Anyone had an oil & filter change at Kwickfit ? (1 Viewer)

Oct 5, 2012
4,283
9,569
Ayrshire
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23,166
MH
Carado T132
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5 years, feel free to ask me about the Carado!!
Was it OK ? Does it affect the FIAT warranty ? Do they use the specified FIAT synthetic oil?
My local stealers charges £180 saying it takes an hour to do.........well yes it does when the mechanic pretends to unscrew the oil filter for 20 mins (I watched him last time) !
 

Allanm

Free Member
Jun 30, 2013
5,431
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Cotes d'armor, France
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26,730
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Burstner Harmony TI 736 G
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Since 1987
I took a car to Kwickfit a few years ago for an oil and filter change.
They fitted the new filter and filled up with new oil ( both provided by me because I didn't like their choice of oil)
As soon as the oil was in, the "mechanic" started the car and immediately revved it. I went over and asked him what the **** he was doing, his reply was that revving the engine gets the oil round quicker...
Take your van there by all means but I would never use them again for anything
 

Langtoftlad

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 12, 2011
8,832
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Langtoft, South Lincs
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16,024
MH
WildAx Aurora FB [PVC]
Exp
Since 2015
Most garages/servicing centres have online access to data which tells them the "book" time to do any particular job... and that's what they charge you x their hourly rate.
Perhaps that particular place has a minimum charge of 1hr?
Perhaps the labour charge also includes a proportion for all the other staff needed to run a business?
Is it a successful business in a competitive market? If so, they must be doing something right.
Would you prefer the backup of the manufacturer [notice I don't say guarantee] or the work being done by... right training, right tools? Let alone right parts/oil.

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OP
OP
MR. FUSION
Oct 5, 2012
4,283
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Ayrshire
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MH
Carado T132
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5 years, feel free to ask me about the Carado!!
Most garages/servicing centres have online access to data which tells them the "book" time to do any particular job... and that's what they charge you x their hourly rate.
Perhaps that particular place has a minimum charge of 1hr?
Perhaps the labour charge also includes a proportion for all the other staff needed to run a business?
Is it a successful business in a competitive market? If so, they must be doing something right.
Would you prefer the backup of the manufacturer [notice I don't say guarantee] or the work being done by... right training, right tools? Let alone right parts/oil.
Of course they need to run a business but Does 'the book' say pretend to remove the oil filter for 20 mins......? If so I would like to see it! Why not be up front and say an oil change takes 15 mins but because we are a business we will charge you an hours labour ?
 
Sep 12, 2016
2,262
5,012
Chesterfield England Tellus 3
Funster No
45,091
MH
Lunar Roadstar 800
Exp
6 years
I took a car to Kwickfit a few years ago for an oil and filter change.
They fitted the new filter and filled up with new oil ( both provided by me because I didn't like their choice of oil)
As soon as the oil was in, the "mechanic" started the car and immediately revved it. I went over and asked him what the **** he was doing, his reply was that revving the engine gets the oil round quicker...
Take your van there by all means but I would never use them again for anything

Well I won't be going back as to use them for tyres when I had my motability car as they had the contract for Motability, the cars HAD to go back to their supplying dealers for servicing

Never was impressed by their service preferring the local HiQ as used to take the caravan there for tyres specified what I wanted and got it even down to getting one changed as I doubled checked the tyres age and despite it being "New" it was 3 years old and the insurance company would use that as a get out if it blew

The motorhome will be different I have a couple of service places lined up who can do it and two service places for Habitation checks ---Sorted

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Flamenca

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Jun 21, 2013
1,266
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Hymer 564
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'Main dealers' seem mostly to offer fixed prices for routine services and maintenance work on cars. I had my car serviced and new cam belt/water pump kit fitted a week ago at what seemed a very competitive price. Certainly less costly than the 'independent' garages I asked for a quote. I wonder whether some large franchise dealers are doing the same with MH's or do they consider them to be 'cash cows'?
 
Feb 16, 2013
19,505
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uttoxeter
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24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
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50 years
Was it OK ? Does it affect the FIAT warranty ? Do they use the specified FIAT synthetic oil?
My local stealers charges £180 saying it takes an hour to do.........well yes it does when the mechanic pretends to unscrew the oil filter for 20 mins (I watched him last time) !
Why not just do it yourself , save yourself over a hundred pounds, book the tunnel instead(y)(y)

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MC 55 FUN

Free Member
Feb 18, 2016
3,432
6,347
Rural South West Wales.
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41,707
MH
2015 Majestic 195
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Since 20th Feb' 2016
Was it OK ? Does it affect the FIAT warranty ? Do they use the specified FIAT synthetic oil?
My local stealers charges £180 saying it takes an hour to do.........well yes it does when the mechanic pretends to unscrew the oil filter for 20 mins (I watched him last time) !

