30% increase in 30 days - Are OEM brakes and a dealer replacement really worth it

Simo

Simo

VIP Member
Messages
76
Location
New Forest
Vehicle
T6 Beach 150
My dealer quoted me £398 inc Vat, Parts and Labour to replace front discs and pads on the 8th December 2022

Christmas then wiped me out financially (think 3 kids), so I delayed the work until January…….my mistake

Apparently parts and labour costs have risen 35% and they now want me to pay £538

Is this reasonable and a reflection of what you are all paying?

Now the local garage comes in at £410…….but should I fear their non OEM parts?

Advice appreciated but not if you suggest I do the work myself, whilst it may be an easy job to some I would certainly bodge it
 
I would and have used my local garage for this type of work, never had a problem. I wouldn't get hung up on oem parts.
35% is quite some jump in pricing.
 
There are plenty of brake discs and pads that are superior to the ones fitted by VW as standard.You would need to ask the garage exactly what discs and pads they intend to fit and what they quoted for.
 
That cost is scandalous. Disks are the major cost here and while it is a faff to fit them it’s not that bad unless they are rusted on and the retaining screw sheers!

Unless you’re worried about warranty, which can still be done by another dealer just to “OEM standards”, then these always more cost effective with a good non VW dealer.

The parts will be identical. “OEM parts” are just reboxed from the usual suppliers.
 
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Ozzy Pete said:
There are plenty of brake discs and pads that are superior to the ones fitted by VW as standard.You would need to ask the garage exactly what discs and pads they intend to fit and what they quoted for.
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Thank you, they quoted APEC or Napa…..a quick Google indicates these are good quality
 
tuono001 said:
I would and have used my local garage for this type of work, never had a problem. I wouldn't get hung up on oem parts.
35% is quite some jump in pricing.
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It did seem at tad opportunist but I had hoped that Breeze were above that….maybe it reflects the world we now live in!
 
dspuk said:
That cost is scandalous. Disks are the major cost here and while it is a faff to fit them it’s not that bad unless they are rusted on and the retaining screw sheers!

Unless you’re worried about warranty, which can still be done by another dealer just to “OEM standards”, then these always more cost effective with a good non VW dealer.

The parts will be identical. “OEM parts” are just reboxed from the usual suppliers.
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Warranty is no concern…..local dealer here I come.

Thank you
 
Simo said:
Warranty is no concern…..local dealer here I come.

Thank you
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Hi @Simo I always use a local independent for these type of items (and tbh the oem parts aren’t the best). To give you an idea I had my back discs and pads (premier brand), new sensor and fitting kit done just before Xmas for £326. I didn’t even bother asking VW.
 
Lots saying OEM parts not great. Having worked in an OEM and managed warranty returns, as well as been at the super sized Lutterworth warehouses, it’s worth noting OEM parts are just the same parts.

They don’t buy cheap bits, be a nightmare for warranty, and they get them from the same guys you will get from an Indie. We used to inspect warranty parts and anything from the supplier that fell outside of standards he was made to pay for the repair. The parts get very good quickly.

They are just sent to these warehouses in their original boxes (Lucas, BTR, etc) and then decanted into a OEM box. With a 50% markup. I kid you not. Whole production lines decanting from one box to another.

You just need to be careful about where you sit in your warranty period - outside warranty - fill yr boots but make sure the parts are good and the indie is reputable. Not Bob in the falling down garage surrounded by mess and junk.

Inside warranty you have to be careful to ensure that the parts are same as OEM and “fitted to the same stds”.

If not and the OEM can claim in any way whatsoever any future warranty claim is even vaguely related to the non OEM work, or a part near it, you can be sure they will use it. We used to.
 
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Do we know who the OEM is for brakes? I've always favoured Pagid but I don't know if they are the OEM here.
I'm likely to get some quality discs and pads and do the job myself when the time comes, although I've been pleasantly surprised that Breeze (Totton) haven't even mentioned pad or disc wear yet. Maybe this is the difference between a commercial and a car centre? :)
 
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theres nothing wrong with aftermarket brembo or pagid parts. don't forget the van is basically a transporter underneath and any garage out there, even, dare i say it 'kwik fit' should be capable of a disc and pad swap.
 
