Service Booked for Monday ! Quick question....

[JBell]

I wouldn't let my dealer wash the car, they use a brush for starters!!!

My indy has a polish bloke do his using the 2 bucket method, microfibers to dry etc so he is allowed to wash it

 

[Vx-Man-G]

Our first time with a RWD, although there was a very short-lived love affair with an E30 BMW 318i Lux about 15+ years ago.

 

[Rory]

The locking tab on the ATF however should have been replaced with a red one and as said above the price is so small that I cannot understand why it wasn't put on?

It's little things like this that would put me off a garage, Indy or otherwise. It shows lack of care imo

Not sure - the tab doesn't do anything. An 'old-school' mechanic probably doesn't see the point in replacing it. You can release the tab from underneath without breaking it and then snip the catch of the cap so it future the tab just pulls out - I've done that on mine.

As for washing, I was a bit gobsmacked that the indie I've started using washed my car after they took it for MOT recently. It never occurred to me they'd do it, so I didn't think to tell them not to.

 

[EmilysDad]

Our first time with a RWD, although there was a very short-lived love affair with an E30 BMW 318i Lux about 15+ years ago.

I've only ever had RWD, MK1 Cav coupe, Manta, Carlton, 2 Senators & an Omega .... apart from a couple of Astra Gs recently as a cheap commuting car,

 

[EmilysDad]

..... they use a brush for starters!!!

.....

There are brushes & brushes

 

[Lord_Lucan]

Not sure if it's too late but I have a pair of red tabs in the cupboard somewhere if you'd like them. I can post them to you (if you're mainland UK) if you stick some money in a cancer charity box? Or you can pick them up if yo're nearby (Beds/Cambs border)

 

[umblecumbuz]

You mention that you had an ATF service.
Wonder what that covered exactly?
Was the filter changed?
Was the torque covertor drained?
Was the atf cooler radiator drained?
Just wondrin'

 

[Wighty]

Not sure - the tab doesn't do anything. An 'old-school' mechanic probably doesn't see the point in replacing it. You can release the tab from underneath without breaking it and then snip the catch of the cap so it future the tab just pulls out - I've done that on mine.

As for washing, I was a bit gobsmacked that the indie I've started using washed my car after they took it for MOT recently. It never occurred to me they'd do it, so I didn't think to tell them not to.

That's what I did with a new red tab , just smoothed out the catch , I was tired of replacing them each time I wanted to check the ATF level before a big trip

 

[JBell]

There are brushes & brushes

Here you go

 

[EmilysDad]

I remember those pictures. In that instance what's in the bucket looks to be more of a problem than the brush

 

[Vx-Man-G]

You mention that you had an ATF service.
Wonder what that covered exactly?
Was the filter changed?
Was the torque covertor drained?
Was the atf cooler radiator drained?
Just wondrin'

****** hope so. They did say to me it was Gearbox service including filters.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

I dont courtesy wash and vac either, I just don't have the time, and I cannot justify the cost of having a paid car washer on site to only wash 5-6 cars per day and the odd valet. Its something I am looking at, but the investment is high for the small returns. Then if something happens cleaning it you become liable for paint correction, for an independent, its hard to rationalise.

From the feedback that I had when I set up, primary importance was MB knowledge and fix, genuine parts or good quality OE, reasonable labour rate and first time fix = happy customer and met expectations. If that perception has changed, then it would be good to know and I can readdress it at my business.

 

[Wighty]

I dont courtesy wash and vac either, I just don't have the time, and I cannot justify the cost of having a paid car washer on site to only wash 5-6 cars per day and the odd valet. Its something I am looking at, but the investment is high for the small returns. Then if something happens cleaning it you become liable for paint correction, for an independent, its hard to rationalise.

From the feedback that I had when I set up, primary importance was MB knowledge and fix, genuine parts or good quality OE, reasonable labour rate and first time fix = happy customer and met expectations. If that perception has changed, then it would be good to know and I can readdress it at my business.

If you stopped helping people on the forum then you would have more time to get the sponge out . Just a thought

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

If you stopped helping people on the forum then you would have more time to get the sponge out . Just a thought

I knew someone would pipe up with that comment....

 

[Vx-Man-G]

I guess I have just been comparing Vauxhall to Mercedes, but having read and thought about this more, we are not even on the same page when comparing the costs for both vehicles' servicing. As long as all the work I have paid for has been done, then im happy. If its just £450 for a DSB stamp, then I wont be too happy, but I have no way of checking so I guess ill just be happy.

 

[daibevan]

If you stopped helping people on the forum then you would have more time to get the sponge out . Just a thought

Don't even consider it.

 

[LostKiwi]

If only they still RWD

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/microapps/vxr/vxr8/configurator.html

 

[Rory]

I dont courtesy wash and vac either, I just don't have the time, and I cannot justify the cost of having a paid car washer on site to only wash 5-6 cars per day and the odd valet. Its something I am looking at, but the investment is high for the small returns. Then if something happens cleaning it you become liable for paint correction, for an independent, its hard to rationalise.

I must have told the VW dealer we use for the first two free services literally 6 times not to wash wife's Tiguan - it's not that I'm precious about it, but it has stick on side bumpers which I've been warned not to jet wash. Got there and I couldn't believe they'd washed it. Looked OK at the garage but got it home and remnants of a rag were wrapped around the trailing end of one of the trims and had lifted it. Thank Goodness it'll be going to our trusty indie from now on.

 

[Yugguy]

Steve it's a difficult question for you. ACMS has a wash and vac done on my car (by someone else) when it's in for a service and that's fine by me, but I know a lot of people don't like others washing their car.

I wouldn't stop using ACMS if they didn't wash it though, it's far more important to me that they care about the car's mechanicals and they know what they are doing.

 

[EmilysDad]

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/microapps/vxr/vxr8/configurator.html

I'd love one .... not sure it'd tow my caravan