Rant against " professional " mechanics ( Long and

[scottt]

Forgive me, as I know there are many capable good pros out there, many of which I communicate with on a daily basis either at work or here on the board, I don't mean to paint them all with the same brush. BUT I'VE HAD IT.

Yesterday I bring my 73 in for it's first state inspection in 5 years. It's had about 1000 hours of work since the last time it was on the road. I looked away from the " mechanic " for a minute as he put it up on an old style single post lift ( after he stalled it 3 times ) and bent the bottom seams on both sides of the rocker panels with the flip up feet. Agreed it is a slight bend, but it took about 10 hours getting them on straight in the first place.

Then tonight as I was changing a center track rod, I found I couldn't turn the right strut. The previous owner paid a pro to install Eibachs and bilsteins just before I bought it, he left out the spacer washer at the top of the spring plate between it and the upper strut bearing. It is bound up solid and the spring has to pivot in the lower spring seat. Now I get to redo his work again. Worst is, I had a " Pro " do the exact same thing on my 735i years ago.

I paid to have these things done either because I didn't have the time to do them myself, or the state forced me into using their services. Is it unreasonable to expect that they be done right ?

Thanks, I feel better now. I'll go back to my life ( under my car )

Scott

[Pinepig]

You can be damn well sure that moron thet bent your rocker would be paying to have them fixed. WTF did he say when you pointed it out?

I would of had a fit RFT.

I can't STAND to have the "pros" work on my cars. Don't get me wrong I know some guys that I most certainly would let work on my cars, they tend to be at specialty shops and have a great rep around here. They are also very spendy. Any moron at a tire shop or quick lube type place I wouldn't piss on em if they were on fire. Hell I have a tire machine because I don't trust those idiots.

[_z_]

Clearly its time for a revolution. No way in hell i'd let any state official touch my car. Not that they could hurt it that much, but where the hell in the constitution does it say you have to let some numbnuts lift your car up and screw it up?? Just say no!

Time to get serious about this shizit

[peteinjp]

I went to a professional mechanic here in japan looking for a helicoil to repair my stripped exhaust stud. They came back with a small package of 2 part epoxy and said that there is not way to repair the head and that i needed a new one. I asked the professional at the tire store for about the availability of tires in a certian size. HE responded "what car is it?" I said its a bmw 2002 from 1973. his reply was- we don't sell any tires that will fit your car. There were at least 10 other cars in the lot with 13" tires. I went to get the car inspected at another place. The inspection is not so different from most states. Stricter than many but not much. They refused to inspect my car because "we have never inspected that kind of car before." So where you guys have boneheads over here we have people who can't think for themselves at all. If its not in the book then it can't be done. And I may be ovestepping my bounds here- but its not just cars. Everything is like this- including the educators. I know because I am one. Even in the national university there are many people that will not do something- despite its ease and clear benefits, because thay have not done it before. SOrry for the rant but I almost got fired yesterday for "thinking outside the box"- its a big no no apparently.

[jonny]

The ONLY people who touch my cars are the State Required Emissions testing garages.

Thankfully, here in CT, with an ANTIQUE plate, you are exemt from emissions...my '72 2002, '75 Opel ascona & my '77 3/4 ton GMC p/u all have ANTIQUE plates.

However...I took my '82 320i to one of these garages 2 years ago. The first time...the "boss" said go easy as that car is lowered and has ground effects. No problems, the guy backed it on the ramps...however I failed and had to go back for a free test again. The second time i brought the car for the re-test...this SAME friggin' grease monkey jumps in and drives the front air dam right into the testing station ramps and nearlyrips it off!!!! Failed again!!

Long story, my car was one of the 800 or so cars that failed twice due to a computer glitch and i was ultimately given a pass for 2 years. I was 1 step away from suing Agbar (the computer company) but they settled and gave me $238 for parts I bought(?) and the aggravation I endured.

I got a letter the other day for it's inspection AGAIN!! The tags run out Nov. 31st. I am letting the tags expire and reregistering it as an ANTIQUE come Jan, 1st, 2007!!!11111

>8-(

it would pass this time as I put a 2002 carburated motor in it now with header, etc., etc. and i can adjust it anywhere I want for emissions purposes. But SCREW THEM...I'm not risking anymore fibreglass splinters!!!!! 8-)

I don't know if i can endure 2 more years of them driving my '84 535i and tearing off all the ground effects!!

