West3Garage Acton

[veryverydarkblue]

Had discs and pads done today at West 3 Garage (Parts supplied by me). Seemed a pretty good setup with lots of BMWs of various ages coming through and friendly staff. Better price than my nearest Indy, but still smarts a bit at £95 + v.a.t. per hour when a job quoted at 2 3/4 hours is completed in well under 2… At least wait to let me know it’s done and we can both pretend it was worth the money! I’d still make the trip to Ross @ RBM for bigger work but would happily use again for regular servicing/ emergency

[SonnyA85]

Triple what my mechanic charges. At those prices I would be doing the discs myself for sure as they are a doddle. Pads are a smidgen harder.

[Scooba_Steve]

Triple what my mechanic charges. At those prices I would be doing the discs myself for sure as they are a doddle. Pads are a smidgen harder.

Other way round, surely

[bigwinn]

Triple what my mechanic charges. At those prices I would be doing the discs myself for sure as they are a doddle. Pads are a smidgen harder.

Other way round, surely

was just thinking that...

and my garage is much cheaper- labour wise I run on builders tea and chocolate digestives

[enuff_zed]

Triple what my mechanic charges. At those prices I would be doing the discs myself for sure as they are a doddle. Pads are a smidgen harder.

Given that you have to first remove the pads, then the calliper, then the calliper carrier, then hope the retaining screw isn't seized, how in (insert preferred deity here)'s name do you find the discs easier than pads???
Methinks 'your mechanic' could have found himself a little goldmine.

[veryverydarkblue]

Triple what my mechanic charges. At those prices I would be doing the discs myself for sure as they are a doddle. Pads are a smidgen harder.

Driveways, convenient garages and competent mechanics are in short supply in these parts. Money less so. Thanks for your contribution

[Mr Tidy]

Driveways, convenient garages and competent mechanics are in short supply in these parts. Money less so. Thanks for your contribution

Yes, labour costs definitely seem to include a South East tax that gets higher still the further you head into London.

I'm just glad I'm less than 10 miles from RBM.

[SonnyA85]

You guys clearly have never used a piston winder tool before when doing brake pads. Not the hardest job but I'd say a smidge harder than removing a bolt or two and swapping over new discs.

The last time I did brakes was on the Lexus and I never had the tool and had to go buy one luckily had 2 other cars to hand otherwise I would have been stuffed. Was impossible to wind it back fully using pliers and Various other tools I tried before deciding a trip to get one was required. I could have done it by taking the nipple off and letting some brake fluid come out but that wouldn't have been ideal.

Least I know now that it's a completely different brake setup on the hybrids and they never need changing regularly. 150k miles can be done on a set of pads because of regenerative braking if you drive carefully. The pads only get used under emergency and hard braking.

[mr.tourette]

regenerative braking has nothing to do with brake pads does it? .. thought its your vehicle storing kinetic energy.. edit.. it appears it does on hybrids.. thats something new learnt

[Scooba_Steve]

You guys clearly have never used a piston winder tool before when doing brake pads. Not the hardest job but I'd say a smidge harder than removing a bolt or two and swapping over new discs.

Yes, but you still have to get the pads backed out for both jobs! Easier task but more effort overall

[Scooba_Steve]

regenerative braking has nothing to do with brake pads does it? .. thought its your vehicle storing kinetic energy.. edit.. it appears it does on hybrids.. thats something new learnt

It doesn't have anything to do with the pads directly, i.e. the energy isn't recovered from them. Same stopping force requires less brake pad force so they wear less.

[enuff_zed]

You guys clearly have never used a piston winder tool before when doing brake pads. Not the hardest job but I'd say a smidge harder than removing a bolt or two and swapping over new discs.

The last time I did brakes was on the Lexus and I never had the tool and had to go buy one luckily had 2 other cars to hand otherwise I would have been stuffed. Was impossible to wind it back fully using pliers and Various other tools I tried before deciding a trip to get one was required. I could have done it by taking the nipple off and letting some brake fluid come out but that wouldn't have been ideal.

Least I know now that it's a completely different brake setup on the hybrids and they never need changing regularly. 150k miles can be done on a set of pads because of regenerative braking if you drive carefully. The pads only get used under emergency and hard braking.

I am now at the point where I have to ask. Are you simply trolling us?
Do you even remotely understand anything mechanical?
I'm keen to see you 'remove a bolt or two' and change a disc without removing anything else first, including the pads.
If I need advice on landscaping I'll get back to you, but car stuff??? Nah.

[SonnyA85]

regenerative braking has nothing to do with brake pads does it? .. thought its your vehicle storing kinetic energy.. edit.. it appears it does on hybrids.. thats something new learnt

It doesn't have anything to do with the pads directly, i.e. the energy isn't recovered from them. Same stopping force requires less brake pad force so they wear less.

Which is a good thing. I hopefully won't need to do them ever again because they wear so little. Depends on how you drive but the wife is the main driver on that car so they should last unless a caliper seizes but I plan on changing the brake fluid yearly rather than the 4 years lexus recommends.