Had a bit of a shock today when I left my car in for it's service with a well respected indi garage (who deal in Fiat's & Alfa's) to be told that the front pads and discs needed replacing.
I knew the pads were due but the discs were a bit of a shocker as the car has only done 24k miles (bought it at 14k miles), but according to the garage 24k miles is pretty good for the Punto's discs, and normal rate is about 15k miles as they tend to wear unevenly The pads were down to minimum and the discs had a pronounced lip which, I was told, would be an MOT failure. They also said that they've seen discs needing replacement at as low as 10k miles
Also needed the front 2 drop links replacing (there was a knocking noise which has now been cured) so, along with the service, the cost was £680 including 4 hours labour I'm off on holiday tomorrow so didn't have much choice in the matter as it needed to be done :bang:
If this is what I can expect at every service then it's time for the Punto to go, only bought it as I thought it would be cheaper to run than my old Hyundai Coupe who's discs lasted almost 40k miles.
Has anyone else had similar lifespan from their front discs on the 16v?

Hoonercat said:

The pads were down to minimum and the discs had a pronounced lip which, I was told, would be an MOT failure.

Click to expand...

Rubbish, cant fail MOT on that if they funation, and at that price they can't be that well respected! (unless that included belts being changed etc)

Sorry I didn't explain that very well, they mentioned the lip to show how much the disc had worn and said the thickness of the disc was a failure.

Discs - £140
Pads - £74
Drop Links - £40
Air filter - £13.50
Oil filter - £13.75
Pollen Filter £24
Oil - £35
Top up fluids - £10
Parts total - £349
Labour 4 hours - £220
Plus VAT of £114
(I've rounded up some prices)

Damn, at trade oil filter and air filter should have cost not more than £15 for the pair inc VAT, Pads and disks sound well over priced also, and then VAT on top of those prices to round it off.

Just had rear Pads on my Bravo, was £100 for a caliper alone, and £180 all in inc labour, VAT and rear pads. (£150 all in exVAT).

Hoonercat said:

Discs - £140
Pads - £74
Drop Links - £40
Air filter - £13.50
Oil filter - £13.75
Pollen Filter £24
Oil - £35
Top up fluids - £10
Parts total - £349
Labour 4 hours - £220
Plus VAT of £114
(I've rounded up some prices)

Click to expand...

That sounds very very overpriced! £40 for drop links!?

That list is near identical to my recent service except I also needed a few new bulbs and two new tyres. My entire service, plus vat, plus parts and plus labour came to a grand total of £460

I dont have the invoice to hand so i cant give a proper breakdown but that sounds very very over priced

Hoonercat said:

Discs - £140
Pads - £74
Drop Links - £40
Air filter - £13.50
Oil filter - £13.75
Pollen Filter £24
Oil - £35
Top up fluids - £10
Parts total - £349
Labour 4 hours - £220
Plus VAT of £114
(I've rounded up some prices)

Click to expand...

HOW MUCH!

Discs £41 each
http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=2804&sku=56505


Pads £65

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=5151&sku=56510


Drop Links £8.60 each
http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=2816&sku=72704

Air filter - £17
http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=5147&sku=56485



Oil filter £11

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=1103&sku=56489


Pollen Filter £ think i paid about £8 for mine from local factors


Oil - £35 not sure how much the 16v takes?


top up fluids £10 well you paid for the oil.... brakes will be reset so probably need a bit removing and coolant costs pence ((if it needs any at all))

I bought my mk2 punto diesel (which i believe has a very similar setup as your 1.4) with 40k on the clock the discs were used then. in 4 years I put another 50k miles on it and I only replaced them last year as they had become rusty and looked a real mess thickness wise they were still well within the specified limits

the pads might need changing thats not an unacceptable distance to need a set of pads if you're a heavy braker but discs last for years and years

afaik mines on its orignal disks at 31k although they do look like they need changing with the pads soon, ive always done two sets of pads per disk although thats just personal preference

For anyone that's interested...

Fiat has discs they wear a bit too quickly in my opinion... To choose, I prefer changing pads more often and keep discs....
I think they do this to have good breaking; on my Fiesta front discs wasn't worn after five years, but breaking was not good, even with checked/greased calipers.

In my country disc thickness can be a MOT faillure, too. In fact, this can be dangerous, as when discs ar ventilated they have cavity inside, they can explode when material is too thin...

Thanks for the replies, it does look like I've paid top dollar for the parts
Before I had the discs and pads changed, even though the pads were so low, the brakes were very responsive, too responsive in fact. Just a tap on the peddle and they'd come on full, where as now they are much more progressive and I can push the peddle down further, which would explain why they wore down so quickly.
I'll be getting any parts myself in future and using a local mechanic to fit them

Hoonercat said:

Thanks for the replies, it does look like I've paid top dollar for the parts
Before I had the discs and pads changed, even though the pads were so low, the brakes were very responsive, too responsive in fact. Just a tap on the peddle and they'd come on full, where as now they are much more progressive and I can push the peddle down further, which would explain why they wore down so quickly.
I'll be getting any parts myself in future and using a local mechanic to fit them

Click to expand...

should have mentioned that all donated members get 10% off shop4parts via a discount code in out members offers

I'll be getting any parts myself in future and using a local mechanic to fit them

Click to expand...

I don't think there's anything on there that the average 14 year old couldn't do. Labour will always be the main expense. DIY?

Front discs on my T-jet were changed at 40k, and thats with some quite spirited driving at times.

You have been well overcharged.

Is this garage in Mansfield, the receipt looks familiar?

Tip for next time buy the pads and discs yourself. Take it to a garage have it fitted job done. Just priced it up can get discs and pads for £110. Cost you less then £200 that's cheaper then what the charged just for parts.

Might not be for everyone but I normally changed air filter and pollen filter my self last time cost me less then £20 all together to do this. Its so easy to do and would cost you over 3 times as much at garage.