Looking for specialist in Hertfordshire

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rivarama

Member
Posts
36
Location
London
Following the acquisition of a Series 2a, I am looking for a reliable and honest specialist in my area.
Although one of the reasons I decided to buy a Series in the first place, was to learn the basics of mechanics and I am still hoping I will be able to do some jobs myself. However, being realistic I will need to use a real pro to help me with the jobs (at least at first).
With that in mind I went online trying to find good local LR garages/independents and made a few calls. I was quite surprised to hear that most of them charge between £85-105.
Although price shouldn’t be the only factor when starting a trusting relationship with anyone, I was a bit surprised about their hourly rates. It is very close to the ratea charged by the main dealers I use for my daily drivers, all of which offer fancy coffees, great showrooms and posh sofas (without mentioning all the technical equipment and diagnostic tools).
If anyone can recommend a trusted specialist in Hertfordshire (Chorleywood, Watford area) I’d be grateful.
 
rivarama said:
Following the acquisition of a Series 2a, I am looking for a reliable and honest specialist in my area.
Although one of the reasons I decided to buy a Series in the first place, was to learn the basics of mechanics and I am still hoping I will be able to do some jobs myself. However, being realistic I will need to use a real pro to help me with the jobs (at least at first).
With that in mind I went online trying to find good local LR garages/independents and made a few calls. I was quite surprised to hear that most of them charge between £85-105.
Although price shouldn’t be the only factor when starting a trusting relationship with anyone, I was a bit surprised about their hourly rates. It is very close to the ratea charged by the main dealers I use for my daily drivers, all of which offer fancy coffees, great showrooms and posh sofas (without mentioning all the technical equipment and diagnostic tools).
If anyone can recommend a trusted specialist in Hertfordshire (Chorleywood, Watford area) I’d be grateful.
Click to expand...
Other than Google search, and talking to other owners around you, I don't have any suggestions.
There are some other members in that area, who might come up with something in due course.

But I wouldn't expect it to be cheap, wherever you go. A garage have enormous standing costs, rent, rates, computer sytems, admin, disposal of waste, etc.
And they have to pay the mechanic who will actually do the work. And people who can actually work on those are thin on the ground, modern mechanics, who are usually known as "technicians", are trained to work on vehicles with a diagnostic socket to tell you what needs replacing.
So really, the best suggestion might be to spend the money on a good manual, and start assembling some tools, and do the jobs yourself.
 
Turboman said:
Other than Google search, and talking to other owners around you, I don't have any suggestions.
There are some other members in that area, who might come up with something in due course.

But I wouldn't expect it to be cheap, wherever you go. A garage have enormous standing costs, rent, rates, computer sytems, admin, disposal of waste, etc.
And they have to pay the mechanic who will actually do the work. And people who can actually work on those are thin on the ground, modern mechanics, who are usually known as "technicians", are trained to work on vehicles with a diagnostic socket to tell you what needs replacing.
So really, the best suggestion might be to spend the money on a good manual, and start assembling some tools, and do the jobs yourself.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your sensible answer - I will keep asking around and connect with locals when local clubs can start meeting again.
I have bought the Haynes LR manual as a start. Any recommendation on books I could buy to learn the basics of mechanics?
 
rivarama said:
Thanks for your sensible answer - I will keep asking around and connect with locals when local clubs can start meeting again.
I have bought the Haynes LR manual as a start. Any recommendation on books I could buy to learn the basics of mechanics?
Click to expand...
Brooklands Books do reprint genuine manuals for Series. Very good, you can order them online to be sent by post.
 
rivarama said:
Thanks for your sensible answer - I will keep asking around and connect with locals when local clubs can start meeting again.
I have bought the Haynes LR manual as a start. Any recommendation on books I could buy to learn the basics of mechanics?
Click to expand...
What do you actually need to do?

I assume you know how to do an oil and filter change? And check oil and fluid levels?
If the vehicle is actually running at the moment, that is the sort of thing likely to be needed at first.
 
Turboman said:
What do you actually need to do?

I assume you know how to do an oil and filter change? And check oil and fluid levels?
If the vehicle is actually running at the moment, that is the sort of thing likely to be needed at first.
Click to expand...
As I said, I am starting from a low base :( - the good news is that I know where the dipstick is located and I have a lot of patience. So I thought turning 40 was the perfect time to learn :D

To answer your question, I am hoping it doesn’t need much at all at the beginning, so I can learn along the way - but realistically I will need some level of support at first.
 
rivarama said:
Thanks for your sensible answer - I will keep asking around and connect with locals when local clubs can start meeting again.
I have bought the Haynes LR manual as a start. Any recommendation on books I could buy to learn the basics of mechanics?
Click to expand...
I also have the Haynes book (plus their restoration book), but to be honest, I've hardly used them when working on my S3. I found the green 'Repair Operations Manual' to be more concise and useful, although the Haynes manual is a useful backup for some jobs. The Parts Catalogue is also very useful for just seeing how things fit together. Don't underestimate how useful it can be, just because there are few words in it.

