I would like to strike a blow for all "no-nonsense" workshops. Those run by people with specialist knowledge, experience, passion and professional pride. Those who concentrate on making one Job without milking customers for unnecessary and costly repairs.
Periodic maintenance is undoubtedly important. But often additions appear along the way. Large brand workshops see a profit in selling more than agreed. When the car is in the workshop and the customer is at work, it is difficult to negotiate whether the additions are really necessary. The customer service representatives know how to exploit this.
Should one accept anything?
I was told that it was necessary to replace two bushings in the rear suspension. My gut feeling made me get a "second opinion" - from another workshop. When I picked up the car there, nothing had been changed. They had measured the slack in the bushings and found that it was well under half of what is allowed on EU controls. "You can drive with these for at least another 4-5 years" said the proprietor. "If we were to exchange on such small margins, we would have to exchange them all the time". That day my trust in the brand workshop disappeared.
Gut feeling versus specialist knowledge
The problem for most of us is that we don't have the knowledge to contradict the salespeople at the brand workshops. Is it necessary to pay NOK 1400 every other year to lubricate the sunroof? It is almost never used! Or what about tire repair kits that constantly expire? Will it be useless? Of course not. But the mechanics at brand dealers can sit on knowledge of weaknesses in your particular car. A branded garage took 10 times as much as my backyard garage to change the oil on the automatic transmission. The difference was that the dealer replaced a strainer in the expensive ZF box at the same time. A detail that can save car owners a lot of money in the future.
The expensive intermediary
One of the problems with large workshops is that the customer rarely gets to speak to the mechanic. The contact takes place via customer handlers. If you ask technical questions, they smile disarmingly and say "Unfortunately, I'm not a mechanic. It is actually alright when the mechanic himself calls to say that the work he is going to do will cost a little extra and explains why. A mechanic told me it took him an hour and a half to change a part - and commented: "I see you've changed yourself on the other side. Then you know for sure how many clips and screws there are". With all due respect. It took me more than twice as long when I did the work myself.
Were the workshops better before?
I recommend sticking to the brand workshop within the warranty period plus a couple of years. Dealers can go beyond the normal warranty to cover known weaknesses, but only if you have taken all the services in the dealer network. Later in the car's life cycle, you can do as you like. Take an oil change while you wait at, for example The oil change express, or have it inspected at an independent workshop where you speak directly to a friendly mechanic - who is more than happy to show you what he has done, what you can do yourself and what you should keep an eye on. Liebhaber vehicle owners depend on places like this.
Are good workshops about to become history?
Glimpses from a sports car workshop
Of course, a nice workshop also has nice cars. The pictures were taken a few years ago Anders de Lange and speaks for itself. A nice workshop.
Morgans in workshop
Classic Morgans require more maintenance than many modern cars. The special independent front wheel suspension (sliding pillar) dates from before the war. The kingbolt moves vertically in a tube with copper linings exposed to the elements. It must be inspected and possibly lubricated every 2000 miles. Early cars have an ingenious mechanism linked to the oil pressure gauge, where you can send a dash of engine oil under pressure straight into the wheel suspension from the dashboard. Morgan experts recommend that you instead follow up with manual lubrication – not with hot engine oil, which can wash away the lubrication. Also - if you dash too often - oil can come into contact with the brake discs which are close by. I'm not sure, but I think Morgan owners know more about cars than other car owners. Then it is nice to use a good workshop.
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