Anybody caught a shop putting miles on their car?

[e30onBBSs]

I remember when I used to be on bimmerforums a guy took like 03 or 04 5 series in to get work done and one of the techs without anyone's knowledge took it for a joy ride and totaled it.

Do you know what happens after that? Is it the shop's responsibility to pay or the mechanic?

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Do you know what happens after that? Is it the shop's responsibility to pay or the mechanic?

if i remember correctly the shop paid for damages and then the tech i believe was fired and sued by the shop. Don't quote me on that though I just remember that from like two or three years ago when i first got into BMW's with my e36.

[mr2peak]

Every shop pretty much does it (including the dealers). Just think if any of you worked at a shop and an s54 swapped e30 m3 came in for a/c service.. would you not take it around the block..?

NO! Not without the owners permission, or if it was actually necessary. That's exactly what this thread is about. And if an accident occurs, that's a whole other deal.

Working in a shop shouldn't be about joyriding a swapped car when it comes in for A/C service..

[ThatOneEuroE30]

And then there's this

http://jalopnik.com/dealership-totals-customers-camaro-zl1-owner-and-deal-1498804012

[pandaboo911]

I had a shop put 250 miles (tank of gas) on my mom's car and they broke several things in the interior. The shop owner covered everything. I'm still friends with the owner but its the last time I ever went there..

I've always had good luck with the owners of the shops i go to, sadly their employees always seem to be retarded. Most recently I've taken my cars to a shop I wont name, and every time they fix something, I take the car home with a new problem, and I've gotten kind of suspicious.

[Andy.B]

While joyriding a car is inexcusable, a good shop is going to test drive every car, albeit safely and responsibly.

Most car owners are not enthusiasts. Most will notice a broken wiper, or a flat tire, but may not notice an alignment change due to a worn bushing that causes the car to pull under heavy braking. It is the repair shops responsibility to discover and document potential problems above and beyond what the customer complains about. Most customers bring their car to a shop "to get fixed"... And that's it. They don't come to have the one thing they noticed attended to and everything else ignored. They recognize that they may not be aware of every problem.

At every shop/dealership I worked at, every car was test driven, and received a thorough inspection. It helps the customer, and yes, it helps the shop make money. Mostly, though, it makes sure that at the end is the transaction that the customer has a safe car, and the shop isn't taken on liability by being the last responsible party to work on a death trap. If they come in for only a headlight bulb, the car never even goes on a lift, and a wheel falls off on their way home, they are going to blame the shop. They are going to sue, and are probably going to win.

Again, however, this only accounts for a responsible < 3 mile test drive. Not joyriding, not running errands, not abusing the car. But to think your car is only going to move from the parking spot to a garage bay, and back, is just silly.

[CirrusblauS52]

While joyriding a car is inexcusable, a good shop is going to test drive every car, albeit safely and responsibly.

Most car owners are not enthusiasts. Most will notice a broken wiper, or a flat tire, but may not notice an alignment change due to a worn bushing that causes the car to pull under heavy braking. It is the repair shops responsibility to discover and document potential problems above and beyond what the customer complains about. Most customers bring their car to a shop "to get fixed"... And that's it. They don't come to have the one thing they noticed attended to and everything else ignored. They recognize that they may not be aware of every problem.

At every shop/dealership I worked at, every car was test driven, and received a thorough inspection. It helps the customer, and yes, it helps the shop make money. Mostly, though, it makes sure that at the end is the transaction that the customer has a safe car, and the shop isn't taken on liability by being the last responsible party to work on a death trap. If they come in for only a headlight bulb, the car never even goes on a lift, and a wheel falls off on their way home, they are going to blame the shop. They are going to sue, and are probably going to win.

Again, however, this only accounts for a responsible < 3 mile test drive. Not joyriding, not running errands, not abusing the car. But to think your car is only going to move from the parking spot to a garage bay, and back, is just silly.

^ Well said. There is a balance to be had ... I get irked if a shop fails to test drive my car thoroughly; as certain things can be easily overlooked if a proper test drive isn't done before giving me the keys and sending me on my way.

[Tino-m30b35]

The guy who built my car smoked the tires as he left his workshop on the test drive. Granted, I was present and encouraging him. If my car need to go in for something I always ask him not to hold back. Rather it breaks with him, than with me driving in the middle of the night. When he test drives I tell him: "Drive it like I would."

[Stanley Rockafella]

The guy who built my car smoked the tires as he left his workshop on the test drive. Granted, I was present and encouraging him. If my car need to go in for something I always ask him not to hold back. Rather it breaks with him, than with me driving in the middle of the night. When he test drives I tell him: "Drive it like I would."

you Cape colored people sure are a crazy bunch aren't ya!

;)

[ThatOneEuroE30]

The guy who built my car smoked the tires as he left his workshop on the test drive. Granted, I was present and encouraging him. If my car need to go in for something I always ask him not to hold back. Rather it breaks with him, than with me driving in the middle of the night. When he test drives I tell him: "Drive it like I would."

In other words drive it like ya stole it.

[cabriodster87]

And then there's this

http://jalopnik.com/dealership-total...eal-1498804012

W/happy end for Hooper

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2014/01/berger_chevrolet_provides_happ.html

[Aleksey]

Lmfao. Bought M5 E34 mirrors off Vlad. Did not fit. True story.

make it 2.
I live in the bay area, shop rates are 140/hr. it has become cheaper for me to learn and buy my own tools. that said. a shop doesn't need to ever put more than 10 miles on any car EVER. This goes for the work I now do for other. The only time I do more than 10 miles is for fresh engine break in. that does require a 35 minute drive and I do asked the owner first and report the exact about of time the car was on the road. I'm just a local guy. If a shop doesn't do at least the same write them negative reviews on yelp and google.

I have a garage and tons of tools, maybe I'm getting old but I rather drop the car off now for big jobs .vs breaking my back late at night after work/weekends.

This is after doing everything you can think off during 8PM-2/3AM shifts after work for 2-3 months.

[Julien]

NO! Not without the owners permission, or if it was actually necessary. That's exactly what this thread is about. And if an accident occurs, that's a whole other deal.

Working in a shop shouldn't be about joyriding a swapped car when it comes in for A/C service..

Just saying it happens.

[Andy Mechnic]

As an auto shop, I will be putting a minimum of 6 miles on your car. I test drive before and after repairs. If its a tricky diagnosis I will put as many miles on the car as necessary to duplicate the problem. I've put 50 miles on a car trying to get a failure.
By the way, if the customer brings their car in needing diag. with no fuel I charge labor time to put fuel in.

[glucklich21]

Back when I had my 335i, it was understood by me that my car was taken for a joyride no matter the reason for a trip to the shop. I always received my car back with my spare tire kit slung to the back part of the trunk (I kept it tucked up against the rear seats.) I guess BMW techs never had the opportunity to drive a manual 335i? After I installed my dashcam I would either receive the car back with sporadic missing files during its visit or the last video recorded is me dropping it off. The service managers always had fun trying to explain that one away.