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Defensorprime



Member Since: 22 Aug 2018
Location: SouthEast
Posts: 8

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Epsom Green
Kwikfit service experiences? 300tdi radiator replacing
Hi All!
Just wondering if anyone has ever had kwikfit do a service on their defender? I’ve got a 98 reg - incomplete service history. I’ve had it almost three years now but all my work has been done by a military mechanic - good quality and he has given me ‘invoices’ for work done should I ever sell it on (which I hope to never do!) but I should really get a service from a garage done on it.

I’m currently based in Woking area and haven’t found any local Land Rover specialist garages so was hat considering getting kwikfit to do at least a service on it. Please share your thoughts!!

Also, I need to look at replacing radiator - spring a leak on a long motorway journey which radwell has sorted for now but it’s not been changed since car was new! What sort of cost should I be looking at doing this for? Any jobs I should do at the same time? Hot air in the cabin is virtually non existent so I’m presuming this is all linked to radiator issue!

For my shame I am very poor in mechanics (especially foolish for a defender owner!) but want to do more myself, but I also have no shame in taking in taking it to a professional and paying for it to be done properly. I want to have this vehicle for life and want to get the boring stuff done first before trying to do anything flash to it.

Many thanks in advance for any advice/ Censored taking/suggestions etc 🤞😀
Post #752892 21st Jan 2019 8:30pm
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Rashers



Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3498

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
Had a very poor experience with Kwikfit many years ago which resulted in them charging me for work which they never carried out. I then had a fleet car whose tyres were allegedly looked after by this Company. They sent me out twice on a low profile tyre with damaged bead against the rim (much to the horror of the main dealer garage) telling me there was nothing wrong.

As you may have guessed, I have never darkened their reception again.

I admit, these experiences were a few years ago and most of the main dealers workshops are now nothing more than a form of Kwikfit.

Oh, not Kwikfit, but another national tyre company sent me out with unbalanced tyres. When I complained they said that they knew their wheel balancer was not working correctly, but as they only had the one, they used it anyway. Had to drive thirty mile down the road to get the wheels balanced at another branch.

I have friends who have worked for these organisations and, I can only repeat what I am told, there is a strong pressure into selling the punter who drives in the garage more than what they came in for. Even if they don't need it. Sales equal bonus. Pile on the danger stories to scare the punter into parting with their hard earned cash. Except when you have a leased car when they can't flog anything and never find anything wrong.

Personally, I would not go anywhere near one of these places. I think you would get much better service at a small independent, even one that doesn't specialise in Land Rovers or 4x4's.

I too am not a natural mechanic. Have a chat round and about. Word of mouth is a good place to start with a good garage that can do your work.
Post #752916 21st Jan 2019 9:23pm
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Procta



Member Since: 03 Dec 2016
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 5166

United Kingdom 
I have heard to many bad things about kwikfit not doing work and still charging people for it. Thumbs Up Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back

Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it!
Post #752932 21st Jan 2019 9:40pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
Defensorprime wrote:
I’m currently based in Woking area and haven’t found any local Land Rover specialist garages

I've been very pleased with the service from Challenger 4x4 in Tongham, near Aldershot. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #752949 21st Jan 2019 9:57pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10381

United Kingdom 
The likes of KwikFit, Halfords etc prey on the vulnerable 'motorist' who don't have a tube of glue.

The best thing you did was ask on here Thumbs Up

Good luck.
Post #752952 21st Jan 2019 10:01pm
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
If you're happy with the work that you've been having done then I wouldn't go the a garage just to get a piece of paperwork, if I were looking at the service history of a vehicle I'd much rather see continuity from an unknown mechanic/garage than services at various locations Thumbs Up 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #752958 21st Jan 2019 10:06pm
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
Maybe have a chat with the guy that's been servicing your defender and ask if he can talk you through the service as he does it Thumbs Up 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #752960 21st Jan 2019 10:08pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17380

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I have never heard anything good about Kwikfit, but have heard many horror stories.
Post #752965 21st Jan 2019 10:22pm
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Balvaig



