Formula One Autocentres - Bury St Edmunds

Service was good but so slow. I booked my car in at Bury St Edmunds for an MOT and air con re-gas at 8:30 Saturday morning. I arrived at 8:25 and left at 11:30, 3 hours waiting for what normally takes an hour was crazy. Unfortunately there were only two members of staff in on a Saturday and one was doing tyre fitting and reception duties.

Even though I had booked, drop ins wanting tyres were done before me.

Happy with the MOT (passed, no advisories) and re-gas but waiting that long was painful especially as I was booked in for when it opened.

Price was good as there was a discount code online but wouldn't go back in peak hours even with a booking.

I really recommend this place. Amazing service, amazing work, very quick. Competitive prices and customer service is amazing. Manager Bart is perfect every time, he is absolutely professional. I'm so glad that I found this garage. Thank you guys. See you soon!

I was sceptical for changing garage but my friend recommended this one. I regret that i was waiting so long. Customer service spot on! I'm working nights so contact with me is difficult but menager of this site is so flexible... Also, his knowledge about cars is unbelievable. I highly recommend this garage and menager to everyone! Big thank you.

Went in for MOT service. Guy called me on the phone to say I needed brake pads and discs replacing, brake fluid replacing + a blown bulb replacing or I would fail MOT. When I paid at the desk and queried it because there had not even been an advisory about the brake pads on the last MOT; the guy at the desk said only the bulb would have failed the MOT. I tried to question further but work had already been carried out so had no choice to pay a total of around £750. Asked to see the condition of the old brake pads and discs and was told they were already in the scrap

Booked a tyre replacement online following a puncture. I specifically wanted a particular exact tyre (Pirelli P7) to match the others on my vehicle, but I was subsequently contacted (by Head Office ?) following the placement of the order that the particular tyre was unavailable, and in conversation that it could not be obtained. This was despite it being clearly advertised on the website, and at a competitive price. One could be cynical, but anyway I duly ordered an alternative P7 (with another manufacturer approval moulding, at an extra £8 for the privelige), and the booking time for fitting duly amended.
On the day, arriving 15 minutes early for the appointment as requested, the car was immediately seen to. We waited in the clean and tidy waiting room, with TV and magazines to browse, which was fine. I had requested a wheel alignment check due to the initial pot hole damage requiring the new tyre. This was carried out, but this is an area where I am most concerned - there was work required with the alignment but we were not informed as to the scope or what the charge would be. It was done there and then, and we were presented with a significant extra charge of £55 for this, after the event. Whilst we did not expect it to be done for nothing it would have been nice to have been kept informed at the time, and what the scale of charges were likely to be.
So overall good marks for the efficiency and timescale of the booking and the work, but minus points for the communication on the day.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A happy motorist
I booked my car for a service and MOT at the Bury St. Edmunds branch.
Unfortunately, my car failed the MOT.
Bart the manager explained the reasons why and showed me the defective components on my car.
The additional works required totaled £600 which was an unwelcome and unexpected bill but following Bart's comprehensive and informative explanation I was satisfied that the works were required.
This was my first visit to the Bury St Edmunds branch, I usually use the Chelmsford site where the staff and service has always been excellent and I am pleased to report that this was duplicated at the Bury St Edmunds premises.
Bart is an excellent ambassador for Formula One Autocentres and a credit to the organisation.

Date of experience: 29 November 2022

AVOID THIS PLACE IF YOU DONT WANT TO GET SCAMMED! went there today for an mot and said i had a broken coil spring on the rear, they tried to charge me £270 and when my husband phoned them they changed to £180 (obviously tried to take advantage of me) then when my husband checked the coil spring later on there was nothing wrong with it! SHOULD NOT EVEN GET 1 STAR AVOID THIS PLACE!

Great customer service, fast, efficient & friendly. The 2 guys I dealt with, Kai & Ben, are a credit to the company. Would highly recommend.