Mechanic decided to keep my e30s in 2013

[dhcg86]

I'll try to make this as short as possible. I had an 86 e30 and a 2003 540i. I had purchased a transmission for the 540i from the mechanic and then eventually contracted with the mechanic to do work on my e30.

After a failed engine swap from someone on this forum, I enlisted the help of the new mechanic. After sending new mechanic $1500 for a swap I also supplied a parts car 91 318is.

(Summer 2013) For the next few months the mechanic would Tell me my car would be ready on the weekend, so I would drive five hours and find my car incomplete.

Eventually the mechanic told me to fuck off and that I could come get my cars, except that they weren't finished and he wasn't giving me an refund. I decided to call the police and and seek recourse but they said I needed to take this to small claims court

Any advice for me? I'm out two e30s and $3k in cash to the mechanic, and he refuses to speak me

[Kershaw]

Take it to court.

[flyboyx]

sounds like he is dick.

[iceman44]

Wow!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[rturbo 930]

Take it to court.

This.

But I have to ask... if this all happened in 2013, why are you just now doing something about now in 2016?

[LJ851]

I'll try to make this as short as possible. I had an 86 e30 and a 2003 540i. I had purchased a transmission for the 540i from the mechanic and then eventually contracted with the mechanic to do work on my e30.

After a failed engine swap from someone on this forum, I enlisted the help of the new mechanic. After sending new mechanic $1500 for a swap I also supplied a parts car 91 318is.

(Summer 2013) For the next few months the mechanic would Tell me my car would be ready on the weekend, so I would drive five hours and find my car incomplete.

Eventually the mechanic told me to fuck off and that I could come get my cars, except that they weren't finished and he wasn't giving me an refund. I decided to call the police and and seek recourse but they said I needed to take this to small claims court

Any advice for me? I'm out two e30s and $3k in cash to the mechanic, and he refuses to speak me

That's one side of this story. I'm sure there is another.

[dhcg86]

I got on his ass about being late and constantly lying to me so he told me he doesn't need to deal with my shit. I'll have to take it to court now before the statute of limitations runs out, and it's a big pain in the ass to sue someone 5 hours away. I am sure I wasn't the perfect client but that doesn't mean the mechanic can steal my money and my cars

[Hooffenstein HD]

If he told you to pickup your cars, how is he stealing them?

[dhcg86]

Aug 16 2013

Here's this week's update on the project.

- Removed exhaust and stored
- Removed wheels and stored
- Removed rear shocks & springs - shocks seem straight and not damaged from accident
- Removed rear half axles, damaged from accident and discarded
- Removed rear differential and stored
- Removed driveshaft and stored
- Removed AC condensor, radiator and shroud and stored
- Removed hood and stored
- Dismounted front control arms from chassis
- Dismounted upper front shock mounts from tower
- Disconnected all engine harness wiring

I should be able to finish removing the engine/tranny/front subframe as one whole assembly by tomorrow. After that, removing the doors, interior and wiring will be fast. Goal would be to get the red car hauled away by Monday evening. I added more pics to the my flickr photostream. So just go back to that link and check out the new pics.


Sept 21 last email

Here's another update on the project.

- Finished stripping red car and had it hauled away for recycling (paid tow truck $60)
- Stripped black car down to the shell
- Disposed of old engine block, cylinder head and front subframe
- Installed complete wiring harness of red car onto black car
- Re-installed carpeting
- Re-installed HVAC assembly and dashboard
- Installed M42 engine/tranny and complete front subframe
- Installed complete front end of red car (fenders, front valence, grille, headlights)
- Drilled holes on right shock tower to properly mount ignition coil pack
- Cut front tow hooks to be able to install front valence
- Ordered new drive shaft center bearing support ($35) to swap into 318i drive shaft

Still left to do:

- Need new fuel line hoses, the hoses on both cars are cracked and dried, very dangerous.
- Finish installing intake
- Install hood
- Install all instruments in the dash
- Install center console and switches
- Install seats
- Install drive shaft and rear diff
- Install complete exhaust
- Install rear springs and shocks from red car
- Fill all the fluids (will need to purchase coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and possibly new oil & filter, air filter)

I'm hoping to finish by next weekend if I'm able to put in enough time this coming week.

[dhcg86]

I feel like it's theft because he took my 86 2 door 325e and kept it for himself after swapping in the m42 and suspension from a babied but totalled 1991 318is, plus he took the $1500 I paid for an m5 transmission and the $1500 for the swap

Maybe it's called something else?


It looks like the 318 was hauled away

[noid]

Mostly your fault for waiting this long.

However if you truly care to resolve this, I would show up with friends, take your stuff (and only your stuff), then let him sue you if he feels you owe him money (at which time you can counter sue).

Alternatively if there is no outstanding balance or lien on the car, you can hire a repo company to get your stuff back.

[GT BMW E30]

Is the title in your name?

[dhcg86]

So it's my fault the mechanic decided to keep my money and not finish our contract?

I'm sure I did a few things wrong but he broke our contract on timeliness alone and then decided to keep everything. The title is in my name

I went there with the police to collect any car but there weren't any of my cars to be found and the mechanic refused to answer the door


Let's say your mechanic is two months late on the contract and has lied to you over four times about the car being finished. What would you do?

[ahrensNW]

It sounds like you already know what you're going to do.

[Best_name_available]

Take it to court.