Made an appointment for timing chain fix

[powershift]

I've been looking all over Vegas for a mechanic to do the chain work. I found a shop that I liked and gave them a call back yesterday to make an appointment. Now he wants a deposit for the parts because he says he can't return them. I can return parts why can't he lol. It seems pretty suspect. Has anyone heard of that or find it as a blocking red flag?

The other shops seem shady by trying to drive up demand saying there is a line of 6 people with Land Rovers and when I drove over there they didn't have any Land Rovers in their shop. Their web page was Land Rover specific, btw. Then another shop trash talked Land Rovers, that was stupid asf.

I asked for a quote at the dealer in person and he says $1,300 for parts and he was faking a call to "ask" someone about the estimate just prior to giving me the price. That was his quote, I guess labor was free lol. NFW am I falling into that trap.

 

[txfromwi]

I have not done that job, but from what I recall, others on the forum say it's not a bad job to do yourself...

 

[powershift]

It is too big of a job for me at this point in my life. I don't have a garage, all the tools nor a 2nd car for parts runs. On the other hand, the mechanic wants it for 2 weeks. I have a feeling that is setting expectations so that they can over-deliver. He said it is a 2 day job for his mechanic.

 

[djkaosone]

As long as you feel comfortable with it and they guarantee the job, I wouldn't worry too much. Ask what kind of warranty they provide, looking for 3+ months, 1 year, or X miles warranty in writing. If there's no warranty, it's a crap shoot.

 

[ryanjl]

I've been looking all over Vegas for a mechanic to do the chain work. I found a shop that I liked and gave them a call back yesterday to make an appointment. Now he wants a deposit for the parts because he says he can't return them. I can return parts why can't he lol. It seems pretty suspect. Has anyone heard of that or find it as a blocking red flag?

Maybe he means once he starts using the parts, he can't return them. So he at least wants to be covered on the cost of the parts if you stiff him for the tab at the end.

 

[powershift]

As long as you feel comfortable with it and they guarantee the job, I wouldn't worry too much. Ask what kind of warranty they provide, looking for 3+ months, 1 year, or X miles warranty in writing. If there's no warranty, it's a crap shoot.

I'll ask about the warranty, that is a great suggestion. That could be re-assurance in my favor in a sense where they have a legal obligation too stand behind their work. The appointment isn't until the 27th so I have time to think about it. One guy is out on vacation and that leaves him with one mechanic and he said it could be a 3 week wait instead of 2 weeks if we do it at the end of the month.

Maybe he means once he starts using the parts, he can't return them. So he at least wants to be covered on the cost of the parts if you stiff him for the tab at the end.

That could be true on both points. Interesting perspective. The local dealer has rows and rows of Land Rovers parked for the service department. I swear to got that is the most suspect situation. I'm starting to think some people can't pony-up for the cash that the dealer is asking for so the rig sits there. And since the service advisor gave me an incorrect quote by at least $5,700, people could have been surprised by the big numbers they start asking for and just don't have the cash so the dealer holds their truck hostage.

 

[itsaguything]

But I would be suspect of anyone claiming to be an LR specialist… with not 1 LR in sight.
Both the dealer and the highly regarded inde in my neck of the woods (yes, even the dealers redirect their clients to them as does JLR Amer) ALWAYS have too much work to do.

 

[ktm525]

Those rows of vehicles could be non running or issue vehicles bought on the cheap at auctions. We are at the point of the LR4 timeline where parts will be heavily scavenged to keep runners on the road. I am sure many are also bought cheap off of customers who dispose of them when given a $10k estimate to address all the issues.

 

[powershift]

My appointment is tomorrow. A few weeks ago they asked for a deposit and said they would send a link to pay but I never saw it. I've got a big list of work:
Serpentine belt
Front crossover pipes
Water pump
Valve cover gaskets
Front suspension leak
Transmission fluid and filter change
Brake fluid flush
Slight power steering moan
Spark plugs

Is it resonable to expect a reduced cost for labor on the belt, valve cover gaskets, water pump and crossover pipes since they are already taken apart stuff for the timing chain?

 

[dlimanov]

It is absolutely reasonable but you should get the confirmation beforehand. As far as deposit for parts, a lot of dealers charge restocking fees, and if you’re a new customer, it’s totally understandable that they’d ask you to prepay for parts.