Tom & all who helped

[Robert]

Well, yesterday I spoke about my Bravo that I had just bought and the flashing Red injection light, and the fact I was going to take it in for a service anyway.
FIAT BRAVO 1.6 SX 1997 56,000 miles

These are the results of the service:
1.Cambelt needs replacing.
2.Near side breaks Leaking.
3.2 x Front tires.

Total Cost = £460 incl Vat.!!!!

Also 1 x shock absorbers are leaking but not seriously so will lat till MoT supposedly, which will cost £70 per side = £140.


Just thought I would let you know what was happening.

Service done at National Autocenter (Sutton Coldfield)

 

[Gary F]

Might as well get Bilstein dampers (better) for £35 each side (parts) and it only cost me £100 to get 4 dampers and 4 springs fittedat a local garage.

Gaz

 

[Robert]

I am stupid

Gaz , I am a little or rather VERY ignorant when it comes to cars but trying to learn. Those Dampers are for what?? Is the total for what they doing ok?? Obviously includes all the other servicing duties they do!!

 

[Gary F]

Re: I am stupid

To be honest I don't know much about cars either, my 1.4sx is my first car and I am only 19, I can only go off what has happened to me.

First off after a service (depending on garage) I wouldn't get anything done with them just get the list and phone around for prices yourself. I got my car serviced by the AA recently and they quoted nearly £800 to replace a lot of the braking system as well as a few other things. My dad (lol) told me to just get the list and phone around myself, in the end I did and it only came to about £217 parts and labour so I saved a lot, obviously it depends on the garage, I know the AA have higher overheads etc etc but still..

The dampers are just the shock absorbers, another word for them. If one is leaking u need to replace the one on the other side as well, you can get replacements from Fiat but they are likely to be quite expensive for what you get. You can get direct replacement shocks from Bilstein which are better quality and maybe cheaper, phone motorsportworld.co.uk for prices, I got mine from fastfiat.co.uk but motorsport world are supposedly cheaper. Bearing in mind that marques such as Ferrari and Porsche use Bilstein shocks as standard they are really good. There is no real need to get better shocks but they will probably last longer.

Same with brakes, you can get uprated brakes and I was going to get red.dot discs and pads after recomendations on the forum but my mechanic said it would be a waste of money (1.4 isn't exactly pushing 300bhp is it?, no need for uprated brakes) so he just did standard replacements.

Any other questions just ask, my car has needed a lot of wear and tear items replacing lately.

Gaz

 

[Rob]

Gaz

Thanks for your help Gary, I will look into all those things.