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Links readily available. But it's not the first time that Betty has been turned over by her VX dealer :-X

Doing the job correctly, means either the correct shocks or new shocks, springs and a couple of hours to remove the self levelling gubbins. Pulling the fuse is to totally half arse it.

Genuine non SL shocks are circa £100 each. Springs around £60. £237 at a main dealer isn't going to buy anything worth getting.

Really?? !!

The only time I have had a problem with them because of a new genuine GM A/C compressor failing within two years of being fitted, the General Manager blah blah blah

I presume this is the same place that tried to charge £320 to change a ball joint at the last MoT

I have two questions:
As your car left the factory with self levelling suspension:

1. When was it removed?
2. Was it removed correctly or did they simply pull the fuse and fit standard shocks?

Any VX dealer would know from the VIN that it should have self levelling rear suspension even if they don't know or understand why or how it works. Actually any garage would be able to find that information easily enough

That they apparently are prepared to throw on whatever is currently fitted raises more than an eyebrow.

I get that you may no longer be able to get under the car to do things, especially suspension work, (it's a bear to do even 15 years ago), but you are being led up the garden path by people that are only interested in depriving you of your money whilst smiling and making you think they've done you a favour. They haven't and they're not..

I'm not going to waste my time digging up links because you'll only ignore them and the advice given.

No DG, I have not had any issue with ball joints, or any other item, following an MOT or anything else.  The only issue was the A/C co0mpressor which the dealer sorted quickly.

As for your last comment, I do note your comments and advice but I cannot always act on them due to not being abloe to work on cars like you do, and once I could many years ago!

However, I have also noted your questions, and those of TB, Migv6, cam in the head, etc, about S/L shocks on my car.  I was convinced that I did not have that system as the rear of the cars height does not change between the engine being on, or off, and there is no sound of a system working as there was with previous Vauxhalls I have possessed.

BUT, I am an honest, straightforward women who does not bullshit like many men so (sorry men!! ) and I will now state that I believe I WAS WRONG IN MY ASSESSMENT that I did not have a S/L system!!!

Because you all cast much doubt in my mind over this, I went outside, down to my garage, and jacked up the offside rear of my car, taking the wheel off.  What I found was, I now believe, signs that there is a S/L system, but I don't think it is working due to what I have stated previously.  I have taken photos of the shock and diff which show signs of a S/L system, and I am trying to remember how now we can transfer photos from a current host site onto the OOF so you can judge yourselves and advise please.

This garage. Last year.

https://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=151422.0

 

Ah, now I understand your confusion.  I actually had the TRACK ROD ends replaced all in for £188 using my other favoured garage, including the parts sourced from Autodoc.  I knew I hadn’t had “ball joints” done by Vx or anyone else.

You certainly don’t give up in trying to catch me out Why the interest?

And why do you always look on the worst senerio?   Do you want to scare me silly?

Whatever the Vx dealer has quoted I will just go along with - to start with.  But there really is far worse to fear in life than challenges to do with cars, especially one that is now 23 years old that does not owe me a penny.  It has given me a great means of transport for a total of £17,557 over13 years this July. I reckon that is great value for such a car, that I could now sell for at least £4,000, but even without that it is still good value at £1,350 per year.  The finance, depreciation, let alone servicing costs on a brand new car would well exceed that.

I was looking at a deal on a brand new Vx EV, with £13,000 off the list price, so costing £18,000 before even going out on the road.  Not only would their be the significant cost of finance and depreciation per year, but a new battery every, say, 10 years can cost £10,000.

So give me my Omega “deal” anyday

Links readily available. But it's not the first time that Betty has been turned over by her VX dealer :-X

Doing the job correctly, means either the correct shocks or new shocks, springs and a couple of hours to remove the self levelling gubbins. Pulling the fuse is to totally half arse it.

Genuine non SL shocks are circa £100 each. Springs around £60. £237 at a main dealer isn't going to buy anything worth getting.

Really?? !!

