Formula One Autocentres - Erdington Anmeldelser 26

Called up on the morning to try to book my son's car in for an air con regas, to be told I could turn up anytime really, I said I'd be there between 2 and 2.30. at 2.30 8 turned up and told I need to wait for another car to finish then they will get mine on, probably just over an hour. I went outside to check details with family and came back in to be told that it was now 40 minutes for the other car and an hour for mine so as they close at 4 it won't be done. Why not say that on the first place? Why not just book it on the phone when asked? Both people I spoke to blamed someone else and had an attitude of unhelpfulness. I won't be going back. Now booked in elsewhere Tuesday morning for 25% less. Awful service with no interest in helping people or communicating effectively.

I visited the F1 Autocentre at Kingsbury Road, Erdington (B24 9PY), and my experience was extremely disappointing.

On arrival, I spoke with the manager, Mr. Jay, who immediately insisted that my Skoda Rapid 1.2 TSI required “specialized oil” at an additional cost of £25. This is misleading. The oil specification in question is VW 504 00, which is a common standard used across Volkswagen Group vehicles—not anything rare or “special.” Even today in 2026, 4 litres of this oil from Castrol costs around £36 on the open market.

What’s more concerning is that this conclusion was made without even looking at the car or engine. Apparently, everything was determined purely from the registration number. Interestingly, even the F1 Autocentre website states that this oil might be required—yet the manager seemed absolutely certain without any verification.

I have previously serviced the same vehicle at Johnsons Skoda, where they used VW 504 00 / VW 502 00 without presenting it as a forced upgrade. Despite this, the manager refused to proceed with standard oil, did not consult the owner’s manual, and dismissed my concerns entirely.

This raises several serious concerns:

No transparency during booking—this additional charge was not disclosed
Misrepresentation of a common oil specification as “specialized”
Inconsistent pricing compared to previous services
Complete disregard for customer time and convenience

Ironically, this experience pushed me to buy my own tools and start servicing my car myself—so in that sense, thank you for the motivation.

That said, I will not be returning to F1 Autocentre, even for a basic check.

Done exactly what was needed, as a result car drives perfect. Good bunch of blokes.

Very concerning regarding the extortionate amount of money that was quoted by formula one. Total rip off. It's a good thing to shop around as the problem was speedily resolved and fixed by WMSS Ltd garage for a fraction of the price.

My Polo was making a squealing noise and I had to go on a motorway journey the same day. The mechanics were brilliant! Professional, reassuring and informative. Thank you for a great service.

Just got break discs and pads done for 670. Checked the price and this is obviously a complete rip off. I wasn’t aware at the time and needed the job done quickly! Avoid!

I took my wife’s car Kia Soul 2009 to Formula One Autocentre on Kingsbury Road, in Erdington, Birmingham after it broke down on a dual carriageway on the Sunday afternoon with roadside assistance from the RAC. This vehicle had been fully serviced and repaired by this garage 5 months previous to this breakdown !! The manager : Jay informed me that I must leave the vehicle with him but he could not look at until Wednesday - he called me on Thursday to inform me that the clutch and the starter that we bought from him previously needed to be replaced and it would cost £923.00. I explained that I’m a full time student and I could not afford that lump sum amount he said the company can offer instalments I asked him to explain how this works he stated that he would require £241.00 before he could start the work and at this point I could collect the car and pay the 2 more instalments at this amount - I explained I have only just started working in the university break and that I could not afford the £241 until I got paid the following Friday. He said he would hold on to the keys and the car until then - I discussed with my wife who is also a student full time and the registered keeper and she told me to ring him back and tell him that we have decided not to repair the car as we cannot afford it given earlier that we had already spent £1000 repairing the car in January 2025 at Formula One Autocentre on the Monday I rang Jay the manager and told him that we would not be going ahead with the repair and he stated that he had already carried out the work and replaced the clutch and starter motor and that he required payment for parts and Labour I got angry and told him that I did not authorise him to carry out any work he said all calls are recorded I challenged him to produce the recording where I had authorised him to carry out the work. In the end after a couple of phone calls he told me I would have to bring the log book in for my wife car as they were seizing the car to recover the money , I was against this but my wife at this point wanted to get rid of the car and on that Friday my wife brought the log book for the 2009 Kia Soul to Kingsbury Road , Erdington where Jay the manager directed her to put Formula One Auto Center as the new keeper of the vehicle and she posted the log book to DVLA. Even at this point and we recorded the conversation I challenged him to produce the phone recording of me authorising him to carry out the repair work !!! This manager is pure evil and crooked is putting it mildly !!! and I would not trust them with your car or the extortionate amounts they charge just to fit a new clutch and starter motor they might seize your car like they did my wife’s Kia Soul 2009 which is worth over £2000 if sold as second hand !! This is the way they do business do not do business with them

My daughter went in for a small car he tried too charge her 670 pound for break disks and pads I don’t know what clown are working here but do not use this place needs shutting down also disgusting attitude

I booked an air conditioning recharge for my car and paid online. Upon arrival, I was informed that I had to wait an hour. Later, they told me that my booking was not in the system. I showed them the email confirmation of my reservation, and then they said they didn’t have the necessary equipment to perform the service and that I should come back tomorrow.

I had specifically planned my free time to visit this workshop. No one informed me in advance that I shouldn’t come, so either they are selling services they cannot actually provide, or—more likely—two employees simply didn’t feel like working too much on a Friday. I’m not sure which is worse. They wasted my time and fuel.

