Big, bad BMW shop - What to do?

[brandondan1]

Funny how all the shops are so bad until the actual techs chime in. Haven't heard a peep out of most of those guys since, have we?

Face it people, a lot of times your cars suck and there's very little we can do about that. We try, but that's over and above what you asked us to do in the first place so we have two choices: leave it fixed and get yelled at for breaking your shit, or fixing it and getting yelled at for fixing something that you didn't know needed to be fixed. Just because you've never been under your car to know how much it's fucked up, doesn't mean it's not fucked up. We're here to provide a service for you and if you don't like how we do it, why don't you try it yourself? And just so you know, on average it takes about twice as long to fix something that's been "repaired" by someone who didn't know what they were doing than it does for me to just fix it in the first place...

[/RANT]

Hope this wasn't directed to me. Since when do you need two front shocks and misc suspension components from having a flat on a new car? I guess BMWs must really "suck" these days.

I know SOME shops do try to rip people off, especially when they're dealing with clueless people (soccer moms etc.) Businesses in general aren't really out for the customer, because in the end, money is what matters. My dad saw firsthand the kind of work that SOME dealers do, because he worked at one. Also, ever heard of Jiffy Lube?

I'm not saying ALL shops are that way, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, and do everything I'm capable of doing before I even consider some place where I can't see the work that's being done.

Always make sure you can get at least 5 recommendations before you take your car to one.
/rant >.>

[Fidhle007]

Hope this wasn't directed to me. Since when do you need two front shocks and misc suspension components from having a flat on a new car? I guess BMWs must really "suck" these days.

I know SOME shops do try to rip people off, especially when they're dealing with clueless people (soccer moms etc.) Businesses in general aren't really out for the customer, because in the end, money is what matters. My dad saw firsthand the kind of work that SOME dealers do, because he worked at one. Also, ever heard of Jiffy Lube?

I'm not saying ALL shops are that way, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, and do everything I'm capable of doing before I even consider some place where I can't see the work that's being done.

Always make sure you can get at least 5 recommendations before you take your car to one.
/rant >.>

No, not directed at you at all, mostly at the OP. My shop has an open garage area and customers are welcome to wait and see what's being done to their car. We also save all the parts that come off the car so the customer can both inspect and take them home if they so desire. Frankly, I find that to be a simple human courtesy, the fact that it's the law doesn't make a difference in my mind.

[Fidhle007]

The 'wreck' wasn't that bad. I clipped the front corner of the driver side fender with a wall. It damaged the bumper, valance, and driver side fender. No part of the frame was touched, lucky me. That's not to say that it couldn't be out of perfect alignment, but just mentioning the damage from the wreck wasn't as severe as some may be imagining. The wheel/suspension was untouched during the wreck.

I am in no way backpeddling. I have two problems that were not there before I gave it to the shop. I am following their suggestions to fix one of the problems (camber), the other one (ABS light) they tried connecting their computer to, didn't connect, and left me with on 'oh well' response. Even IF somehow the frame was bent from such a small accident and the camber issue is my fault, my ABS system is still not working post their work.

The car was dropped off at AR, a different shop recommended by members of this baord, this morning. They will be getting everything aligned today, as well as replacing my muffler with a Magnaflow. I am waiting on mounting my rims until winter is through. They should have an answer for me later today/tomorrow.

How about learning a little something about unibody cars before you stick your foot in your mouth any further? The front end of your car is racked, obviously affecting the camber alignment. You initially denied that the car had ever been in an accident and then once we called you out after you posted your pictures you backpedaled. The e30 has two rails that
run from just under the driver/passenger area, up along either side of the engine where the subframe anchors and finally up to the front bumper mounting points. Any sideways impact and the bumper can skew these rails and affect the geometry of the front end of the car. This is clearly visible through the poor fitment of your front body panels. A lot of shoddy body shops, when trying to get projects completed quickly, will line up all the body panels as best they can and bolt it all back together. As long as the frame isn't too visually tweaked they'll just pull the fender mounting points out and hang the fenders on.

This looks to be the case with your car, and while I'm sorry you got shafted by your body shop, you still have no right to take it out on Boyd.

[Spec]

How about learning a little something about unibody cars before you stick your foot in your mouth any further? The front end of your car is racked, obviously affecting the camber alignment. You initially denied that the car had ever been in an accident and then once we called you out after you posted your pictures you backpedaled. The e30 has two rails that
run from just under the driver/passenger area, up along either side of the engine where the subframe anchors and finally up to the front bumper mounting points. Any sideways impact and the bumper can skew these rails and affect the geometry of the front end of the car. This is clearly visible through the poor fitment of your front body panels. A lot of shoddy body shops, when trying to get projects completed quickly, will line up all the body panels as best they can and bolt it all back together. As long as the frame isn't too visually tweaked they'll just pull the fender mounting points out and hang the fenders on.

This looks to be the case with your car, and while I'm sorry you got shafted by your body shop, you still have no right to take it out on Boyd.

