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Renault Megane

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Matheous-2 | 17:47 Sat 14th Dec 2013 | Motoring
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Sorry I don't have a proper model description here as the car in question belongs to dear friends of mine.

What would be the average life span of rear brake disks please?
I personally thought they would have exceeded 30k miles....?
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A lot depends on the driver and how often they brake when not necessary etc.
The last motor we had as a runaround/dog-carrier went over 60k miles before the brakes needed any attention.
Definitely. Unless they were warped, which is unlikely.
Question Author
Thanks guys.....I do feel they were ripped off by the garage!
What initially happened was that the car would not start- the garage was called out and it did then start. The car was left there overnight and asked to investigate the non-start and give the car a service. Two new tires,two brake disks (with pads, of course) -oil & filter and new sump plug washer were all fitted with labour & vat all coming in at just short of £600!
There was an advisory to have the pencil coils replaced next time......
Now my friends have lost faith in the car and want to trade it!
Virtually all modern cars are fitted with disc-brakes all around – unlike the old days, with rear drum-brakes.

One common problem with disc-brakes is that if the car is left standing for extended periods, or subject to a very low mileage – then the discs can become pitted with rust. It can get so bad that the discs need skimming to remove the rust layer. The lower the annual mileage, the more likely that a car will suffer from this. Many garages do not have access to a workshop to skim the discs – so simply replace them.

I would expect my local garage to do what was done for around £350.
My price breakdown would be:-
£100 for each tyre (expensive)
£150 to replace the two discs & pads (including fitting)
£1 for the sump washer

It sounds like main-dealer prices to me at £600.

Just because your friend has been ripped-off by the garage is no reason to give up on the car - just don't use the garage again.

Having just spent £600 on it it should be in first rate condition, don't give up on it!
It all depends on the model etc. a quick google search came up with these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENAULT-MEGANE-REAR-BRAKE-DISCS-AND-PADS-SET-02-08-/270458203109?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

built in bearings and abs ring!!! so £140 on ebay for genuine parts, how much retail? I imagine fitting would be more expensive as well, i wouldnt be supprised at a £300 fitted price, add £200 for the tyres/valve/balance/disposal of old tyre, then £60 for the oil and filter, and as it had starting proplems another £60 for checking the ECU.

So £600 may not be too bad, i would have thought 30k would be low for rear disks, but with bearings etc who knows, and as Hymie has said it depends on a lot of variables on driving etc.

As has been said, it sounds like your friend needs to quit on that garage not the car, although without knowing all the facts etc then its impossible to know if they were ripped off or not.
Your friend could ask the garage to show him the parts that have been replaced by them.
This is normal procedure by most reputable garages.
Since the garage has identified that the coils are on the way out, if you are in the slightest way - mechanically minded, you could offer to change the ignition coils for your friend. Euro car parts sell them at around £15 each, with many ebay sellers able to beat this price including shipping.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Renault_Megane_1.6_2004/p/car-parts/engine-parts/ignition1/ignition-coil/?413745111&1&537889b057bfe61d7c8229174fb0eeab317db9ec&000197

(you will need to make sure the ignition coils are for your friend's model/year Megane)

My wife owns a 1.6L (04) Megane - I have replaced 3 of the 4 coils due to failure (I have a spare, ready for the next).

Replacement is very easy - once you have removed the plastic engine cover, the low voltage leads to each coil can be removed with the aid of a small flat blade screwdriver. Each coil is held in place by a single retaining bolt (10mm head) - once removed, the coil can be extracted by hand, with re-assembly being the reverse process.

The only tricky part is that access to the coil retaining bolts is limited (some more so than others), such that you need to use an open-ended spanner, rather than a socket to get them out.
Question Author
Thank you all so much for compiling such extensive advice.....I will offer to change the coils for them....
As Hymie has said its a pretty straightforward job, and a common one.

You can buy bluetooth obd2 readers from ebay that will point you in the right direction as to which cylinder has the problem for about £10 from ebay, then link to a smartphone app (torque). Although i think megans cylinders are numbered 4-3-2-1 as you look at the engine from the front? the 'port' on the megans is under a cover in the pastic between the driver and passenger seat, you need slim fingers for plug it in!!!

Also i have seen those cheap coil's fail from new as well.

Depending on when they were last changed i would also change the spark plugs as its effectively only one more 'bolt' per cylinder to change and £10-£15 once the coils are out.
If you are going to replace all 4 coils, you will find ebay sellers offering good deals, this one at less than £40 – with a lifetime guarantee.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350596076898?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D350596076898%26_rdc%3D1
If you take =risla=’s advice and change the plugs at the same time (which is a good idea), you will need a long-reach plug spanner (with integral grip) due to the design, with deeply recessed spark plugs in the engine block.

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