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2002 Restoration - A Cautionary Tale


bghows

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Sorry you got taken by this guy and I hate to be the one to pee in your corn flakes but unless you have an estimate or contract, something in writing, with him you're not likely to get anything back.

The most you can do is call the BBB as suggested and see if they can stop him from doing it to someone else.

I couldn't look at the pix because your site is down.

Good luck with the restoration. Chalk it up to a lesson learned, an expensive one, and move on.

Sorry

71, flat black

Beat to fit, paint to match.

Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life.

"Some people spend a lifetime wondering if they made a difference, Marines don't have that problem" - Ronald Reagan

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who did the work so we know not to go there? if you want a really nice job done we have a few local guys that are some of the best in Canada and the US. My friend has done the body and paint on three cars that have won their classes at Pebble Beach! Their work is second to none. If you would like references or contact info you can email me at akarcioglu@gmail.com. Here is a link to one of their recent restos.

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z76/dcuplover/1938%20Alfa%20Romeo%20Restoration%20RX/

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The sheer (DOCUMENTED) time I've consumed with cleaning, sandblasting and refinishing parts would easily exceed 150 hours per car.

This is why I won't let anyone touch Phoenix anymore. The ONLY straight work I've ever gotten on her that wasn't done by myself was done by a previous owner of the car, and a very good friend of mine (He did all the repainting/dipping of my subframes) It took a little while, but man it was worth the wait. Most of the guys that will do this for a paycheck won't bother to put the extra time in so that its perfect, just good enough to get out the door.

I've been treated to the "2 years outside the shop" shuffle too. The sun destroyed the top part of my BRAND-NEW upholstered rear seat, which I still haven't gotten around to having redone, since I really don't want to look at it.

Sorry to hear of your misfortunes though, I hope you find the right guys that will actually care for your car soon.

SIG4.jpg

click signature above for my resto blog

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A number of people have emailed me privately about bad experiences they have had with the same mechanic. It's really unfortunate that there is no mechanism to alert people of such characters. The only suggestion I have is that if you are using a mechanic for the first time is to try him out with a small job and see if you like it. My mistake was to allow scope creep.

Bryan

'73 Colorado RHD

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  • 4 months later...

I am not sure how things work up north but in CA if you do business repairing cars you must have license with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. They are a branch of consumer affairs.

I own a collision repair shop and legally if i don't give an itemized repair order to my customer they can make me refund the full amount. Also they can revoke your license for doing business. this is a government agency that you do not want to mess with, if they have it in for you they make an irs audit look like a walk in the park.

If there is one of these agencies, i would talk to the shop owner and say if i don't have my itemized invoice by a certain time i will file a claim with the "BAR". And BMW RESTORATION =$12500 doesn't count it must be somewhat itemized.

If and when you do get the invoice you can negotiate how much money he will return. But i would go over the invoice and the car without getting emotional but without backing down.

I don't condone turning someone in to a government agency but if he doesn't do things by the book the only way to stay out of trouble is by making all you customers happy. Either by doing what you promised or returning the money when you didnt fulfill the promise.

Do not just walk away and spend another $12500 because the other guys said you should have spent $30000 in the first place.

72 2002 w/m20 conversion

03 325I

98 Range Rover

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