Mechanic decided to keep my e30s in 2013

[RainRider]

That's allot of work for $1500. He did not charge enough.

[dhcg86]

July 21 2013

Here's a summary of the repair agreement.

'86 E30 325e - Cylinder Head Removal and Replacement

You will provide a good, used cylinder head compatible with the "i" engine already found in the vehicle.

Additional supplies required to complete repair:
Cylinder head gasket set, aprox. $100
Timing Belt kit, aprox. $40
Head bolt kit aprox. $30
6 qts. Redline Sythetic oil 20w50 $72
Mann Oil Filter $7
Sub-total: $249

Labor charge $500

I will require pre-payment of the labor charge schedule the repair and provide you a committed completion date. If you prefer I purchase the additional supplies, I will need that amount as well. The estimate of the additional parts is an approximation based on ebay prices. There is no mark up on the parts from my end and I can provide you with the purchase receipts of the parts.

After this repair is complete, and if you choose to, we can move forward with the other previously discussed repair like oil pan gasket, transmission seals, steering hoses, exhaust hangers/bracket, etc.

If you have any concerns regarding the proposal, please let me know.

[dhcg86]

July 28 2013

Shorty after this I paid the man. Pretty sure it was cash

I just checked the original email to refresh my memory. My estimate was $750 not including the head. There are quite a few places here in SoCal I can look for a cylinder head. If you budget $500 for a head, it works out to be $1250. If I find a head cheaper than $500, I can refund back to you the difference.

If you're ok with this, go ahead and send me $1250 via Paypal to vp92802@gmail.com.

I can get started looking for a head and order the other parts for the job. Hopefully next weekend, I can get it done.

[ahrensNW]

I'm curious what you want us to do man. This seems like a personal problem between you and your (ex)mechanic. Retrieve your property or file a lawsuit for starters.

[dhcg86]

Just wanted outside opinions. Thanks !

[325isdan]

buy delorean and flux capacitor. go back to July 2013 and pick up your car when you should have.

But please send this case into Judge Judy. I believe this would make an entertaining episode.

[QUKBMER]

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

This ^^?

[djjerme]

buy delorean and flux capacitor. go back to July 2013 and pick up your car when you should have.

:)

[Exodus_2pt0]

I hope you have documentation on payments made.

If you can't prove any payment made, then he has probably already placed a Mechanics lean against both vehicles and made them his own. You also may want to look into abandonment laws, pretty sure (I'm no lawyer) that after a certain period of time it's his anyway.

[Kershaw]

I think OP just wants his e30 back now that it has a nice m42 swapped into it. Why else would he wait so long?

[djjerme]

Just claim it as a loss for this or last year on your taxes and move on.

There are plenty of E30's still out there..

[2mAn]

What shop is this so the rest of us dont get fucked. Your location says San Francisco and you mention driving 5 hours, is the shop down here in LA?

[ahrensNW]

Maybe it's in TJ and he just makes good time lol.

[mbonder]

You better have receipts for your payments. This is why unless I'm working with a trusted friend or someone I've done business with before multiple times I will always pay with a credit card so there is a paper trail and the possibility of filing a dispute with the credit card company if things go south.

I would have picked up my vehicle a long time ago, at this point I would contact a repo company and find out what his home address is and go pick your property up. Or bring the police to his home, or both preferably. If you have receipt of payment on the work done and he has your property you have every right to recover it.

[Rennsport]

So he's had your car for ~17 months? and you paid him $3k for labor? Seems like you're getting a good deal for storage cost. It costs me $6,500 for 17 months of storage for my car and parts.
I don't mean to take the mechanics side or yours for that matter. What are you referring to about "haven't been the best customer"
Has he put a Mechanics lean on the title? Even if you paid, if you don't pick the car up within reasonable amount of time, he can still put a lean on it.
I hope you have receipts!
Good luck getting your car back! (assuming its rightfully yours)