This has semi-amused me.
On Friday afternoon I noticed the engine warning light had come on, and wasnt going out.  Being me I did some digging aorund and found "The paperclip" test to get the data off the ECU without plugging it into a computer.  Turns out the camshaft sensor is on its way out (its a Veccy, im not surprised).  So I figure ill find out how much one is at the Vauxhall dealer.  The parts dude wasnt in when I rang, so I left my e-mail addy as a contact.  Just checked it this morning and there is a *rough* estimate.  The dealer recons that the sensor is "About £60", and fitting will be "between £120 and £180 depending on the condition of the engine".  At this point im nearly choking with laughter.  Ive already checked the price of the part at the local Auto Electrics shop (£34 inc VAT), and had a word with a mate who worked at the dealer for a while (he said it should take me an hour if ive not done one before).  Where on Gods Green Earth do these tossers get their prices from?!

I wouldnt know the 1st thing about repairing a car, and as such would pay the price.

Why did one of my dads neighbours buy a P2 machine from me for £400 3 years ago? He didnt know any better.

really do have to love local garages.  I overslept and when i saw the clock I cried a little inside because I had missed their closing time.  I go downstairs to put the kettle on and I see an envelope by the front door.  Its got my keys in it, and a note saying that I acually owe them £130 as they didnt need to replace the ABS Sensor, and could i please nip in tomorrow and pay.  The car is sat on my drive.  heh, Vauxhall dealer would likely have left the car in the service bay, not contacted me at all, and they would have upped the charge by at least £30.  

Id still call £130 a bit steep - but then I would never pay anyone to work on a car, for any sort of work at all - except maybe some serious bodywork.

Id hate to have to rely on todays mechanics who are little more than fitters and just change the parts the computer tells them might be faulty. They charge ludicrous prices, never do the work right, EVER

not for what theyve done.  New fanbelt and cam sensor, including fitting.  Along with sorting out the annoying ABS sensor that would come on if you braked softly.  The Fanbelt involves taking an engine mounting off as well, so its easier for me to just let someone else do it.  

Id still call £130 a bit steep - but then I would never pay anyone to work on a car, for any sort of work at all - except maybe some serious bodywork.

Id hate to have to rely on todays mechanics who are little more than fitters and just change the parts the computer tells them might be faulty. They charge ludicrous prices, never do the work right, EVER

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quite true.... £20 labour to change a tyre & its done by the YTS kid.
Glad its a company car.

I know sweet FA about Cars, but Id rather try & fail to fix it, than pay the prices they charge these days to hook it up to a computer & change a fuse.

Last time I had a car & it failed the MOT on the Breaks, Bald Tyre, rough body work & some switch didnt work internally.

Done all the work myself except the welding

it is steep - £30 odd quids worth of parts and maybe 2 hrs time maximum

change a fan belt, clean the muck off an ABS sensor and replace a sensor

yeah, but that would be 2 hours of of friday, when im suppoded to be doing an install job.  Ill cover that in about 2 hours myself because its piece work.  £25 per desktop set up and joined to the domain.  They are already imaged up.  I figure im better off earnign more money than the mechanic charges.  Also these days I have no garage, or indeed hardly any decent tools to do work with since my dad has got funny about me borrowing stuff.  My main bugbear was the fanbelt, changing it means taking a few bits off, and unbolting one of the engine mountings.  Ive no engine hoist, so im somewhat dodgy about doing it.  

Jack under the engine  

This is a family forum, theres no need for that.

I love living so close to Alan, hes great with mechanical stuff!! hes helped me more times than I can remember from body work (not my personal body) to loads of other issues.