Take a look at http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/ . It's got a S2A Owners Manual there, but this doesn't look a comprehensive as the S3 Workshop Manual. I don't know if there is an equivalent to the S3 book (and the S3 parts catalogue) - I'm sure someone will help point you at one, if there is.
 
Probably a bit too far north for you, just north of Buntingford in Herts. These are good guys, experienced with Land Rover Series vehicles. I have only had to use them once, but got a very good impression - they sorted the timing on my Series 3 in an hour, after I had spent many many hours trying to set it up properly....
Howe Engineering
Stones Cross, Hare St
SG9 0DY Hare Street
Hertfordshire England
01763 289521
01763 289782
howe-engineering.co.uk
 
I use a Aylmer Motors who are located in Potters Bar for MOT, Annual Service & other repairs. Martin & the team have been looking after my Series 3 for the last five years. I have always found the team to be knowledgeable & helpful & reasonably priced. I must admit I do have a go at most things myself, but, if beyond my limited skills I defer to them.
Link - http://www.aylmer.co.uk/index.html
Hope this helps & have fun.
Regards
John
 
rivarama said:
Following the acquisition of a Series 2a, I am looking for a reliable and honest specialist in my area.
Although one of the reasons I decided to buy a Series in the first place, was to learn the basics of mechanics and I am still hoping I will be able to do some jobs myself. However, being realistic I will need to use a real pro to help me with the jobs (at least at first).
With that in mind I went online trying to find good local LR garages/independents and made a few calls. I was quite surprised to hear that most of them charge between £85-105.
Although price shouldn’t be the only factor when starting a trusting relationship with anyone, I was a bit surprised about their hourly rates. It is very close to the ratea charged by the main dealers I use for my daily drivers, all of which offer fancy coffees, great showrooms and posh sofas (without mentioning all the technical equipment and diagnostic tools).
If anyone can recommend a trusted specialist in Hertfordshire (Chorleywood, Watford area) I’d be grateful.
Click to expand...
 
How did you get on? The obvious answer is Harris Mayes in Ricky. That is who I have used for my L322. However - they have been sold and become a bit more corporate (I.e. expensive) so I was looking for a bit more of a one-man-band myself. Any joy?
 
I think its right than a person who can diagnose and fix a Series is as valuable as one who can plug in an OBD and swap out a circuit board. Many of the skills required for diagnose on older vehicles are getting lost now. I see that in the US some dealers are refusing to work on carburettor cars as they no longer have staff trained to do it. Likewise setting points is becoming a lost art. If you are starting from a belief that a skilled guy who fixes an old car is worth less than one who fixes a modern car you will not get far. Just compare setting the mixture - low, mid and top range settings, needles and jets to set, each one at a time, vs a touch screen laptop and an O2 signal.
I would come at this from a different angle. My advice is phone round the local mobile mechanics and find one who is happy to work on your series and who you what he does and why. Be upfront and be prepared to pay a slight premium for the extra work time it takes to explain.
 
Unfortunately- I haven’t found any one yet. I ended doing the basic myself (oil/filter, coolant, rad flush, spark plugs etc...) until I find someone who can.
Harry Mayes is indeed around the corner, but they charge close to £100 an hour, which feels steep for such a simple car like a series.
I will keep looking.

There’s an old school MOT Center close by, the owner drives a Def90... I might drop by and ask them
 
rivarama said:
Unfortunately- I haven’t found any one yet. I ended doing the basic myself (oil/filter, coolant, rad flush, spark plugs etc...) until I find someone who can.
Harry Mayes is indeed around the corner, but they charge close to £100 an hour, which feels steep for such a simple car like a series.
I will keep looking.

There’s an old school MOT Center close by, the owner drives a Def90... I might drop by and ask them
Click to expand...
I agree with Rob^^^^^^^^^. Just because it is an old car, don't expect that someone is going to work on it for cheap.
Series are quite repairable, modern cars just plug into a computer, and then the mechanic changes the entire assembly which is found to be at fault.
So you might end up paying more for labour with the Series, but spending less on parts.
The best option is always going to be doing it yourself.
 
Turboman said:
I agree with Rob^^^^^^^^^. Just because it is an old car, don't expect that someone is going to work on it for cheap.
Series are quite repairable, modern cars just plug into a computer, and then the mechanic changes the entire assembly which is found to be at fault.
So you might end up paying more for labour with the Series, but spending less on parts.
The best option is always going to be doing it yourself.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree - I was implying that I don’t need to pay for the overhead of a showroom, fancy coffee maker etc... given the complexity of the series diagnostic tools required (lol), a good local mechanics in a shed and who knows those cars well is all I need.

Still searching
 
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