Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Tetleysmooth on 15 May 2012, 11:58:55

Title: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 15 May 2012, 11:58:55
Has anyone had any dealings with the above company?
I've got the cdx booked in with them next Monday to have the nearside downpipe to manifold gasket replaced.
They've quoted me 60 quid, including part(s), which I thought was reasonable.
Just wondering if the price they quote is the price you pay.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: RobG on 15 May 2012, 12:01:25
Has anyone had any dealings with the above company?
I've got the cdx booked in with them next Monday to have the nearside downpipe to manifold gasket replaced.
They've quoted me 60 quid, including part(s), which I thought was reasonable.
Just wondering if the price they quote is the price you pay.
A "quote" is fixed as opposed to an "estimate"
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 15 May 2012, 12:06:13
I didn't book it while I was there, but before I left the place, they logged the job in case I phoned back with my name and price quoted. Seemed pretty definite to me.
Rather looking forward to getting this done, it sounds like a tractor when I start it from cold.
Thanks RobG.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 May 2012, 12:08:51
Hi ya,

I live in Northampton and always use them for tyres and previously brakes (before I learned how to do them myself).

I've found them very honest, friendly, reasonably priced and had no problems.  :y

Definitely can't say the same about Kwik Fitup  >:(
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 May 2012, 12:18:30
Actually, while we're on the subject of ATS, I remember I asked them to look to see if the brakes needed doing. Bloke comes back in 5 mins later and says ''your pads are full at the back and half full at the front''.

How on Earth could he have checked this without removing them?  :-\
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 15 May 2012, 12:20:09
Yep, know what you mean about KwikFit. Many moons ago I had a Mark 3 Granada V6. I went into Kwik Fit to have a new exhaust. They managed to snap both pipes off the heater matrix where they came through the bulkhead. It cost them a fortune in the end as the repair was down to them. The whole dash had to come out.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 15 May 2012, 12:21:56
Actually, while we're on the subject of ATS, I remember I asked them to look to see if the brakes needed doing. Bloke comes back in 5 mins later and says ''your pads are full at the back and half full at the front''.

How on Earth could he have checked this without removing them?  :-\
They same way as mot testers check them I suppose.
Down to experience and knowing what to look for.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 May 2012, 12:25:16
Yep, know what you mean about KwikFit. Many moons ago I had a Mark 3 Granada V6. I went into Kwik Fit to have a new exhaust. They managed to snap both pipes off the heater matrix where they came through the bulkhead. It cost them a fortune in the end as the repair was down to them. The whole dash had to come out.

That sounds a nightmare mate.

Re the brakes.... what I mean is where would they look as the pads are housed within the caliper...only part you can see is a bit of the backs of the pads through the calliper  :-\
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 15 May 2012, 12:32:40
Yep, know what you mean about KwikFit. Many moons ago I had a Mark 3 Granada V6. I went into Kwik Fit to have a new exhaust. They managed to snap both pipes off the heater matrix where they came through the bulkhead. It cost them a fortune in the end as the repair was down to them. The whole dash had to come out.

That sounds a nightmare mate.

Re the brakes.... what I mean is where would they look as the pads are housed within the caliper...only part you can see is a bit of the backs of the pads through the calliper  :-\
I've actually got an advisory on the current mot about thin front pads on the cdx (the previous owner said he has replaced them)  :y, so they must have a way of checking them without removing the wheels. Must be much easier when the car's on ramps or over a pit.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 May 2012, 12:34:10
Yep, know what you mean about KwikFit. Many moons ago I had a Mark 3 Granada V6. I went into Kwik Fit to have a new exhaust. They managed to snap both pipes off the heater matrix where they came through the bulkhead. It cost them a fortune in the end as the repair was down to them. The whole dash had to come out.

That sounds a nightmare mate.

Re the brakes.... what I mean is where would they look as the pads are housed within the caliper...only part you can see is a bit of the backs of the pads through the calliper  :-\
I've actually got an advisory on the current mot about thin front pads on the cdx (the previous owner said he has replaced them)  :y, so they must have a way of checking them without removing the wheels. Must be much easier when the car's on ramps or over a pit.

Fair enough then mate. Maybe someone in the know will come along and perhaps highlight how this is done?  :y
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: RobG on 15 May 2012, 12:37:32
Yep, know what you mean about KwikFit. Many moons ago I had a Mark 3 Granada V6. I went into Kwik Fit to have a new exhaust. They managed to snap both pipes off the heater matrix where they came through the bulkhead. It cost them a fortune in the end as the repair was down to them. The whole dash had to come out.

That sounds a nightmare mate.

