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Bracechenko
Member Since: 29 Jun 2021
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 178
  
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| Oh what I'd give for a decent garage! A tale of woe |
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I've owned my Disco 3 for over 2 years now and I've not yet established which of my 'local' garages is the one that I want to trust and keep doing business with. Let's face it, the Disco 3 will provide plenty of opportunity for work!
There are 4 garages within a mile of where I live. 1 of them used to be my go to but on too many occasions let me down with holding onto the car for days and days without doing anything and that's the end of me going there. Shame as they are decent guys but can't for the life of them plan and manage workload (it happened on many occasions)! 2 of the garages simply won't touch the car because it's too big for their workshop and the last is untested.
There's another about 5 miles away that I've taken the car too. They've done a fair bit of work but I've never had full confidence with their diagnosis. Recently took the car there to look into the suspension (it's a bit wandering) and an obvious wheel bearing noise. They came back with diagnosis of both front lower arms, rear arms, and front nearside bearing. I pointed out that the MOT advisory a month ago (done by them) states rear nearside bearing has play and they responded with "Oh, I think that was a mistake"). TBH, I suspected the front due to an oddly worn tyre and wheel wobble but hey ho. All in all - over £1,000 all in! 
I decided to take it to the 1 untested garage nearby for a 2nd opinion but I didn't mention anything about the previous garage's diagnosis. They've come back to me today stating both front wheel bearings are grumbly and have play (one of them was only changed 18 months ago) and said that the steering rack arms are worn and need replacing - no mention of lower arms front or rear and when I asked them they said they're fine.
Anyone else have this sort of pain - it's a bit like a lottery! At best, it's the difference between one mechanics subjective view of what's deemed 'excessive play' but at worst it's incompetence or fraud. I don't have the time, tools or inclination to tackle these sorts of jobs myself so I am at their mercy but a trusted and reliable garage is worth it's weight in gold
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 10th Oct 2023 2:28 pm |
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DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 947
 
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It is interesting as the variance in opinions is likely to continue the more people you take it too. With a car of that age there's often no binary 'do or don't do' when it comes to something needing replacement. Just one person's opinion over another's about whether something ought to be done or can be avoided for a while longer.
Obviously if something is broken or faulty then all should spot it, bit in the most you'll find that one mechanic's view on what is acceptable wear may be different from another. Each may not be wrong, just having differently views on acceptability.
I'm lucky here as we have loads of LR specialist independent places within 30 mins or so. If I were you I'd travel further afield to go to a specific LR specialist. 2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
https://youtube.com/channel/UCO_u_0D45x9KGfiNstzLJnw
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| 10th Oct 2023 3:32 pm |
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Moo
D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 14015
 
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If you want to travel about an hour away, Corsham Tyres in Corsham Wilts are brilliant. You even get a free courtesy car.  New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner 
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
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| 10th Oct 2023 3:58 pm |
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grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6276
  
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I do as Moo sugested. Been to all sort of  places but finally found sort of decent place where they know my car by now and are efficient to sort stuff pretty well. 1 hour plus one way but worth the pain TBH. Much much less stress than franchised stealer 2 min away!
Good luck.
G
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| 10th Oct 2023 4:10 pm |
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Lrstaylor
Member Since: 04 Oct 2018
Location: Kent
Posts: 594
 
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You can change a wheel bearing in less than an hour on these 20 mins if your LRTIME 
I did both on my sport recently same set up and lower arms about the same
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| 10th Oct 2023 5:12 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10406
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I wonder if steering rack arms are a feature on these.
I replaced mine and it wasn't any better  (MOT advisory)
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| 10th Oct 2023 5:49 pm |
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Bracechenko
Member Since: 29 Jun 2021
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 178
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Thanks guys. There is an LR specialist about 20 mins away so I'll try them next if all else fails.
Problem for me is I'm always having to juggle dropping the kids off to school, then car to garage and then back home to work from my desk... be tricky if it's too far away to either run or cycle back.
Ah well, glad I'm not the only one then!
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| 10th Oct 2023 6:42 pm |
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