Member Since: 19 Feb 2016
Location: Fife
Posts: 730

Scotland 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Landmark LE Corris Grey
If you have a "keeper” then service history is not important. Much better to find an independent garage that you can trust than have a bit of paper. I would ask around for recommendations from friends and colleagues, then go and chat to the garage. You will find someone reliable for the routine jobs. This gives you time to find a LR expert for the more complicated work.
Post #753047 22nd Jan 2019 9:10am
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tolley



Member Since: 07 Nov 2011
Location: gloucester
Posts: 1115

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Oslo Blue
I wouldn't let them service my wheelbarrow , they tried to rip my son off ,they removed the disc fitted new ones with out telling him and when I went down there ,I ask to see the old one (which I knew where good ) they couldn't find them .


i refused to pay untill they could show me the disc ,guess what they never did ,so only paid for a service which i doubt was done correcty .
Post #753060 22nd Jan 2019 10:35am
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R1200GS



Member Since: 12 Jul 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 265

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Keswick Green
Run away from Kwikfit......!

Get a local indy (plenty of references available on here) and use them.

I also have had work done at Challenger 4x4 near Aldershot and Gotts near Alton and have
no complaints about either.
Post #753065 22nd Jan 2019 10:45am
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ARC99



Member Since: 19 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1831

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Cairns Blue
I would not trust them.

I needed two tyre's repairing, two punctures in one day, while on holiday in Lincolnshire and they were the only place I could find with the correct tyre size, they said that the holes were to close to the side wall to repair so it would be two new tyres. An hour later and the vehicle is ready, bill paid and I go to the vehicle, now on the drivers side I see two old tyres go round the passenger side and yes two old tyres, back into the office girl on the desk adamant that they have put two new tyres on, manager comes over, sorry sir but we have put two new tyres on your vehicle as per the invoice, he refuses to come and inspect the so called new tyres and If I don't leave he will call the Police at this S.H.M.B.O. tells him she is ringing the police herself and that she is going to detain him and the tyre fitter on suspicion of theft until they arrive, little did he know what we both did for a living, the manager then started a quick back track giving all sorts of reasons for a mix up and offering to cancel the bill, the police took him away along with the fitter. Don't make old people mad.
We don't like being old in the first place,
so it doesn't take much to Censored us off.

Richard
Post #753068 22nd Jan 2019 10:59am
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Rashers



Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3498

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
Not quite as blatant as ARC99, but my experience was with tracking.
Car squealing going around corners. Took my car into Kwikfit and got told I would have to wait to get the tracking checked. John Lewis 5 minutes down the road so I went and got a coffee from their cafe.
Went back after an hour or so. Car strangely still parked in the same position as I left it. Pays my money and leaves. Car still squealing.
Went to see a mate who was in the automotive business. He didn’t know what it would be if it wasn’t the tracking. He did recommend a tyre place round the corner so went round there and explained my predicament. As soon as the Guy got the car on the ramp he showed me that the track rod ends were corroded and had not been touched. After liberal amounts of Plusoil and heat, he did get the track rods shifted. That was more than what Kwikfit had done the day before.

I went back to complain. Strangely I got called a lier and threatened with physical violence and the Police by the Manager. This must be part of their training. I was quite young and green in them days. I left and never went back. Well not until I got the company car when the lease company insisted on it. They will never ever get any more of my hard earned cash.

I feel for their employees as most I would expect have to sell extras to supplement their poor wages.
Post #753079 22nd Jan 2019 11:57am
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5110

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
Do not touch Quick Fit with a barge pole! Mechanics (and I use the word mechanic lightly) are mostly knuckle draggers who failed the audition as extras for a primate documentary. The last time I used these cowboys they used an impact driver to put back the locking wheel nuts and sheered two of them had to go to another garage who welded a nut on to them so they could be removed and then had to buy another set of locking nuts. Eighteen months later I am still in dispute with the Quick Fit over compensation. You have been warned. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1
Post #753107 22nd Jan 2019 2:05pm
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Defensorprime



Member Since: 22 Aug 2018
Location: SouthEast
Posts: 8

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Epsom Green
Thanks all for your input. Very much appreciated, especially the aldershot garage recommendation shall give them consideration! And I suppose good points about if it’s a keeper then a piece of paper doesn’t count for much compared to a vehicle which has actually been looked after!
Cheers!
Post #753143 22nd Jan 2019 4:39pm
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