The only time I have had a problem with them because of a new genuine GM A/C compressor failing within two years of being fitted, the General Manager blah blah blah

I presume this is the same place that tried to charge £320 to change a ball joint at the last MoT

I have two questions:
As your car left the factory with self levelling suspension:

1. When was it removed?
2. Was it removed correctly or did they simply pull the fuse and fit standard shocks?

Any VX dealer would know from the VIN that it should have self levelling rear suspension even if they don't know or understand why or how it works. Actually any garage would be able to find that information easily enough

That they apparently are prepared to throw on whatever is currently fitted raises more than an eyebrow.

I get that you may no longer be able to get under the car to do things, especially suspension work, (it's a bear to do even 15 years ago), but you are being led up the garden path by people that are only interested in depriving you of your money whilst smiling and making you think they've done you a favour. They haven't and they're not..

I'm not going to waste my time digging up links because you'll only ignore them and the advice given.

No DG, I have not had any issue with ball joints, or any other item, following an MOT or anything else.  The only issue was the A/C co0mpressor which the dealer sorted quickly.

As for your last comment, I do note your comments and advice but I cannot always act on them due to not being abloe to work on cars like you do, and once I could many years ago!

However, I have also noted your questions, and those of TB, Migv6, cam in the head, etc, about S/L shocks on my car.  I was convinced that I did not have that system as the rear of the cars height does not change between the engine being on, or off, and there is no sound of a system working as there was with previous Vauxhalls I have possessed.

BUT, I am an honest, straightforward women who does not bullshit like many men so (sorry men!! ) and I will now state that I believe I WAS WRONG IN MY ASSESSMENT that I did not have a S/L system!!!

Because you all cast much doubt in my mind over this, I went outside, down to my garage, and jacked up the offside rear of my car, taking the wheel off.  What I found was, I now believe, signs that there is a S/L system, but I don't think it is working due to what I have stated previously.  I have taken photos of the shock and diff which show signs of a S/L system, and I am trying to remember how now we can transfer photos from a current host site onto the OOF so you can judge yourselves and advise please.

This garage. Last year.

https://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=151422.0

 

Ah, now I understand your confusion.  I actually had the TRACK ROD ends replaced all in for £188 using my other favoured garage, including the parts sourced from Autodoc.  I knew I hadn’t had “ball joints” done by Vx or anyone else.

You certainly don’t give up in trying to catch me out Why the interest?

And why do you always look on the worst senerio?   Do you want to scare me silly?

Whatever the Vx dealer has quoted I will just go along with - to start with.  But there really is far worse to fear in life than challenges to do with cars, especially one that is now 23 years old that does not owe me a penny.  It has given me a great means of transport for a total of £17,557. Over 13 years this July I reckon that is great value for such a car, that I could now sell for at least £4,000, but even without that it is still good value at £1,350 per year.  The finance, depreciation, let alone servicing costs on a brand new car would well exceed that.

I was looking at a deal on a brand new Vx EV, with £13,000 off the list price, so costing £18,000 before even going out on the road.  Not only would their be the significant cost of finance and depreciation per year, but a new battery every, say, 10 years can cost £10,000.

So give me my Omega “deal” anyday

May be some cheap cars on the market in April

2029 perhaps...

It only affects brand new cars sold on or after April 1st 2026. You might see an increase in pre-registered cars but the information is misrepresented. It's an increase over existing Year 1 bands. These cars already attract a first year enhancement of £5,490 so it's only an increase of £200/5490, aka 3.64 %

Inflation was 3.8% in November. This annual increase is neither unexpected nor news.

Be outraged if you want, but stop pandering to the hysterical 

yep self levelling indeed so if thd vx garage can keep ti their price you will indeed get a bargain but they wont !
so its as suggested ealier
2options
find the correct shocks and make sure the system is working or
convert springs and shocks to normal style (dont know if this would be classed as a modification to the vehicle thou ??

It's technically a modification but it fits within the description of a reasonable repair as long as the springs and shocks are equivalent of/or factory fitted parts for an Omega B of the same age.

