bigmike20vt Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Actually turns out i got my dates wrong, it was due a service 2 weeks ago (although its only done 6000 miles in the last 12 months), and i cant for the life of me find my MOT so i think i best get a wiggle on!. I WAS going to take to marshalls in Cambridge however before i end up paying main dealer prices i was wondering if any cambs Zed owners know of any good independents which know the car. i have an airbag light issue which has become more than a minor irritation so going to get that sorted too. Car is an 05 model with 31k on the clock, i have a horrible feeling its due a P3, its last was a P1 i actually live in haverhill so marshalls bury is just as close as cambridge, do they have set prices? if not i am thinking bury may be cheaper. cheers M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingPower Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 If you find a good main dealer let me know, counter to what some have said, I don't trust marshalls of cambridge at all. Good indies, well, barrys in cambridge are probably getting familiar with mine now but I don't think they know the Z I think your best bet for a service is further afield like abbey or japex. If you do go to marshalls in bury i'd be interested in what they're like Wonder whether docwra has any suggestions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmike20vt Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Hi Thanks for your reply.... So would you reccomend Barry's then? I dont fancy driving 50 miles for a service to be honest, so long as marshalls do an ok job, even if they charge a little more i may as well use them if not better options are local.. cheers M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingPower Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 They're great as an indy and I'll be using them to check my steering fluid tomorrow, not so specialist in Z's though, but you wouldn't expect them to be. Marshalls charged me £20 just to get it up on a ramp after being pretty damn rude and unhelpful on the phone. If yours needs a p3 I'd say abbey, i'm less bothered as my next service will be a P1 which is pretty much an oil change. Are you the one with the K1? Seen a blade silver around with the K1 in town once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmike20vt Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 no mate, its an azure one, 05 model, standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Good luck finding a good garage. Ive had so many bad experiences in the past with garages in general that the only person I trust to service my car is myself now. Ive heard mixed things about marshalls, but have not used them personally so cant comment. To be honest, I think most main dealer garages are the same. Ive met mechanics who work at the local Lexus, Skoda and Honda garages and I wouldnt trust them as far as I could throw them. I think you`ll be much better off with a indy or specialist if you can find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingPower Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 no mate, its an azure one, 05 model, standard. Rays and a softtop? Seen one of them around... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmike20vt Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 nope not me. This is mine, next to my old car http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... 1302605978 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmike20vt Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 Right, car is booked into Bury St Edumnds Marshalls Nissan on Tuesday. Free courtesy car is included with a 1000 quid excess and then 10 quid to get that down to 50 quid. To be honest i have just sorted out a colleague to pick me up on her way to work. I will get my better half to take me back to the car.. I tried to get a 370 car on the basis that I am thinking of buying one so like a day long test drive but they say no chance (in fact Bury dont even have the 370 apparently) I know there are better places than a main dealer however i just do not have the time to go to the outskirts of London, and my car is out of MOT so needs doing like yesterday - Am stuck with a 1.2 Punto until i drive to garage! The price differential between 2 Marshalls dealers within 30 miles of each other is nuts. P3 service at Cambridge £456 inc Vat P3 Service at Bury 345.89 inc Vat ------------- ohh and they will knock off 46 quid if i take my own 5l of oil A bit of banter and they knocked off 10% of the labour for being a member of a car forum - both offered this. Takes my Bury one down to £311.37 The MOT was the same at both - 55 quid And (I did not even ask at Cambridge) to fix my airbag light if its just reseating and clamping the join under the seat it will be 25 quid inc Vat if however it needs a new loom then its 95 quid. fingers crossed it is just 25 quid. If so I cant grumble. I shall post back of my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Sounds like you got a good deal then. 311quid. Just shocking the difference in prices. I guess they think people who live in Cambridge are loaded... which in fareness judging by the cost of houses here they must be! 55 for an MOT is a bit steap. My mates just had his done at F1 in cambridge for 25quid. But, im not sure id trust any kwik fit type place with my car..... Hope it all goes okay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingPower Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Right, car is booked into Bury St Edumnds Marshalls Nissan on Tuesday. Free courtesy car is included with a 1000 quid excess and then 10 quid to get that down to 50 quid. To be honest i have just sorted out a colleague to pick me up on her way to work. I will get my better half to take me back to the car.. I tried to get a 370 car on the basis that I am thinking of buying one so like a day long test drive but they say no chance (in fact Bury dont even have the 370 apparently) I know there are better places than a main dealer however i just do not have the time to go to the outskirts of London, and my car is out of MOT so needs doing like yesterday - Am stuck with a 1.2 Punto until i drive to garage! The price differential between 2 Marshalls dealers within 30 miles of each other is nuts. P3 service at Cambridge £456 inc Vat P3 Service at Bury 345.89 inc Vat ------------- ohh and they will knock off 46 quid if i take my own 5l of oil A bit of banter and they knocked off 10% of the labour for being a member of a car forum - both offered this. Takes my Bury one down to £311.37 The MOT was the same at both - 55 quid And (I did not even ask at Cambridge) to fix my airbag light if its just reseating and clamping the join under the seat it will be 25 quid inc Vat if however it needs a new loom then its 95 quid. fingers crossed it is just 25 quid. If so I cant grumble. I shall post back of my experience. F me, £456 for a p3 at marshalls in cambs?!?! I guess