UK is so competitive nowadays?
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Wooie1958
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Back in the olden days ( pre-Covid 
) we had a problem with one of the front wheel hub bearings on our motorhome whilst in France.
This was only a couple of days into a lengthy stay ( remember when we could still do that
) so i called into the main Peugeot dealer in Cahors for a quote .
I decided that seeing as we`d done over 60.000 miles in it to get both front ones done whilst they were at it.
On a 2006, X244 model it`s not a simple job and involes the whole sealed hub assembly needing replacing, the quote came in at 1,300 euros, the euro exchange rate was good then so that equated to approx £900
Before i accepted i rang a few places back in the UK to get some quotes off them and it`s a good job i was sitting down when they quoted me, the cheapest UK quote was £1,700, the dearest was over £2,000.
I accepted their quote and they said they could do it the next day so we went back for 08.30am left the motorhome with them whilst we had a good wander around Cahors then returned after the rang us to say it was ready which was mid afternoon.
We continued with our trip down to the Pyrenees and had a great time which was a very quiet drive now with new hubs fitted although we were a little poorer but nowhere near as poor as we would have been if we`d have had the job done in Blighty
) we had a problem with one of the front wheel hub bearings on our motorhome whilst in France.This was only a couple of days into a lengthy stay ( remember when we could still do that
) so i called into the main Peugeot dealer in Cahors for a quote .I decided that seeing as we`d done over 60.000 miles in it to get both front ones done whilst they were at it.
On a 2006, X244 model it`s not a simple job and involes the whole sealed hub assembly needing replacing, the quote came in at 1,300 euros, the euro exchange rate was good then so that equated to approx £900
Before i accepted i rang a few places back in the UK to get some quotes off them and it`s a good job i was sitting down when they quoted me, the cheapest UK quote was £1,700, the dearest was over £2,000.
I accepted their quote and they said they could do it the next day so we went back for 08.30am left the motorhome with them whilst we had a good wander around Cahors then returned after the rang us to say it was ready which was mid afternoon.
We continued with our trip down to the Pyrenees and had a great time which was a very quiet drive now with new hubs fitted although we were a little poorer but nowhere near as poor as we would have been if we`d have had the job done in Blighty
mariesnowgoose
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Millie Master
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I used to live in France and had my cars and vans serviced over there.
As far as I could see, the big difference between services in the UK and France was that in the UK a garage would blindly fit or replace everything which was on the service sheet without engaging their brains whereas in France, they would use their brains and say, well this is an annual service but as you have only done 3,000 kms in the past year we will only change your oil and filter and we will only check the condition of the air filter, blow it out, but not change it etc. etc.
We will check everything else thoroughly but only change anything if it needs to be changed.
I now use this type of garage in the UK and never/ever any main agents/franchises
As far as I could see, the big difference between services in the UK and France was that in the UK a garage would blindly fit or replace everything which was on the service sheet without engaging their brains whereas in France, they would use their brains and say, well this is an annual service but as you have only done 3,000 kms in the past year we will only change your oil and filter and we will only check the condition of the air filter, blow it out, but not change it etc. etc.
We will check everything else thoroughly but only change anything if it needs to be changed.
I now use this type of garage in the UK and never/ever any main agents/franchises
mariesnowgoose
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Most modern dealerships and garages in the UK operate a strict 'fitting' method. Plus every modern vehicle is designed to run on microchips. It's the side effect of our throwaway society mentality.
The old skills, ingenuity, resourcefulness and common sense of the proper mechanic have been fading away fast in the automotive industry for the last few decades. I don't have an answer to that particular problem though. Does anyone?
1807truckman
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In 2010 two days after collecting new to use Hymer A class a pheasant hit the windscreen making a real mess of it, Hymer Uk when they had final found a part number for the screen quoted me £1200 for the screen, £500 for the cleaners seals and sealants plus however much they would charge for fitting, it would take at least two weeks to get the windscreen from Hymer and I would have to leave the van with them for a week, we were going to Germany the next week so I contacted a Hymer dealer in Germany they had a screen in stock and could fit it the following Wednesday it would take them a day and the cost was 1760 euro.
mariesnowgoose
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It makes sense to me that it would be cheaper to get the parts and fitting done in Germany as it's the home of Hymer?
You'd have to add the cost of travelling to Germany to have it fixed on top, so I guess it was lucky you happened to be going there anyway?
Steve and Julie
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Millie Master
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Most modern dealerships and garages in the UK operate a strict 'fitting' method. Plus every modern vehicle is designed to run on microchips. It's the side effect of our throwaway society mentality.
The old skills, ingenuity, resourcefulness and common sense of the proper mechanic have been fading away fast in the automotive industry for the last few decades. I don't have an answer to that particular problem though. Does anyone?
And this is exactly why I give concise instructions to my garage when they undertake the annual services on any of my 3 vehicles that they only replace what I have told them to, also giving them the concise instruction that if they find anything else that needs attention then they are to contact me prior to undertaking remedial work.
I possibly ought to add that I used to undertake all of my own work with this including any and all major component changes including gearboxes, engine rebuilds, clutch, brakes etc. etc.
Snapster
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When we used to go and visit my daughter in Bury St Edmunds, we stayed in Ram Meadow car park, opposite the car park is a Vauxhall dealer. Over a couple of days, I couldn’t get over the amount of brake discs they were throwing away into the skip outside the workshop. I managed to see some if the discs and there was virtually no wear on them at all. Must be a nice little earner for them, replacing parts that don’t appear to need replacing.
mistericeman
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Just because they don't show, a, lot of wear doesn't mean they are still serviceable...
Not unusual at all for modern discs to warp (especially after hitting water after hard braking)
Discs like a lot of components should only be replaced in pairs so possible one disc was damaged at least.
Millie Master
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This is exactly the same with air and pollen filters, just because the damned service book says they must be changed at regular intervals desn't mean to say they are in need of changing and this is where the French and other European countries ervice cars in a different way, I know for a fact that they make a visual inspection and some even high pressure vacum them out rather than changing them.
1807truckman
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I did claim of the insurance, it was just getting the screen done asap since it had many cracks in it.
1807truckman
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We used to travel to Germany regularly so getting it done over there wasn't a problem, subsequently had the screen changed by the same dealer three years later due to something thrown up on the motorway that cracked the screen straight down the middle, I also used to have the annual water ingress check done at the same dealer on y way back from the European Truck GP at Nurburgring.
Admin
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I got a price for a new Iveco Daily 4x4 (because there are not any used ones). To spec it with a spare wheel is £170 + vat which seems fair. If you want a second spare you have to buy it from the parts department which costs £1340 + vat.
I have not won the lottery but the value of my Hymer at the moment makes doing a self build very appealing.
I have not won the lottery but the value of my Hymer at the moment makes doing a self build very appealing.
Millie Master
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Well come on over to Motorhome Builder