worn, nothing tatty. And no leak!
The leak was in a hose from the tumble drier coming out of the drain.
The washing machine went back and continues to work perfectly. It's a teenager now. It has never, ever had anything to wrong with it (so far).
Why do we buy short-lived crap when quality only costs a little more? Advertising, that's why!

 

[in h]

I had my 4tonne motorhome MOT’d a few months back, didn’t do anything else just the test, must have taken 40 minutes and it came to £28! How can that pay?

That's a good price. The local place charges a bit more for anything over 3.5T

 

[Nabsim]

That's a good price. The local place charges a bit more for anything over 3.5T

I had heard it was a lot more for the test. I normally get them to do a pre test check and sort anything needed before the mot. This time because of Covid they advised to just do the test, if anything went wrong they then had so long to sort but if they did pre test and found something that wasn’t a quick fix I wouldn’t be able to use? Don’t think I quite understood what they meant but went with their advice and all okay.
It’s a small garage but very good in my opinion, I know at least one other member on WC use them. Stella Motors in Dove Holes.

 

[in h]

I took mine in on the first day in the 30day band, to give time to fix anything. This place only does testing, really. Lots of garages do more repairs, so they probably see MOT tests as a loss leader. Unfortunately, that also gives an incentive to find bits that fail.

 

[Nabsim]

I have used the same place since I got the van and they have never generated work from anything on the mot, invariably though tests will find a lot of jobs. I think this is one of those rare jems that do good work for a good price. I posted a while ago where I took the van to them when brake light came on, it was the warning for brake wear. They got everything that may be needed from local factors on sale or return basis. When they actually pulled everything down it only needed front disks and pads replacing. I don’t recall the cost but I feel it was around £78, definitely under £100 though. As my van is an MB Sprinter I did expect to pay more but so far so good

 

[in h]

Looking at my van's MOT history, there are clearly some moronic testing stations who fail for arbitrary (or no) reason. One fail was for rear suspension on the bump stops (it doesn't have bump stops: the air suspension pumps up when you put the ignition on). Another failed because the suspension was on the front bump stops, but it passed at a different station the same day with three more miles on the clock. I bet the suspension hadn't been changed. There are other dubious examples in the history, but I forget the details.
I went to this testing ststion after it had failed on dangerously ineffective brakes (under 50%) at another garage.
With no work done, it easily passed with brake efficiency of over 82% (I don't know what that number refers to, though).

 

[Nabsim]

We never did much work with testing gear but I think the efficiency relates to the ability to stop the rollers in a given time. It is supposed to equate to braking distances on the road or something I think.
I recall a funny incident when I first took my BMW1100LT. To bike test station, there was a yell and choice swear words from the mechanic when he pulled the front lever, it stopped the roller dead lol probably helped by the fact it would have been around half a ton with the sidecar bolted to it but the whole outfit did a minor stoppy. That bike had massive calipers though and probably best stoppers I had.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Your choice. Not necessity.
Last time I bought a washing machine, I bought a Miele. I could have bought one of a different brand that seemed the same for half the money.
A year or two ago, there was a water leak in the utility room. I suspected the washing machine, so I took the top off. I was astonished. Despite being ten years old, it looked brand new inside. Nothing rusty, nothing worn, nothing tatty. And no leak!
The leak was in a hose from the tumble drier coming out of the drain.
The washing machine went back and continues to work perfectly. It's a teenager now. It has never, ever had anything to wrong with it (so far).
Why do we buy short-lived crap when quality only costs a little more? Advertising, that's why!

Miele are one of the best manufacturers of 'white goods'.
I understand their (bagged) vacuum cleaners have always maintained the top rating by 'Which?'.

Unfortunately we're never been especially flush with money and have to spread it out over many necessities, same as everyone.
In an ideal world I would have both a Miele washer and a Miele hoover, but then I would have to forgo other things in life that are necessary.

You cut your cloth, etc. My sister has always followed the rule of buying the best you can get, but she is in a different position to myself financially. It's the best way to do it if you can, depending on what you're buying. Buying cheap is very often a false economy.
It's actually a good rule, but it's finding the money to buy the goods in the first place that can be the stumbling block, and I've never borrowed money or purchased things on HP. Not that there's anything wrong with HP, just not for me!

I could have had all sorts of quality stuff in the house, but then I wouldn't have been able to have a motorhome as well!
Just the way the cookie crumbles...

 

[wildebus]

I have used the same place since I got the van and they have never generated work from anything on the mot, invariably though tests will find a lot of jobs. I think this is one of those rare jems that do good work for a good price. I posted a while ago where I took the van to them when brake light came on, it was the warning for brake wear. They got everything that may be needed from local factors on sale or return basis. When they actually pulled everything down it only needed front disks and pads replacing. I don’t recall the cost but I feel it was around £78, definitely under £100 though. As my van is an MB Sprinter I did expect to pay more but so far so good

it is good to have a proper legitimate testing place
I remember a car failing (incorrectly) on brakes at a Council place. I didn't bother challenging it, I just took the car to my local garage a few days later where it passed without ANY work being carried out.
I also asked the garage beforehand that I thought I might need brake pipes replaced (as that was noted as an advisory on the failed MOT). Garage didn't even mark those as advisories and said not needing doing - so essentially turned down opportunity to make money there.

The place I go to with the van (different due to ramp limits at other garage) have passed van with minimal work (just a side light and wiper blade, replaced for minimal cost before test done) so two clean MOTs for £40 a pop. Happy with that.
The MOT done just before I bought it had a fail on the suspension - but I think incorrectly as it was the classic failure on level of play on the front that for Sprinters (and VW LT sisters) have a special note for Testers to follow IF they know about it!

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Talking to my sister this last week and turns out she has discovered what could turn out to be a proper old fashioned 'fixer' mechanic/engineer.
She needed something fixing on her Toyota 4x4 which he did no problem and very reasonable charge. The sort of thing you would normally have needed to go to an auto electrician to sort and be charged a fortune.

He's also a lot younger than most 'proper' mechanics, which is exactly what we all really need!

She says he seems to be able to turn his hand to most things. Has a van hire company which is his bread and butter and has been going for several years and does the mechanic stuff because he wants to? Seems that way. The fact he has a van hire company possibly puts him in a good position to deal with our van, maybe? I think I'll definitely be giving him a try when we need anything else sorting out with the van in future.

 

[wildebus]

Talking to my sister this last week and turns out she has discovered what could turn out to be a proper old fashioned 'fixer' mechanic/engineer.
She needed something fixing on her Toyota 4x4 which he did no problem and very reasonable charge. The sort of thing you would normally have needed to go to an auto electrician to sort and be charged a fortune.

He's also a lot younger than most 'proper' mechanics, which is exactly what we all really need!

She says he seems to be able to turn his hand to most things. Has a van hire company which is his bread and butter and has been going for several years and does the mechanic stuff because he wants to? Seems that way. The fact he has a van hire company possibly puts him in a good position to deal with our van, maybe? I think I'll definitely be giving him a try when we need anything else sorting out with the van in future.

Don't tell me he also whips his shirt off and cools down with a coke while he is servicing her