I took my 2005 Jaguar S-Type in for a squeaky steering wheel and for a non-working rocker switch on Sun roof panel.
My car was at the repair facility for 2 WEEKS, although I told them I had other transportation at the time. When the Service Advisor Nicholas Townsend finally called me to quote the repair cost 5 days later, he told me I would pay $650 for the switch replacement, but that the repair for the squeaky steering wheel would only be $38 to pay for the exchange of a different type of fluid in the steering column to stop the rubber seal squeaking sound. He said they found a technical bulletin that told them exactly how to solve the squeak sound, and I should be thankful they would not have to charge me a lot of money for labor to fix THAT!
I was blown away why a $40 switch would cost about $1,000 to fix, and he said Jaguar made the roof console so that the switch itself could not be serviceable. So, I had to replace the dome lights, sunglass holder and rocker switch to the sun roof all in the same little plastic panel at $650. For total parts and labor, he said it will cost $1,100! I had already called another repair shop that said the switch replacement would be about $850. I justified paying higher for the Jag dealership repair since I thought having a dealer repair on this would be better (MISTAKE!). Besides, I thought, if this panel was $650, I could always sell it on ebay or craigslist for about $200 to $300.
When I called to arrange a pick-up time for the car, I was told over the phone that the total price of he car would be $1,550!!! When I told explained how that was over $400 higher than I was quoted, I was told to come in on the following Monday and deal with my service advisor, Nicholas Townsend.
I came in the dealership on Monday, and Nick denied he ever told me a quote of $1,100 on the phone. He said he told me TWICE that the total cost of repair would be $1,550. THAT WAS A BALD-FACED LIE!!! I only wish I had digitally recorded him talking to me on the telephone. Then I could have played that back for him and his service manager to prove I was lied to. I complained that I would have MOST CERTAINLY gone to another nearby repair facility if I was thought Fremont Motors expected me to pay $1,550. AFter some tense minutes of psycho warfare and a testy exchange of words... Nick adjusted the bill down to $1,369.00, claiming there was a 10% discount for "first time" repair customers. So, I had to pay $1,369.in the meantime, I checked with ebay, and a roof console that is brand new was selling for $89 for a car model one year older than my 2005 Jaguar! No way I will be able to salvage much cost for the returned core part of the panel that I possess... Especially with a defective rocker switch.
Final summary? I will never, ever go back to Fremont Motors again, except only if I have a full warranty repair on my 100,000 mile Special Edition used car warranty which will probably expire 12 months from now at the end of the 6 year warranty period. This dealership lied to me, over-charged me, and took 2 weeks to fix my car.
Do not trust fremont motor cars and the estimate they give you!!!
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