MMC first time CONT...

[jimbo]

Woody, no sadly not MMC, but someday I need to try a set and see what all the fuss is about!
Cheers

Sent from my GT-I8750 using Board Express

[tut]

I am still using MMC's on N3 on the rear, unfortunately they melt if I try them on the front.

Used ones are also going for a lot of money now as they become rarer to get hold of. A brand new set must be almost unheard of, even Lotus do not have one in their Museum, but I have a set on my shelf.

tut

[jimbo]

For clarity, it appears that I have my wires crossed as far as additional works that MMC are carrying out for me, I'm not getting a full A service for free they're just going to sort some the additional niggles and items for me. Mind you I say "just", that's still pretty bloody great!

[scott_e]

Thanks for posting up the details James, its good to hear what is going on in the world of Lotus servicing while I am out of it for a bit. My experience of MMC has been good overall since I got my first Exige in 2007 (was back 12 times , mostly to sort a MIL light issue , needed new ECU under warranty). Craig in particular was amazingly helpful when I was looking at a private purchase earlier this year (2013). Hope he is there for a long time to come. Hope you are back on the road "economically" soon.

All the best.
Scott

[jimbo]

Cheers mate, me too! Got a copy of the MOT report today, it makes for depressingly long reading. Much of the braking system needs replaced due to excess corrosion, and the suspension is in similar condition, requiring a complete set of ball joints and various other bits and pieces. And that's before we get t the advisories...

Anyway, I've stopped dwelling now and am just looking forward to getting her back fit and healthy

Sent from my GT-I8750 using Board Express

[campbell]

I think their labour rate is in the region of £90 ph, which, if you have a few jobs each taking a few hours, can quickly escalate into a 4 figure bill.

... I've seen even the likes of Arnold Clarke offering reduced rates for older vehicles, recognising that people look into other options after warranty has expired.

I've had several multi-hour jobs on my S1 at Murray. None has even come close to 4 figs. Even though I expected at least one of them would.

Good luck with Arnold Clark.

You get what you pay for in this instance.

My local independent - run by a Scuderia Ecosse race mechanic - wouldn't touch the Elise, interestingly

[cla5h]

Hi Campbell,

Re:

I've had several multi-hour jobs on my S1 at Murray. None has even come close to 4 figs.

At my last 'A' service I came away with a bill of over £900 in labour, not to mention the parts. It sounds like the OP is in a similar situation.
I'm not saying this work wasn't needed, but using an indy where the labour rate is about half would have delivered a significant cost saving.

For clarity, I wasn't recommending anyone take their Elise to Arnold Clarke, but merely pointing out that there are places that recognise folk often can't justify premium main dealer rates for older vehicles and so offer an incentive to continue using them once a car is well out of warranty.

Regards,

[IanD]

I think their labour rate is in the region of £90 ph, which, if you have a few jobs each taking a few hours, can quickly escalate into a 4 figure bill.

... I've seen even the likes of Arnold Clarke offering reduced rates for older vehicles, recognising that people look into other options after warranty has expired.

I've had several multi-hour jobs on my S1 at Murray. None has even come close to 4 figs. Even though I expected at least one of them would.

Good luck with Arnold Clark.

You get what you pay for in this instance.

My local independent - run by a Scuderia Ecosse race mechanic - wouldn't touch the Elise, interestingly

As we know the quality of service at Murray's is good, others say it is actually cheap, I wouldn't say cheap but it is worth it for most things compared to paying someone else so know what RAMTOP_ERROR is getting at ( I do think standard kabour rate is about £90 per hr although we don't always pay that for a Craig priced job)
In my last B service/MOT due to a combination of a couple of extra things highlighted that I agreed to get done then unfortunately getting hit with more things due to failing MOT (some I knew about and thought would pass and I would sort out myself over winter), it took my labour charge up to very close to 4 figures.

I've known I need to do as Campbell mentioned and get a Mot check or service ahead of the MOT expiry to allow time to sort out the easy stuff myself, this year was a bit of an expensive reminder of that.

[campbell]

For clarity, I wasn't recommending anyone take their Elise to Arnold Clarke, but merely pointing out that there are places that recognise folk often can't justify premium main dealer rates for older vehicles and so offer an incentive to continue using them once a car is well out of warranty.

Regards,

In absolute fairness to you I was being cheeky there, apologies

I have been in exactly that boat - can't afford to take the car to a "main dealer". But quite categorically, Craig at Murray changed that position for me, and in the case of an Elise there are very very few independents I've heard of (in Scotland at least) who can take one on and deliver main dealer knowledge, quality and foresight, no matter what they are charging.

I won't get into detail on the aspects which Murray have added real value to over the last 3 or 4 years, but suffice to say my Elise came back from them on at least 2 occasions feeling like it was in better nick than when it was brand new. It NEVER came back from ANY independent feeling like that.

Clearly it becomes a simple cost-benefit decision, and very much each to their own.

My circumstances are such that I have a "long term hold" view of my Elise, therefore the preventive maintenance and factory support that comes from Murray Lotus means that bit more to me. Even if it means a few extra ££ from time to time.

And to be clear - if people have testimonials for strong independents, be sure to post them up on the Testimonials subforum. I understand the Falkland Performance have looked after a few SE cars very well, and Kenny Brown Motor Engineers in Hillington also generally gets a thumbs up. Much due to their rallying heritage I imagine.