[Ulas]

This will be my first time servicing the R26 after owning it for the last 4000 miles so I'd appreciate some help to see if I am missing anything.

I am in Essex so I booked Mark Fish (looks like highly recommended in the forum) for next Saturday.

Below is the list I came up with.

Oil
Oil filter
Air Filter
Pollen Filter
Gearbox oil
Spark plugs

If I buy everything above myself the price I got for only labour is £210 which sounded quite a lot but since this is first time servicing this car I don't have much idea. Any ideas? Sounds reasonable?

The oil I am going for is Gulf Competition 5w-40. There is %25 off deal in opieoils at the moment which is handy. Let me know if this is not a good choice for any reason.

I am also trying to order filters and spark plugs from [email protected] but although the prices he gave me are quite good his inbox is full so I can't send e PM to put my order in.

[email protected] if you see this please empty your inbox!

Anything else I should be considering?
(Brake fluid changed in the last service before I got the car so I am sorted there)

 

[ryan197]

How olds the car?

 

[losi_8_boy]

That's a lot to change that

 

[Ulas]

Car is 07 plate.

It is a lot isn't it... Sounded too much to me as well.

BMW specialist charged £110 for labour to change oil, oil filter and brake fluid in my 1series a month ago and I thought that was a lot.

 

[Rob R26r]

I've been using Mark for the last ten years for my 172/R26 and now the 'r'. No, he's not exactly cheap, pretty much on par with main dealer costs but I'm really fussy about who I let work on my pride and joy.

 

[ryan197]

Shouldnt it be having cambelts, waterpump done aswel?

 

[jjones82]

Try Engine dynamics in kelvedon essex - Andy knows his way around Renault's and he's cheap too.
Used to be part of bbp,t hes been turboing clios for 15 - 20 years so knows his onions!

 

[Lemon]

should have had belts done last year.
does sound sort of dear for labour. but i know mark fish is good

 

[markblack]

Shame your not closer to me!


Sent from AutoGuide.com App

 

[sharkymarky88]

If I remember correctly the last time I saw mark fish he told me he charges £45 an hour labour but he is worth the money if im honest

 

[andypandy]

Fook me, 210 just for doing that, think your having ya pants pulled down mate, its an hours job for that lot at the most.

 

[John.R26]

Mark Fish is roughly £70 pr hour, I just had my 22500 Mile f1 r26 inspected there

 

[andypandy]

Mark Fish is roughly £70 pr hour, I just had my 22500 Mile f1 r26 inspected there

Well 70 to 90 quid would be fair enough, but I think 210 is just taking the pee.

 

[l££]

That is expensive. Not to be funny about anybodies abilities or how good Mark Fish's reputation, those jobs don't need an 'expert' to do them. It's good to have faith in the mechanic, but those jobs would only take a couple of hours if you did it on a drive with jacks & axles.

 

[andypandy]

It took me 30 mins to do all but the plugs, and there a 5 min job, the hardest job is getting the old filter off.

 

[Ulas]

Hmmm not looking very good then.

Obviously this is not about anybody's reputation or how good they are in their job but me trying to understand if the quote I was given is reasonable for the job or not. As far as I understand from the posts it is just simply too much.

This of course includes his inspection of the car and this is where experience counts but still the price seems high.

I will give him a call tomorrow and talk about this.

Is there any other recommended places in and around Essex to get a quote for the job?

 

[L16YDW]

You've got it right there Ulas, you're paying him to SERVICE the car. If you asked him to drop oil & filter and refill then simply replace the air filter and plugs I'm sure it would be cheaper.

A service is much more than replacing a few parts it's a thorough inspection of all components of the car and preventative maintenance getting someone who knows what there doing is vital. A good technician carrying out a service will worn you of faults present, faults that may become a problem in xxx miles and will be able to clean/adjust and rectify problems that if went unnoticed would cause failure and greater expense in the future.

If you want your bits bolting on just use a garage that's cheaper. If you want a proper service use someone trusted or a recommended garage.

In theory I've probably cost the garages I've worked loads over the years by servicing customers cars. I'd address known issues on cars before they had a chance to develop in money costing faults and I'd let the customer know what I'd done as part of their service. But the lost income isn't there, the reality is that customer comes back for the next job as they trust you as you.

Anyway back on point, you probably could save £50 by using another garage but is worth paying a little extra to use someone trusted where you know the job is done right? Out of interest ask him to price you on simply replacing the oil, oil filter, air filer and spark plugs. You'll probably only pay 1 hours rate @ £70 for that.

 

[l££]

You've got it right there Ulas, you're paying him to SERVICE the car. If you asked him to drop oil & filter and refill then simply replace the air filter and plugs I'm sure it would be cheaper.

A service is much more than replacing a few parts it's a thorough inspection of all components of the car and preventative maintenance getting someone who knows what there doing is vital. A good technician carrying out a service will worn you of faults present, faults that may become a problem in xxx miles and will be able to clean/adjust and rectify problems that if went unnoticed would cause failure and greater expense in the future.

If you want your bits bolting on just use a garage that's cheaper. If you want a proper service use someone trusted or a recommended garage.

In theory I've probably cost the garages I've worked loads over the years by servicing customers cars. I'd address known issues on cars before they had a chance to develop in money costing faults and I'd let the customer know what I'd done as part of their service. But the lost income isn't there, the reality is that customer comes back for the next job as they trust you as you.

Anyway back on point, you probably could save £50 by using another garage but is worth paying a little extra to use someone trusted where you know the job is done right? Out of interest ask him to price you on simply replacing the oil, oil filter, air filer and spark plugs. You'll probably only pay 1 hours rate @ £70 for that.

I didn't base my opinion on a mechanic inspecting & rectifying other faults, just on doing the jobs that the OP asked.

 

[charlie1984]

I use a good friend of mine who has many years experience working on cosworth engines ... the guy is simply a wizard in my eyes.. done the short shift mod for me in 45mins start to finish (first one he'd ever done) last week I got him to do my 5 year service, engine oil, filter, cabin filter, gbox oil, all engine mounts and a broken exhaust mount which came to £150!.. I'll be getting him to do my track rods (which he says has a small bit of play in them) and my timing belt/water pump in a few months ahead of its schedule too!!

sent from under the rock on mars..

 

[Ulas]

Very handy friend indeed. My mates are only good for talking about cars.

Can anyone help me reach [email protected]? I can't send him PM (his inbox is full) and I need to contact with him for some parts.