Being ripped off...

[PulpitNeil]

Hello,

Just in case I'm missing something - the Lockheed master cylinder as sold by the usual suppliers for about £50 is of very high quality, isn't it? I understand there was trouble with pattern cylinders a while ago, but the Lockheeds are OE quality and should last years, am I right? In any case, I can't find anyone selling the pattern ones anywhere.

The reason I ask is that I suspect the guy I've left my car with (recommended by the Irish Morris Minor Owner's Club) is taking me for a ride. He said that if I need to replace my master cylinder, he could get me one for €225 (about £195)! When I said that they can be got for less than that, he said "the spurious ones are problematic. I only use genuine parts."

So is there anything "spurious" about Lockheed? Are there special master cylinders that really are worth two hundred quid? Or, as I suspect, is an inexperienced Minor owner being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous mechanic?

-Neil

[Alex'n'Ane]

Yes tell him you will provide him with the master cylinder, and indeed they are £50 from the suppliers. The pattern ones are no longer stocked by any of the major suppliers.

[Dryad]

Sounds like a massive ripoff to me! Around £50 for a 'genuine' Lockheed master cylinder is what you should be aiming to pay. They are made by Delphi under licence from what I understand, and I've never heard of anyone having problems with them. I recently replaced all my front wheel cylinders with Lockheed ones and they've been fine.
I remember someone on this forum mentioning that when they took their Minor in for a standard service the garage tried to charge them for a cambelt change!

[PulpitNeil]

Rip-offs abound it seems. The sad thing is that he was recommended to me by the club! ***

Fortunately, he hasn't had to change the master cylinder. He changed a leaky seal on the one that's in it (though god knows how much he'll charge me for that).

Other gems include €50 for a Traveller boot handle, €30 for a horn, and €5 a piece for poly bushes!

I'll be picking the car up from him today, and he's giving me an itemised receipt. I'll just have to take him up on any figures which seem off.

*** EDIT: Not this club, I hasten to add. The IMMOC.

[Alex'n'Ane]

Changing a leaking seal in the master cylinder? surely you would have to remove the master cylinder in order to do that, in which case you may have well have fitted a new one considering the work involved and the possible condition of the bore..

[PulpitNeil]

AAGH!!!

He wants over €400 for labour and parts! He did my timing and valve gaps, diff oil, rehung my passenger door, and did the seal on the master cylinder.

Parts come to €166 apparently (rubber seals, door weather strips, air filter, diff oil, etc.)

[mike.perry]

How do you change a master cylinder seal without removing the cylinder?
How was the faulty seal diagnosed?
Was the torsion bar removed to remove the cylinder?
WAS THE SEAL REPLACED?
Is there fresh brake fluid in the system which would need to be bled?
A seal change is a time consuming job if it is done properly and hanging a door can be tricky

[Obtuse]

"How do you change a master cylinder seal without removing the cylinder?"
It's awkwrd, but possible
"Was the torsion bar removed to remove the cylinder?"
Completely unnecessary so to do

[PulpitNeil]

He said that he removed the cylinder, but that there was no dismantling of any suspension parts.

[PulpitNeil]

Also, I didn't ask him to do the timing, but he's charging me for it.

[Dean]

Geezzz, this has wound me up.... what kind of garage does work you didn't ask for.. did you ask for your door to be rehung?

I'd smell a rat due to the original price of the master cylinder. What did he charge for the master cylinder seal replacement? Fitting a new cylinder may have been cheaper. Always get a second opinion if you are unsure of anything, that second opinion should be here before asking anyone to work on your Mog.

I'd ask him to fully explain everything he has done.. otherwise it'll be the last euro he'll be getting out of you. I can't stand garages that take people for a ride, they should be shot!

[Dryad]

If I were you I would suggest to him that you will get the IMMOC involved. When he realises he could potentially lose a lot of business he might change his price - along the lines of "Did I say €400? I meant to say €150". You never know...

[PulpitNeil]

Geezzz, this has wound me up.... what kind of garage does work you didn't ask for.. did you ask for your door to be rehung?

Yes! That was initially the only reason I went to him! I'm quite happy to get my hands mucky and do most work myself, but the door was proving more difficult than I had bargained for. But then there were lots of "crucial" bits that needed doing. My master cylinder was leaking, but it hadn't so far affected my braking too badly. I understand now that this could have gone at any time, so I left him to carry on with the repair. He also "went ahead and sorted the mixture and timing" because the exhaust was blowing a bit. I could have sorted that myself, though. Tuning the A-Series isn't exactly rocket science.

He has suggested that my front suspension needs new bushings, but I told him I'm going to sort this myself, because with labour at €200+ a side and his parts costing ~3x the norm, I simply can't afford it. New bushes are quite cheap online, and upgrading to poly while I'm at it makes sense.

[bmcecosse]

It only takes 2 minutes to 'do' the timing...... This is indeed a super rip-off by the sounds of it. Best to get firm quotes for all work BEFORE going ahead. I would certainly be arguing with him about the bill - show him the real cost of the parts from a supplier - and ask why he thinks he should charge you more.... You are of course not allowed on here to name and shame this garage - but there are other sites with more liberal attitude, and of course - don't darken their forecourt again!

[rayofleamington]

The sad thing is that he was recommended to me by the club!

I'm glad you mentioned which club. For these kind of reasons, MMOC club officials are warned against recommending traders.