Ditch the main dealer for consumable parts, their cost Have been increased Recently beyond what anyone could reasonably consider competitive (Rip off).
using a third party to fit brakes etc will not affect your warranty, consumable parts such a brakes, discs etc are not cover under VW warranty.

there is a similar discussion going on in another thread regarding Cam belt and water pump replacement, where VW dealer are quoting double what it was last year to carry out the work, in this instance just make sure the company who carry out the work use VW OEM parts, can update your digital records and are VAT registered and provide a written receipt
 
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Most brake discs are actually made in China apart from a very select few and then you pay a premium.
Absolutely nothing wrong with Chinese discs otherwise the big brand names wouldn’t buy them from there.
 
Get the brakes - pads and discs from Eurocarparts or your local motor factor. If not an urgent change, Eurocarparts do have occassional deals where components are a relative steal.

Take that across to your chosen workshop and ask them to install.

I did it on my T6 when within warranty. Kept all receipts for genuine components purchased from Eurocarparts.

Easy to do it yourself if you have the tools. Otherwise not more than a 100 for your local workshop to do it.
 
Simo said:
Is this reasonable and a reflection of what you are all paying?
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It's what my local VW van centre quoted me last week for the same work. I won't be paying that - I'll find somewhere else to do it.
 
I've got one more free service to book (assuming VW honour it). After that I'm not planning to go back to VW for any more work. I'll guess I'll see if that goes to plan!
 
Simo said:
My dealer quoted me £398 inc Vat, Parts and Labour to replace front discs and pads on the 8th December 2022

Christmas then wiped me out financially (think 3 kids), so I delayed the work until January…….my mistake

Apparently parts and labour costs have risen 35% and they now want me to pay £538

Is this reasonable and a reflection of what you are all paying?

Now the local garage comes in at £410…….but should I fear their non OEM parts?

Advice appreciated but not if you suggest I do the work myself, whilst it may be an easy job to some I would certainly bodge it
Click to expand...

Try Euro parts
Have used Brembo parts and they easily outlast VW OEM

Total inc fitting for front discs and pads today near me is £296.47

526A0A1E-BAE5-4316-AAC7-C6692C0073EB.png
FECD65D4-38F4-4151-9A40-A39DB7D05A9E.jpeg
 
Just had the rear brakes done by local garage. Always a great service. All in £265.96.
 

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Simo said:
My dealer quoted me £398 inc Vat, Parts and Labour to replace front discs and pads on the 8th December 2022

Christmas then wiped me out financially (think 3 kids), so I delayed the work until January…….my mistake

Apparently parts and labour costs have risen 35% and they now want me to pay £538

Is this reasonable and a reflection of what you are all paying?

Now the local garage comes in at £410…….but should I fear their non OEM parts?

Advice appreciated but not if you suggest I do the work myself, whilst it may be an easy job to some I would certainly bodge it
Click to expand...
Was the quote valid for 30 days only?
 
Resfeber said:
Try Euro parts
Have used Brembo parts and they easily outlast VW OEM

Total inc fitting for front discs and pads today near me is £296.47

View attachment 103981
View attachment 103983
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Depends what you mean by outlast.
Front discs and pads at 80,000 miles due to corrosion on interior disk surface and rear pads at 115,000 miles as down to 10% . Rear disks clean and well within tolerance. VW OEM parts.
 
flying banana said:
theres nothing wrong with aftermarket brembo or pagid parts. don't forget the van is basically a transporter underneath and any garage out there, even, dare i say it 'kwik fit' should be capable of a disc and pad swap.
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‘Kwik fit’ managed to break our lads car replacing a rear light bulb!
He had to get recovered by AA 2 miles after leaving, they’d wrecked the rear light fitting on his Polo and shorted the electrics. True story.
 
WelshGas said:
Depends what you mean by outlast.
Front discs and pads at 80,000 miles due to corrosion on interior disk surface and rear pads at 115,000 miles as down to 10% . Rear disks clean and well within tolerance. VW OEM parts.
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Just a comment on my experience.
The OEM rear discs were toast after 26k and the Brembo’s have done 20k now and no issue with corrosion that saw off the OEM ones.

Last image shows the Brembo disc at 10k and looks much same now and pads showing little wear. The VW ones that came out were just on the wear indicator when they came out at 26k

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Brake disc corrosion

Bagman Jim do you have any photos?
vwcaliforniaclub.com vwcaliforniaclub.com
 
Mine has Brembo apart from the rear discs at 53k. £180 (340mm big brake on the front) and a few hours. Dont forget the 7mm
 
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