price of new wing mirror for ford escort

[picklepants]

I have a Ford Escort Flite W-reg (2000) and had to have the drivers wingmirror replaced as it was knocked off by brats during the night. It's not electric but is operated by knobby thing just inside door. Wires connecting mirror had to be cut so I could drive safely to work without risk of it flying off and hitting car behind. It's colourcoded by th way so I know that bumps the price up. Anyway, my local private garage who I have trusted for over 5 years and who have NEVER letme down before and have been 100% honest with me in the past have just charged me 175.50!!!!! 69 quid for parts and 79 quid for labour of assembling, fitting, painting etc ane then VAT on top.This seems a horrendous price to pay for a poxy wingmirror. Will be contacting Ford main dealer tomorrow to get a quote from them for guidance bu does anyone out there have any idea if this is way too much? And if so, what legally can I do if I've already paid him by cheque? thanks a lot - can't bear the thought that i've been ripped off by someone who I have always trusted.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

i think you have got a good deal,fords charge �90 per hour labour,and i would think �69 for the mirror is good as well,and you had it painted,you have had a result my friend,ford would have charged over �200 to do it.

[kramer81]

seems a joke anyway. I remember paying �80 3 or 4 years ago for a similar fiesta mirror and thought it was steep

[Andyvon]

That's not a bad quote for a dealer. New manufacturer parts are not cheap and neither is labour.

It might be worth trying your local scrapyards picklepants. They could have one in and it shouldn't cost more than about fifteen pounds if that. Many of them also fit things like that for a very reasonable price. I know you would have to sort the painting out but you may be lucky and find the right colour. Its worth asking.
There are also second-hand vehicle parts dealers listed in your local Yellow Pages. They have computerised contact with most scrapyards in the UK and they search them all for exactly what you want. That scrapyard then removes the part and mails it to you (although you do have to pay postage). There will be lots of those mirrors in your colour on their database all around the country. Then you could get a pal or mobile mechanic to fit it quite cheaply.

Hope this helps. The dealer/new parts option is the most expensive.

[jake-the-peg]

I replaced a non automatic mirror on my father's astra the other month. I got the mirror for �15 I think it was from a scrap yard and all you had to do was carefully prise off a panel and fit it through the door with 3 screws - total time 15 minutes.

Either way a standard mirror for a Mark 6 primed ready for painting is �30 here:

http://www.wingmirrorman.co.uk/escort6.html

[curlyfilm]

you don't live in gosport by chance

[picklepants]

No I don't - Winchester. Had the mirror fixed before I wrote this question. Thanks for your replies - basically I've learnt that I might not have been ripped off but in the future I'll get a quote first and ask around different garages - not just go to the same one. Thanks everyone