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6 hours ago, thistledo said:

Just got a quote for new discs and pads all round for over £1000 from a place I've went to for many years, they are seen as a more specialist place, but their prices have been really rocketing since Covid / cozzy livs (sorry) anyway went onto euro car parts and priced up all the parts I need, plus fitting option for around £530 the fitting cost was like £96 on the website, which you just pay when the work is done apparently, this seems really low and worried they might not be that good, but googling the reviews seem like they are pretty decent (4.8 stars) 

Not sure whether to go for it or not or phone about some places. Anyone used the euro car parts and fitting option before? Can't imagine they'd use poor garages since it's selected through their website.

Is it Audi Tecknik, just off the M8, that you go to?

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7 hours ago, thistledo said:

Audi Q5, I'd like to point out I don't drive like a dick, can use my indicators and usually go out my way to be a very courteous driver as I know how many utter wanks own Audi's. Didn't even want to get the car, needed something bigger for the family though and I actually love it now. 

Parts were all Brembo, they seemed to be the most reasonably priced parts and a brand I know usually make good brakes. 

Brembo have for some time gone downmarket, and offered a cheapo range of brake parts. The Brembos at Eurocarparts are little different to the others

that ECP sell, except they have a Brembo badge on the boxes.

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7 minutes ago, beefybake said:

Brembo have for some time gone downmarket, and offered a cheapo range of brake parts. The Brembos at Eurocarparts are little different to the others

that ECP sell, except they have a Brembo badge on the boxes.

Can't disagree with this. 

Have a look on ebay for delphi disks and pads, can't go wrong with them and you'll get an idea of price. 

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9 hours ago, thistledo said:

Audi Q5, I'd like to point out I don't drive like a dick, can use my indicators and usually go out my way to be a very courteous driver as I know how many utter wanks own Audi's. Didn't even want to get the car, needed something bigger for the family though and I actually love it now. 

Parts were all Brembo, they seemed to be the most reasonably priced parts and a brand I know usually make good brakes. 

Does it have an electric handbrake?

Today learned someone got an MG sunroof "repaired" by Arnold Clark. Car there over a month and returned to them with bird shite on their seats and soaking wet carpets. Still stunned anyone uses them for repairs tbh.

We had someone with a Vauxhall that shuts down and won't start when hot. Declined our offer of sending the ECU (which was showing as the fault after a 2 minute computer check) away fro testing, as they wanted it taken to the "dealer", which turned out to be Arnold Clark. 6 weeks and £1000 later its still not fixed (they've not touched any ECU apparently, the costs are entirely labour costs) and they've been told by the "master tech" to disconnect the battery with the ignition on every time the car dies, and it should start and run again for a bit.

Edited by RandomGuy.
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11 hours ago, thistledo said:

Just got a quote for new discs and pads all round for over £1000 from a place I've went to for many years, they are seen as a more specialist place, but their prices have been really rocketing since Covid / cozzy livs (sorry) anyway went onto euro car parts and priced up all the parts I need, plus fitting option for around £530 the fitting cost was like £96 on the website, which you just pay when the work is done apparently, this seems really low and worried they might not be that good, but googling the reviews seem like they are pretty decent (4.8 stars) 

Not sure whether to go for it or not or phone about some places. Anyone used the euro car parts and fitting option before? Can't imagine they'd use poor garages since it's selected through their website.

I'm pretty slow a car maintenance but I'd be able to do front pads in an hour with shite tools, double checking my work and having to jack up a corner at a time.

Correct tools and know-how and £96 sounds about right in the non-ripoff market.  Guessing that's £37.50p/h plus vat and 2 hours work.  That's what my garage charges anyway.

In the ripoff market you're possibly well north of £150 per hour plus VAT.

Phone local independents for quotes and see if you can get positive reviews from friends and associates.

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20 hours ago, thistledo said:

Audi Q5, I'd like to point out I don't drive like a dick, can use my indicators and usually go out my way to be a very courteous driver as I know how many utter wanks own Audi's. Didn't even want to get the car, needed something bigger for the family though and I actually love it now. 

