[sylonien]

A bit of rant and help needed.

Need to put the original OEM back box on my car and take out the Supersprint Race.

Went to Hi-Q and they wanted to charge me £80 + vat to undo
2 x clamps
2 x bolts
4 x rubber mounts

Which I know is a piss easy job and only took me and a friend like 20 minutes?

Seriously? :gunner:

The annoying part was he tried to make it sound like a complicated job saying
"you have to take the entire exhaust out from the manifold" and I was saying / thinking.

No you fucking don't! I tried to explain and even showed him the pictures I took on my phone to explain how easy it was.

So we went inside. He asked the boss, they originally said £50+vat and I was like - a bit much but never mind.
But then just as I was about to go, the boss asked the employee - "what car is it?" he said BMW M3.

Suddenly its £80 + vat. Err what de f***?

[djgandy]

M tax

[sylonien]

Well they're not going to get my money.
Looking to buy some ramps / jacks etc and doing it myself instead.

Just thought it'd be easier and less hassle for such a simple job.
but no - can't find any one decent without giving you BS.

[Jase 320d]

Pink cigar smokers

[mob17]

I know what you mean OP. Which is why i too am investing in a decent service manual and ramps or stands.

BMW said they checked my EGR stat and it was fine. I opened it up yesterday and it looked like they never touched it. Bastards. Also APPARANTLY 75C IS THE NORMAL RUNNING TEMP OF THE COOLANT. Fucking joke!

[N8N]

OK, so that's 40 man-minutes (2 people, 20 minutes)

round up to an hour, that's $100ish at an average muffler shop

sad truth is that's what they have to charge to make a profit. Speaking from experience here; I've been helping a friend out with his shop because he's shorthanded and can't afford to hire a counter guy. This is also why I do everything that I can myself.

[Briancanadiano]

It's all about the paper my friend

[zltm089]

I hate those cunts who ask....what car is it?...and then suddenly, it's double the price...

Just like when I get my tyres repaired, at those small garages...1st they tell me it cannot be repaired, the usual runflat bullshit excuses and suddenly they are part of BMW technical research department and know everything about the suspension, even though I'm running normal tyres, 2nd they say it's £25 to repair, ...

In the end, I say here's £10 take it or leave it...

[zltm089]

And I have the impression, they always think "ohhh, stupid chinese rich kid driving a bmw, we gona get his money"...

[J Dub]

I have to agree, seems in a lot of places if you mention your car is one of the marques be it BMW, Merc and so on, the price goes up. Yes I can afford my car, yes I can afford to run my car, no you wont rip me off as yes I am half smart as otherwise I would not be able to afford and run my car. Same said about motorbikes too, the prices they want to do a simple task is a joke. I know profit is not a dirty word and yes without it these places go under.
Just a thought, price it right, serve the customer like they are the only one you have and they not only come back, but bring their friends back, Be a tw@ and you have to take advantage on the odd occasion you have a customer.
Local back street i had do a bracket on the E46 - Dude you go get the bracket from BMW yourself and it will save you an extra tenna as we would charge that to go collect it - thats what I am talking about - i send lots of people there.

[acerboo]

Originally Posted by djgandy

M tax

don't give the IR ideas for goodness sake!

[sylonien]

I do understand they need to make a profit.
I was willing to pay the £50 + vat even though it sounded quite a lot.

But what pissed me off is the fact they we discussed what work was required (ie. a simple job for a garage place) and right at the end they ask what car and it becomes more for no apparent reason.

I actually heard them say it in the back, "50, no 60. 80 + vat" like I'm deaf or something after I said it was a BMW.

Complete BS.