11 replies to this topic

[Jimmyarm]

Hi All,

With a bit of luck, Daisy will be getting a rolling road session for my birthday (must be mad, giving my presents to the car!).

There is a place very near to where I live run by a chap called Tom Airey. Spoke to him on the phone and he seems very knowledgeable and has 25 years experience of tuning all sorts of cars on his road. I have also heard good things about him from a chap over the road that plays with minis lots. He took his MK1 up there and its original engine is getting it up to 85+ after the tune up !

The only shocking bit was when he told me the cost ! He doesnt charge by the hour, just a flat £180 for however long it takes plus the cost of a needle if it needs one.

Does that seem about right ? Slarke advertise at about £60 an hour I think but I wouldnt have thought it would take 3 hours for my little car as the engine is pretty much standard apart from a different exhaust and hopefully a shiney new K&N filter and stub stack next week.

It needs doing as she is running a bit lean and the power doesnt feel right at the bottom end.

What do you think ? £180 worth spending ?

[Clubby1275GT]

in my opinion no, that seems very expensive, expecially if just needs a simple tune up
I go to Collins mini specialist in erdington b'ham (look at that for a plug) and he is top notch!
ive attatched a price list so u can compare

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[Jammy]

Yea, I've paid £65odd for a initial setting up of a new engine and £40 for a quick tune before at my local place.

[Purple Tom]

I paid £150 with ML Motorsport and it was on the rollers for a good 4 hours, that was with twin carbs including modifying both needles and countless times on the rollers...

£180 seems a bit steep - yes if it was an injection car with mappable ECU or carb'd car on twins that needed full set-up and a very unusual spec - but for a pretty much standard car that is far too much.

Whereabouts in the UK are you? If you give us your location we can possibly recommend another local one which is cheaper...

[Jimmyarm]

Down in Winchester, Slarke isnt too far away from me so I might give them a call and see what they say.

[Jimmyarm]

Right, an 'executive decision' has been made and I'm taking her to Slarke on 23rd at 2pm. Spoke to Neil Slarke, really nice chap and they can do all the engineering work my 1380 needs

£50 an hour plus VAT sounds much better !

Hopefully I'll have passed my test so I can drive on my own and my dad can take his car, maybe Neil will let him put it on the rollers

[deanymini]

1380? STANDARD?

[Lund]

I can get one done by Peco Rolling Road, for £25, all because Im in Cruise Wirral... Lovin' it discount

[Purple Tom]

(I think he means engineering work on a 1380 he's building - ie them boring it, cam bearings etc etc)

[Jimmyarm]

(I think he means engineering work on a 1380 he's building - ie them boring it, cam bearings etc etc)

Yes that is what I meant !

[deanymini]

oops! sorry

[Amy]

We paid Pete Baldwin just over £140 to rolling road tune Toad- that included a new needle too.

It was well worth the money... She runs like a dream and he was well impressed with the engine!