Volmech in Teesside, has anyone used them?

[Jonny5isalive]

I'm looking to get the aux belt, tensioner and pulleys, plus alternator clutch pulley replaced soon. I've bought all the genuine bits (Gates belt and INA pulleys) as I intended to do the work myself initially. I do like tinkering and have the tools, but I haven't got a lot of time on my hands, (and limited patience sometimes) So... there's a Volvo specialist (Volmech, Thornaby) local to me that have quoted £120+vat for the labour only. Seems a reasonable price and can provide a free courtesy car, collect/drop off service.

Has anyone used them before? Will take all comments on board.

[4candles]

Seems expensive for what is an hours work.

Courtesy car is what your paying for.

[wisc]

Hi Jonny5isalive,

yes I have used them for the last 6 months and spent quite a bit with them. They fitted my front suspension, all new brakes, service etc. They also checked my timing and aux belts just after i bought the car, to ensure they had been changed....which they had.
I found them very professional & very friendly. They let me perform my MTE remap map in their garage after they fitted the front suspension. Paul on the front desk is very helpful/friendly. One of the owners Keith still works on the cars every day.

Check my posts from this page about half way down:
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...220096&page=10

however there are some on here that think they are more on the expensive side......I haven't had any issues with all the work they have carried out & I actually drove from Devon to use them for the first time, after finding a few posts with very good recommendations.

the choice as always is yours though

[wisc]

Originally Posted by 4candles

Seems expensive for what is an hours work.

Courtesy car is what your paying for.

which is very useful when you are a 1 car family. Only place I have ever had a courtesy car that came with a quarter of a tank or more, the few times I have had a car from them.
They are a volvo specialist and are also full of cars/people when I have been in......phone always ringing every few mins etc.....so they must be doing something right imo.

[wisc]

& Jonny, remember that most of the posters on here, if they dropped a 10p piece, it would hit them on the back of the head on the way down......

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by wisc

& Jonny, remember that most of the posters on here, if they dropped a 10p piece, it would hit them on the back of the head on the way down......

I've read a few posts now where you seem to be confusing tightness with someone who just doesn't want to pay over the odds.
Is this the same place that fleeced you over £600 for a piddly brake job?

Jonny5isalive......if you just don't fancy doing it yourself, fair enough but if the main reason is you're short on time, it'll probably take you longer to drive to the garage, leave it with them for half a day then drive home.

[Jonny5isalive]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

I've read a few posts now where you seem to be confusing tightness with someone who just doesn't want to pay over the odds.
Is this the same place that fleeced you over £600 for a piddly brake job?

Jonny5isalive......if you just don't fancy doing it yourself, fair enough but if the main reason is you're short on time, it'll probably take you longer to drive to the garage, leave it with them for half a day then drive home.

I did intend to do it myself initially, but I think it would be a bit beyond my capabilities, tbh. Volmech is near to where I am on Saturdays, and for peace of mind I'm going to let them do the work, rather than my usual go-to-guy.

I didn't think £120 was OTT for a Volvo specailst in comparison to what the local main dealer would probably charge.

[Jonny5isalive]

Originally Posted by 4candles

Seems expensive for what is an hours work.

Courtesy car is what your paying for.

That may well be the case, but it means if I go to the garage on a Saturday, I don't lose out on work and can take my daughters out and go back to collect my car when the work's done. So it's a win-win for me. What works for one may not work for another and vice versa...

[111]

I have used them in the past & found them to be o.k, not cheap but not OTT either, £120. +20% doesnt seam to bad including the alternator pully, i assume that it will have no warranty as you didnt get the stuff from them! Personally for the extra £30-40 i wouldn't want to have the fight on my hands as to who/what was to blame if something goes tits up and wrecks the engine.
But thats just me, see to many threads on various sites regarding whos to blame to risk it.

[ALBERT10]

Originally Posted by 111

I have used them in the past & found them to be o.k, not cheap but not OTT either, £120. +20% doesnt seam to bad including the alternator pully, i assume that it will have no warranty as you didnt get the stuff from them! Personally for the extra £30-40 i wouldn't want to have the fight on my hands as to who/what was to blame if something goes tits up and wrecks the engine.
But thats just me, see to many threads on various sites regarding whos to blame to risk it.

But as somebody already mentioned, 120 plus vat seems very expensive to replace a few belts if it is only an hours work max for a trained mechanic? 120 would be like 2.5hrs labour in most independent garages.

Can only judge how fair the price is when you know the length of time it should take a mechanic to do it. You could phone up main dealer and ask them how long it should take to do.