Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 17:41:25

Title: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 17:41:25
Been taking my Miggy to Symes for a while now, top bloke! plenty of PG Tips on hand but bloody freeeeezing today! ;D
he fixed my heating for me a while back, kinked heating pipe in glovebox
last week he done my Wishbones, put the Lemforder type on for me, today i popped round and he changed front and rear brakes disks and pads, used Mintex Brand... also adjusted my handbrake and his mate Stuart helped to change my 5 year old spark plugs, used Denso Iridium type...  my car has never flown like now! WOW!!!!!! shit off a shovel!
cant believe how much difference its made  ;D
also disconnected power sounder, so glad thats off!  :y

if any of you need work doing and live in Oxford, cant do any better than this chap,

thanks very much Syme.. at last i now enjoy my miggy! its only taken 10 years lololollol!!

rust is being down in June when its warmer, cant waitm she`ll be like NEW!  ;D
mileage still only 97,000, a lot left in her me thinks?

Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: Elite Pete on 13 January 2013, 17:51:57
Been taking my Miggy to Symes for a while now, top bloke! plenty of PG Tips on hand but bloody freeeeezing today! ;D
he fixed my heating for me a while back, kinked heating pipe in glovebox
last week he done my Wishbones, put the Lemforder type on for me, today i popped round and he changed front and rear brakes disks and pads, used Mintex Brand... also adjusted my handbrake and his mate Stuart helped to change my 5 year old spark plugs, used Denso Iridium type...  my car has never flown like now! WOW!!!!!! shit off a shovel!
cant believe how much difference its made  ;D
also disconnected power sounder, so glad thats off!  :y

if any of you need work doing and live in Oxford, cant do any better than this chap,

thanks very much Syme.. at last i now enjoy my miggy! its only taken 10 years lololollol!!

rust is being down in June when its warmer, cant waitm she`ll be like NEW!  ;D
mileage still only 97,000, a lot left in her me thinks?

Oh dear, Genuine are better and well last longer ;)
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 18:05:25
time will tell i suppose, i knew someone would shoot me down in a "Blaze of Glory"..........*coughs* ;D

www.bongiovi.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/bongiovitributeband
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 18:50:15
Shows the difference a good service can make, and how we all get ripped off when we entrust our cars to so-called "professionals" to be serviced.


I am with Elite Pete though, Mintex's budget brand of pads are pretty dire, but should be OK if you aren't hard on the brakes.  I'd recommend tradeclub pads to any Omega owner - £15+VAT for front, £10+VAT for rear, so maybe a fraction more, but they can take far more abuse.
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 18:53:28
Iridium plugs, again, I wouldn't use on Omega, when we can get spark plugs at good prices.

I would use them on cars which specifically specified by the manufacturer, such as Rover K series.  For anything else, a waste of money.
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 18:58:23
God, my posts sound negative  :-[, not my intention.

Great that you've found someone like Symes who you can trust to do these jobs for you :y :y

Just trying to get you to understand that soem of these items are a case of marketting over science - much the same as Castrol oils we discussed a while back.
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 19:24:24
well, as Symes asked me last week "do i drive like a Vicar" -  to which i replied "yes" i dont thrash my Miggy and i`m not hard on the brakes
as long as my new pads and disks last a good 12 - 18 months, i`ll be happy  :y
the way i drive, they should last 10 years lololol!!

Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 19:28:48
bought these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200750099909

and these 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290549206095

and these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330725310235

now tell me how much the Genuine parts would have cost, so that i know for next time
and i didn't know Mintex were rubbish? better than your average "motorists discount centre" surely?
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: Elite Pete on 13 January 2013, 19:32:43
about £20 for Vauxhall plugs, £100 for front disks and pads and about £12 for rear pads :(
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 19:36:08
had a bit of a read on the internet, and Mintex have positive reviews in most cases, as long as i can stop i dont care lol
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: Jukeboxnut on 13 January 2013, 19:47:13
I fitted Mintex pads on my wife's Vectra 6 years ago and they have been fine so far.  That said I have just fitted Vauxhall  tradeclub pads and discs on my Omega and the prices are very reasonable.
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 20:44:59
Oh shit, didn't realise you had the discs as well.

Good job you do drive like a vicar.