Parts were all Brembo, they seemed to be the most reasonably priced parts and a brand I know usually make good brakes. 

 

8 hours ago, Loonytoons said:

I'm pretty slow a car maintenance but I'd be able to do front pads in an hour with shite tools, double checking my work and having to jack up a corner at a time.

Correct tools and know-how and £96 sounds about right in the non-ripoff market.  Guessing that's £37.50p/h plus vat and 2 hours work.  That's what my garage charges anyway.

In the ripoff market you're possibly well north of £150 per hour plus VAT.

Phone local independents for quotes and see if you can get positive reviews from friends and associates.

I am also an Audi driver and use a local Audi / VW specialist (AVW Autocare, Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh).

They charge £55 per hour plus VAT, but they are excellent, have done some things FOC for me as well as saved me a pile of cash on items like the (fucking shitey) Audi Pre Sense faults.

Not the pads, but another big job - last year I got charged £550+VAT for supply and fit of the Timing belt / Water pump kit. Based on what I know is the Main Dealer cost, that was pretty reasonable.

Main dealers are daylight robbery.

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16 hours ago, mathematics said:

Is it Audi Tecknik, just off the M8, that you go to?

It's not, but I have heard they can be on the more expensive side as well. It's a place in East Kilbride, I don't want to mention them directly as I've known the owner for a long time and has helped me out multiple times where my old performance cars have let me down. I like the guy, but I just can't justify the costs, I think the labour part of the cost was £240+VAT, it's just getting a bit much now. 

15 hours ago, beefybake said:

Brembo have for some time gone downmarket, and offered a cheapo range of brake parts. The Brembos at Eurocarparts are little different to the others

that ECP sell, except they have a Brembo badge on the boxes.

15 hours ago, UsedToGoToCentralPark said:

Can't disagree with this. 

Have a look on ebay for delphi disks and pads, can't go wrong with them and you'll get an idea of price. 

Didn't realise Brembo had gone that, back in the day I remember them being a go to for big brake upgrades. I'll have a look at delphi thanks. 

13 hours ago, RandomGuy. said:

Does it have an electric handbrake?

Today learned someone got an MG sunroof "repaired" by Arnold Clark. Car there over a month and returned to them with bird shite on their seats and soaking wet carpets. Still stunned anyone uses them for repairs tbh.

We had someone with a Vauxhall that shuts down and won't start when hot. Declined our offer of sending the ECU (which was showing as the fault after a 2 minute computer check) away fro testing, as they wanted it taken to the "dealer", which turned out to be Arnold Clark. 6 weeks and £1000 later its still not fixed (they've not touched any ECU apparently, the costs are entirely labour costs) and they've been told by the "master tech" to disconnect the battery with the ignition on every time the car dies, and it should start and run again for a bit.

It is an electric handbrake yeah, 71 plate so fucking everything is electric and has a sensor. 

11 hours ago, Loonytoons said:

I'm pretty slow a car maintenance but I'd be able to do front pads in an hour with shite tools, double checking my work and having to jack up a corner at a time.

Correct tools and know-how and £96 sounds about right in the non-ripoff market.  Guessing that's £37.50p/h plus vat and 2 hours work.  That's what my garage charges anyway.

In the ripoff market you're possibly well north of £150 per hour plus VAT.

Phone local independents for quotes and see if you can get positive reviews from friends and associates.

Thanks for that, it sounded very reasonable considering the alternatives I've seen, think I'll be likely giving them a wee call today then. Yeah as I mentioned further up, it's £240 plus VAT for the labour from my regular garage, never used to be anywhere near this, I get the cost of living and wanting to look after skilled staff, but their comes a time it's just not worth the extra. 

2 hours ago, Leith Green said:

 

I am also an Audi driver and use a local Audi / VW specialist (AVW Autocare, Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh).

