Independent garage Recommendations

Veloces of London
Warwick Yard
183 Victoria Road
New Barnet
Herts
EN4 9PA

Serviced my car there after warranty over. Good service and friendly too. Reasonable prices.

Originally Posted by forty15hall

Veloces of London
Warwick Yard
183 Victoria Road
New Barnet
Herts
EN4 9PA

Serviced my car there after warranty over. Good service and friendly too. Reasonable prices.

Now that I have moved, can anyone recommend somewhere for me to service my wheels near Ascot, Berkshire?

Based in Birmingham city center, Top bloke.

http://www.motor-mech.co.uk/workshop.html

Bristol - AlfaNet (Duncan 07968488942) He doesn't normally ring back (because he gets a lot of time wasters and he has lots of work to be getting on with). You could leave a message but it's best to call until you get him. I have always found him honest, truthful and very helpful and he keeps the costs as low as poss too. He specialises in Alfas and Maseratis but will tackle almost any make, particularly Italian.

Just had my MOT and 72,000 service (including cam belt change) done by 'Mobitech' in Canterbury, and must admit for a normally fussy customer I was very impressed.

Compared quotes with S&S Auto's in Margate and a local dealer.

The dealer was obviously the most expensive and having used them in the past vowed I would always do my best to avoid them in the future due to the costs and poor service experienced. (Almost put me off Alfa's for good).

Anyway, both S&S Auto's and Mobitech were not only quite a good few hundred £ cheaper then the dealers quote, but both also gave me a breakdown of the work they would carry out regarding the cam belt change, both were identical and seemed to involve changing far more engine parts then the dealer (who when I asked over then phone why this said something along the lines of 'yep, recommend doing all that but would double the cost). Oh, both S&S and Mobitech assured me they do use all Alfa genuine parts so this shouldn't be the reason for the difference in costs.

Anyway, used Mobitech as they were slightly cheaper, and had read previous posts with good reviews, as said above, very impressed.

I've had my 166 for a few years now and learnt more about my car during its service then I ever have. I think the chaps name there was Ian, (who seems to like to talk and spend time with his customers - if you use them I'm sure you'll see what I mean). He kept all the old bits they changed to explain how everything works and show me what they had done. They even did a few bits for free such as looking into a squeaky clutch, faulty folding electric mirror and a sticky bonnet. (Very unusual for an Alfa service!) Unfortunately, they couldn't find the fault with the mirror in the time, but sorted out the clutch (thank god, the noise was really starting to get annoying) and cleaned and lubed the bonnet cable for me.

Only downsides were they can't offer a courtesy car (but is it worth paying the extra £400 at a dealer to have a brand new spider to run around for the day... Maybe?) and they couldn't replenish my air con as they no longer deal with air con at all. They did refer someone but S&S Auto's were a bit cheaper and also seemed pretty good so I’ll probably give them a go.

PS. Sorry about the rather lengthy post, I’ve probably spent so long complaining about the typical Alfa service that now I’ve had a good experience I couldn’t wait to tell you all! Anyway, hope this post of use to some of you.

Thumbs up from me for Avanti Autos at Ipswich, and Jamie Porter's Alfa Workshop at Royston.

Originally Posted by cioannou166

Oh, both S&S and Mobitech assured me they do use all Alfa genuine parts so this shouldn't be the reason for the difference in costs.

My indie some times uses pattern or replica parts but also buys Alfa OE parts from the local dealer.

So in some cases there is a saving to be made by using the non-OE parts (like the replacement CAT I had fitted earlier this year) but mostly it just comes down to the hourly rate. £40 ish versus £75 at my local authorised service agent. Even the £75 is not so bad for a main dealer but given the level of service I get for £40 ish (and I would happily pay a bit more - just don't tell him ) I don't see any point paying more to people who don't have the same passion & who don't really see my car as the treasure it is!

Any recommendations for the Greater Manchester area please?

