Fastlane Autocare - Mobile Mechanics. Reviews

I brought my car to Fastlane Autocare to have the infotainment system checked, as I was experiencing issues with it. I explained the problem to the receptionist (Ellis), who told me they would need to run a “full” diagnostic on the vehicle to identify the cause. When I asked about the cost, I was informed it would be £102 for the first hour. At that point, I asked whether they would be able to accurately diagnose the issue—and potentially fix it—while the car was already stripped down. Ellis reassured me that they should be able to pinpoint the problem. However, when I brought the car in, it was out of the garage in less than half an hour. The response I received was: “Lost communication with infotainment system. All intermittent codes. Suspect issue with the infotainment system and radio itself, as it does work but cuts in and out as and when it wants to. Advise an in-depth strip down of the radio and info system to find out exactly what's not right.” This vague explanation told me nothing new—I already knew there was an intermittent fault. I voiced my frustration to Ellis and asked whether they had even removed the unit to inspect it, but I was told that one hour wasn’t enough time to do that. I then asked if they would reimburse me half the charge, since they had only spent about 30 minutes on the car. Ellis refused. I asked to speak to a manager, who then told me that to get a clearer idea of the issue, I’d need to book a 5-hour diagnostic at a cost of £510. Only then could they tell me “for sure” what the problem was—not including the cost of any parts needed for the repair. I explained to the manager that the total value of the car is likely no more than £1,800, and I found it unreasonable to spend that much money just to get a more accurate diagnosis. He told me it was up to me. After that, I contacted two other companies (Range Rover Services and Manchester Car Audio) for a second opinion. The first told me they could have stripped the unit out within an hour. The second offered a two-day diagnostic for a total of £120. Both companies advised that, given the car’s age and value, the best and most cost-effective option would be to replace the entire infotainment unit—this would also provide an upgrade. In light of the above, I strongly recommend avoiding Fastlane Autocare. In my experience, they were neither professional nor honest.