£180 ? ? :eek:

Top quality synthetic oil like Mobil 1 is circa £50 for 5 litres, a top quality oil filter like Mann & Hummel is circa £10 - total parts circa £60 - £80 . . . .

Labour £100 - 120 ? ? :eek: . . at least Dick Turpin wore a mask.
 
OP
OP
MR. FUSION
Oct 5, 2012
4,283
9,569
Ayrshire
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23,166
MH
Carado T132
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5 years, feel free to ask me about the Carado!!
Why not just do it yourself , save yourself over a hundred pounds, book the tunnel instead(y)(y)
I always have, but for the last few years I have had no garage & no drive. Used friends and relatives drives to put in my Gas-it system, solar panel and various other things, butvan oil change is probably too much to ask!!! Anyway I will have my own garage & drive come September and will be doing it with FIAT spec oil & FIAT parts (y)
 

Langtoftlad

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 12, 2011
8,832
148,821
Langtoft, South Lincs
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16,024
MH
WildAx Aurora FB [PVC]
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Since 2015
Of course they need to run a business but Does 'the book' say pretend to remove the oil filter for 20 mins......? If so I would like to see it! Why not be up front and say an oil change takes 15 mins but because we are a business we will charge you an hours labour ?
How do you know the fitter was pretending?
Does it take 15 mins to do an oil change? If you know this, why are you not doing yourself instead of contemplating/risking Kwikfit.
Would you be happy if they told you "an oil change takes 15 mins but because we are a business we will charge you an hours labour" - I think not.
If the price is the price whether it actually takes 10, 15 minutes or an hour - does it matter?

Personally I have no idea about mechanics, nor have any wish to learn.
I agree main dealer prices are expensive, but wouldn't trust the likes of Kwikfit [other cowboy outfits are available], so use local independants who are competitive & trustworthy.

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OP
OP
MR. FUSION
Oct 5, 2012
4,283
9,569
Ayrshire
Funster No
23,166
MH
Carado T132
Exp
5 years, feel free to ask me about the Carado!!
How do you know the fitter was pretending?
Does it take 15 mins to do an oil change? If you know this, why are you not doing yourself instead of contemplating/risking Kwikfit.
Would you be happy if they told you "an oil change takes 15 mins but because we are a business we will charge you an hours labour" - I think not.
If the price is the price whether it actually takes 10, 15 minutes or an hour - does it matter?

Personally I have no idea about mechanics, nor have any wish to learn.
I agree main dealer prices are expensive, but wouldn't trust the likes of Kwikfit [other cowboy outfits are available], so use local independants who are competitive & trustworthy.
I was looking at van porn in the yard....
15 mins is what it would take me
Why am I not doing it, see above (y)
I did Kerb mechanicing in as a kid.......so no I am not doing that again !
 
Last edited:

Gellyneck

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Jun 5, 2014
9,132
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More than toes wet now!
I could be wrong Campy but, from memory (oh dear!), I think there's something along the lines of £x \ hour or part thereof on their pricing board behind the Service Reception desk but it was a year or so ago when I was in and it was for warranty work so wasn't paying much attention to it!
 

DanielFord

Free Member
Jun 1, 2013
3,020
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Put it this way, we had a flyer from the local quick regarding an offer on MOT and service many moons ago. I was busy at the time, and wifes Jazz was due for both, so I booked it in.
When I collected it, I got the bill, and instantly was alarmed by something. In the parts section it said 4 x spark plugs! The Honda Jazz has the Honda SEi engine, which is a twin spark model, so I asked why they hadn't changed the second bank of sparks!
Their reply, there are only 4 spark plugs in your car sir. So I took them to the car, and showed them the rear bank of plugs, which were clearly undisturbed. Also, at that point I noticed that the oil filter was a Halfords one, which was interesting, since I fitted a Halfords one the year before, and it looked dirty. So I dug further and pulled the dipstick, oil black and sludgey.
I told them I would pay for the MOT and 4 spark plugs, but not a penny more, since they clearly hadn't done a service, apart from changing half of the spark plugs.

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OP
OP
MR. FUSION
Oct 5, 2012
4,283
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Ayrshire
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Carado T132
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5 years, feel free to ask me about the Carado!!
I could be wrong Campy but, from memory (oh dear!), I think there's something along the lines of £x \ hour or part thereof on their pricing board behind the Service Reception desk but it was a year or so ago when I was in and it was for warranty work so wasn't paying much attention to it!
Well since Quickfit has come so badly reommended I will have to bite the bullet eh......and take my rotating oil filter back there :(
 

maxi77

Free Member
Mar 20, 2013
892
560
Kingdom of Fife
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MH
coacbuilt
Exp
newbie
How do you know the fitter was pretending?
Does it take 15 mins to do an oil change? If you know this, why are you not doing yourself instead of contemplating/risking Kwikfit.
Would you be happy if they told you "an oil change takes 15 mins but because we are a business we will charge you an hours labour" - I think not.
If the price is the price whether it actually takes 10, 15 minutes or an hour - does it matter?

