Main dealer problem. Advice needed?
 

So my parents disco 3 developed an intermittent air suspension problem to which there was a message displaying on the dash saying that the suspension was inactive. Took it round to our local mechanic we have used for years and he said it is a specialist part he cannot deal with. We opted to use the main dealer close to us and took it in. They said theyd contact us the same day with the problem. We heard nothing so rang up that afternoon and they told us they were still looking into it. Got a call that evening and they told us it was 3 sensors at £150 each plus they had completed the health check and come up with a number of faults (more of those in a minute) but mum told them just to sort the suspension sensors. They rang again the next day and told us there was bad news. The pump itself was also faulty so again mum told them to just fix that. Anyway got it back (with a £1100 bill I may add) and I read through the list to sort myself.

Horn not working which they quoted £75 to fix. I went for the fusebox and as I did I noticed the fuse pliers on top of the glovebox which is odd as I had used them to fix the radio by pulling the fuse a few days before it had gone in. Pulled the horn fuse out to see a badly burnt out one in there. Swapped it with another fuse to double check and the horn worked perfect.

Next on the list was a broken checkstrap on the drop down tailgate. I opened the boot to see the checkstrap hanging there and remembered that I had emptied the car out the day it went in and it was not broken (If it was it would have been noticeable as it jams in the tailgate unless you move it) Looks like the insulation has been cut back and the strap cut. Cannot see how it would break as its made from metal. They will also have been in the boot to remove the spare wheel to get to the pump. This I am ADAMENT they did.

But it gets worse. Door seal split at another £65. Opened the door to look and it looks as though someone has taken a knife to the seal as the split is HUGE. Will even be surprised if it makes it when it next rains. Certainly wasnt there before as we have recently had the door off to have a new hinge put in place.

Next is the EGR valve which we had blanked but showed on the disgnostics so they took it upon themselves to pull it out and tell us that AFTER we told them we didnt want it looked at. Bad practice?

Lastly they say we need 10 wheel nuts and 3 locking nuts as theyre warped. Funny how it recently had a rear end axle rebuild and nothing was mentioned by our local mechanic who is more than competent and noticed a broken exhaust bracket that was tucked in a tight spot on my ST when another garage didnt.

All in all my parents are mighty pissed off but is there anything here we can now do?

Get a second opinion?

That's what he's trying to do, by posting this thread.

I'd be fuming, have you spoken to the manager or anything? trading standards? another garages opinion?

Havent spoken to the manager as my dad isnt one to complain. Is that first port of call? I myself thought it was the pump in the first place for the suspension as it knocked and clunked and the ride was very solid and now it isnt.

Next time you have a suspension fault come speak to me. I have a faultmate £600's worth) for diag/resetting land rovers.

I remember a wheeler dealer episode and it was the pump, worn o ring. Apparantly common on them.

Or piston ring seal in compressor - oddly, I did one just the other day. Easy repair tbh.

I just did a poo and the smell even offended me

Tbh, they sound like knobs. If... IF you genuinely believe they've fucked you're parents landrover over (e.g additional bits besides the susp) Don't even entertain the idea of going back then. Obvs have a word with the garage owner/manager, but don't keep pratting about with them. They'll just pour sugar in the fuel tank.

name and shame, find other customers who have had their vehicles purposefully damaged. Reminds me of an mechanic I used to deal with, would fix a fault while another one appears. After he disconnected my brake switch box and quoted me 80 quid, I told him to do one.

oh really. Are these gold plated sensors or something.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUIN...-/171185834625