I shouldn't be that surprised really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJJH Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 well, I've not got mine serviced yet, but I do know a couple of garages round here. 1st of all, Barr-Tech in cambridge. http://www.barr-tech.com/barrtech/site/index.html I've not had any work done by them, so i don't know what their prices are like, but i took my old Boxster there for an assessment and they were very honest and knew what they were talking about. Basically they figured out all the problems which let me know i needed to get rid, they didn't push me to get the work done. Secondly, 2 Stroke near Bassingbourne. http://www.2strokeautocare.com/ So far i can't say enough good things about these guys. My GF has a Golf V5 and we've taken it there a couple of times. They've been able to diagnose problems multiple garages have missed, they fixed a problem for free other garages had told me was going to be pricey, their customer service is excellent. They used to be Saab specialists, but they do anything now. I think I will probably take mine there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Sounds good. Love that pic on barr-techs website with them crouching next to a 30 year old Ferrari pretending they service them all day every day. You know some old dude has just taken it in there for a new lightbulb or something. Since I last posted on this thread I had the misfortune of experiencing Marshalls Cambridge and certainly would not be going back there any time soon, so I may well give barr tech a go when i need my service. As long as they are honest and know their stuff they should be okay. The mileage on mine is rapidly approaching its next service already. Done 8k since April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingPower Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Hmm, I really thought barr tech were more of a body shop than a garage, but I've so far just used a really good indy in Cambridge, marshalls seem useless wherever they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJJH Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Rabbitstew, if you're nearby just drive up there and see what's in the car park, you might be surprised. When I went up there there were a couple of ferraris a gallardo a 70's maserati an 80's 911 and a 350z, as well as a bunch of current everyday cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Rabbitstew, if you're nearby just drive up there and see what's in the car park, you might be surprised. When I went up there there were a couple of ferraris a gallardo a 70's maserati an 80's 911 and a 350z, as well as a bunch of current everyday cars Excellent! Sounds good to me, will have to keep a note of them if i need any work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Missed this first time round, Barrtech Ive not heard anything bad about and yes, they do really work on Ferraris Only other one Id really recommend is Ivan Barrett in Warboys, I must have been through about 8 independants now with my various cars and they all **** something up sooner or later Marshalls charged me for washer fluid last time I was in (I dont have a washer bottle), "tested" the aircon and told me it was working (air con wasnt working, but the light came on) and told me I needed to buy a new air flow meter for £500+ when actually I just needed the cassette part (at least £250 cheaper IIRC) and the car hand tbeen washed as promised - you *might* be able to do better ........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mears5 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 im not a fan or marshalls in cambridge been spoken to less than politely a couple of times when iv been in there. Marshals bury are cheaper than cambridge for some reason and seem a lot nicer. My sis has used the bury honda and recomends it, I used a local independant garage but im in ely so that might be a bit out of your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Mines due an MOT any day now. Does Barr Tech do MOT`s or is there anywhere else in Cambridge anyone would recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor austin Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 As servicing is so easy on a zed the recommendation has to be do it yourself...and get a proper job done! oh saving 2-300 pounds too....... Does anyone really believe a dealers stamp is worth anything....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Well just had my MOT with Barr Tech and it passed, even with my number plate which some people on here were moaning about. Have to say, very impressed with them. Their customer service was excellent and the mechanic knew what he was talking about. MOT was full price, compared to a lot of other garages in the area which currently offer half price deals to attract the business, but id rather pay more for a decent place. Certainly wouldnt hesitate to recommend them to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmike20vt Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 any man who sets up their own blog with pie reviews is a man whos opinion should be respected (am hungry now!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Nice one, Ive got my drift car in at a place called DI Racing on Fen Road, the guy who runs it is a very knowledgeable engine builder so if you cant face main stealer prices (or probably even Barr Tech prices) for a service he is worth a punt Mine is due a P1 again now and I think Ill just do it myself, TBH after the last experience (and bill) at Marshalls I did wonder what the hell I was paying for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmike20vt Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Mine will be going to KJL in pampisford (just off the A505 exit of M11) The main guy there purchased a Nissan GTR and i figure if he is working on his own GTR, he can manage my Zed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 any man who sets up their own blog with pie reviews is a man whos opinion should be respected (am hungry now!) Cheers Mate! Let me know if you need any pie advice! Nice one, Ive got my drift car in at a place called DI Racing on Fen Road, the guy who runs it is a very knowledgeable engine builder so if you cant face main stealer prices (or probably even Barr Tech prices) for a service he is worth a punt Mine is due a P1 again now and I think Ill just do it myself, TBH after the last experience (and bill) at Marshalls I did wonder what the hell I was paying for DI Racing... hmm.. not heard of them, i`ll have to check them out, cheers for the recommendation. I tend to do all my work myself. Like you say, just not worth paying marshall monkeys. P1 is a nice and easy DIY job. Hardest bit is getting the undertray off. Theres about 18 bolts to undo. I did my P1 just before Xmas and cost me about £35 for all the parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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