MOT - Garage claim that front spings need replacing?

[anthoo]

Hi I have a 1997 S320

AMC of Tooting, London have just surveyed the car for an MOT and claim that both front suspension springs need replacing, cost £400
allegedly both springs have snapped? right at the base of the mounting?
oddly they are also me to alloow them to keep the car for a further 3 days as well.

Its the second time Ive used them for services etc

a. Is this normal? never heard of suspension springs needing to be replaced before? They claim its an everyday occurance??

b. Anybody use AMC regularly? whats their general reputation?

many thanks

Tony

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Sounds normal, happens on a lot of cars.

 

[ADY1983]

Yep springs do snap, I had a pair go on a mondeo a couple of years ago... and a shock snapped once...

 

[normanr]

I had a G reg 190E it was parked on the driveway and I heard a bang outside my front door and went out to see what was going on and part of one of my front springs was in my driveway,this is a common problem with the 190e and the C-class according to my garage

 

[Howard]

I had the same experience as Norman , but with my Honda CRX VTEC, just sitting there one day and BANG !!

Springs do need replacing every now and then , you will be amazed at the difference it makes ...

EDIT :- £400 to replace two springs seems a bit steep though ......

 

[goldestate]

Gone on my E estate as well at the bottom difficult to see but £60 a PAIR from Mercedes can't grumble about the price though

 

[jaymanek]

i i just bought a pair of springs from GSF for an S500 for £51.23

so thats a helluvalot of labour!

 

[Ian B Walker]

To allow a car to leave a premisis with defective springs is in my opinion criminal. Wouldnt happen in the 124works.

 

[Dieselman]

To allow a car to leave a premisis with defective springs is in my opinion criminal. Wouldnt happen in the 124works.

That sounds a bit harsh Ian. The springs only have the tips snapped off and must've been gone for a while. We are not talking suspension collapse here.

If the car isn't atually dangerous to drive I would be wary of any garage that refused to allow the release of a vehicle, it smacks of rogue traders.

 

[big x]

i i just bought a pair of springs from GSF for an S500 for £51.23

so thats a helluvalot of labour!

True, but only MB can match the springs exactly to the cars weight,they use the option codes to find the right spring rate.

adam

 

[Dieselman]

True, but only MB can match the springs exactly to the cars weight,they use the option codes to find the right spring rate.

adam

But MB springs are only about £40 each.

 

[lotusmark2]

That sounds a bit harsh Ian. The springs only have the tips snapped off and must've been gone for a while. We are not talking suspension collapse here.

If the car isn't atually dangerous to drive I would be wary of any garage that refused to allow the release of a vehicle, it smacks of rogue traders.

One thing I would say is that if your insurance company found out you had left a garage and driven the car with defective suspension, would you be insured (this is a genuine question not retorical!)

 

[Dieselman]

One thing I would say is that if your insurance company found out you had left a garage and driven the car with defective suspension, would you be insured (this is a genuine question not retorical!)

That's not the garage proprietors decision. He should advise and allow the customer to decide.

 

[lotusmark2]

Fair point Deiselman but is it fair to say a garage owner should be very tetchy about releasing a car which he knows will be driven away illeagaly.

Is it the case that if you knowingly allow an offence to take place you are an accomplice?

ok so I am playing a bit of devil advocate but this really is an interesting question to me.

 

[Birdman]

If your advice is not followed you cannot be held accountable for the consequences of non-compliance. If the advice is followed and it is shown to be negligent or malicious AND you are in the trade then you may be held responsible. That is my commonsense view and I should be interested to hear a legal eagle's pov.

Of course, you could contact your local constabulary but if they do act on your tip-off your business might get a visit in the night from a disaffected owner. Give the man an honest opinion and let it be imo.

I suggest to anthoo he shops around (by phone) for a best price for the job using an independent mercedes dealership who will know exactly what they are looking at, or else find that elusive beast the Mercedes-Benz Authorised Repairer.

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13

 

[glojo]

ok so I am playing a bit of devil advocate but this really is an interesting question to me.

I understand your question, but surely this is an every day occurence at any MOT testing location??

If anthoo distrust the garage that has allegedly found the defective springs then I can understand the suspicion, but these things happen and if the location can fix them then be grateful.

John

 

[ShinyF1]

AMC - Earlsfield

I have just reluctantly replaced a BMW E34 520i Touring that AMC have looked after since 1998 [2 years before I owned it] and have had no cause for complaint over this time. Admittedly I was lucky to own a very reliable car, but I have had no MOT shocks over the years, and the service has been honest and fair.

After a big overheating incident I once had the AA relay my car to them with a[n AA] diagnosed warped cylinder head and gasket failure - AMC were quick to tell me it was nothing more than a sheared water pump impeller which they replaced at minimal cost .

I have replaced the 5 Series with a E320 CDI Estate which I will entrust to AMC based on my previous experience - something tells me it will be rather more expensive to maintain than the BMW though.....

I'm sorry they have left you with a bad taste in the mouth - but it does seem out of character given my experience

 

[miro]

Fair point Deiselman but is it fair to say a garage owner should be very tetchy about releasing a car which he knows will be driven away illeagaly.

Is it the case that if you knowingly allow an offence to take place you are an accomplice?

ok so I am playing a bit of devil advocate but this really is an interesting question to me.

Mercedes Benz WILL activate TV in motion for a customer IF you sign your civil rights away in a detailed summary of your risk.

 

[andy_k]

Mercedes Benz WILL activate TV in motion for a customer IF you sign your civil rights away in a detailed summary of your risk.

our local dealer won't and they also warn you that if it's been activated elsewhere as soon as they plug their diagnostic equipment in it will reset to factory defaults.

As for the broken spring, I would seriously doubt any MOT station that was willing to release a car in such a state. I would have thought that the "unfit for use on a public road" would apply. Saying it's been like that for a while is no defence once you are made aware of the problem just like a bald tyre and quite frankly saying you hadn't noticed it would be a pretty poor defence in a worst case scenario.

OK, they've tried to overcharge you for the parts but that's a different argument

Andy

 

[glojo]

Mercedes Benz WILL activate TV in motion for a customer IF you sign your civil rights away in a detailed summary of your risk.

I am amazed at your statement. I have no reason to doubt what your saying, but Mercedes-Benz cannot deny responsibility for aiding and abetting an illegal act!!!

I would have expected a reply exactly along the lines of what Andy_K has outlined.

I am NOT saying 'Tosh' I believe what you say, but I say Mercedes-Benz are WRONG to do it.

Regards,
John