Nevada mobile mechanic fails E30 interview.

[funcrew]

Henderson (Las Vegas), NV - I pick up my '88 325i from Discount tire, and there's an old BMW 750something parked next to it with a mobile mechanic running a laptop under the hood. I compliment the (young) owner on his good taste and he confirms that the 12-cylinder makes great noises. All is good up to this point.

Then the mobile mechanic guy spots my E30 and asks where I have my car serviced. I tell him that whatever I don't do myself goes to a couple of E-30-only guys in Southern California. He introduces himself as a "20-year certified BMW technician" and says that he "could fix anything on my car blindfolded," and would be glad to take care of my car. This sounds promising - I've been looking for a local mechanic for 4 years with no luck. BUT then he corrects several things I said as follows; these are his responses:

1. The V12 in this other guy's 750 is not m20b25-derived, it is two of the "big six" engines, and uses those heads etc.

2. My 325i is an "eta." I said that it was an "i" and he then explained to me how an eta and an i are the same displacement and head; the only difference is the cam timing and intake runners.

In order to cut short the pain, I took his card and said I'd give him a call. It was like having an automotive discussion with a junior-high kid, except this was an crusty old dude like myself. After we were out of earshot, my 14-year-old son said, "That guy seems like a bit of a dick."

SO..... If you are an wizard-level E30 guru in Henderson or Las Vegas, I'm still looking. PM me - I will always have work for you. You people that live near Huntington Beach, or La Crecenta, or North Hollywood don't know how spoiled you are.

[JrCamacho]

.. 20 year certified BMW tech all of the sudden doesnt know the cars that he worked on in his hay-day? hmmmmm

[QUKBMER]

My sister lives up on the big hill in henderson and she brings her x5 to me in cali because she said all the people in las vegas area are thieves.

[phreshkid]

The point of this forum is that we don't have rely or be stuck in a position where going to a mechanic becomes the answer to our car problems. This is a failure for us as a congregation of internet peoples who together, have the ability to fix every problem that may arise with the e30 that we all hold dear to our hearts. Or something like that.

But it is nice when you don't have to fix stuff and others can fix the problems for you.

[QUKBMER]

She took her car into 3 big bmw/mbz shops because nobody could figure out why the battery keep dying out. Cause ..........? final stage/blower resistor. She put the guy on the phone and i told him what to look for and to replace it. He wasnt happy and had never heard of the problem happening.

[funcrew]

My sister lives up on the big hill in henderson and she brings her x5 to me in cali because she said all the people in las vegas area are thieves.

This. It's worth the drive.

The point of this forum is that we don't have rely or be stuck in a position where going to a mechanic becomes the answer to our car problems. This is a failure for us as a congregation of internet peoples who together, have the ability to fix every problem that may arise with the e30 that we all hold dear to our hearts. Or something like that.

But it is nice when you don't have to fix stuff and others can fix the problems for you.

You are correct, and the excellent forum members here have saved my butt many times. That said, the full-time E30 mechanics in Socal get plenty of work for a reason.