Roughly how much..

jpacoupe · Unread post by **jpacoupe** » 08 Sep 2004, 18:30

Anyone know roughly how much would a dealer charge to replace frount and rear spheres on at 96 xantia estate?
The car's bouncing all over the place and I want to know whats the worst it could be to fix.
Bearing in mind the cars probably only worth a grand and a bit anyway.
Any ideas ?

Unread post by **RichardW** » 08 Sep 2004, 19:05

Go on, give them a ring and have a laugh!!!
Cit spheres are of the order of £50 a pop, so you'll probably want 5 (inc rear anti-sink), so that's £250. Add a couple of litres of LHM at £5 / l. Now add at least 2 hours labout at £50 and suddenly it's a £400 job. Ouch!!
However, there are plenty of independents about who will do the job MUCH cheaper. If you're at all competent with the spanners (ie you know what one looks like) you can DIY, and the spheres are only £20 from GSF.
Whereabouts in the UK are you? - someone will probably be able to suggest an indy, or offer their services to change them for a more reasonable fee! If you're near Manchester, there's a guy will supply and fit re-con spheres (3 yr guarantee) at £25 each.

jpacoupe · Unread post by **jpacoupe** » 08 Sep 2004, 19:21

I'm near croydon if anyone knows a good independent place.
As for me and spanners, not good. I've got fat fingers and no patience.

Daniel B · Unread post by **Daniel B** » 08 Sep 2004, 20:30

JPA - try this place, ring them for a qoute first anyway - fairly close to you too.
Witmun Engineering
76a Nutfield Road
Merstham
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 3ER
tel 01737 644828

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 08 Sep 2004, 21:01

In coventry there's an indie Citroen specalist charging £58 pound each.......OUCH but you do get free fitting. NO THANKS

jpacoupe · Unread post by **jpacoupe** » 09 Sep 2004, 16:59

Daniel B
I've rung Witmuns, £25 a corner fitted!
Result. Booked in for Tuesday.
Thank you

bxbodger · Unread post by **bxbodger** » 09 Sep 2004, 17:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If you're at all competent with the spanners <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
And the beauty of sphere changing is, you don't even need them!!!

jpacoupe · Unread post by **jpacoupe** » 15 Sep 2004, 21:26

2 new front spheres fitted , and the accumulator and rears regassed with new valves fitted for £120 inc vat.
No more driving down the roadlike a kangaroo on a po-go stick.
Happy with that!

fab1975 · Unread post by **fab1975** » 27 Sep 2004, 00:36

Hi RichardW,
I might be interested in replacing the spheres of my Xantia 2.0 HDi in the near future and I live in Altrincham, so an indipendent Citroen specialist in my area would be really appreciated. Could you please tell me the name of that guy and also if he can do other kinds of jobs on my car?
Thanks a lot,
Fab

Unread post by **RichardW** » 27 Sep 2004, 15:40

Westroen Sphere services:
http://www.westroen-spheres.co.uk/
AFAIK he only does spheres and LHM changes.

Daniel B · Unread post by **Daniel B** » 27 Sep 2004, 18:35

Just seen your post JPA - did it all go ok and make a difference?
Dan

mseymour · Unread post by **mseymour** » 27 Sep 2004, 19:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by RichardW suddenly it's a £400 job. Ouch!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Ha, I laugh in the face of this almost competitive quote. Took my Xantia VSX to Reg Vardy in York and asked them to check the sphere pressures for me.
First of all they said they could, then they said they couldn't and that it wasn't possible. Then they tested two of them and said they were both crap.
Finally they offered to sort it all out for me with new spheres and a hydraulics overhaul for.......£1295 [xx(]
Hurrah!

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 27 Sep 2004, 19:57

Workmates BX a few years ago..... Was clicking every few seconds needed new accum sphere.
One new gearbox later[:0] (apparently layshaft was breaking up) still clicking[:0] Was a fleet car though so he didn't have to pay.

James.UK · Unread post by **James.UK** » 27 Sep 2004, 23:51

mseymour. Give John (York) a ring on 01904 651900.

pwatson · Unread post by **pwatson** » 28 Sep 2004, 00:35

"they offered to sort it all out for me with new spheres and a hydraulics overhaul for.......£1295"
To which you replied???
Amazing the difference in prices quoted above. But they just show the value of a good independent - who is probably to be trusted to do a better job as well. Value of DIY is even greater of course!