GregE240
Active Member
No sign of this chap's garage on here, so here goes:
I've e-mailed Andy a few times prior to this morning's visit.
Indeed, I originally mailed him two years ago out of the blue asking him for advice for my first Mercedes. He was very helpful, replying almost straight away with loads of good points. Not the sort of response you'd get if you went into a dealers.
Well, one expired Signature warranty and 40,000 miles later, my "BRAKE LINING" warning light came on yesterday morning, so I telephoned Andy late yesterday afternoon. No problem, the man himself said, bring it on in first thing and we'll do them while you wait.
Got there at about 8:10 this morning, quite easy to find (for locals its on the A457 between J1 and J2 of the M5, big signs on the main road). Got booked in and 5 minutes later the car was on the ramps. Andy was picking up a customers car (they offer a free collect and deliver service) so I was left in the capable and friendly hands of his service manager Roger.
Prognosis wasn't good initially - as well as the front pads, the front disks were below level as well, but at thirty quid each I wasn't going to complain (pads were £42 plus VAT, by the way). While the car was in the air I was invited to join the service engineer while we had a guided tour of the underneath of my car - seems at your first visit they have a damn good look around to find anything that may need attention sooner or later. This is incorporated into the engineers report that stays on your file. Nothing major - rear diff seal is weeping a little but nothing to worry about, and the front ARB supports need replacing at the next service (about £6 the pair - phew!).
Other than that, clean as a whistle.
While the car was being lowered off the lift, the engineer had a look at the rear pads - and they were like After Eight mints! Almost no friction material left at all, so a new set was in order (£31) - none in stock so a set were couriered immediately. It was commented that due to modern traction control systems the rears have mmore work to do these days as well as act as handbrake and provide stopping force, so rear pad wear is not uncommon.
Ten minutes later all is good on the car and the engineer took it for a quick road test to make sure everything had bedded in.
During all of this Andy Gayle turned up and introduced himself. We spent a while talking customer service, oil change frequencies and so forth.
Andy has clearly worked hard to build the business up to what it is today and values repeat business and word of mouth. Not to mention advertisements in magazines. But a thoroughly decent and honest chap with a refreshing and "realistic" attitude to servicing.
For example, a gentleman came in with a lovely 15 YO 420SL with no rev counter or speedo working. He was about to embark on a long drive and wanted it fixing PDQ. An engineer was on the car immediately, swapping the fuse and getting him back on his way.
He'll get an invoice for the work or it will be put on to his next service cost, which rather puts my £25 for a sidelight bulb supply and fit at a local MB dealer to shame. I somehow doubt they would have nonchalently waved me off and cheerily invoiced me for the work.
Sorry I couldn't take pics as I didn't bring my camera - a little last minute I'm afraid. But I shall be returning for me service in 4K's time and will post once again.
In summary: a great independant with a loyal customer base. It wasn't terribly difficult to see why the three chaps I spoke to couldn't stop singing Andy's praises.
I've e-mailed Andy a few times prior to this morning's visit.
Indeed, I originally mailed him two years ago out of the blue asking him for advice for my first Mercedes. He was very helpful, replying almost straight away with loads of good points. Not the sort of response you'd get if you went into a dealers.
Well, one expired Signature warranty and 40,000 miles later, my "BRAKE LINING" warning light came on yesterday morning, so I telephoned Andy late yesterday afternoon. No problem, the man himself said, bring it on in first thing and we'll do them while you wait.
Got there at about 8:10 this morning, quite easy to find (for locals its on the A457 between J1 and J2 of the M5, big signs on the main road). Got booked in and 5 minutes later the car was on the ramps. Andy was picking up a customers car (they offer a free collect and deliver service) so I was left in the capable and friendly hands of his service manager Roger.
Prognosis wasn't good initially - as well as the front pads, the front disks were below level as well, but at thirty quid each I wasn't going to complain (pads were £42 plus VAT, by the way). While the car was in the air I was invited to join the service engineer while we had a guided tour of the underneath of my car - seems at your first visit they have a damn good look around to find anything that may need attention sooner or later. This is incorporated into the engineers report that stays on your file. Nothing major - rear diff seal is weeping a little but nothing to worry about, and the front ARB supports need replacing at the next service (about £6 the pair - phew!).
Other than that, clean as a whistle.
While the car was being lowered off the lift, the engineer had a look at the rear pads - and they were like After Eight mints! Almost no friction material left at all, so a new set was in order (£31) - none in stock so a set were couriered immediately. It was commented that due to modern traction control systems the rears have mmore work to do these days as well as act as handbrake and provide stopping force, so rear pad wear is not uncommon.
Ten minutes later all is good on the car and the engineer took it for a quick road test to make sure everything had bedded in.
During all of this Andy Gayle turned up and introduced himself. We spent a while talking customer service, oil change frequencies and so forth.
Andy has clearly worked hard to build the business up to what it is today and values repeat business and word of mouth. Not to mention advertisements in magazines. But a thoroughly decent and honest chap with a refreshing and "realistic" attitude to servicing.
For example, a gentleman came in with a lovely 15 YO 420SL with no rev counter or speedo working. He was about to embark on a long drive and wanted it fixing PDQ. An engineer was on the car immediately, swapping the fuse and getting him back on his way.
He'll get an invoice for the work or it will be put on to his next service cost, which rather puts my £25 for a sidelight bulb supply and fit at a local MB dealer to shame. I somehow doubt they would have nonchalently waved me off and cheerily invoiced me for the work.
Sorry I couldn't take pics as I didn't bring my camera - a little last minute I'm afraid. But I shall be returning for me service in 4K's time and will post once again.
In summary: a great independant with a loyal customer base. It wasn't terribly difficult to see why the three chaps I spoke to couldn't stop singing Andy's praises.
