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Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:41 am
by Tedster
Hi all.

I've got a problem with the passenger door on my 2014 F Type.

Searching here suggests it's not an unknown issue yet my dealer claims they've never encountered it and want £180 to investigate.

I can't ever recall paying for investigation time before. It's annoyed me somewhat.

Can anyone recommend an independent in Gloucestershire or Bristol that could sort it instead?

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:57 am
by cj10jeeper
It’s been standard at dealers for years once outside of warranty
Otherwise everyone would go to a dealer have an issue diagnosed and then go fix it themselves or another garage

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:03 am
by Tedster
And if it takes 10 mins to find the problem they won't charge me? :-)

I usually just book cars in, they fix them and charge me. Not been told this before.

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:39 am
by cj10jeeper
I empathise with the situation, but of course you pay. It’s the time to book, use systems, their skill, not do other paying work, etc.
If you booked in for a service at £200 and the dealer said we struggled and it took longer so it’s £100 more, would you be happy?

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 11:20 am
by scm
Find a decent independent - you won't pay for glossy premises but you might get much better service.

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 12:21 pm
by philmayfield
Never use a main dealer unless you have a warranty.

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 1:03 pm
by Tedster
Going to whip the door card off and have a look myself.

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 1:56 pm
by cj10jeeper
Tedster wrote: Sun May 19, 2019 1:03 pm Going to whip the door card off and have a look myself.
Much more like it. Nothing to lose, but an hour of your time working out how to remove the door card and check all is connected

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 2:46 pm
by steviegtr
Just a snippet. I bought a set of door card removal tools from local car diy shop. Makes removal without breaking clips so much easier.

Re: Door won't open - Dealer wants £180 just to investigate.

Posted: Tue May 21, 2019 3:30 pm
by Tedster
Doh.

Can't get the door card off because I can't open the door.