Had the occasion to reluctently call my local Jaguar Agent, to enquire about removing locking wheel nuts from my S Type.( my nut remover has stripped its pins). They dont supply just a new nut remover, but, if I take it to there workshop they will remove them for, wait for it, £60 odd. and sell me a set of wheel nuts for only £89.00. Guess what I did, passing my local garage that I usualy use, happened to mention it to mechanic. He removed them and wouldnt take any money. and suggested I go to local motor factors and buy a set of locking nuts, because after all my wheels are only Ford Wheels. Jop done for princely sum of £10.00. Happy or what.????

That is the way to do it, Stan.

 

Quite a few years ago I went to my local Auto parts shop for a water pump for my wife's HC Viva.  He said he could get me one for £30 the next day.  He also told me the name and address of a car breaker locally who could also get you one for much less. An hour later I had one for £2.50, and fitted it myself in an hour.

 

I still use that shop!

And the stealerships wonder why we give them a wide berth !

I sometimes think that dealerships don't want the hassle of dealing with repairs on cars they haven't supplied therefore raising their prices to astronomical levels to deflect potential customers. Servicing supplied cars is all they want, they can afford to set on a YTS lad to do that and make a tidy profit.

 

'Disclaimer' ;  Again only my opinion and is solely based on my experiences, other opinions are available.

Kevin,

 

There are just two types of opinions, other peoples, and ours, the correct ones .

 

ATBH,

 

Trevor

I know this post is a year old but I have exactly the same problem. Lost the lock nut key and went to Grange in Welwyn for help. Wanted to charge me 69.99 to remove the nuts then 80.00 for a new set. I know they have a master set and could do it easily and quickly. Mechanics sitting around doing nothing and smoking but I am not paying them 150.00 for this 'service'. How do they get away with it?