Avoid National Tyres Oil Change

[doog442]

Avoid these cowboys. On line you can get a Castrol Edge 5w 30 fully synthetic oil and filter change for an IS200 for £38. I didnt jump into this, due to a back operation I simply cannot get under the car.

Needless to say they made a right pigs ear of it. I woke this morning to oil all over the new driveway so returned the car. I got under the ramps with them and saw that the oil filter was leaking badly, it was done up tight - it just didnt fit. It was a Unipart job.

I argued the toss with them and asked them to fit a genuine Toyota filter, even as a gesture of good will. They refused and ordered another Unipart job. When I complained about the drive they simply told me to complain to Head Office as it was Head Office who come up with these cheap offers and the offer includes Unipart filters - so they argue its not there fault.

Great customer services eh! I will take it further with National Tyres when the car is back - its still with them 4 hours and counting for a simple oil change!!

As I said avoid at all costs...probably find they have put cheap oil in as well.

[kenfoxy]

Just spotted this:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=53853

[dave1]

it was done up tight - it just didnt fit. It was a Unipart job.

As I said avoid at all costs...probably find they have put cheap oil in as well.

So was it a case of Unipart filters now being no good or had they just fitted an incorrect Unipart filter?

[scudney]

Hi,personally I have always avoided places like National Tyres,Quick Fit,Formular 1,In and Out(never been to one and dont intend to) when it comes to things like servicing as I just think they are cxxp.A mate once went to one for a service and his car left with no engine oil,ended up costing him more then he bargained for.

[doog442]

it was done up tight - it just didnt fit. It was a Unipart job.

As I said avoid at all costs...probably find they have put cheap oil in as well.

So was it a case of Unipart filters now being no good or had they just fitted an incorrect Unipart filter?

they had fitted the correct filter but looking at the other post above it appears there is a problem with Unipart filters.

I am more upset about the drive - speaking with National Tyres Head Office tomorrow.

as stated before anyone has a dig Ive had a back operation so cant do jack - should have just got the Toyota filter and told them to use that.

[doog442]

Just spotted this:

http://www.lexusowne...showtopic=53853

cheers...I thought I had seen something before on here but the grey matter is going

[andy m w]

damm near £38 just for the Castrol oil , ,toyota filter £8/£10 & they are staring at their own arse ! ferkin stupid offer on all fronts

[dave1]

Just spotted this:

http://www.lexusowne...showtopic=53853

cheers...I thought I had seen something before on here but the grey matter is going

So I take it that you have now changed your mind about Unipart filters!

#9

doog442

Posted 30 September 2008 - 08:42 PM

Advanced Member

• 
  
• 
  
• Members
  
• 304 posts
  

• Lexus: IS200 SE
  
• Location: Please Select
  

Nothing the matter with unipart,they will handtighten it, clean with a rag and away you go :winky:

[doog442]

damm near £38 just for the castrol oil , ,toyota filter £8/£10 & they are staring at their own arse ! ferkin stupid offer on all fronts

4 litres at Asda for £35 (Castrol edge)

[doog442]

cant do this multiquote thing

[doog442]

Just spotted this:

http://www.lexusowne...showtopic=53853

cheers...I thought I had seen something before on here but the grey matter is going

So I take it that you have now changed your mind about Unipart filters!

#9

doog442

Posted 30 September 2008 - 08:42 PM

Advanced Member

• 
  
• 
  
• Members
  
• 304 posts
  

• Lexus: IS200 SE
  
• Location: Please Select
  

Nothing the matter with unipart,they will handtighten it, clean with a rag and away you go :winky:

did the SRI proud but clearly not up to the job nowadays...

[doog442]

a quick update:

They replaced the filter but its a mess down there and still appears to be leaking. The have replaced the oil filter with a blueprint filter .

You know what the muppets did? They left a massive wad of blue tissue in the sump guard, obviously in an attempt to clean up the mess...unbelievable..and how far from the exhaust manifold?

I now face buying a Toyota part and taking the car to a garage to get this re-done. National Tyres have basically told me to swivel but i will deal with the later.

[kenfoxy]

Much safer going to a reputable independent even if it costs a bit more. The guy I go to checks the condition of gear oils, brake fluid and coolant even if it's not scheduled. Most of the time there is no need to change these fluids.

[Pete Shawn]

Hi,personally I have always avoided places like National Tyres,Quick Fit,Formular 1,In and Out(never been to one and dont intend to) when it comes to things like servicing as I just think they are cxxp.A mate once went to one for a service and his car left with no engine oil,ended up costing him more then he bargained for.

