oldskool
Well-Known Member
It's called a LOST LEADER to get cars in work shop and then find some work and try and scare the owner/driver into parting with some more money, as long as you tip them bollicks for any other work it's not a bad price.
What make oil was it??
The KwikFit deal has been mentioned on here several times before.
It is certainly a good deal if you don't like getting your hands dirty and they REALLY are using the oil they say (I use Castrol Edge on my wife's TD4) but I don't mind doing it as it is such an easy job (I don't find removing the belly-pan the pain that others seem to) and it gives me a good chance to check the the underside while I am there.
Unfortunately I am one of those who has little faith in garages whether they be franchised or independant and would rather do the job myself.
A few years ago the main dealer stripped the sump thread on my Defender at the intial 1K mile oil-change and when my wife's Freelander (the one she has now) came back from the dealer after a supposed oil & filter change I found that neither had been done.
I let a garage do all they have to to keep the warranty in force and then it is all mine.
It is certainly a good deal if you don't like getting your hands dirty and they REALLY are using the oil they say (I use Castrol Edge on my wife's TD4) but I don't mind doing it as it is such an easy job (I don't find removing the belly-pan the pain that others seem to) and it gives me a good chance to check the the underside while I am there.
Unfortunately I am one of those who has little faith in garages whether they be franchised or independant and would rather do the job myself.
A few years ago the main dealer stripped the sump thread on my Defender at the intial 1K mile oil-change and when my wife's Freelander (the one she has now) came back from the dealer after a supposed oil & filter change I found that neither had been done.
I let a garage do all they have to to keep the warranty in force and then it is all mine.
Mrfulwell
New Member
I would second that there rather **** in kwik fit, anyone catch them on watchdog last time, told a guy they checked the clutch Pedal on his car and it needed attention, the guy told them the car was an automatic! Classic. The kwik fit in Newmarket where I live is ****, told me my front tyres were shagged when I pulled in there to buy a bulb. I told them I was a commercial fitter and they realised I could bit be duped and quickly said there had been a mix up in paperwork. Class A idiots.
angeloc
Well-Known Member
Guys I would agree with all the comments - I know the score and would normally do it myself but I have a reason for not getting lily today. I took sump guard off last week but didn't have oil. On the off chance today I went into nationwide they wanted £50 and didn't have filter opposite is Kwikfit do nothing to lose - filter in stock, fully synth oil something 3000 all in for £34 no other charges and as my Freebie is so do perfect no suggestions for any parts.
Guy who did it was careful and let me watch - lucky as I had to show him how to get sump guard off! But he drained it well. Fitted new Unipart Filter AND gasket then filled slowly letting it go down etc. It took loads of oil ! Then he started it with no revving etc ran it for a few mins dropped it let it stand for 10 mins checked and topped up oil - a good job I have to say.
It sounds better and revs better - I bought it with a service record privately and it was supposed to have had an oil change 2k mls ago - the filter was absolutely black!!!
This time Kwikfit did me proud - I can't buy that amount of Full synth oil alone locally for what they charged - they can loss lead a the like with me from now one.
UPDATE: I checked - this is the oil they used Mobil 3000 fully synth
http://www.mobil.co.uk/UK-English-LCW/carengineoils_products_mobil-super-3000-xe-5w30.aspx
Approved for BMW and Diesel - good stuff methinks
Guy who did it was careful and let me watch - lucky as I had to show him how to get sump guard off! But he drained it well. Fitted new Unipart Filter AND gasket then filled slowly letting it go down etc. It took loads of oil ! Then he started it with no revving etc ran it for a few mins dropped it let it stand for 10 mins checked and topped up oil - a good job I have to say.
It sounds better and revs better - I bought it with a service record privately and it was supposed to have had an oil change 2k mls ago - the filter was absolutely black!!!
This time Kwikfit did me proud - I can't buy that amount of Full synth oil alone locally for what they charged - they can loss lead a the like with me from now one.
UPDATE: I checked - this is the oil they used Mobil 3000 fully synth
http://www.mobil.co.uk/UK-English-LCW/carengineoils_products_mobil-super-3000-xe-5w30.aspx
Approved for BMW and Diesel - good stuff methinks
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crashbox
Well-Known Member
I took my cars to Kwik Fit for tyres, the odd oil change and exhausts for many years. The old staff knew not to bull**** me but thats another story. Last year I bought 2 front tyres for my Astra. About 6 months later I found a few slits in the sidewall, not caused by kerbing, too far in and random pattern etc, obviously a faulty tyre. I took it back and the new manager agreed to replace it but was going to charge me about 30 quid. I pointed out it was faulty, not fit for purpose etc. They eventually charged me 19 quid but I told them they just lost a customer. The Manager said they would submit it for tests and I would hear back from them, probably with a refund. Quess what, nowt. Stupid knut lost a good customer for £19. They worked out the % wear and deducted it from the price. I went to Farmers last week, £40.06 for oil and filter change. My local garage charged me £65.
angeloc
Well-Known Member
Nationwide and Kwick f$ck :doh: you do like a ****ty garage don't youstill sounds like they done a proper job for a change happy days
No that's the point for all my life since my early rallying days I have done all my own stuff - everything but I am now getting on a bit and today I thought it's just an oil change I needed before a long drive - I had a spare hour or two ( it did take two hours!!!) and I was really pleasantly surprised - but you do need to know what you are doing and not be suckered into the hype from Kwikfit.
