Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing my 20,000km service

Hmmmm..... I took my car to my mate Chas Windridge at Mogsport last December. (I run his website and he and his wife are friends - so I cannot claim no links to the company).

Chas has always maintained my Mogs and although he had not tackled an Aero before he was willing to have a go! He found it very straight forward albeit time consuming as to do the job properly the front wings have to come off to get at the filters etc. He spoke to a couple of dealers he knows well and the 'norm' for an Aero service is 8 hours labour - all down to the wings on and off as the basic mechanicals are simple once access has been got. Intersting that you got yours done in three??

Chas did comment to me that despite bills from the previous owener to the contrary he thought the air filter had never been changed since it was new! (Factory serviced).

Cheers Phil however with my Series II the wings do NOT need to come off for the oil filter change. I knew this anyway and the dealer confirmed this to me after I picked the car up. The car was only at the dealers for 3 hours in total and they told me they are chocka as they only have ONE mechanic.

I have now received the invoice and the cost appears correct

Dont think I will be going back.

BtG

This is ridiculous, 510GBP for 3hrs

How could they justify it? Can you give us the break down?

Response from Charles (Proprieter at Mole Valley) as below:

"Andy,

Just checked the bill, Warren spent 2.5 hours checking the car over.

In addition you asked us to do an oil change and filter.

Peter removed the headlamp to fit a new bulb that had failed on the dip beam - GBP 37.50.

Filter, bulb, etc was GBP 40.89 and 8.5 litres of Helix Oil was GBP 127 (hence why I suggested that at the service the oil and filter was not changed again !).

I did advise not coming in till 12.15 as we would not have finished by then, and when you arrived slightly early Warren was still finishing the car off, having been on it all morning.

Our labour rate is GBP 75 an hour - we cannot operate at less than that. Epsom Mercedes are GBP 135 an hour with technicians of generally much less experience than Warren. I did however say that we would "spend 2 hours checking around the car", rather than the 2.5 hours that he actually spent, so in fairness I have asked the Service Dept to give you a credit of half an hour (GBP 37.50), against the Disc fitting.

Morgan did come back to us with the cost of the Discs at GBP 256.86 each, plus Vat. Pads are GBP 95 for a pair. Sorry, these cars are not cheap to maintain.

Regards

Charles"

naturally discs and pads not done or touched. I just think that 2.5hours for a quick look over the car and checking levels etc was a bit much also. But then I should have confirmed a price and it shows that Brian/Aeroman is right, we need to get a TM deal so that we dont all collectively keep getting ripped off.

The final comment "these are not cheap cars to maintain" galled me. I have run Ferraris, Porsches (through OPC) Mercs and BMW so I am aware of what is 'normal'. Even BMW Thames Ditton did an oil change/service on my X5 with a complete vehicle check for GBP 175 all in!



BtG

Hi Boshly,
I've had a number of BMs, Mercs and Audi before, have to say BM the cheapest to run and service by far...

I've just worked out your bill, he charged you a full 3.5hrs labour, oil comes to a staggering 150GBP inc vat, and it was IMO only a cheap oil(not truely synthetic), and according to my handbook, the engine needs only 7.5 litres to fill up, not 8.5!!

I could be wrong, but safety check, oil & filter change could easily be performed in an hour.

Its obvious some of these dealers thinks we're all muppets, I HATE BEING RIPPED OFF!!!!

I think the dealers overlook that if we were all as stupid as they think we are we would not be able to buy these cars in the first place.

We must all start voting with our feet.

I hate to say this, but I'm afraid that TM might not be big enough to exert an influence on servicing charges, especially among Aero owners
The best cause of action is to follow Michael's advice, vote with your feet!!
Factory has already quoted me 300GBP for the 5000service, although expensive, but hell alot cheaper than certain Morgan dealer in my area(750GBP )

Kin, I think you will find we have more Aero 8 owners (or at least a similar number) than the official Aero 8 Club

The Aero 8 market is quite small and unlike cars like the 911, M3, etc, in terms of percentage, we have a fair size of Aero owners registered.

I have no doubt that MMC would not condone unfair servicing charges but I would also suggest that they have little control over what dealers charge. (Perhaps I am wrong on this point?)

I will be seeing my local dealer this week or next, I would be happy to ask if there is any room for a TM servicing discount. They may not be local for all of you, but they do sell the most Aeros in the country, so do understand the car.

Just a thought

Simon I hope your local dealer is NOT the who shall remain nameless as I would rather walk than give him anymore of my hard earned.

Service is about trust and I have none in the stealer I dealt with!

Coming from a trad Morgan background another point of view would be to seek out independant (i.e non dealer) servicing. Certainly as far as Trad are concerned a number of people use these as opposed to main dealers. Guarentees should still be valid as long as the manufacturers service is followed. This may seem a little strange to people used to other makes but it is quite common among Trad owners.

I am thinking of people such as my mate Chas at Mogsport (unashamed plug) or Billy Bellinger of JB Sports Engineering who probably knows more than anyone other than the factory about Aeros.

P.S and their labour rates might be less!!!

P.P.S If you are still lokking for a delaer then the 'new kid off the block' Phil Ledgerwood based in Lincolnshire has a growing respect amongst Trad owners and he has looked after his own Aero Series 1.