Ripped off?

**jpholroyd** · 04-02-2010,05:43 PM

Just been to German Auto Care (Merc Care) in Pudsey, Leeds, for a new ABS sensor.
They charged me just under £200 for a £51 part, this included a £45 diagnostic fee.
Have i been ripped off?

**zollaf** · 04-02-2010,06:32 PM

an exact breakdown of the bill would be useful, i.e parts , labour, vat etc, and the hourly rate, before casting judgement.

**Eshrules** · 04-02-2010,09:05 PM

Originally Posted by jpholroyd

Just been to German Auto Care (Merc Care) in Pudsey, Leeds, for a new ABS sensor.
They charged me just under £200 for a £51 part, this included a £45 diagnostic fee.
Have i been ripped off?

£45 diagnostic
£51 part
I'm guessing labour at an hour or two? = £80 ish?

VAT would be around £30 and there's your £200 total

depending on how long they spent fault finding this is entirely feasible.

I'm with the old man above, some more details would be nice.

**Crasher** · 04-02-2010,09:13 PM

Depends on the car but very slightly higher than I would expect but only by a few pounds.

**jpholroyd** · 04-02-2010,10:20 PM

Quite a simple breakdown really:
£51 Sensor
£45 Diagnostic
1 1/2 hours labour @ £45/hour
VAT

I would have thought the diagnostic is how they find the fault anf therefore shouldn't be charged

It's an Audi

**Eshrules** · 04-02-2010,10:26 PM

Originally Posted by jpholroyd

Quite a simple breakdown really:
£51 Sensor
£45 Diagnostic
1 1/2 hours labour @ £45/hour
VAT

I would have thought the diagnostic is how they find the fault anf therefore shouldn't be charged

It's an Audi

I literally laughed out loud... but I think you're being serious.

You honestly expect a garage to spend time finding a fault on your car, for free? seriously? I mean, like, for realz?

bud, honestly, I admire your imagination/optimism, but garages simply can't afford to spend hours on end finding faults, without charging for their time.

Edit - that £45 charge is probably for a fault scan too.

**sooty** · 04-02-2010,10:35 PM

Originally Posted by jpholroyd

Quite a simple breakdown really:
£51 Sensor
£45 Diagnostic
1 1/2 hours labour @ £45/hour
VAT

I would have thought the diagnostic is how they find the fault anf therefore shouldn't be charged

It's an Audi

Sounds about right I'm afraid.

**sooty** · 04-02-2010,10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Eshrules

I literally laughed out loud... but I think you're being serious.

You honestly expect a garage to spend time finding a fault on your car, for free? seriously? I mean, like, for realz?

I remember back in the olden days you took your car to a garage and if you got the work done by them then they didnt charge you for "fault finding" just the parts and labour.

I know that everyone has to make money but sometimes garages go OTT on charging for fault finding.

**zollaf** · 04-02-2010,11:47 PM

but then years ago, fault finding would involve some bloke listening to your engine and going, 'yeah, its your tappets', or fidling with the ignition timing. nowadays fault finding involves plugging a computer in,getting any fault codes and going from there. my snap on modis has just cost me the best part of a grand, just for the latest update, so if anyone wants to benefit from it, they can pay me.

**Y90USF** · 05-02-2010,12:05 AM

right....i enquired on how much a full bosch or snap on fault diagnostic kit cost and i was quoted approximately 6-8k so its not likely that you would get a free fault diagnosis not at the cost off the kit as the garages would not make any money and thats what its all about to make money to put food on the table