I'm trying to learn a little something, hence this thread. I'm not a tech, thanks. But whenever you have a question on insurance or investing, I'll be sure to tell you you're sticking your foot in your mouth for trying to figure things out. I did not deny I had been in an accident, I openly admitted it. None of the frame was touched so I was skeptical. Now that I've seen those illustrations and read the input, perhaps the accident does have something to do with it. I will wait to hear from a shop that actually explains to me what's going on with my car. I don't appreciate being called a lier and being spoken down to for trying to figure that out. I'm 22 and work in insurance and financial investing, so back off a bit. Anything I've learned about cars I've had to do on my own.

I pick up my car tomorrow, though I have begun searching on camber plates.

Lastly, the camber was only one of the two issues I had with the shop.

[WillisE30]

There's a big difference in the tone of your original post which was accusatory and the tone you're taking now. Stop being a horse's ass and shut up.

[Fidhle007]

Its pretty obvious the things were his fault, as they're new problems, but he's not recognizing it saying I "could have crashed the car prior to him having it". Bullshit. No problem before, problem after.

I did not deny I had been in an accident, I openly admitted it.

[Spec]

There's a big difference in the tone of your original post which was accusatory and the tone you're taking now. Stop being a horse's ass and shut up.

What kind of tone would you expect when I get my car back with these problems, one of which falls 100% on the shop, one of which is still in question. Grow up and learn to understand what goes on in the real world, kid.



Fidhle, for the record, I appreciate your comments and thoughts, just wish you would come across in a less derogatory manner.

I also stand by both of those statements you quoted. There was no problem before. That doesn't say a word about an accident that hadn't affected the vehicle before suspension work.

[WillisE30]

What kind of tone would you expect when I get my car back with these problems, one of which falls 100% on the shop, one of which is still in question. Grow up and learn to understand what goes on in the real world, kid.

You're the one who apparently lives in a fantasy world. You notice how most of the people who are involved in the industry have reacted to the bullshit you're posting? You're the perfect example of an idiot with a shitty car that thinks it's someone else's responsibility to fix for breathing in the general vacinity of it.

I can understand your frustration with the ABS issue. Although I suspect there's more to the story than we're getting.

[smonkbmw]

Fidhle, for the record, I appreciate your comments and thoughts, just wish you would come across in a less derogatory manner.

DAMN IT for once where is jordan when you need him....

[xLibelle]

let the guy find out whats up with his car first!!! jesus fucking christ, everyone's a bunch of fucking bitches.
spec, let it go right now. its no use trying to argue because theres a fucked up perspective that the majority will hold around here. you present something and people jump on a band wagon... then when news comes to light, its time to burn the witch no matter what any reasonable sign of doubt has to justify.

[SchnellerVert]

Any chance a worker test drove the car and bent an arm or caused some damage?

It would not be the first time I have heard of something like this happening.

[2Big4a3Series]

Spec, you said:

but he's not recognizing it saying I "could have crashed the car prior to him having it".

How was Boyd supposed to figure that out? Techs are not forensic scientists who have the ability to know everything that ever happened to the car. I deal with that crap in the IT industry when people pretend like they don't know how they hosed their computer and then expect me to figure out that they weren't supposed to be surfing porn.

[Fidhle007]

Spec, you're missing my point: you had the problem all along, it just wasn't as noticeable at stock ride height. As far as my tone, it's a reaction to your own. You started off accusing Boyd of breaking your car and now have tried to change your story. If you had started by saying "Could it be possible if..." things would have gone very differently...

[Farbin Kaiber]

Spec, After reading all this, I would love to invite you to my shop, just so I could chew your ass out to your face. I love working at an independent, It gives me the ability to "weed" out those select "VIP" customers. You just seem to be the type I could have lots of fun with before lunch. Come in early, I'll have a rack waiting for ya.

[Spec]

Spec, you said: How was Boyd supposed to figure that out? Techs are not forensic scientists who have the ability to know everything that ever happened to the car. I deal with that crap in the IT industry when people pretend like they don't know how they hosed their computer and then expect me to figure out that they weren't supposed to be surfing porn.

I informed him of the accident and damage it caused and what was replaced (bumper, valance, fender). That's most likely what got him thinking that was a possibility. I've been as up front and calm as I can be with the shop.

I'm a big internet bully. Look at me, I'll lay into you up at my shop in a different state!

Ok, whatev dude


Fidhle, I understand your point. I didn't intend on 'flipping' my story. I assumed most everyone could realize my tone at the start of this thread, the knowledge I've gained from it and others as the story developed, and my tone now. That's generally how problem-solving goes. My bad if it came across differently.

Xlibelle, thanks. I've been on forums for almost 10 years, so I realize it's a place for the immature to call people out that they wouldn't in person. Just shows me who the kids are on the board.

Schnill, I guess it's a possibility, but really I don't know. They said after I gave it back that everything looked fine and that it was 'next to impossible to bend a control arm'. I believed him.