I suppose they're only as good as the mechanic who is doing the job - my guy was cool and did it by the book.
Mrfulwell
New Member
Says it all, this guy is supposed to work in a garage. I wonder how he would get on putting fuel in the car.
angeloc
Well-Known Member
Harsh - let's be honest if you haven't done one before the Freelander one is not the most logical - why on earth they pug do many bolts and screws on something that should be quick and easy to remove is anyone's guess.
Bottom line is I got 6 litres of Mobil fully synth plus an oil filter and didn't get my hands dirty for less then I challenge anyone to buy the oil alone legally!
Did Kwik-Fit also mention to you that having drained such dirty oil from an M47, it would also be necessary to change the crank case breather filter before the engine blows oil out of its various Germanic orifices.
I hope this isn't a main service either, just an interim engine oil change.
I hope this isn't a main service either, just an interim engine oil change.
angeloc
Well-Known Member
Hard man he was a young kid who was up for doing a good job and I applaud him for realizing he didn't know how where all the screws where do he came over and asked me - many so called know it alls would have bodged thongs and started drilling out rivets before doing what is good practice and asking - he knew I knew my vehicle so chose the quickest and safest route to improve his knowledge - I like mechanics like this - to many knobs about who think they are some kind of elitist super race. The guy did a good job period and now will never need to ask again.
angeloc
Well-Known Member
I replaced the crankcase breather for the BMW one at the same time as I fitted the EGR bypass and just before the intercooler hose replacement and Synergie2 was fitted.
It's just an oil change - I never suggested I would have them service it just like I would never suggest a main dealer would - I work in a college and our engineering sept train all these guys and guess what they are all in the sane class and come from the same areas - the difference is about £75 an hour - sorry guys I do all my own but for less than I can buy the oil for and a good willing kid to do the job Kwikfit get my vote on this one.
Out of curiosity if I took it to a main dealer what would they charge - mmm now let me see - 1hr min at £150 ph 6 lts oil at £12 lt and then a filter probably from Unipart but branded LR oh yes and of course a very special gasket and washer - all in £250 sir yeh right!!!
Chaser
New Member
Have to agree with you there, there's a first time for everyone and every job, no matter where you work, there's no shame whatsoever in asking. He may well of worked it out correctly if there was no alternative but preferred to use initiative and ask.
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Mrfulwell
New Member
If he was a young kid and had never done one before then why was he working unsupervised? Im not trying to belittle the guy, seriously its good that he did ask rather than make a hash of it but this is Kwik fits problem through all there service centers, they employ young people who will work for min wage and just leave them on the workshop floor unsupervised and wonder why the company gets such a bad reputation. Where were the other service techs? Where was the manager? If it was me and he asked me how to take the sump guard off i would have asked him to take the car off the ramp and give me my keys back. Im honestly not trying to be an asshole but i work in a similar enviroment to a kwik fit but its lorries instead of cars, no one is allowed out on there own without proper training. You have to do six months sweeping the workshop and making the tea before you can even pick up a spanner! Fair play to the guy for asking for help but maby asking the customer was not the right thing to do, maby asking a more experienced service tech for help first would have saved the company a bit of embarresment. But we live and learn so good luck to the kid i hope he gets out of kwik fit and goes and works for a company that will actually invest in him. people who give a **** are hard to find nowerdays.
angeloc
Well-Known Member
Ok let's get this into perspective - it was Saturday morning there was a guy on reception and a senior guy on the floor so he wasn't unsupervised - there were about 6 cars in for a variety of things. He said the job would beca bit longer because he needed to drill out the rivetts I said no you don't do that and showed him the two bolts in the front he had missed. I suspect he would have asked his boss unless of course they where the kind to sack on the spot for checking before doing.
Asking the customer - not quite - perhaps I inadvertently gave the wrong impression but he knew I knew my vehicle do why not / I am not the usual know nothing customer.
I don't know much about Kwikfit but those guys have to know all cars not just a handful like a dealer and they have to turn them around quickly. It's not a dealership but it's convenient and quick - I just drove in and an hour and a half later ( had to wait for a bay) I drove out happy.
Another point he checked all the stuff they try and sell you and I got a clean bill of health on the Freebie! It's like service history only better because you know they are looking for anything!!! Ha ha
Asking the customer - not quite - perhaps I inadvertently gave the wrong impression but he knew I knew my vehicle do why not / I am not the usual know nothing customer.
I don't know much about Kwikfit but those guys have to know all cars not just a handful like a dealer and they have to turn them around quickly. It's not a dealership but it's convenient and quick - I just drove in and an hour and a half later ( had to wait for a bay) I drove out happy.
Another point he checked all the stuff they try and sell you and I got a clean bill of health on the Freebie! It's like service history only better because you know they are looking for anything!!! Ha ha
