£150?
bargin. it's a full days job.

The M reg 306 my grandson has bought has had the heater matrix bypassed
.... they just cut through the two pipes and put a bit of linking tube
in as the bypass (which came apart due to it being tapered and the
Jubilee clip not being tight enough .... result engine seizure and a
£300 bill).   The garage that did the engine repair say the reason the
bypass has been done is almost certainly due to the matrix being
knackered.   They quoted £150 to do the job .... but would rather not
do it if you see what I mean  (ref all the talk on here of how daunting
the job is .... having to remove the dashboard and all).   However,
having priced the parts up ....£47 + VAT for the twin 'special' water
pipes ; £44 + vat for the matrix (tho' that is the price to the punter
in the street .... garage would get them for a third of that ....???)
..... the £150 doesn't seem so bad after all.   Trouble is it was
supposed to be 'a little gem of a car for the price' .... £350 at
auction ! ...Now at 350 + 300 + 150 ....  not quite the bargain it was.

My query ..... when they cut thro' the pipes,  they left the 'quick
fit' plastic tube ends still attached to the matrix on the bulk head
...  they are gripping the matrix tube ends very tightly and seem
immovable ....HOW DO YOU GET THEM OFF !?
why can't they just stick to Jubilee clips or circlips ... yes I know
... too simple that !!!!

thanks in advance
alec