• Welcome to the Land Rover UK Forums

    You are currently viewing the site as a guest and some content may not be available to you.

    Registration is quick and easy and will give you full access to the site and allow you to ask questions or make comments and join in on the conversation. If you would like to register then please Register Now
  • Hi Guest,

    We restrict posting in the sales areas to members who have made more than 10 posts and been registered here for more than 10 days, this is to help reduce the amount of scammers and fraudsters who may join up for that purpose.

    Once you meet the requirements you will be given the ability to post in here.

Northiam 4-wheel drive centre, Kent.

R

roythebus

Accelerating Away
Be VERY ware if you feel inclined to use this outfit. I suggest you google them first, read the section from East Sussex Trading Standards, the list of injunctions and CCJs against them.

i took my Range Rover there 2 years ago with loss of power problems. They diagnosed a defective turbo. It took 4 weeks and a bill of about £3000 to "fix" the problem. It still had the same loss of power problem. The chap there suggested changing the fuel pump and other parts, but having been charged 40 HOURS labour to change a turbo, I wasn't impressed. also the bonnet sprang up on a journey abroad.

I took the car back there to have a new bonnet cable fitted. £250.

To cut a long story short, I eventually took the car to Terrain Vehicles at Bexhill who tried swapping the fuel pump and other bits, but the original problem persisted. They changed the turbo, and hey presto, problem gone. but, the "new" bonnet cable broke!

I contacted an independant engineer who produced a scathing report on the job done by Northiam 4 wheel Drive Centre. they had overcharged by as much as 30 hours to change the turbo; the turbo was probably the original, cleaned up and refitted, the waste gate valve was not new, and was probably the only cause of the original problem. the bonnet cable was not new.

I sent a copy of his report to my credit card company who agreed to refund a good proportion of the bill, so a result there.

As for Trading Standards, they could instigate the injunction against Northiam 4 wheel Drive Centre and its owner, Robert Ashbee and others, but chose not to. The man ought to be jailed for ripping people off.
 
roythebus said:
Be VERY ware if you feel inclined to use this outfit. I suggest you google them first, read the section from East Sussex Trading Standards, the list of injunctions and CCJs against them.

i took my Range Rover there 2 years ago with loss of power problems. They diagnosed a defective turbo. It took 4 weeks and a bill of about £3000 to "fix" the problem. It still had the same loss of power problem. The chap there suggested changing the fuel pump and other parts, but having been charged 40 HOURS labour to change a turbo, I wasn't impressed. also the bonnet sprang up on a journey abroad.

I took the car back there to have a new bonnet cable fitted. £250.

To cut a long story short, I eventually took the car to Terrain Vehicles at Bexhill who tried swapping the fuel pump and other bits, but the original problem persisted. They changed the turbo, and hey presto, problem gone. but, the "new" bonnet cable broke!

I contacted an independant engineer who produced a scathing report on the job done by Northiam 4 wheel Drive Centre. they had overcharged by as much as 30 hours to change the turbo; the turbo was probably the original, cleaned up and refitted, the waste gate valve was not new, and was probably the only cause of the original problem. the bonnet cable was not new.

I sent a copy of his report to my credit card company who agreed to refund a good proportion of the bill, so a result there.

As for Trading Standards, they could instigate the injunction against Northiam 4 wheel Drive Centre and its owner, Robert Ashbee and others, but chose not to. The man ought to be jailed for ripping people off.
Click to expand...

Nothing has changed with this outfit I'm afraid. They will give you a quote, exceed the quote by 2 - 3 times and refuse to back down. They did not fix my car - they just wanted more and more money for parts to fix the issue and I never left the garage with a car that worked. Bob Ashbee is a complete shark and is ONLY interested in taking your money. You are crazy if you contemplate ever taking your vehicle to this rip-off specialist - the only outcome will be a bill far higher than you expected and the repair botched.

If you do happen to wake up in a deluded state and find yourself with your car in this hole then make sure you pay by credit card only as then you can have some recourse - cash or debit card will leave you chasing Bob Ashbee for a refund - good luck with that!
 
I wish I had found this forum before putting my '02 Defender90 in to have the oil leaks investigated and repaired whilst we were away onholiday.
I thought as they were local I could drop it in and pick itup after the holiday, minimising the time the Land Rover would be out of use.
When I took it in for a quote I explained I would like thespigot bush replaced and the oil leaks repaired, which I understood could befront and rear crankshaft oil seals and the seals in the transfer box. Asaccess to the clutch would be needed I asked for a new clutch assembly to befitted as well.
When one of the staff had a look underneath he suggestedthat the steering box was leaking and so I also asked for a quote to include areplacement steering box.
I was verbally quoted £1500, which I accepted, dropped it inand went on holiday.
Whilst on holiday I received a call to say that it alsoneeded a new DMF and power steering pipe which would take the quote up to"Just under £1800". I agreed to this as there would be no point inputting damaged or worn parts back.
When I returned from holiday I went to pick up the LandRover and pay the bill which was £3.00 shy of £2k including VAT and paid byDEBIT CARD..!
On the drive home the gear changes were notchy, and when Icame to reverse onto the drive it wouldn't go into reverse without really forcingthe stick, I thought this may ease off as the clutch bedded in.
I then noticed oil still leaking onto the driveway.
As Turnerswood Offroad Specialists were closed over theweekend I took it back in yesterday morning and I was told they would investigatethe leak and the gear change problem.
Today I was told that they "would normally chargeanother £750 to remove the transfer box and replace the oil seals, but wouldreduce this to £500", on top of the £2k I had already paid to have thework done..! £60 of which was labour to adjust the clutch master cylinderrod..!
I insisted they rectify what they were paid to do withoutany extra charge but as I was getting nowhere, gave up and collected the LandRover.
In short...I'm £2k down, still have the leak from thetransfer box and now can barely get reverse gear.
I'll be taking it to a reputable independent dealer inBexhill to ask them for a report on what has been done and rectify theproblems.
As for Turnerswood Offroad Specialists Ltd, Northiam 4 WheelDrive Centre or whatever other guise they pop up as when this one finally goespop...I would avoid.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Please take the time to report this to East Sussex Trading Standards. Had you paid by credit card, you could have got your money back like I did. Try Terrain Vehicles on the A259 near Bexhill, say that I sent you there and you'll get excellent service at an affordable price.
 
To revive an old thread, this outfit still appears to be "trading" from the same premises but under yet another name. i happened to drive past there a few weeks ago and it brught back unhappy memories from 2010!!
 
I know that twat, I worked for a fella behind his yard, never had anything to do with the lad but was told to stay well away, I know for a fact he got a proper good hiding after ripping off a woman who went in with a dodgy alternator and he charged her 2 grand, her sons went round a week or 2 later and he never opened for 12 weeks after that due to a good few broken bones
 
Back
Top Bottom