Repaired for a bargain!

[sasslash]

Hi everyone,

My Fiat 126 (1997) is still in my girlfriends house in Krakow being 'prepared' by the local village mechanic/farmer for a trip back to England this spring or summer (I assume its a bit of an A-Team, Mr T. job). My girlfriend is living with me now in Liverpool and we recently got some unpleasent news from her parents about how much work needed doing for the Fiat to pass the Polish equivilant of an MOT and have a chance at making it back to England. The list goes: (I would of done most the work myself but I don't often get over to Krakow now, even if I did its -20!)

1. New Battery
2. New Alternator
3. All four brakes replacing
5. Pistons replacing
6. Fuel pump replacing
7. Clutch replacing (only recommended but I did )
8. Handbrake adjustment.
9. Few electrical bits and bobs (one headlight etc)

A total cost of £120 with labour - I should be happy about that, right? 

I remember when I used to have a 2001 Nissan Micra, took it in for an MOT and they said the rear brakes were binding - charged £80 labour to fix that alone!

Just to finish, I am curious if anybody has any advice for putting the 126 through a 1200 mile endurance run from Krakow to Liverpool? I can't wait to get it here, I haven't had a real chance to 'bond' with it yet - it still seems a little surreal I have bought one!

Cheers in advance anyway, John

[dajwid]

Get him to fit refurbished 'Zwrotnice' (with twin grease nipples) while he is at it, only about 50pln in Poland and worth getting done while he is sorting it out.
Also get him to get any rust welded. Our MOT is a lot tougher than a Polish 'Przeglad Techniczy' Which a very east to 'arrange'

Put a new set or tyres on it too, much much cheaper in Poland than here

good luck it is a very boring run, I did it in a VW camper at 80KMH all the way 

[sasslash]

Thanks a lot for the advice! Ive made a note of those things, I'll be sure to get all of that done over there while he's at it 

I got a set of extra winter tyres when I bought it last April so i'll have to see how I get on with luggage space. I'm sure i'll be running back and forth at least a few times a year so i'll pick up bits for the car on each journey for spares (quite fancy the chrome bumpers at some point).

I'm hoping to make the journey more of a holiday, giving it a lot of time to get back and not too much driving each day who knows, I might even take it around the Nurburgring and stretch it's legs!

[Amateb8]

The labour charge looks good. If I had all the work you outlined done here, the labour cost would definitely be a lot more than £120. I would go with Dave's suggestion and get the other bits and pieces done particularly if the needs any welding. Another reason for getting it done there is access to cheap 126 spare parts. Lastly, your girlfriend's parents will ensure the work required is done properly, because presumably, their daughter will in the car with you on the return journey to Liverpool.