Lagos roads, heat, flooding and fuel are hard on cars. A mechanic you trust is worth as much as the car.
Dealerships or a mechanic
- Brand dealerships service cars with genuine parts and records, at a higher price.
- Independent workshops and roadside mechanics are cheaper, and range from excellent to dangerous. Find one through people who have used them for years.
Parts
Parts come new, “tokunbo” (used, imported) or fake. Ladipo market in Mushin is the centre of the trade.
- Buy the part yourself, or go with the mechanic, so you know what goes into the car.
- Keep the old part until the job is done and working.
- Fake parts look genuine and fail fast, especially brake pads, filters and bearings.
Lagos conditions
- Heat and traffic: watch the coolant and the radiator; overheating in a go-slow is common.
- Fuel: buy from busy, reputable stations; contaminated fuel damages engines.
- Potholes: check tyres, suspension and alignment often.
- Floods: never drive through deep water, and have a car that has been flooded checked before you start it.
Avoiding being cheated
- Agree the job and the price before work starts.
- Ask what was found and replaced, and see the old parts.
- Do not leave the car with a mechanic you do not know, with valuables or papers inside.