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Servicing an Elgrand in Essex

W

Will.Gentle

Newbie
E50 Owner
East Anglia
Messages
6
Reaction score
7
Points
13
Location
Essex
First Name
Owen
Elgrand
E50
Region
East Anglia
Recently bought a ltd edition 4x4 version of the E50... 3.5 petrol.

Loving the car, but have encountered some issues with basic maintenance (wheel tracking and that sort of thing) so am guessing it might be worth finding someone who knows these vehicles to do a service for me.

Just wondering if anyone can recommend such a person/garage in the Essex area... Although happy to travel a bit.

If anyone is able to give a steer on this it would be greatly appreciated 👍
 
Hello and welcome, hope someone can point you in the right direction for service
 
DRA Services in South Croydon specialise in Elgrands if your prepared to travel.
 
Welcome along 👋

If you do find someone in your area please let it be known to help others out 👍
 
JohnK said:
DRA Services in South Croydon specialise in Elgrands if your prepared to travel.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Yeah I saw them on line. Do you have any experience with them? I'd be happy to do the journey as long as it's definitely going to be worth it...
 
Yasawas said:
Welcome along 👋

If you do find someone in your area please let it be known to help others out 👍
Click to expand...
Will do. Found a couple of possibilities just searching online - one in south Essex and one in mid Essex. Will post the outcome...
 
Will.Gentle said:
Thanks. Yeah I saw them on line. Do you have any experience with them? I'd be happy to do the journey as long as it's definitely going to be worth it...
Click to expand...
They've been servicing my E51 for the past 4 years. They certainly know their stuff.
 
Will.Gentle said:
Will do. Found a couple of possibilities just searching online - one in south Essex and one in mid Essex. Will post the outcome...
Click to expand...
Hi Will.Gentle. I’m new here too and still looking to buy an E52. Hopefully this weekend.
I’m currently driving a Chrysler Grand Voyager and after having suffered with difficulties in finding someone in Essex willing to work on the car I’m keen to find out if you’ve managed to source someone to work on Elgrand’s in our lovely county?
 
Update - used DRA a couple of times now... Martin is fantastic. Can't recommend DRA enough. Also Martin recommended a tyre service in Croydon too - Tyretrax. They are also amazing. Sorted out a tracking issue that a tyre centre in Essex had messed up.

Essex - it's a total disaster. Either mechanics don't know what to do with the Elgrand or (and this has happened twice now) they have charged me for work and actually done nothing at all (or done something and messed it up).

Croydon is about an hour and a half drive, but frankly it's worth it. I won't take the Elgrand to anyone in Essex again.
 
Will.Gentle said:
Update - used DRA a couple of times now... Martin is fantastic. Can't recommend DRA enough. Also Martin recommended a tyre service in Croydon too - Tyretrax. They are also amazing. Sorted out a tracking issue that a tyre centre in Essex had messed up.

Essex - it's a total disaster. Either mechanics don't know what to do with the Elgrand or (and this has happened twice now) they have charged me for work and actually done nothing at all (or done something and messed it up).

Croydon is about an hour and a half drive, but frankly it's worth it. I won't take the Elgrand to anyone in Essex again.
Click to expand...
Hi Will,
Was either of the garages you used in Essex based in Hockley? By the name of “first choice car imports”?
I’m looking to service my e52 Elgrand and that place popped up regularly in my searches.
Another being Toyotech Automative located in south woodham ferrers
 
Last edited:
Pesbeard said:
Hi Will,
Was either of the garages you used in Essex based in Hockley? By the name of “first choice car imports”?
I’m looking to service my e52 Elgrand and that place popped up regularly in my searches.
Another being Toyotech Automative located in south woodham ferrers
Click to expand...
 
Sorry Will, were you meant to type something? I can’t see it if you have
 
Sorry... Yep. I don't know those places you've mentioned and haven't tried them. I think I contacted the one in South Woodham Ferrers, but didn't get a reply.

The bad experience I had in Essex was specifically with a tyre centre in Whitham who told me they would sort the tracking for me. They evidently drove the van up the ramp left it there for a while and drove it off again. Charged me £70 and did nothing. That also cost me two front tyres a few months later as they had so badly worn - tracking was so badly out it was counteracting itself, so wasn't pulling. When I took the van to DRA and a centre they recommended in Croydon they confirmed the tracking hadn't been touched by the Essex firm - they had to use a blow torch to loosen the bolts it was that untouched! So I was ripped off totally. Also had the same experience with servicing - after paying for a service, it transpired the garage hadn't actually done half the stuff they were supposed to but charged me for new air filters (old ones still in place on inspection), oil replacement (nope... not done) etc etc. Of course the garages don't want to know when you complain.

So yeah, after several instances of being taken for a mug locally in Essex, seems that I need to drive to Croydon to find someone both decent and reliable.

I'd recommend DRA - trustworthy, know their stuff, decent people... and a lovely Italian coffee bar 5 mins walk away.

Hope that helps.
 
Appreciate all the info, thanks for taking the time 👍
 
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