Is It A Fair Price

[ihouston]

I have just been quoted £371 by my local dealership to change the gearbox oil and filter on my 2002 XK8 - does this seem a fair price - I am guessing indies will be a bit cheaper

[J44EAG]

That is about the going price for a complete gearbox/converter and oil cooler flush and oil change at our local gearbox specialist in Portsmouth for K8, J8 and S-types.

Mike K

[robv12]

I'd agree about on the money

[ihouston]

Just picked my car up after having the work done - got to say the gearbox was pretty smooth when it went in but after they had finished with it what a difference - like a new car well worth getting this done for anyone thinking about it - they also charged me £30 less than quoted as well.

[GrandTourer]

Well worth having it done - and for really reasonable money.

[wombat]

I realise this is an old thread, but not to start another.

I wish I had got a quote from Jaguar as I received a estimate from an Indie for a full flush and change of filter plus change the dif oil for £500. Imagine my surprise when the invoices was just short of £800! £252 just for the oil, so confused why the estimate so far out.

I am now trying to decide if he has taken for a ride and this will be his one and only job for me, shame as I am fairly remote and he is only 20 odd miles away.

[J44EAG]

I fail to understand why the full flush was progressed on the basis of an estimate.

Most reputable businesses undertaking work of this nature will have had a great deal of prior experience of working on particular makes and models of cars and their various gearboxes. On the basis of that, then it could and should be possible to easily provide a fixed price quote for the work unless there is a clearly defined need to charge more than a fixed menu price due to there being broken or worn parts. Such work would obviously incur additional costs and be above and beyond the bounds of a basic original estimate.

When my X350R went to independent Jaguar Specialist, Tom Lenthall in Reading soon after I acquired the car, Tom gave me fixed price quotes for every item I wished to have done and BEFORE I even took the car to him. Each priced item included VAT. Totted up, I knew what the invoice total was likely to be almost to the penny. I also had Tom and the boys do a couple of other extra items which needed doing and Tom just charged me a nominal sum for the additional work. A nice basis to work from for all parties and it saves bad feeling or animosity at the end of the job.

As a marine repair contractor, I am well aware of the various ways I can operate when discussing work with my customers. For basic engine service work on a typical small diesel engine found in a yacht, I know that I would probably be onboard and working for a morning. I can fix price my labour charges and quote from my standard hourly rate. As regards parts and materials these would be additional costs which I would apply at full retail cost. If I were to have to run around in the car to source and collect parts and materials, I would add additional time and labour to the invoice and also an mileage element to cover fuel, wear and tear and depreciation of my vehicle. If I were to commonly be involved with servicing say ten identical engine installations one after the other, then come the second time I serviced a similar engine, then I would be starting to gain a good idea of standard costs involved. The next eight engine services, I might then be able to let the customer have a fixed price for the job, rather than an estimate.

I am perhaps quite Worldly wise about maintenance having trained as an aircraft engineer and then transferred to the marine industry. I`ve also been involved with cars ever since I was seventeen. I have to say I am perhaps particularly well informed about maintenance aspects labour charges and parts pricing. I`d also say I am very able to sniff out bull dust and detect whether someone is an expert and honourable operator. I can smell a blagger from fifty yards. If I`m not confident of an individuals skill and experience level, then I will have nothing to do with him. Neither will I tolerate, poor workmanship or outrageous pricing.

To answer your own question about the size of your invoice, I think you should try to contact a few other reputable gearbox companies that possess full flush equipment and ascertain what they charge for putting an XK8 on their machine. Adding a little for any other work you have had done, should give you an indication of what the total work you have done is generally worth.

The big problem is that some garages think that just because your car is on their premises, gives them a licence to rip into your wallet.

Can you tell us who carried out your work?

Mike K

[wombat]

Hi Mike,

I do know the difference between an estimate and a quote, that is why I was exact in what I wrote.

I did indeed use various ways to obtain the expected cost for the flush and change of filter, the same gearbox is fitted to Range Rover and BMW. The estimate was in the ball park, and the only concern discussed was how easy it would be to move the oil cooler pipes.

I was disappointed with the final bill as the oil alone was over £252, so the oil cooler pipes did not cause the over cost. The indie is James Tennant near Okehampton, the main advantage is that he is local to me and while a LR indie is building the Jaguar part. The work done was fine and the only issue was the final bill.

I live and learn something everyday. This job will not be repeated but was worth getting done as I do not believe it had ever been flushed and has 110k on the clock.

[Brakebuster]

buyer beware......

BB

[robv12]

£250 local to me, INCLUDING oil

[BrizzleJag]

Hi Mike,

I do know the difference between an estimate and a quote, that is why I was exact in what I wrote.

I did indeed use various ways to obtain the expected cost for the flush and change of filter, the same gearbox is fitted to Range Rover and BMW. The estimate was in the ball park, and the only concern discussed was how easy it would be to move the oil cooler pipes.

I was disappointed with the final bill as the oil alone was over £252, so the oil cooler pipes did not cause the over cost. The indie is James Tennant near Okehampton, the main advantage is that he is local to me and while a LR indie is building the Jaguar part. The work done was fine and the only issue was the final bill.

I live and learn something everyday. This job will not be repeated but was worth getting done as I do not believe it had ever been flushed and has 110k on the clock.

A complete XK8 gearbox service kit including oil can be bought from DCR for £99.75 http://www.xk8-parts.com/2012/11/xk8-4- ... rvice-kit/
I suspect that £252 for all the fluids is a bit inflated. Having found this in the past with some garages I have purchased and supplied the fluids myself as often they can be obtained from Euro Car Parts much cheaper than the garage charge. If you register with Euro Car Parts they email you discount codes for weekend purchases often between 30% & 50%.