I do now go to anther station where the people are much more friendly, and seem to be aware of the "issues" that do/can occur.

[Biscuit3]

I can agree with this thread. The first time I took my car to the independent BMW repairer my boyfriend works at, they bent the key out of shape! How, I don't know, but that was the first straw. It's always the little things, I tell you what. If anybody messes up Karl, I think that's the only time I see red. When boyfriend installed Karl's keyless entry last weekend, we had to take the door panels off which also meant taking the speakers out of the door. My boyfriend did a great job on the keyless/alarm system, but he took the speaker wires out of the door and didn't bother to replace them nor tell me, I found out later. Needless to say, I saw red! It was almost break up material, but I kept my cool and just went home. So I guess, even when your other half is a "professional" mechanic, they just don't do the old TLC like we can when it comes to our 02ers.

I am ready to open up an International 2002 workshop. Who's with me?

[Guest Anonymous]

there are people who try to pass themselves of as professionals in every line of business and work. I have the fortune to personally know 2 real professional mechanics - one of whom loves and personally drives a 2002. CD is another such true professional, but I have yet to meet him.

the philosophy of design and construction of cars built in America, Japan, Sweeden, France, and Germany (I cannot speak for Australia or other countries) are all so different that one has to love one and endure the rest when you work on them.

My suggestion - find out what your mechanic drives and has owned in the past.

[SteveJ]

Snap-on has a tag line- "When did you learn the value of a good mechanic?"

Vote with your dollar. I have a smog mechanic that I have been using for 20 years. I could save a few dollars, but it isn't worth it. I have another shop I use for alignments only, and another that I use for tire installation. For the tire installation, I always bring the wheels to them loose. They get them done much faster since they don't have to put a car on the lift.

I have been forced to use another mechanic for the transmission on our E46. I could probably do the work myself, but this is the wifes car. I feel it is money well spent. (too much money, but worth it. I guess)

If you have a GOOD mechanic, use them, refer people to them.

[scottt]

I do practice all of the above. The real pros in my area are just across the state line in Maine, thus they can't do a state inspection for me. One of the other favorites is a 20 minute drive, I chose a closer shop to try to avoid getting pulled over for uninspected vehicle. I also have a great shop nearby that are Saab guys, they do great work, but they wouldn't have known about the rockers either.

The other problems have all been problems I inherited from shops that previous owners used. Like all the DA marks under the brand new paint on my roof.

Thanks for listening, all had valid suggestions. I'm not a great mechanic either, I just don't charge anything.

[jonny]

I have another shop I use for alignments only, and another that I use for tire installation. .

Hell, I wouldn't let a tire Monkey touch my rims!!!!!

I was at Town fair tire (New Englad based tire chain) 3 times in 20 years.

The 1st time..I walked in...grabbed a matching Bridgestone to a new spare I had in the trunk of a Subaru. I threw the tire on the counter and handed them my credit card.

The guy says,"What are you gonna do with that 1 tire?"

Me: "I'm gonna tie a rope to it and swing from a tree!!!! WTF do you think I'm gonna do with it?

I'm gonna mount it on a rim...balance it & put it on my wifes cars. Then I'm gonna DRIVE on it!!!"

These guys think they are the only one's who know how to mount and balance rubber!!!!

Any friggin' Monkey can do it & I have been doing it to ALL my cars for 28 years!!! I use grat care on my Mags with cloth, rubber and other chafe gear.

The next 2 times i walked into the place (looking for prices of individual tires) There was a lot of SCREAMING going on btwn the customers and the workers. Town Fair Tire had screwed up big time leaving people stranded on the side of the road either because they did not balance something, align something, or the vehicle wasn't ready for p/u even though it had been confirmed via telephone. The Monkeys had all left for the day and it would have to be the next day!!

Alignment?? All I need are the specs...4 plumb- bobs ..2 straight edges...4 clamps and a measuring tape!

