Just had all brake pads done, on my way to full service now

[Aitami]

Hi,

Today I had both front and rear break pads done in my Ford Freda (1995). I went to a garage in Coventry and it did cost me £80 including the pads (I didn't had to suply them myself as they work with a suplier wich has parts for Bongos).

I really needed them done, but I don't have any experience at all about paying for jobs done in a garage, even less in the UK, as I used to do all the work our vehicles needed at home with my father.

I will like if you could tell me if it has been a fair price.

Also, I have been quoted £300 for having a full service with cam belt included (as it is due now) and they told me that they do all the fluids (oil, brakes, gearbox...) and the filters (including gearbox filter wich they said not many people do, but again I don't know if this is just a way of selling their product).

I went to some garages in my area, not Bongo specialist of course, and some won´t even accept doing the job if I supplied the parts. I still have to check one in Wellesbourne and another one near Rugby wich are on the database, but to be honest my budget is really tight so I will appreciate any help or advice.

Thanks very much!

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Hi Aitami.

I've no idea how much Bongo pads are, but £80 all in sounds fair enough to me. You might find a small garage down t'alley that'll do it cheaper, but garages do have to earn a living...

And, £300 for all you list - I'd bite their hand off! I'd check that the cambelt change includes the tensioner and spring as this adds a good £30+ to the price of the parts. A cambelt change with all three parts is usually around £150 - perhaps slightly less at some places - on its own, so the remaining £150 to cover oil, filters, brake fluid change AND gearbox clean-out sounds very decent value to me. They also sound as tho' they are familiar with these vehicles?

You just need to confirm that they DO all that they claim - if you have any doubts.



Is it a garage we 'know'?!

[Aitami]

Thanks very much for answering,

The garage in not in the list, but it is linked to an online shop wich some people has used before and named in the forum.

I am not sure about the rules, so I don't know if I can put the names or the links to the websites, so please let me know, or if you are interested I'll send you a PM.

Also... will anyone with a good knowledge in mechanics make me the big favour of phoning them (I will Pm the telephone number) to check with them what they include or not in that full service? I am Spanish, so my vocabulary is faw away to be great when related to mechanics, and also I am quite new with Bongos, so It will be very useful if someone could check what they really do and if they really know about Bongos.

They are also in the Goodgaragescheme.com (wich again is something completely new for me).

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Hi Aitami.

I don't think there's any harm - or rules - against posting their name on here.

If you do that, and assuming they have a website or email contact address, I'd be happy to email them to clarify what's included.

From what you say, they do sound clued up on the Bongo (saying they'd also clean the gearbox filter), so I think they could well be a candidate for the 'Bongo Friendly' list!

In fact, if you go ahead with them, you might mention you'd be happy to recommend them if you are happy with the work...

Anyways, tell us who they are, and I'll contact them if you wish.

[Aitami]

Hi "Trouble" (just to use your name on a short way )

Tha garage is this one http://www.japsuk.com/ and here it is the link to their garage in the goodgaragescheme.com http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/searc ... ordID=1905.

I think they work together with http://www.mazdabongoshop.co.uk/index.asp wich I have seen some people in the forum has used for buying parts from them before. I said I think they work together because I initially called to the shop as they had the cheapest break pads I could foud and having them really close to my house could save me paying the postage. When I sent them an e-mail asking they kindly offered to help me and they called the garage, sopoke with them, and the garage called me back and even adjusted to my needs and managed to get my brake pads done the same day.

I told them I was in a Bongo Users Club and we had a list of friendly garages, so if they gave me a good service and I was happy with the price and everything I will speak with the rest of the members about them to see if they wanted to include them in their database. After this, they told me the best price they could give me for the full service + cam belt change + an MOT (to see wether the Bongo passed or there was something that needed being done, so they could tell me and see the cost/parts involved before starting to do anything) was £300.

Thay told me something about them keeping a good record about waht they have done to the vehicle, so next service they knew what really needed to be done, and what will be still fine for some more miles, so following services will cost less as it will only be charged the necessary, and this first full one was necessary if I wanted to have a peace of mind and know everithing was fine in the Bongo. (it sounded to me like what I have read before about people advicing to do it whan you buy a Bongo and are not sure about what it has had done).

Well, I will really appreciate if you could find out if they really know about bongos and what is included in the service.
Let´s hope they really know what they do, as it could be an interesting garage for the people who live around the area.

Thaks very much.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

The £300 includes an MOT?!!

Jeepers!

I'll email them for details. (Since they specialise in Jap cars, I'd have thought they'd be pretty switched on about the Bongo.)

[You've Been Bongod]

just changed all my pads
ebay front pads £23 delivered
rear pads £20 delivered
my mechanic charged me £20 to fit them all
i usually do them myself as very easy to do ( 1 hour in total)

as for the servicing £300 all in for all that you are having done sounds very good

[Trouble at t'Mill]

I think £80 is fair enough for that job - I dare say it's always possible to get things done cheaper, but hey!

I've emailed them asking what's covered in the full service, whether the cambelt change includes the tensioner and spring, and what their charge would be for a coolant flush/change. Oh and cost for axle oil changes!

Fancy website, and they do 'specialise' with Japs.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Ok, had a reply.

The service includes oil, air and fuel filters. Gearbox and engine oil, gearbox filter sump gasket. Cam belt change (tensioner and spring extra if required) and brake fluid change.

Brakes cleaned and adjusted (the handbrake may well need this...). Forte engine flush. Forte diesel treatment.

Diff oils changed. And mot

The service is £300.00 + vat =£ 345.00


Ok, the tensioner and spring will probably add - I dunno - another £30-odd to that? But that is very good value in my opinion. The oil has 'flush' added before draining to help clear out carp, and the fuel has additive for cleaning out the injectors - these things themselves cost around £7-8 retail and are worthwhile.

To have the gearbox sump cleaned out is highly recommended, imo, and should not have to be done again (just change the oil via the dipstick every few years or so). Also, they are including the axle oil change! EVERYBODY should have this done because it's dead easy, the oil costs very little (~£15 for both axles) but the consequences of axle wear is - well you don't want to go there... Diffs should go on 'for ever' with fresh oil in them.

Future services will cost much less than this as the cambelt, gearbox & axle oils and brake fluid won't need doing.

Coolant flush is approx £100.00 + vat = £115.00 Again, this strikes me as being very reasonable. If your Bongo hasn't had this done since it came into this country, it would almost certainly be worthwhile.


Aitami, if they were my local garage, I'd use them!

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Oh, and if they have a 'viewing' area - which many garages do - you could keep an eye on them to see if the gearbox sump is, indeed, removed, and axles drained and refilled. (If it makes you feel more reassured!)

I doubt they'd deliberately skip on anything...