i dunno why you cant sue people and garages when they try this.. to fit the turbo is a 3 hour job and they want over 2000 chfs to do it..

Dont know if I am posting this in the correct thread, but here goes... we finally got the MFK "invitation" for our car.i thought it would be best to get a pre check done from our renault garage guy. When I asked for an estimate (only for the check..not the repairs), he quoted 550chf. Is this a reasonable cost for a pre check? (the garage is authorized renault dealer) Would it be cheaper & wiser to get the pre check done in germany?

YES! far far cheaper! go to weil or lorrach etc any garage and tell them what u need.

stop and go just over the border in weil will do the pre check using the swiss MFK checklist - its about 40 euro i seem to remember.

note, the main delaer garages may try and scam you about the abgas test.... ASAG tried to tell me as its such a complicated test only the main dealers have the equipment and it takes 2 hours ... they wanted 300chf to do the test.

I was suspiscious and declined, then when found out a bit more went back and gave them hell in front of a load of buyers... who quickly walked out.

oh and it DOES NOT have to be from an authorised dealer but it may help if u want to directly compare costs but yes you are being ripped off.

How about that awesome, surprising, unexpected suggestion:
You get a quote from a German authorized dealer?
(also works for You get a quote from a French authorized dealer?).

That really unusual way you can compare it with your quote from a Switzerland authorized dealer...

Much cheaper over the border. As the previous poster said, 'Stop and Go' is the place that was recommended by another EFer the other day:

CAR Service near Basel - 35 Euros

There's a link to the website in that post, as well.

Seems steep to me. I paid about the same for the check, couple of minor repairs, emissions test and the garage (Nissan) to take the car for the test.

Don't the TCS garages do an MFK pre check for CHF120-150 on any car?

I avoid Swiss mechanichs like wild-fire simply because I do not trust the work they perform however, once in a while you find a good and honest guy.

My car expierince is the following. I have a semi-old Audi so its not the cheapest thing to service and it was a custom car so everything is a bit harder to get done.

I found the cost of OEM parts was somewhat comparable everywhere, maybe slightly cheaper in Germany but that also depends.

Break jobs- do them in Germany, my first quote in Switzerland was CHF400 for a break pad change and it would take 3 days. In Germany on the spot 1 hour and 100 Euros with labour and parts.

I had to replace the rotors in the rear and unfortunetly was forced to do that here. They could have been redone but the mechanic explained it would be 1200 to turn them or 480 for a new OEM set. Hmmm 15 minutes in a grinder is apparently a lot of money here.

I do all my official services in Poland at tan official Audi service in Warsaw. Just did the timing, suspension and some electronics two months ago. Even with fuel there and back, hotel, some good food it cost me at least CHF 2000 less than in Switzerland.

Now with the exchange rate it makes even more sense to go abroad. So my reccomendation is combine service with a holiday. Swiss mechanics will tell you the are doing other mandatory inspections, like checking the breake lines and seals or if the color of your front fender matches the carpet in the rear. If you want them to do only specific jobs 90% of the time they will refuse.

Obtaining any estimate from them is next to impossible so I support the EU and rely on them to do specifically what I ask them to do and nothing else without my consent.

"2000 less than in Switzerland" Uhh...what was the total bill then and what work was done for it?

Since an MFK costs 56 chf in ZH why pay a fortune for a 'pre check' Jet wash the engine & turn up, they will tell you if anything is wrong, if the car has been regularly serviced & has under 150,000km it should just pass.