Re the brakes.... what I mean is where would they look as the pads are housed within the caliper...only part you can see is a bit of the backs of the pads through the calliper  :-\
That`s all you need to see, shows you the metal backing plate plus pad material remaining ;)
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 May 2012, 12:40:20
Yep, know what you mean about KwikFit. Many moons ago I had a Mark 3 Granada V6. I went into Kwik Fit to have a new exhaust. They managed to snap both pipes off the heater matrix where they came through the bulkhead. It cost them a fortune in the end as the repair was down to them. The whole dash had to come out.

That sounds a nightmare mate.

Re the brakes.... what I mean is where would they look as the pads are housed within the caliper...only part you can see is a bit of the backs of the pads through the calliper  :-\
That`s all you need to see, shows you the metal backing plate plus pad material remaining ;)

 ???

if all you see is a bit of the backing plate how do you see the pad material as it's on the other side?
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: hotel21 on 15 May 2012, 12:56:24
A calibrated fingertip through the wheel spaces?    ;D

On a more serious note though, our place has specially shaped 'feeler' type guages to insert into the pad thickness area through the gaps in the alloys.  Depending on which one fits gives an indication of pad wear without wheel removal.   :y 
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 May 2012, 12:58:59
A calibrated fingertip through the wheel spaces?    ;D

On a more serious note though, our place has specially shaped 'feeler' type guages to insert into the pad thickness area through the gaps in the alloys.  Depending on which one fits gives an indication of pad wear without wheel removal.   :y

I've now got this image of a man with a brake pad for a hand  ;D ;D

That's fair enough then. hopefully they used something like that and not just had a guess! lol
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: henryd on 15 May 2012, 13:51:25
A calibrated fingertip through the wheel spaces?    ;D

On a more serious note though, our place has specially shaped 'feeler' type guages to insert into the pad thickness area through the gaps in the alloys.  Depending on which one fits gives an indication of pad wear without wheel removal.   :y

I've now got this image of a man with a brake pad for a hand  ;D ;D

That's fair enough then. hopefully they used something like that and not just had a guess! lol

On most cars with alloys fitted its quite easy to see the remaining pad thickness through the spokes,of course this doesn't take into account the fact that the inner unseen pad may be more worn
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 May 2012, 14:03:42
A calibrated fingertip through the wheel spaces?    ;D

On a more serious note though, our place has specially shaped 'feeler' type guages to insert into the pad thickness area through the gaps in the alloys.  Depending on which one fits gives an indication of pad wear without wheel removal.   :y

I've now got this image of a man with a brake pad for a hand  ;D ;D

That's fair enough then. hopefully they used something like that and not just had a guess! lol

On most cars with alloys fitted its quite easy to see the remaining pad thickness through the spokes,of course this doesn't take into account the fact that the inner unseen pad may be more worn

That's what I mean mate... bearing in mind that's the part that wears as it touches the disc.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: geoffr70 on 15 May 2012, 14:33:08
I didn't book it while I was there, but before I left the place, they logged the job in case I phoned back with my name and price quoted. Seemed pretty definite to me.
Rather looking forward to getting this done, it sounds like a tractor when I start it from cold.
Thanks RobG.

Are you sure it's the manifold to downpipe gasket. Given the symptoms it sounds more like the manifold gasket, as the down pipe protrudes a bit beyond the flange into the exhaust manifold which I would've thought would help keep it quiet even if the gasket was shot. (does all that make sense)
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 15 May 2012, 19:27:49
If it's the manifold gasket, the car will definitely be kicked into touch. It's teetering on the brink as it is.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: thebaldeagle on 18 May 2012, 20:32:22
would always recomend ATS...well i would since best mate is a manger of our local branch and i know all the guys who work there..Have done for over 20yrs!
But on a serious note....i know they dont give out information shall we say just for a sale  :y
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: smithpa7 on 19 May 2012, 07:07:00
would always recomend ATS...well i would since best mate is a manger of our local branch and i know all the guys who work there..Have done for over 20yrs!
But on a serious note....i know they dont give out information shall we say just for a sale  :y
I recently had two tyres fitted by ATS. I was very impressed. They even torqued up the wheel nuts :y
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 21 May 2012, 12:11:28
Right, that's one side done. The other side is blowing as well, so I've booked it in for next Monday to have that sorted. Good news is, the manifold gaskets themselves are ok apparently. Phew. They took photos of the blow and showed them to me when I collected the car. Not a bad service really.
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 21 May 2012, 13:03:52
This in mind, is it perhaps worth having a list of "OOFer approved" garages and centres, along with a list of our own mobile mechanics?
Title: Re: ATS Euromaster.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 21 May 2012, 16:13:37
This in mind, is it perhaps worth having a list of "OOFer approved" garages and centres, along with a list of our own mobile mechanics?

+1  :y