Deens of Hampton Court
464 Walton Rd
West Molesey
Surrey
KT8 2JG

020 8979 3322

Nice guys. Know their Alfas. Reasonable prices. I've had quite a few jobs done there over the past 18 months incl cam belt, etc.

alfa aid
186 Bath Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4LB
01628 788887

alfa aid, maidenhead, 01628 788887

anybody had any experience with Monza Sports Tuning? They're really close to me and I'm joining the fold next year so would be great to hear what the servicing is like.

think these lot are in london but they will do all the servicing.......... and then do some more. mine has come back a changed machine.


http://www.monzasport.co.uk/


andy

Originally Posted by EVEL

W.A.D.
Unit 3
Waterside Industrial Estate
Ettingshall Road
Wolverhampton
WV2 2RQ
Tel/Fax 01902 401711
email: sales@wad-alfaromeo.co.uk
www.wad-alfaromeo.co.uk

Excellent service and advice , they sorted my sele problems and fitted new belts . Wouldn't use anyone else .

I agree with Evel. I live in Leamington but still make the journey over to WAD in Wolves as they're excellent.

EUROFIX CAR REPAIRS
Upper Dunmurry Lane
Belfast
Northern Ireland
028 9062 2633

Haven't had to use 'em yet (only had the car 2 weeks!) but I've heard good reports, plus they're usually breaking a 156 or 2 so could be handy for spares!

Apart from the main dealer, this is the only place I know of in Belfast.

Originally Posted by steveisfrowning

Bluebell Motor Co (BMC)
Justin is yer man
They are in Newton Aycliffe (boo!) on 01325 300520

the sort of place where, when you collect the car they show you all the crap that they've taken off your car!

Ditto to BMC...

They gave me a fixed price on a 96k service for my 156 (£179). Ran me to Tesco's so I could sit in their cafe whilst they serviced it. Came back to collect me, fixed a cross threaded sump plug, fixed a nail in FOS tyre, used Selenia Oil, flushed the engine and then apologised for not washing it as they were a man down. Best of all, they stood by the fixed price

Originally Posted by Chris M

I can fully recommend:-

Palmer & Phillips
Peterley Rd,
Cowley,
Oxford,
OX4 2TZ
Tel - 01865 749600

They were fantastic with my old 145 Cloverleaf and it's various electrical issues, especially the airbag warning light

My 156 has only been in for annual services but am still on first name terms - must be the visits in between services for oil

I use these guys as well, top blokes.

any suggestions in the South London area? thanks

Just used Intaservices, Leicester to get my gear problems sorted. Top notch service, extremely friendly and even managed to fit in its latest service. Right now my Juliette has never felt so good!!!

They really are just as enthusiastic about the cars that are brought in as their own. They really respect what its like to hand over your pride and joy to someone else and go out of their way to put you at ease.

If you live anywhere near the midlands they are superb!!!

I know you read the forum guys. Don, Dave, a huge thank you!!!

Originally Posted by Padders

Jamie Porter (Alfa Workshop)
Unit 15, Orchard Road,
Royston, Herts
SG8 5HD
01763 245481

...are an excellent combination of quality and price and are often recommended on the forum. Do a search on Jamie Porter or AlfaWorkshop, (if you're a guest, you must register to get the benefit of the forum search function).

They're real Alfa enthusiasts and people seem to come from all over the country to get their cars to him.

Thier website is a mine of useful information too.

I wouldnt go back to Jamie porter if you paid me, i waited a month for a slot in his diary, and he couldnt diagnose that i needed new wheel bearings to stop some shaking at the front. My car came back with oil on the bonnet probably from the car that was on the ramp above it.

A big thank you to everyone - from feeling out on a limb this evening wondering where I was going to get my broken cam belt sorted ( @ 55K ) - I now have several people to check out. Having been told to expect up to £ 2k - it will be good to see if this was realistic or taking more than the cam belt !
If it pays off - I owe you a pint.

For all owners in and around Wrexham

Allitalia
Paxton Garage
Llewelyn Road
Tanyfron
Wrexham
LL11 5TL

01978 757588

Howard is the man, he also does Lancia and Fiat.
This guy is great!!

Does anyone have any contact details for Bob Wright Alfa restoration in North Yorkshire?

Hi All,

Just a bit of a "Big up" for a new Independant Alfa Specialsist in the Leeds and West Yorkshire Area. (yehhh!)

He is Nick Holmes, and Has Over 10 yrs of Alfa Romeo Experience, working at "dixons" and more recently "Stratsto