[TobyB]

Alignment?? All I need are the specs

why use specs?

heh heh

t

[winstontj]

Alignment?? All I need are the specs

why use specs?

heh heh

t

You guys are crazy!! I forwarded this to a buddy of mine who took his '06 VW GTI vr6 in for an oil change. The boyz in the back didn't tighten up the filter and oil spewed EVERYWHERE... he went off on this rant like all of you did above so I sent it to him as a cheer-me-up... Then as I was walking to work this morning I see a minivan (dodge caravan), light turns green the guy guns it... right wheel goes sideways and the thing squeals like the dickens! Ball joint failure! I was about a block and a half away walking through the rutted (but newly paved) big-dig section of downtown Boston. In the block & 1/2 between me and the minivan I:

Lost count of how many nuts, bolts & fasteners I saw on the side of the road

Counted THREE - yes THREE serpentine belt tensioners (how do you get far without those)

Two spark plugs-one with lead still attached???, 1- mercedes catalytic converter, a WATER PUMP!!!, and something resembling an axal/CV joint.... It's like a war-zone around Boston.

All I could think of was this post and this rant... How many back-alley mechancis scared that guy into a new timing or serpentine belt... only to not tighten the tensioner so it could leave them stranded... I'll give the MB Cat. converter that it was a little rusty... SPARK PLUGS? One with lead still attached? WTF??

Even the Autozone in Roxbury or Dorchester doesn't have that many parts in the lot! It's pretty sad but honestly the good guys around N.E. are booked solid and charge $65+/hr (and are worth every penny) and everyone else only cares about marking up parts & beating the book...

[jonny]

It's pretty sad but honestly the good guys around N.E. are booked solid and charge $65+/hr (and are worth every penny) ..

Dayum...I gotta raised my rates (nights & weekend sidejobs).

I did a friends' Saab's:

clutch

p/plate

t-out bearing

slave cylinder

Removed clutch pedal, welded the ELONGATED HOLE that holds the pin that pushes the mstr. cyl., & redrilled,

Alternator voltage reg....and only charged him $150.

The clutch time was supposed to be 4 hours -> 5 if it was a Turbo.

It was a non-turbo and I did it in 2 1/2 hours.

A shop woulda charged him $260 (Labor) for the clutch alone!!

I checked 4 sources for parts..he picked up and paid for them (no STEALership 300% markup).

I only do side jobs occasionally when someone is short on cash , tools and know-how.

If I was a full-time mechanic, I prolly wouldn't enjoy it , to do it as a hobby.

8-)

[winstontj]

It's pretty sad but honestly the good guys around N.E. are booked solid and charge $65+/hr (and are worth every penny) ..

Dayum...I gotta raised my rates (nights & weekend sidejobs).

I did a friends' Saab's:

If I was a full-time mechanic, I prolly wouldn't enjoy it , to do it as a hobby.

8-)

Keyword: FRIEND

I signed up for an ASE tech course once... didn't go though. Decided that 99% of the crap mechanics deal with is people asking "how cheaply can you make it work". Unexpected break downs, people short on cash, you're always dirty, bleeding, covered in filth, dealing with deadbeats who don't maintain their cars & don't want to pay for decent work... It's just not worth it. I work my ass off now at 27 so that someday I will have my house with a garage and have the pleasure of this hobby.

Spelling could be off as I'm English/Irish rather than Italian but Amature/Amore = love or for the love of... Amature in my book is exactly that... not that my skills are bad or not up to snuff... but that I refuse to be a $50K/yr grease monkey. (instead I whore myself out to the financial institutions of the world at a rate that's not all that much better)

I'd love to get my wife a car that she can just drive and let someone else deal with but I'll (probably) never own a new car and I'll also pride myself on the fact that I'll never pay anyone to do anything to my car unless I know for 100% certanty that they would do it the same way (or better) than I would... example: Alex Voguel, AVA Restoration, Matt McGinn, Kermit Upton, Mountain Autosport Racing - Ludlow, VT... and so on...

[TJs692002]

and charge $65+/hr (and are worth every penny) ..

Must be nice to live in Mass. Out here in Cali minimun shop rate is $100.00 plus an hour and they still mess up your car.