As for costs, discs and pads are £100, rear pads are £12, and 6 plugs are about £20 for Vauxhall parts on Trade Club.  I would rather use the genuine parts, with very few exceptions (which OOFers can advise on), they are superior.  We're here to help advise :)
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: tunnie on 13 January 2013, 20:46:59
£63 for set of spark plugs?  :o  :o

Given trade club prices, I don't see point in pattern. Current discs and pads have done 30k at least. Can't remember last time I changed discs, think it was for the guide!
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 20:48:35
Whats wrong with Mintex Pads and Discs?
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 20:52:27
Whats wrong with Mintex Pads and Discs?
Rather poor quality aftermarket stuff.

The discs do tend to warp easily if pushed hard, and the pads fade dreadfully.
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 21:02:00
i bet they do if you drive them like a Bitch, which i wont be doing..

i`ll see how mine cope for the next 12 months ey Syme?
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: tunnie on 13 January 2013, 21:06:37
i bet they do if you drive them like a Bitch, which i wont be doing..

i`ll see how mine cope for the next 12 months ey Syme?

GM discs would have only been around a fiver more  ;)
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 13 January 2013, 21:09:00
yeah, well i didn't have time to go and buy em from Vauxhall, i work 6 days a week with my Truck driving job and work weekends with my Band, just simpler to order stuff online...not enough hours in the day  >:(
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 21:09:32
i bet they do if you drive them like a Bitch, which i wont be doing..

i`ll see how mine cope for the next 12 months ey Syme?
Aye, may get away with it if you're Miss Daisy, although the discs may still warp. Good luck :)


Remember, we all make mistakes, the skill is in learning by them - I have had Mintex discs and pads on mine, as I thought I was saving a few quid. The first set were skimmed after a few weeks, then replaced a few weeks after that. I replaced them with GM after they warped for a 3rd time. So cost me more in the long run  :-[
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 21:11:34
yeah, well i didn't have time to go and buy em from Vauxhall, i work 6 days a week with my Truck driving job and work weekends with my Band, just simpler to order stuff online...not enough hours in the day  >:(
A member here, andyc, could probably have helped - he works at a dealer's parts dept, and does mail order.  For future reference :)

As said, we can quickly advise which parts must be genuine, and where pattern parts are OK (or even better), just ask :y
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: tunnie on 13 January 2013, 21:12:29
yeah, well i didn't have time to go and buy em from Vauxhall, i work 6 days a week with my Truck driving job and work weekends with my Band, just simpler to order stuff online...not enough hours in the day  >:(

As above, AndyC. Trade prices delivered  :y
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: dbug on 13 January 2013, 22:26:45
Good luck with your pattern front discs mate - mine lasted 5K miles before warping.  Fitted genuine Vx discs & pads - discs were still ok some 30K later!! And £63 for spark plugs  :o :o :o - the standard Vx plugs on TC @ £20 are more than adequate for the V6 ??? ???
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: omegod on 13 January 2013, 23:26:08
Hey..at least your car is running much better, if the discs don't work out it's a lesson learned and maybe some comeback to the supplier if your lucky!

Don't take the feedback too hard people are just trying to give you the benefit of their experience :y
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: flyer 0712 on 14 January 2013, 01:04:28
We all have our own opinions on things ..good and bad expierience...mintex have been making brake pads and shoes for over 100 years and although i am not that old   :D i have never had trouble with their brake material on any car including my omega...the only thing that i would say on brake discs and drums is that for the last 25 years they have all including many other famous makes been made from far lesser quality steel than in previous years but this applies to a great amount of things.....its the way things are in our throw away nation...so i stick with what i know and trust  :y
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 January 2013, 13:19:49
Asbestos free friction materials is what is causing disks and drums to wear faster these days, I reckon.

Still, I've seen what Asbestos does, and would much rather swap disks every year or so. :o
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: symes on 14 January 2013, 20:40:28
I got mintex on mine 9k -no warps on rotors yet and I drive it like I stole it  :y :y But each to their own as they say  :y
Waynester asked what I had on mine so told him-Like when he needed bottom arms doing-told him Lemforder-told him they are best £ for £ :y :y :y
Title: Re: a lovely day with Symes in Oxford
Post by: The Waynester on 14 January 2013, 20:53:07
yeah thanks Syme, i knew Mintex weren't bad
everyone spouting off blah blah

as i said, i`ll see if mine last, i reckon they will! and i don't drive like you!! ha ha ha
same thing with Castrol Magnatec, have put nothing else in my car ever
Never had any problems, go figure?  :y