[Kai_Robinson]

Having given up all hope of doing any of the following work to my 216 GTi (J Plate, D16A6) by myself, thanks to some thieving scum looting all my tools, I now have no option but to take it to a garage. Question is - which would be better? Rover Dealership or Local Garage?

Items needed are:

New Clutch
Drivers Side CV Joint
Track Rod Ends / Tracking Adjustment
New Front Brakes
Spare Wheel

Thanks in advance!

Kai

 

[XPart02]

Having given up all hope of doing any of the following work to my 216 GTi (J Plate, D16A6) by myself, thanks to some thieving scum looting all my tools, I now have no option but to take it to a garage. Question is - which would be better? Rover Dealership or Local Garage?

Items needed are:

New Clutch
Drivers Side CV Joint
Track Rod Ends / Tracking Adjustment
New Front Brakes
Spare Wheel

Thanks in advance!

Kai

Hello Kai,
This is the question of the century I am afraid !
Do you know and trust a local garage or can anyone you know recomend one?
Does anyone you know have experience of your local dealer?
Do you want OE parts or pattern?
etc, etc, etc
Do you see my point?

best of luck :rocker:

 

[Kai_Robinson]

Well, not bothered if the parts are OEM or Dealer parts, i don't know of a garage nearby other than the Rover Dealer, and i've never been there before, as I've only owned the Car since December!

Prior to that, I did all the work myself, as I had both the tools, and the knowledge of Fords to do it...

Last time i went to the local garage, they wanted to fleece me for £135 to do the water pump and timing belt - so i bought the pump and belt for £40 and did it myself...

 

[XPart02]

Well, you seem to know your stuff. Why not get a quote from both?
Dealer quotes are valid for 30 days and they should give you an itemised quote for parts and labour.
Let me know if they don't. I will have words !

 

[Kai_Robinson]

Well, i asked Phoenix Muswell Hill for a quote last week, and they still haven't got back to me

 

[XPart02]

That's ridiculous! Did you visit the dealership? They can print the quote for parts off the EPC for goodness sake !

Gotta go now. Business calls.

Interested how you get on.
Cheers

 

[Kai_Robinson]

Yep, been in there before, they said 'we'll get back to you'.

It wasnt even busy in there - just some gimp behind the parts desk looking bored. It was so quiet in there, i was almost afraid to speak, in case they were secretly monks who had taken a vow of silence...

 

[Dr Dave]

It's their loss - suggest you find a local workshop that comes reccomended, best way!

 

[Kai_Robinson]

Well, there are a few places, but i can't understand the people that run them - they dont seem to 'speeka tha engleeesh' - i'll look in the yellow pages and look for one that looks like its run by english people...

 

[Dr Dave]

I know what you mean, but I wouldn't let that put you off!

 

[misterreliable]

you appear to be quite conversant with car mechanics get the tools to carry out the most important and immediate jobs now...and then build up your tool collection from there...:idea:

 

[Kai_Robinson]

you appear to be quite conversant with car mechanics get the tools to carry out the most important and immediate jobs now...and then build up your tool collection from there...:idea:

Well, i would, except that a) i'm a student b) my next loan installment of £2184.84 is going to disappear in halls fees, food bills and credit card payments c) i need to take the gearbox out to do the clutch - and in the halls car park? nooo...

 

[Kai_Robinson]

Right - i managed to get hold of Phoenix Muswell Hill - the quote they gave me was off the wall - £278 inc Labour for the clutch, £190 for the CV joint inc labour, engine management light was £78 exc. VAT to 'have a look at' - are these people insane, on drugs or are they just hoping i'll take my bollarded rover 216 away so as not to soil their lovely looking forecourt?

 

[ToneDef]

I think they inflate prices when they dont want the work,
recently I was quoted £750 to change the head gasket on VVC engine, it only cost me £400 a short while back to have a HGF sorted out inc head skim from the same place.

 

[1955diesel]

Clutch - look for a clutch changing place in Yellow Pages (Mr Clutch?)
CV joint - same place might do it at the same time.
Track rod ends - buy a cheap set of sockets and a splitter or borrow some.
Front brakes - as above.
Spare wheel??

 

[The Marmalizer]

The money you will save by doing the work yourself will pay for a new tool kit.

Go on, get your hands dirty.

 

[cjard]

have you looked into the economics of buying another car?

 

[Dr Dave]

I know a garage very close to osterley tube.

Let me know if you want the details. I can vouch for it as I used to work there and am a personal friend of the owner.

Now that's the sort of reputation I would go on.....nice one!

A personal reccomendation is the BEST form of advertising.

 

[Kai_Robinson]

Right - well i've just checked two of the local garages - G.S. Motors wants £300 just for the clutch, and £120 for the labour (clutches for this engine are 'rare' according to the gimp behind the desk), and the CV joint will be another £120 on top - of course, all these prices are excluding VAT.

The african place i mentioned before, will do all the work for £110 and fit the parts if i supply them - thing is - where do i get hold of these mystical parts (motor factors, i know, but there isn't one anywhere near me)by mail order/courier?

Need the new spare wheel because when i hit the kerb and the bollard, the wheel had a chunk taken out of it - the spare is fine, but the one that hit the kerb is farked - hence i need a replacement...

I would honestly do the work myself, but i have no tools, no facilities, and i very much doubt i could carry out the work on my own without buggering something up royally.

I really can't afford to get another car, i've just laid out for road tax, MOT and insurance on this - and its a damn nice car, electric windows even - compared to my '92 Escort 1.4L - its the white star line

Well - white blur at any rate

 

[Kai_Robinson]

I know a garage very close to osterley tube.

Let me know if you want the details. I can vouch for it as I used to work there and am a personal friend of the owner.

I would seriously take you up on that, however, the Rover will NOT make it that far - its clear on the other side of london, and with the steering and CV joint to do as well - theres no way in hell i'm going to risk driving it that far. Having it trailered would cost too much (got to find someone with a trailer for a start...) as well.

Thanks for the offer all the same.