Just replacing the shocks for standard ones will take it outside type approval, notwithstanding that the handling will become unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

May be some cheap cars on the market in April

Used AI instead

 59 cars facing £5,690 car tax in April 2026
(Most are high-performance or large-engined petrol/diesel models)


Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo
Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
Audi RS6 4.0 TFSI V8
Audi RS7 4.0 TFSI V8
Audi RSQ8 4.0 TFSI V8
Audi S8 4.0 TFSI V8
Audi SQ7 4.0 TFSI V8
Audi SQ8 4.0 TFSI V8
Aston Martin DBX 4.0 V8
Aston Martin DB12 4.0 V8
Aston Martin Vantage 4.0 V8
Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8
Bentley Continental 4.0 V8
Bentley Continental 6.0 W12
Bentley Flying Spur 4.0 V8
BMW Alpina XB7 4.4 V8
BMW M8 4.4 V8
BMW X5 M 4.4 V8
BMW X6 M 4.4 V8
BMW X7 M 4.4 V8
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 6.2 V8
Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12
Ferrari Roma 3.8T V8
Ford Mustang 5.0 V8
Ford Ranger 2.0 TD EcoBlue
Ford Ranger 3.0 EcoBlue
Ford Ranger 3.0 V6
INEOS Grenadier 3.0P
Jaguar F-Pace 5.0 P575 V8
Jeep Wrangler 2.0 GME
Lamborghini Huracan 5.2 V10
Lamborghini Urus 4.0 V8 BiTurbo
Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12
Land Rover Defender 90 5.0 P425 V8
Land Rover Defender 110 5.0 P425 V8
Lotus Emira 3.5 V6
Maserati Levante 3.0 V6
Maserati Levante 3.8 V8
Maserati MC20 3.0 V6
McLaren GT 4.0T V8
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4.0 V8
Mercedes-Benz G400D
Mercedes-Benz G63
Mercedes-Benz GLC63
Mercedes-Benz GLE63
Mercedes-Benz GLS63h
Mercedes-Benz SL55
Porsche 718 Cayman 4.0 GT4
Porsche 911 3.7T 992 Turbo
Porsche Cayenne 4.0T V8
Porsche Macan 2.9T V6
Range Rover 4.4 P530 V8
Range Rover 4.4 P615 V8
Range Rover Sport 4.4P V8
Rolls-Royce Ghost 6.75 V12
Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6.75 V12
Toyota Hilux 2.8D
Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8D
Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI

📌 These models typically emit over 255 g/km CO₂, placing them in the top Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) band with first-year tax jumping to £5,690 for vehicles newly registered on or after 1 April 2026.

📊 Why the huge tax jump?

New VED rules: The UK government has changed first-year Vehicle Excise Duty calculations so that very high-emission petrol and diesel cars now attract significantly higher tax to discourage their purchase and use.

Threshold effect: Cars emitting over 255 g/km of CO₂ now fall into the highest first-year tax band — previously up to £5,490 under the 2025 rules — but rising to £5,690 for 2026/27.

These figures apply only to first-year tax; subsequent years will revert to the standard rate of car tax with any applicable expensive car supplement added depending on list price.

If you want, I can also break down the VED costs by CO₂ band so you can see how much different cars will pay from April 2026 (e.g., low, medium and high emissions). Just let me know!

Full list of 59 cars to face £5,690 car tax in April 2026 including Mercedes and BMW

Can post a link if required but thought better of it with all the adds in contains

So Trump is Hitlers' autistic Godson, yet China is progressive 

Talking of China taking over everything, I see The Wet Kipper has agreed that the future of Jaguar is building Chinesium Lego cars

You have to be a bit careful driving on it too apparently.

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/prochlorperazine/common-questions-about-prochlorperazine/

yep self levelling indeed so if thd vx garage can keep ti their price you will indeed get a bargain but they wont !
so its as suggested ealier
2options
find the correct shocks and make sure the system is working or
convert springs and shocks to normal style (dont know if this would be classed as a modification to the vehicle thou ??

Thanks

I will now give that problem to my Vx dealer, and hold them to their quote!!

They are meant to be the experts and have not let me down before

That's the funniest thing I have heard all year.

Expect a bill for about a grand to do that job properly. Even bodged you're looking at about £500 for the parts and fitting. The brake lines will be in addition to that.

If they just fit the shocks, they've no business being in business. It's really that simple.