They charge £55 per hour plus VAT, but they are excellent, have done some things FOC for me as well as saved me a pile of cash on items like the (fucking shitey) Audi Pre Sense faults.

Not the pads, but another big job - last year I got charged £550+VAT for supply and fit of the Timing belt / Water pump kit. Based on what I know is the Main Dealer cost, that was pretty reasonable.

Main dealers are daylight robbery.

That sounds fairly reasonable, pity i'm a bit further west, could do with someone like that nearby, finding a new garage that are good at what they do and not total rip off merchants is gonna be difficult I think.

 

Thanks for the replies troops. 

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6 minutes ago, thistledo said:

That sounds fairly reasonable, pity i'm a bit further west, could do with someone like that nearby, finding a new garage that are good at what they do and not total rip off merchants is gonna be difficult I think.

 

Thanks for the replies troops. 

Only on the basis of being a Partick fan, have you tried DeutschTek just off Woodlands Road? (admittedly 10/15 years ago now but) when I had an Audi they were great with me although it was only for routine servicing..

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22 minutes ago, alta-pete said:

Only on the basis of being a Partick fan, have you tried DeutschTek just off Woodlands Road? (admittedly 10/15 years ago now but) when I had an Audi they were great with me although it was only for routine servicing..

Ah well no, even though I'm out that way for most home games, it's a bit of a trek, but ye know maybe worth a call if they'd charge me less than a grand. Thanks. 

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1 hour ago, thistledo said:

Ah well no, even though I'm out that way for most home games, it's a bit of a trek, but ye know maybe worth a call if they'd charge me less than a grand. Thanks. 

If only I had known, I could have popped in and asked how much ! 

I was sitting in traffic outside it (well the lights at the Sainsburys petrol station) an hour ago after dropping my son back off at his gaff in Glasgow !

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18 hours ago, Leith Green said:

If only I had known, I could have popped in and asked how much ! 

I was sitting in traffic outside it (well the lights at the Sainsburys petrol station) an hour ago after dropping my son back off at his gaff in Glasgow !

Awch I'm being dramatic maybe, it's just to drop it off I'd be getting either a subway then train or a couple of trains back then about 30 min walk home. Annoying if I'm needing to get back to work. 

Anyway, I actually called the guy at Deutchtek, he asked what the mileage was and if the wear indicator was on, the mileage is only 30k and no wear indicator. He seemed a bit surprised a garage was recommending both at this stage, so I'm heading down to see him this week for him to have a look. I'll reserve judgement for now, but I'll be pretty pissed off with the other garage if this doesn't need done for a while. 

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A wee update on the brake discs and pads seeing as few helpful people chipped in about this. Stopped by Deutsch Tek today, very friendly chap called Craig looked at them and concluded roughly 50% worn on the rear and 60% worn on front pads and that the discs don't need replaced. I was quite shocked as that's miles off needing "done in a month" from my regular garage. 

As I said before I did know the owner of the garage for a long time, whilst I was quite angry I was thinking something isn't right here, the guy has been sound for years so it's not adding up. Phoned and got through to him, asked who worked on the car and then explained what I'd discovered. He straight away said, he'd had a few misdiagnosis on cars recently with the same name on the job sheet, that the mechanic has been sacked, (garden leave) he was very apologetic and assured me if this had gotten on the ramp the work wouldn't have been carried out if not needed. Fair play to him, can't ask for much more than that. 

@alta-pete good call on Deutsch Tek my friend, thanks. 

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23 minutes ago, thistledo said:

A wee update on the brake discs and pads seeing as few helpful people chipped in about this. Stopped by Deutsch Tek today, very friendly chap called Craig looked at them and concluded roughly 50% worn on the rear and 60% worn on front pads and that the discs don't need replaced. I was quite shocked as that's miles off needing "done in a month" from my regular garage. 

