€603 to replace 2 handbrake cables

Am I in a different dimension as today I've just returned from getting my wife's Freelander 2002 TD4 fitted with 2 new handbrake cables for €603 ???

I normally repair my own (a VW T3 and a Montero Mk1). But wanted to get this one done right for my wife (and our two boys). I'm in Spain, Manresa (Catalunya) to be more precise, and left the Freelander in at a local Land Rover dealer expecting no problems as I knew at least one cable was playing up as the equaliser bar by the handbrake was ... unequal.

I had also inspected behind the drums, and both cables were pulling through without a problem.

Long story short, I was told they needed to order a second cable, so it'd take an extra day. Didn't think anything of this, even though this puzzled me as both seemed to be fine, just uneven.

Then today, a bill for €603, for an apparent 6.7 hours of labour and cables at €65 a pop. After controlling myself and talking to the mechanic he said that the cable carrier that moves with the cable was rusted and had to be free'ed up. I paid, as I had to, but am I right in thinking I have been had ?? :doh:

I could have replaced all this in about 2 hours tops, and replace or free the carrier with WD40. All would have cost me less than £100.

Anybody think it could ever take nearly 7 hours to do 'all' this???

Should I complain to Land Rover International or any suggestions?
Should I phone 0800 110 110? or is this a waste of time?

Any comments please.

had yer pants pulled eh. . . . .shuld ave dun it yersell lazy bastid

Does seem high. Over here main dealer price is £140 per hour so I wouldn't like to pay 6.7 hours of that rate for anything. Menu price servicing usually dictates how much each job can be charged giving the time in hours. Near enough a whole day for a handbrake does sound a bit long though.

6.7 hours of labour seems right to me, if they started at 10am, then stopped at noon for lunch and siesta, and started again at 3pm till 4.30pm and you're close to 6.7 hours?? Or are you so selfish you don't admit these poor guys take a siesta ????

You have been propperly a£$e f$ck*d my friend.

If my father-in-law wasn't with me (helping me with translating, though my Catalan would have covered this) I was ready to tear strips out of the mechanic. Hind sight is a wonderful thing Ming, if I had thought that the price was going to be even half this I would have done it myself. But as I said, I just wanted this one 'small' thing done right for peace of mind. I mean two cables of ebay for £35 each and a can of the magic WD40 a cup of tea and when jobs done a celebratary cig and smug grin and Bob's your Uncle's granny.

Is there any point standing up for the rights of the little man? I was over a barrel, but wouldn't like to think all customers get ripped off this way. Any suggestions for a course of action (though Spain is a world apart in some things, Siestas are universal just named differently) ??

Its a bit late now that you've paid - effectively you've accepted the amount as okay. Coming onto the forum after that and typing, is just wearing out your keyboard.

Move on, and learn your lesson - DIY is better/cheaper so long as you're fairly happy with your abilities.

Lesson here is always get a quote before getting work done, and insist they contact you if its going over the quoted price before they carry out any extra work, i always give customers a quote/estimate and if possible an amount of money that i can spend over what has been quoted/estimated without contacting them.

paul_c said:

DIY is better/cheaper so long as you're fairly happy with your abilities.

Click to expand...

Over the weekend I did an oil change, started on saturday and let the engine drip out the whole night, filled it up on sunday with 6 l. (contrary to the 5.5l. I had in the past but did now first take out the oil filter as suggested by someone here) so 6 l. of oil brand Champion 10W40 and largely ok to meet the LR specs plus an oil filter and a fuelfilter (which hasn't to be replaced every 5 years or so), no need for an airfilter (K&N) and I paid a total of 34.89 £ (40 €). Next time it will be less as no fuel filter needed then. Compared to some of the prices people quote here .....

Cheers for the comments, and I hear ya all. We did get a quote for getting the one cable done which was cable and max 2 hours. When they said I needed two I thought well then maybe 3 hours as everything is in place to move with the skilled hand of a master land rover mechanic with buckets of experience under his/her belt. What a romantic view I did hold.

Anyone who has an old VW T3 will (or at least should) be able to do most jobs. I mean I have the head gasket to do of an old calibra V6 that I have as a winter project. Now thats a challenge, but never in my life did I imagine the money involved with garages these days. I have an old Triumph GT6 back in Norn Iron, those where the days everything accessible. Every job you do yourself.

Paul_c you have reason, but its a mighty bitter pill to swallow, and the after bite sucks eggs. Well I've vented some of my frustration, so for that I apologise. All I can say is BIG MAN if you are up there smite these sh1ts if you have to smite.

Cheers all.

How the hell can Landrover dealers justify £140 phr labour? Its a total rip off. I work for a main dealer for DAF trucks. A top of the range tractor unit, say an XF105 is way way more complex in electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics etc, and costs a damn site more than any Landrover!! Also every component is twice at least over engineered compared to the equivalent LR component, Rangerover or Defender. These trucks do 60k between routine services!!!!!! How come then, we charge ONE THIRD the price for labour!!!!!
Where is that £140 going, it sure isnt into the pockets of the mechanics. Is it any wonder that they dont give a damn and people are pi**ed off by poor workmanship, misdiagnosis or faults not spotted.
I wouldnt trust a Landrover dealer to top up my washer bottle, it would probably cost me £50 and only be half filled.
They need to get their ideas bucked up. Todays 8year old Freelander owner might just be tomorrows D4 buyer.

Couldn't agree more. My Father-in-law when he heard where I was taking it to get fixed held his tongue, but later told me they over charge as what customers are charged is used to subsidise the attached showroom. So in a time of financial crisis its good to know I'm propping up the fork-tongued salesmen/women. Alas and alac, I wanted a LR for the wife as I thought they were robust and hardy. I had previously thought of letting my wife use my Mitsubishi Montero, but the Mk1 is basic inside and wanted her to have a little more style. However less electrics, means less problems, and less plastics means bulletproof.

I don't know who charges £140 an hour, except for those that reattach blood vessels. For me €52 before VAT is in itself too high, unless time efficient & experienced.

World gone mad I tell you.