I needed a new tyre. Very easy to book and pay in advance online, so I knew I had an appointment and wouldn't be waiting around. Went this morning and the Team were all polite and helpful. I am happy with the service. Thankyou

Supposed to carry out a free winter check, but they didn't do this even though it was in the list of jobs to do.

I visited the Erdinton branch of Formula 1 tyres on Sunday 15th September for 2 replacement front tyres which I had ordered on line.
I spoke to Luke who was doing the work and asked him to take additional care, as my wheels were diamond cut alloys which earlier in the year I had taken in to Kwik Fit for replacement rear tyres. Unfortunately Kwik Fit badly damaged both of my rear wheels.
Luke was totally professional and showed me a couple of marks that were already on my alloys before commencing work, then again calling me out to see the wheels before they were refitted to my car and ask if I was totally satisfied. I watched him through the viewing window whilst he under took the work and the level of care he gave to my wheels was exceptional.
Absolutely outstanding customer service, and praise to Luke for the time and effort he took to do the job.

Rude manager vile customer service needs to be shut down.

The guys at Erdington are so thorough .The price of excellent work is never beaten I would not take my car anywhere else even if they put the prices up.

Me alternator bearings went on a Friday night when leaven work.why I was waiting for recovery phoned around.and formula one quoted me 468 for alternator plus labour to fit it.as I needed car for work Monday they promised they would have car ready for me Saturday afternoon if recovery dropped it off at the auto centre which I agreed to.car dropped off.went home n thought 468 for a alternator that's not right.so sat morning phoned formula one n said can I get me own alternator he ummed n arrghed n eventually said yes..I found a alternator for 168 brand new from a parts store and said it was in stock.went to pick it up and alternator was not on shelf.the bloke behind counter was confused.so I asked him can you check the reg on your computer who has bought it and were it has gone to.yep it was my reg n went to formula one were my car was.any way sourced another alternator took it up n they fiited it.price 78 plus vat for fitting and this is the best bit.they charged me 10 pound a wheel nut as they said me studs had bein over tightened.and would not tighten up..alarm bells starting ringing ere.u can only get Volvo studs from a Volvo dealer.so paid bill went round corner n hey ho none of studs had bein changed all loose and was just holding me wheel on.had to take some studs off me other wheels to hold wheel in place.cowboys and just want commission and want to be top auto centre

Received an Excellent service from Erdington branch, very professional and polite staff.

Service was efficient and the tyres are reasonably priced here, but I was overcharged slightly by paying in store instead of online.

I booked to have a new tyre fitted online but when I went in they found my current tyre was repairable so they repaired it instead and I took the new tyre home. They charged me £25 for a puncture repair even though it's £22 if you book online. I'm not sure if I was overcharged here or if their pricing is inconsistent. I've emailed the online sales team but had no response after 5 working days.

3 months later since writing this review, my car has failed it's MOT because Formula One tyres put my rotational tyre on the wrong way. I now wouldn't recommend going here for any sort of tyre repair.

Great price for the tyres and completed before allotted time. Excellent service all round, definitely go back again. Thank you to all concerned at Formula 1.

Great service from the team at Erdington this week and the receptionist always gives great advice and help. I've no reason to go elsewhere for car work.

I opted to use F1AC after following a recommendation on my Green Flag app taking me to the website "whocanfixmycar.com" with F1AC one of the best quotes for £429 so found a date and booked it in then followed up later with a call to the branch to confirm they had received the booking, which they had.

Dropped the car off and was greeted by a man who instantly had me concerned after he indicated my car was not booked in, not a good people-person to have fronting the office. Fortunately, the other chap I had previously spoken to had remembered the booking and the car was left.

Had a call during the day to say the gearbox oil had been drained and looked "really bad" and would I like the old oil putting back in or pay £79 for new.
(Honestly can't believe I was asked that question)

Went to pick up the car at the end of the day to be greeted with a bill for £558 to which I highlighted I was quoted £429 + £79 for the oil (which I was not happy about). I ended up paying the £508 not what I was quoted.

I believe the gearbox oil doesn't need to be changed for a clutch replacement but that is only what I have read, if that's the case not sure why it was drained, if not the case the cost of the oil should have been included in the quote from my experience.

Clutch felt fantastic after leaving, a huge improvement.

The following morning on my way to work I get a call from my wife to say the car has been leaking on the drive over night. I get to work look under the car to see oil dripping every 5-6 second and the subframe absolutely soaked. I had started a new job on the Monday, made them aware of the all-day Thursday appointment and I wouldn't be there.
On the Friday I then had to rush the car back over to F1AC where they would check and see what was happening.

I was sat in the waiting room for about 3 hours to then be informed the part was available but had to be delivered/collected from Tamworth and wouldn't be there until 16:30.

I chose to get a taxi home and ride my bicycle back.
Upon leaving in the car I noticed the auto start-stop led was permanently illuminated followed shortly after by another engine led illuminating. I went back in and the guys connected to the car computer and turned the engine led off but I am now stuck with the auto start-stop led permanently on.

I have always been reluctant where to take my car for repairs as I have serious trust issues and am always suspect of a job being carried out correctly, professionally and have never found a garage that has instilled the trust I need.

Really bad experience, felt I was over charged and wont feel confident to take my car there again.

UPDATE-30/06/2023
Follow up call on 29/06/2023:
The area manager called. Very polite gent and expressed his apologies. Has said I will be refunded for the oil, however, am awaiting on an email before this happens.