Big, bad BMW shop - What to do?

[smonkbmw]

should have taken it to Adrenaline Racing in Lake O. id take it there regardless and have them put it on the rack and see whats up.

[Mot]

+5,000, Take it to AR in lake O for a shop second opinion.. They WILL take care of you, the whole group is very good people.

[delfin]

Print this and put it on his door.

[Julien]

Take some pictures too! Maybe we can help you diagnose what is wrong to get you in the right direction.

best of luck,
Julien

[brandondan1]

That's why I dread letting shops do work on my cars. Had too many bad experiences in my family.

Hope everything works out ok! Next time break out the Bently

[Massive Lee]

I think it is too easy to stain a shop's reputation. Especially when the shop cannot even tell its side of the story. So, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. Nobody here knows exactly what happened. Only a second BMW shop could make the proper diagnosis. Maybe Boyd was at fault. Maybe not. Let's not jump to conclusion too quick.

[brandondan1]

I think it is too easy to stain a shop's reputation. Especially when the shop cannot even tell its side of the story. So, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. Nobody here knows exactly what happened. Only a second BMW shop could make the proper diagnosis. Maybe Boyd was at fault. Maybe not. Let's not jump to conclusion too quick.

True, but from what he described, the problems can be directly related to the area they worked on. I'm just giving him the benefit of the doubt.

My disdain for shops is partly because Classic BMW in TX(a dealership) told my mom that she needed 2 new front shocks and various other suspension components because she had a flat(which she immediately stopped after getting, and had it towed to the dealer because it was close). Keep in mind the car was fairly new at the time (20k mi). After they did the work, the suspension felt worse.. probably took the good parts off of her car and put older parts on.

Also, my dad worked for a Toyota dealership, and he saw the shady practices they used. "Fixing" things that were perfectly fine (or not doing the work at all)and then billing the customer for it, just so they could get bonuses. My dad eventually quit because he couldn't stand working for people like that.

[delatlanta1281]

Just a question, (sorry, I missed the fact that you had the control arms replaced) did you buy all these parts new? Did you have them replace the strut mounts at the top of the strut/spring?
As far as the abs light goes, I really think it's a quick fix. When I got my clutch done the shop that did it (awesme shop btw) forgot to hook up my o2 sensor at the firewall. So my cel came on 20 or so miles int the drive home. they made an honest mistake, which could happen. I can't understand why they wouldn't at least put it on the rack and make sure. I want to say that the shop could be "liable" for any braking problems they may have caused. When you noticed the abs light on you should have turned around and brought the car back asap or the next day.
What happens if they install one of those offset bushing backwards?

Also picture would help as far as the camber goes.

True, but from what he described, the problems can be directly related to the area they worked on. I'm just giving him the benefit of the doubt.

My disdain for shops is partly because Classic BMW in TX(a dealership) tried to tell my mom that she needed 2 new front shocks and various other suspension components because she had a flat(which she immediately stopped after getting, and had it towed to the dealer because it was close). Keep in mind the car was fairly new at the time (20k mi).

Also, my dad worked for a Toyota dealership, and he saw the shady practices they used. "Fixing" things that were perfectly fine (or not doing the work at all)and then billing the customer for it, just so they could get bonuses. My dad eventually quit because he couldn't stand working for people like that.

Yes, but mistakes happen, and in this case it doesn't look like anything was done to gain more business from the OP. There are good shops and bad shops out there, very rarely do you hear about the good ones. People are quick to complain, but slow to commend.

[e30s52]

kinda what happen to me. took my car to german auto werks in lynwood and he said that the gasket was bad and quoted me 4000 grande to fix it. i took my car back home check it myself and it was only the water pump 80 bucks and i fix it. i called bbb on him for trying to rip me off so bad. good luck with yours man

[TopOfTheLine89]

This thread makes me so glad that i do my own work, i bet a lot of BMW specific shops charge out the ass only because its a "BMW". There is no gasket on the car that should cost 4k to fix and if there is ive saved my self 4k in labor.

[delatlanta1281]

kinda what happen to me. took my car to german auto werks in lynwood and he said that the gasket was bad and quoted me 4000 grande to fix it. i took my car back home check it myself and it was only the water pump 80 bucks and i fix it. i called bbb on him for trying to rip me off so bad. good luck with yours man

Come on.... really?
What "gasket" was he speaking of? The entire car gasket?

[mikeedler]

you know, lowering the car adds a ton of camber to the car. there is NOTHING he could do to make your car have more camber than what the springs would add. and at my work on tons of newer(1-6yr. old cars) I have on our allignment machine have quite a bit more camber on one side than the other. and unfortunately you cant adjust that on an e30- so I would without seeing the car that yes, it is your problem.
not trying to jump on his side- just replying to what i read.
now the ABS is a bunch of B.S.-- he should and needs to take care of that. I am sure he damaged one of the sensors when he had the struts out.

[DCColegrove]

Question: did the strut housings need to be modified for the Koni shocks? (IE cut down and drilled)

One other thing the ABS on these don't have OBD, takes a real tech to track down problems.

[Massive Lee]

One other thing the ABS on these don't have OBD, takes a real tech to track down problems.

So true. No machine or gizmo to tell the mechanic what to do.

[e30s52]

Come on.... really?
What "gasket" was he speaking of? The entire car gasket?

he just said that the head gasket was blown and he had to remill the the becasue it had warped