Posted 30th Mar 2023
I needed a starter motor replacing on a 2010 Renault Clio TCE 1.2 petrol. I looked at doing the job myself and quickly found a starter for under £100 delivered. I've done a few bits with cars in the past so I watched a YouTube guide and decided against it as there was some areas where you needed specific right angled sockets and I am a bit pressed for time at the moment. I thought I could do it possibly in 3 hours though.
I took it to my regular garage and they have done it and come back with a price of £320!!
They said it was a very awkward job and the starter itself was £150, which annoyed me as I'm not even "in the know" and I found one for less than £100 in 2 minutes online.
I was expecting £100 for the starter and maybe 3 hours labour. But £320!
Anyone else had one done on a similar model recently? Is that the going rate or am I being ripped off.
I took it to my regular garage and they have done it and come back with a price of £320!!
They said it was a very awkward job and the starter itself was £150, which annoyed me as I'm not even "in the know" and I found one for less than £100 in 2 minutes online.
I was expecting £100 for the starter and maybe 3 hours labour. But £320!
Anyone else had one done on a similar model recently? Is that the going rate or am I being ripped off.
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sorted byYou get it all the time, "but I can get it cheaper", well fill your boots and fit it yourself.
You might be very lucky and find someone who will fit the cheapo part for your but like I said they like to know what they are fitting is decent and make a little on the part itself.
Do what most people of your ilk does and ring around a load of garage until you find a bodger that will do it on the cheap and then come back here moaning about how bad it all is....
You carry on doing what people of your ilk do. Member since 2013 and never posted a single deal. Take, take take.
Given they're quoting £150 for the part, labour is around £56 which is higher than average but not obscene. (edited)
You get it all the time, "but I can get it cheaper", well fill your boots and fit it yourself.
You might be very lucky and find someone who will fit the cheapo part for your but like I said they like to know what they are fitting is decent and make a little on the part itself.
Do what most people of your ilk does and ring around a load of garage until you find a bodger that will do it on the cheap and then come back here moaning about how bad it all is....
Then it goes wrong. Now what do you do, you bought the part, but is it the part at fault or the fitting? Do you go back to the garage - who will blame the part buy the part from their supplier and still charge you £320 PLUS cost of diagnosing? Or do you go to another garage and pay their price for their supplied part or do the same and supply your own and only pay labour again?
Garages charge roughly the same hourly rate, but they make extra on supplying parts ( wholesale - discount, then their mark up).
Doesn't seem exorbitant to me.
My local garage is currently sorting out a fault with fuel injectors in my engine and it’s £60ph Labour plus parts and they’re pretty reasonably priced for where I am (darn sarf).
Remember that the quote also (assuming a decent garage) includes any come back if it’s a crud part or fitting so you have a decent amount of fallback which you won’t notice until you need it.
clickmechanic.com/
I did fit it myself, but I understand why they charge £15 labour - so much hassle to swap out a bulb, it wasn't difficult and no manual needed. Just time consuming and I needed a screwdriver!