As I said before I did know the owner of the garage for a long time, whilst I was quite angry I was thinking something isn't right here, the guy has been sound for years so it's not adding up. Phoned and got through to him, asked who worked on the car and then explained what I'd discovered. He straight away said, he'd had a few misdiagnosis on cars recently with the same name on the job sheet, that the mechanic has been sacked, (garden leave) he was very apologetic and assured me if this had gotten on the ramp the work wouldn't have been carried out if not needed. Fair play to him, can't ask for much more than that. 

@alta-pete good call on Deutsch Tek my friend, thanks. 

He's bullshitting you.

 

Nb, that was autocorrect to bullfighting, which would make a better story.

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1 hour ago, Sergeant Wilson said:

He's bullshitting you.

 

Nb, that was autocorrect to bullfighting, which would make a better story.

Could be yeah, although as soon as I asked who worked on the car he was straight in with what had been happening before I could elaborate. We may never know, now that I know the going rate for the work I'll probs trade it for something newer this year. 

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On 26/04/2024 at 09:46, thistledo said:

Could be yeah, although as soon as I asked who worked on the car he was straight in with what had been happening before I could elaborate. We may never know, now that I know the going rate for the work I'll probs trade it for something newer this year. 

Not directly useful, but the latest 10 year maintenance costs list in the U.S. had Audi fourth highest, beating only M-B, Porsche and Land Rover, with BMW and Mini just slightly cheaper...just saying.

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On 27/04/2024 at 19:06, TxRover said:

Not directly useful, but the latest 10 year maintenance costs list in the U.S. had Audi fourth highest, beating only M-B, Porsche and Land Rover, with BMW and Mini just slightly cheaper...just saying.

They are stupidly expensive to run and maintain, I knew it would be a lot when I bought it but not quite by this much. The mechanic at Deutsch Tek had also said parts prices even for aftermarket brakes and pads had gone up quite a bit, probably due to brexit, so that hasn't helped. 

I don't keep up with what is happening in the car world as much as I used to, I think it will be traded in this year for something more economical / cheaper to run, but I don't really have a clue about what to replace it with yet. Probably watch that lad from Carwow on youtube and see what he's saying to it, quite enjoy his car reviews anyway. 

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When I had a Vauxhall Cavalier in the late 90s, I kept getting electric shocks. Every time I stepped out of the car and touched the door - boom. 

I learned how to exit the car without causing the shocks. But honestly, whenever I forgot it was a real pain (literally). I remember once holding my car key near the lock and seeing a spark. 

My new Vauxhall Crossland - purchased to universal acclaim here on P&B - is the same. Saturday, parked the car, stepped out, put my hand on the door.. "Ooohafucker!" Now I'm back to my old habit of opening the door, gripping the door frame then stepping out. 

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45 minutes ago, scottsdad said:

When I had a Vauxhall Cavalier in the late 90s, I kept getting electric shocks. Every time I stepped out of the car and touched the door - boom. 

I learned how to exit the car without causing the shocks. But honestly, whenever I forgot it was a real pain (literally). I remember once holding my car key near the lock and seeing a spark. 

My new Vauxhall Crossland - purchased to universal acclaim here on P&B - is the same. Saturday, parked the car, stepped out, put my hand on the door.. "Ooohafucker!" Now I'm back to my old habit of opening the door, gripping the door frame then stepping out. 

71Itz2gqk2L._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg

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2 hours ago, scottsdad said:

When I had a Vauxhall Cavalier in the late 90s, I kept getting electric shocks. Every time I stepped out of the car and touched the door - boom. 

I learned how to exit the car without causing the shocks. But honestly, whenever I forgot it was a real pain (literally). I remember once holding my car key near the lock and seeing a spark. 

My new Vauxhall Crossland - purchased to universal acclaim here on P&B - is the same. Saturday, parked the car, stepped out, put my hand on the door.. "Ooohafucker!" Now I'm back to my old habit of opening the door, gripping the door frame then stepping out. 

That's their way of letting you know that the alternator is still working.  Be worried when you exit and don't get a shock.

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