Personally I have no idea about mechanics, nor have any wish to learn.
I agree main dealer prices are expensive, but wouldn't trust the likes of Kwikfit [other cowboy outfits are available], so use local independants who are competitive & trustworthy.

Last time I watched an oil and filter change it took less than 15 minutes, whilst the machine sucked the oil the mechanic changed the filter then filled it up withnice clean oil.

Main dealers charge ridiculous labour rates, twice what I charged fo a charted design engineer when I worked and all my projects were profitable.
 
Feb 16, 2013
19,505
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uttoxeter
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MH
ambulance conversion
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Always amazes me , these hourly rates, basic wage £8 an hour some odd , how the hell can they justify £80 or more

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Teuchter

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Deceased RIP
Nov 4, 2014
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I have been caravanning for 32 years but in 2014 I have"gone over to the dark side"
Our local Quickfit in Gosport is pretty good - never had the van there but use it for tyres, servicing & MOT for both of our cars - no complaints so far :)
 

Charlie

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May 16, 2015
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Auto Sleeper Kemerton.
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Last time I watched an oil and filter change it took less than 15 minutes, whilst the machine sucked the oil the mechanic changed the filter then filled it up withnice clean oil.

Main dealers charge ridiculous labour rates, twice what I charged fo a charted design engineer when I worked and all my projects were profitable.

It absolutely horrifies me when I hear of that method of getting the dirty oil out. How on earth can the sludge that lies at the bottom of the sump be removed !

I realise one or two cars have only that option but I would never buy one.

3 or 4 years ago I had a great big Yamaha Jet Ski with an 1800cc Supercharged engine. The oil could only be removed by suction and the engine went bang at less than 100 hours use. I stripped that engine myself and the thing was as manky as hell !!! How can new oil fail to be contaminated by the worst bit Left in ?

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Last edited:

Gorse Hill

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Feb 2, 2013
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Use a local mechanic that you can trust and wont rip you off-as for Sh-tfix priced me tyres nearly wanted double that I eventually paid stay clear!
He was referring to main dealer prices not sh-tfix prices, and quoted how can they charge you £80 for labour, your so called local mechanic is going to want £40/50 for his labour and personally I would use the main dealer for the extra £30
However my point was the £80 labour is to cover all there overheads, not bad when you consider a solicitor charges that for a letter and he doesn't even get his hands dirty
 
OP
OP
MR. FUSION
Oct 5, 2012
4,283
9,569
Ayrshire
Funster No
23,166
MH
Carado T132
Exp
5 years, feel free to ask me about the Carado!!
He was referring to main dealer prices not sh-tfix prices, and quoted how can they charge you £80 for labour, your so called local mechanic is going to want £40/50 for his labour and personally I would use the main dealer for the extra £30
However my point was the £80 labour is to cover all there overheads, not bad when you consider a solicitor charges that for a letter and he doesn't even get his hands dirty
I think you will find many a solicitor with grubby hands.......just not from oil;)

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May 8, 2016
1,685
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silver coast, portugal
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42,972
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Boatie for 20 years
Friend of mine in Lisbon got his tyres replaced on his Mondeo for MOT, good make (can't remember), speed rated, cost him 170 Euros for all four

His son back in the UK checked the prices for the same tyres at QF, £91 each

However my point was the £80 labour is to cover all there overheads, not bad when you consider a solicitor charges that for a letter and he doesn't even get his hands dirty

An interesting comparison when you consider that the solicitor has studied bloody hard for 7 years to get into the most junior position in practice, if he is lucky, and is then probably still on about the same hourly rate as a QF fitter.

Not being defensive, but my letters have earned my clients a great deal more than it costs them to have the oil changed in their cars, and often at no cost.

Supply and demand, bad solicitors don't usually last long, and we're generally pretty good at helping others to wash their hands :D
 
Mar 24, 2010
1,072
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stoke on trent
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MH
relay lwb pvc
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6 years
He was referring to main dealer prices not sh-tfix prices, and quoted how can they charge you £80 for labour, your so called local mechanic is going to want £40/50 for his labour and personally I would use the main dealer for the extra £30
However my point was the £80 labour is to cover all there overheads, not bad when you consider a solicitor charges that for a letter and he doesn't even get his hands dirty
Just because they are "main dealers "they are only as good as their mechanics-my local garage charges £30 hr (not fixed prices ) and sometimes fixes the motors that the "main dealers "cant manage. He has to be fair as it is his buisness at stake.
 
Mar 23, 2012
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I always use a local garage if possible the main dealers seen to want to change whole units on the car not fix small parts they are technicians not mechanics. I had a friend many years ago had a brand new porsche which wouldn't idle at a steady speed sometimes a bit fast others slow the main dealer under warranty swapped all sorts of bits new fuel injection etc . When it was out of warranty a local specialist found out the throttle cable was a bit too short!!

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