Car is due its MOT and Service, I seem to be getting a good price at halfords/kwik fit with bluelight discount. However when I took it to Kwik fit twice before it failed both times, every year since passed with an independent garage. I was wondering if the independent garage would be more relaxed or if it is just coincidence that it failed when it did? also i usually go for an interim service but wondered if a oil and filter change is better value for money?
MOT/Service advice
- Thread starter BoroG_85
- Start date
Billy69_uk
Well-known member
i personally wouldn't go anywhere near a chain outfit like halfords/kwik fit.
I use a main dealer for the wife's 2 yr old Polo because we bought it with a service contract, a local independent for my Caddy Van, and there is no servicing on my Tesla Model Y.
I use a main dealer for the wife's 2 yr old Polo because we bought it with a service contract, a local independent for my Caddy Van, and there is no servicing on my Tesla Model Y.
NorthumberlandBoro
Well-known member
I always used to go to dealerships for severcing but grew sick of poor service and escalating costs.
I have been using Halfords in recent years and have been happy. Certainly a lot cheaper and rarely need to spend more than the quote.
I have been using Halfords in recent years and have been happy. Certainly a lot cheaper and rarely need to spend more than the quote.
18MFC76
Well-known member
For MOT I only ever use A66 Test Centre (assuming you live locally?). They are a test centre only and don't carry out any repair work therefore they have no reason to fail your car for potential financial gain. I used to use M&M garage on Snowdon Road for services however I won't go back there. My wife's Mercedes was in for service there the day before the MOT at A66. They phoned my wife and advised the car needed front and rear discs and pads replacing. I knew this was b0llocks as the pads had plenty of mm left and the discs were in good condition. I told my wife to tell them not to carry out any additional work. The next day the car passed the MOT at A66 without even receiving an advisory on discs and pads.
What type of car is it?
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ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
kwikfit did a free winter check on our car and told us it needed several hundred quid in repairs and new parts, independent garage sorted it for about £50 if I recall
Cowboys
Cowboys
Chutney
Well-known member
Not really comparable to servicing, but Halfords do a great job on battery replacement - they'll come to you and fit it for not much more than just buying the battery to fit yourself. I'd have given it a go, but an extra £20 or so was easily worth not having to bother.
It's my partner's fiat 500. Like I say it has sailed through everything independently but when at Halfords it's failed. I might get the service done which comes back relatively cheap at Halfords and then take it to the local garage for the MOT.
Did you take it any further?
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
There was once a big debate on here on this subject with one or two posters stating they take their cars to KwikFit and Haldford's for a free check up and then go to an independent garage. I couldn't understand why they would waste their time doing this.
I've always used independent garages for both service and MOT and never had any issues. Jimmy & Chris are good at the A66 in South Bank and then you can go next door for an MOT.
Just a quick story on KwikFit - A girl I worked with had part of her exhaust replaced by them and within a week or so it was banging like hell. She took it back and was told she needed the other half doing and was quoted a ridiculous price for it. She came back to work and told me what had gone and how she couldn't afford it until the next month. I took her to a mate of mine on Park Road who used to do it from the back of the house and it only needed a rubber bracket fitting. It cost me a pint of beer for him and they wanted hundreds off her.
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
There is also an independent garage in North Ormesby near Calvert Carpets that is really good.
18MFC76
Well-known member
I didn't to be honest Davey but I should have done. I'd used them for years but they've lost my custom for good now due to their dishonesty.
J_Boro_Clock
Active member
Promac down skippers lane Scott's a top lad
As a counter to some of the other posts I have only ever had really good service from Kwik Fit. I've been to several of them around the country and never had them try to rip me off. They've done plenty of stuff for me which has been free and if there was something they couldn't do they've recommended somewhere independent that can.
It probably comes down to the individuals working in each branch. You'll get some good ones and some bad ones. I don't think the chains like that have any incentive to rip you off though. They are always busy and they aren't lining their own pockets.
Alternatively I've only ever had terrible service from main dealers and would avoid like the plague.
Independents would be my first choice but finding one you can trust isn't always easy and finding a good one that has the capacity is even harder.
It probably comes down to the individuals working in each branch. You'll get some good ones and some bad ones. I don't think the chains like that have any incentive to rip you off though. They are always busy and they aren't lining their own pockets.
Alternatively I've only ever had terrible service from main dealers and would avoid like the plague.
Independents would be my first choice but finding one you can trust isn't always easy and finding a good one that has the capacity is even harder.
BobUpnDown
Well-known member
Fory VW I used Volkswerk & they were always good, when I got rid of that I used Atlas also Over the Border.. also very good..
Only use main dealer when car is new or under warranty, though old ford did use Jennings & they were very good..
Only use main dealer when car is new or under warranty, though old ford did use Jennings & they were very good..
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Marvanelli
Well-known member
I would never ever use Kwikfit. They are absolute cowboys.
My mate is a mechanic who used to work for a garage that was bought out by KwikFit, and in less than a year later he had to leave them because of how dodgy they were.
They will cut corners at every opportunity.
My mate is a mechanic who used to work for a garage that was bought out by KwikFit, and in less than a year later he had to leave them because of how dodgy they were.
They will cut corners at every opportunity.
S7DiscoDown
Well-known member
I used to use both for tyres. They were alright and usually had some sort of deals.
Yet I had a dodgy experience with Halfords. I purchased a car and decided to book it in for a free brake health check. They phoned me back saying the rear disks and pads were near to the legal limit. The fronts were not much better. They quoted me £575 to change them all.
I had the car booked in with Ford a week later for a service. I asked them to look at my brakes as I'd be advised to change them all. I didn't hear anything until the phone call to say the car was ready to collect from the service. I asked about the brakes. All of them were well with in the legal limit and wouldn't even be an advisory on an MOT. The technician was stunned yet not surprised when I told him what Halfords had said.
I have never used Halfords again. Infact I now get tyres from Black Circles. Always cheaper.
That maybe a one off. Yet it's enough to lose my custom for life. I believe both Halfords and Kwik fit employ a lot of trainee mechanics from college's. I know you have to get experience from somewhere. Yet how well are they trained or supervised ?
Yet I had a dodgy experience with Halfords. I purchased a car and decided to book it in for a free brake health check. They phoned me back saying the rear disks and pads were near to the legal limit. The fronts were not much better. They quoted me £575 to change them all.
I had the car booked in with Ford a week later for a service. I asked them to look at my brakes as I'd be advised to change them all. I didn't hear anything until the phone call to say the car was ready to collect from the service. I asked about the brakes. All of them were well with in the legal limit and wouldn't even be an advisory on an MOT. The technician was stunned yet not surprised when I told him what Halfords had said.
I have never used Halfords again. Infact I now get tyres from Black Circles. Always cheaper.
That maybe a one off. Yet it's enough to lose my custom for life. I believe both Halfords and Kwik fit employ a lot of trainee mechanics from college's. I know you have to get experience from somewhere. Yet how well are they trained or supervised ?
Priv
Well-known member
Where do you live as that would determine for me where to recommend.
An interim service is basically only oil and filter with them just checking other bits and not replacing anything else.
Just ask for Oil & filter along with the air filter to be changed.