Halford's brakes4life

[blue10]

Does anyone have experience of Halford’s brakes4life offer?

My 2009 MY A3 passed it’s second MOT today with a number of advisories (both front tyres worn) and front brakes pads wearing thin. The car has done 44,000 miles.

I have no idea what brake pads are fitted but the Halford’s blurb states that the parts used will match the original specification. The cost quoted is £127.24 and any subsequent pads and shoes will be replaced free for life; this applies to my current car and any other cars I might own in the future. Incidentally are brake pads wearing thin something that I should be alerted to by the DIS?

Has anyone taken advantage of this offer and are there any drawbacks remembering the maxim ‘if seems too good to be true, then it probably is…’

(re the tyres I seem to remember A6_Chris replacing his at Kwik-Fit and getting a fuel voucher so I’ll probably use them).

Dave

[Guest 2]

Don't let Halfords do them but if you can find a good VAG specialist to do the job if you don't want Audi to do them.

There's probably some t+c that they can use to get out of paying out.

The fuel voucher was for buying 2 or more Michelin tyres (17"+) and I think there's one for 14 and 16 inch but with less value.

[adamss24]

As above, if it's too good to be true then it probably IS ! Buy Pagid, Textar or ATE pads and discs from Euro Car Parts and get any garage to fit them, it will cost you a little bit more but you can rely on brakes that actually work !

[Crasher]

Has the brake pad warning light come on? It is a little low mileage to need pads but if worn you will more than likely need discs as well. There is something quite bizarre about that Halfords offer, it does not stack up.

[Brodster]

I wouldn't bother. If your technically minded then do it yourself as its a doodle to do. £40 max for the pads and 1-2 hours for the 1st time doing it and voila....simples!!!

[blue10]

A6_Chris; the general consensus seems to be to give Halfords a swerve so that’s what I’ll do. I used to own a Passat which we trusted to a good local indy Audi/VW specialist so will ask them for a quote. In fact I wouldn’t have used Halfords for the MOT other than my local trusted MOT station couldn’t test the car at the moment and, if required, I wanted to take advantageof the Kwik-Fit tyre offer before it expired. I need two 17inch tyres; if I replace the current Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on the front with the same it’ll cost £117.50 per corner and qualify for a £50 fuel voucher.

adamss24; thanks for the info. Is Euro Car Parts trade only or can Joe Public open an account?

Crasher; yes the Halfords offer does seem too good to be true, I was hoping someone had experience of it but it seems no-one can recommend it. The brake pad warning light (I didn’t know there was one) hasn’tcome on. I have only owned the car since January and am a very conservative driver; I don’t know the previous owner’s driving style as I purchased it from a local dealer.

Brodster: I am not technically minded so certainly wouldn’t trust myself on tinkering with the brakes! I think they way to go is purchase the pads and ask my local garage to install ‘em for me.

[neilos100]

I dunno.....had a look at the website and seems pretty kosher to me....it does say to continue the life time cover you need to have any brake associated repairs done by them....if that's acceptable to you then I'd give it a punt.
Nobody who has commented on this thread has actually purchased this plan so all comments are opinions only and not based on experience. Maybe a decent deal, may not be.......but if they honour it, it's a great offer.
Neil

Sent from my phone...

[Brycie]

Personally I don't like entrusting my car to outfits like Kwik Fit, National Tyres or the more recent player in the budget maintenance market, Halfords; however I have heard good reports on Halfords from a couple of members on the forum (I think one was Fat Controller). The good reports surprised me as much as anyone, but it may be worth searching the web further before totally dismissing them, as it does seem like a good offer. Having said that, I'd want to do thorough research on the web before taking my own car to them for this offer. Just thought I'd add a little balance to the debate having read the positives from other members, but hey, I know next to nothing compared to Adamss24 & Crasher, they are experts.

[Crasher]

.it does say to continue the life time cover you need to have any brake associated repairs done by them...

I could not see that bit but it would explain it, each time you needed new pads you would need new discs so you would have to have their cheap over priced discs and pay the labour so they would cover the cost of their naff Chinese pads.

[zollaf]

its a form of entrapment.