www.iva.co.uk

The good news, just over a week ago, was my 15 yr old Rangie past it's MOT with just a couple of advisories.

One was a track rod end had a little play in it, but a complete new one was only £34 +VAT so have replaced that.

The other one could have proved to be more of a problem as a flexi joint in the exhaust was blowing.
This is in the front pipe which has a cat in it and looking at the internet, etc, a new one was around £300.

Looking again into this, my car was registered before March 2001, so does not need an approved cat fitted, so this cost was brought down to around £160 + VAT + fitting.

I noticed the exhaust fitter was getting their info from a supplier nearby to where I live and, as I have had exhausts parts from them before, called in and got a price from them.

It works out at around £115 including VAT and around £40 for the middle box, which would need doing within the next year, so I have ordered both and a local fitter to where I work will fit them for me. Plus I get £12 back when I return the old cat to them.

If you have any local suppliers close to you that supply the garages and outlets in your area, give them a try for parts, you may find they, like this one, also supply to the public direct at a much lower price then via the outlets/ garages.

and is a good saving if you or someone you know can fit them, my husband you have no chance! I do however give my vehicle to the motor vehicle department at college and it always comes back with the repairs done for just the price of the parts. The work is fully supervised and they have to learn so I don't mind giving them that opportunity for hands on.

If I had access to a proper car lift I would have changed the exhaust myself as well, there used to be a place nearby that hired out their garage facilities on an hourly basis but it closed down last year.

A few things I do myself on it but for anything that I do not want to do or needs it to be plugged in, I have a local good 4x4 specialist that charges £45 per hour labour charges.

Lesley, does the college supply you with parts or can you take your own parts there just for them to do the work, there is a college that does vehicle maintenance courses around 10 miles away that I was in two minds in enquiring with.

I have always let them supply the parts as I've never considered sourcing them myself (I work in the college) they only go local as they supply me with all the receipts. Mine is going in next month for pre-MOT and full service and assuming it passes (the tutor takes it to be tested locally) it won't cost a lot at all. We're not allowed to pay the students but I do buy a tin of biscuits or sweets for them to share.

That's a fab idea Lesley. Might enquire at our local college next time

We drive a Freelander and always get our part from Britparts as they are landrover parts but at a much more realistic price,eg wheel bearing from landrover £42 from Britparts £7.20.As Freelanders seem to need lots of TLC and transplant treatment it saves us loads to use Britparts.

Britparts is one that I try to avoid if at all possible.

Within the Landrover owners forums they are known by another name (change the Br to Sh) due to their lack of quality control and failure of the parts.

We have never had any problems with them and I estimate that about 45% of my hippo is now britparts.

I remember needing an ECU for a Citroën xantia and they wanted £780 for a new one. I said no chance and they suggested a recon unit for £440. I phoned a few places and got the recon unit for £125, and it was from the same place that would have supplied the main dealer!

30 seconds to fit.

Paul

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by lesley_

I do however give my vehicle to the motor vehicle department at college and it always comes back with the repairs done for just the price of the parts. The work is fully supervised and they have to learn so I don't mind giving them that opportunity for hands on.

What a fantastic idea!