Totally agree with u there. No Offends ppl but recently i took my is200 sport to Formula1 for cam belt changed and was advised to changed the water pump "as standard" was total under £500.... Amazingly it took them 4 days to figure out what bolt to another as i heard them whisper "did you put the bolt on the side" where the rest of it"... next day when i call they say "received a wrong parts" had to wait for replacement ...late that afternoon... they received the parts BUT the bolt stuck and need to call their "specialist" to check it with "tools" to get the bolt out.... they don't bother as they keep saying "we will call you as soon it's ready"..... early the 4th day i call "oh, it's nearly ready now just need to put tight up everything..... still no call, eventually the car was park out the car park when i arrived.

that really worries me and i open up the bonnet and discover the radiator was all loose ...water pump pully cap was missing. engine start without any noise.....i say nothing just pay up and straight to another garage to had it check.

lucky there's nothing serious bout it just that the job done was totally s**t.. NEVER EVER GO BACK AGAIN .

as for the pully cap ...managed to get one on eBay ....

Kwik-fit ... another cowboys as getting a Honda civic exhaust quote and a headlight bulb changed. the guy just stood there looking at me asking "how u set it up?" as he been looking and turning bulb as i stood beside him.

You never know what those cowboys did when you not there watching

[mikeyv]

I've changed hundreds of oil filters without coming across a faulty one, and I've never let a car out with an oil leak due to an oil and filter change, it's normal practice to start and run the engine to check for leaks and to recheck the level after turning off again.

Does anybody know what the fault was on these Unipart leakers?

[noby76]

Just had mine done today. picked up 8L Castrol magnatec 5w 30 for £17.50 each from Halfords, picked up a Mikayo oil filter from Euro carparts but techniciaon told me Blue print filters are the best as the have a sealant grease around the plastic bit ontop to prevent leakage so went with his advice and returned the Mikayo filter although its made in Japan. car running smooth with Castrol though.

[Pete Shawn]

Does it really the case which parts the best or maker or it's true because the dealer is pushing their supplier product. I bought a Blue print Clutch kits and it's say from Japan as well.

I'm not a specialist that's why we normally listen what the other ppl say

Any one here use those " Ceramizer engine restore treatment recondition worn smoke engine oil additive" sell on eBay? wanted to try it true or not.... shud just stick to a good quality engine oil

[doog442]

The blueprint filter seems to be holding. I thought it was still leaking but it was clearly residue from the sump tray where a pool had gathered on one side...its oil carnage under there. I have used Blueprint on the wifes Hyundai over the years, oil,air filter and brake pads with no issues.

As for the Unipart, I still have no idea if the part was U/S or they failed to tighten it...

I am after a refund as the car is a mess, the drive is a mess but they are as slippery as anything. The complaints dept questioned why I wanted a refund when I now had the oil in the engine!!...I said for the mess and the 9 hours over 2 days they had the car. They said the regional manager would call me and obviously he didnt, so I rang another branch asking for his name and number but they fobbed me off, obviously been told to bat people off.

Lets be honest this bunch stink. The manager at the branch I went to told me before the carnage that these oil changes are a loss leader, the idea being that Head Office advertise it to get punters in so other faults can be found, his complaint was that when they found faults customers didnt get them done.

Lesson learnt

[wicked677]

Might be worth typing up a story or giving BBC Watchdog a call, I'm sure they will listen to your complaint and shame this company on national TV.

[kenfoxy]

I had an experience a few years ago when a well known tyre fitting company, after they put a new tyre on, told me my front discs and pads needed changing and they could do it for £X. I was a bit suspicious so I left it. When the annual service came around a few weeks later, my garage found no fault with the brakes. That was 3 years ago and all is still well.

I am also suspicious of "MOT for £30" places. Sounds like another loss leader to me.

[mikeyv]

I used to maintain a fleet of taxis, so a lot of the wifes female friends used to use me as well, as they knew I wouldn't rip them off.

I lost count of the number of times they'd turn up wanting new shockers, brakes etc, having received dire warnings when having tyres kwikly fitted.

Nine times out of ten, there was absolutely nothing wrong, they were just being conned - disgusting really - and the firm is still trading.

[fil4362]

As a mechanic/ mot tester of over 22 years (i have done 22 years with my current employer) i have never had a problem with an oil filter of any make. If the seal is the right size and the filter is tight it wont leak. You cant buy non O.E spec parts in this country unless you buy them from under a counter some where. Some times what happens is the old oil seal sticks to the block and the new filter seal then has no chance of fitting correctly as its mounted to the old seal not the block.

The current one on my Lexus is Fram,which is German. I have,in the past, used Puralator filters which probably no one has heard of. They where at the time the biggest selling filter in the states.

You shouldnt have oil on your under tray, if my lads removed a filter leaving the tray on they would be in trouble. On the other hand i was behind a bus the other day and read the advert for one of these cheap deals , the small print said "there will be an extra charge if engine cover needs to be removed.

Dont be sucked in people by these cheap deals my normal price for oil and filter is abotu £36 thats without frills and gimmicks just the normal price. I recently found,whilst looking for a locking wheel nut key, a wod of reciepts from national tyres. The customer had had brakes tyres tracking and a few other bits done. he was my customer but had been sucked into their 25% of deals. I beat every single one of their prices without even trying to again no gimmicks no special mates rates no 25% off this month only. Their prices are inflated then discounts given and even then their not cheap !