What is wrong with some people?
Discussion
I recently went to an ICE shop that is near to me, found them on the net and the website states "We are one of the longest established car audio companies in the UK, having started in business in 1970" etc etc, and it goes on, anyway thought it would be a good idea to visit them as i want to be able to plug my iphone into my system so i can play mp3's rather than mess about with burning cd's etc, also want to but a digital tuner for my tv as well as upgrade my stereo system as the harman kardon system in my BMW M3 convertible is poo, i would have liked to have a quote on a single 15" sub along with a gaphic and mids and tweeters etc etc with amps. But the guy i spoke to couldnt be bothered and told me that my OLD M3 (04 plate) was too old to put an mp3 player in and not to bother with upgrading my system as its a convertible? He said if i wanted any more info to go to another shop about 20 miles away, and gave me the address.
Anyway i went straight there as i really wanted to have all of the above, anyway, went to the shop he had told me about, guess what, the guy in this shop said the mp3 player adapter was £69 and would take about 3 weeks to get in, he said dont bother as its crap anyway, also told me not to bother with the digital tv as he had installed loads in the past and none of them work even the dual antenna tuners, and as for upgrading the sound, he said save your money! I insisted i wanted to upgrade my system and i explained i had big systems in the past, a box with 8x10's and 2x1000w amps etc etc, but he wouldnt even reccomend anything saying it wasnt worth it! In the end he took my details and told me he would get a price on a 10" sub and mids etc, (15" sub was no good apparently)but obviously 3 weeks down the line and no phone call.
What the hell is wrong with people these days that they dont want to do business? I was and still am willing to spend $$$ on my car to get what i want, yet he couldnt sell me anything????
I also went to another shop after this one but couldnt even park for the shop? I gave up, went home put the car in the garage and now feel like i cant be bothered as its more hassle than its worth.
Cant even spend money on my car if i wanted to!
Anyway i went straight there as i really wanted to have all of the above, anyway, went to the shop he had told me about, guess what, the guy in this shop said the mp3 player adapter was £69 and would take about 3 weeks to get in, he said dont bother as its crap anyway, also told me not to bother with the digital tv as he had installed loads in the past and none of them work even the dual antenna tuners, and as for upgrading the sound, he said save your money! I insisted i wanted to upgrade my system and i explained i had big systems in the past, a box with 8x10's and 2x1000w amps etc etc, but he wouldnt even reccomend anything saying it wasnt worth it! In the end he took my details and told me he would get a price on a 10" sub and mids etc, (15" sub was no good apparently)but obviously 3 weeks down the line and no phone call.
What the hell is wrong with people these days that they dont want to do business? I was and still am willing to spend $$$ on my car to get what i want, yet he couldnt sell me anything????
I also went to another shop after this one but couldnt even park for the shop? I gave up, went home put the car in the garage and now feel like i cant be bothered as its more hassle than its worth.
Cant even spend money on my car if i wanted to!
How old is the car? I know a lot of more modern cars have complicated multiplex stereo systems that a small independant firm might not want to touch! I'm no expert but I believe in some cars its no longer a case of fitting a new stereo like back in the day then adding your amps and gubbins in after.
Maybe these businesses are doing so well they dont need the extra few grand i was willing to spend with them, I had a similar experience in a main BMW dealers when i first bought the car when i asked for help with some of the features to do with the tv and stuff, they told me the car was so old they couldnt remember how it worked????? It wasnt quite 6 years old when i took it to BMW's????? And its too old for them to know how it works? WTF? This is the same main dealer i have been to to have my car serviced for the last 10 times or more!!!!!
Think im gonna try kwik fit for my stereo and halfords for my servicing in future!
Think im gonna try kwik fit for my stereo and halfords for my servicing in future!
could be that they dont want the car as it will cause trouble when they put in the equipment we had a similar problem with putting a tow bar on a 07 plate caddy van wired it all up and the engine managment light came on phoned the company who makes the tow bar and was told we had to programe the electrics of the tow bar for the lights into the car ecu and only the main dealer can do it absoutly stupid.
just1e said:
Yeah your right, best off not doing any work, its a lot easier!
Or more Generously they don't feel confident with the car, is it Can Bus? Do you know if BMW use some odd connectors or even just make it a pain in the ass to get the stereo out an new one wired in without wrecking the dash? I personally respect a company that had the balls to say no we aren't up to doing that but x might.Not that I know a great deal about BMW's, but I have just done a little research re fitting Nav into an 335i Coupe for a friend, and understrand that due to the systems in BMW's can be a little tricky to retro fit stuff, it affected the rear parking sensors and all sorts in this one.
Perhaps thay were just trying to give some (excuse the pun) sound advice, and save you from spending a fair sum of cash for little improvement?
Anyway, the guy that we use here (main Land Rover dealership) did a really good job in the end. I cannot contact him today to ask his permission to post details here, but if you would like them let me know, and as soon as I speak to him I will forward details.
Perhaps thay were just trying to give some (excuse the pun) sound advice, and save you from spending a fair sum of cash for little improvement?
Anyway, the guy that we use here (main Land Rover dealership) did a really good job in the end. I cannot contact him today to ask his permission to post details here, but if you would like them let me know, and as soon as I speak to him I will forward details.
So you're annoyed he was honest with you? Would you rather he flogged you something crap just so he could make some money?
If you have the HK system I'm willing to bet is has separate amps which makes fitting anything else a nightmare, even if you can get them damn thing apart in the first place. Bring back the days of DIN size stereos I say...........
If you have the HK system I'm willing to bet is has separate amps which makes fitting anything else a nightmare, even if you can get them damn thing apart in the first place. Bring back the days of DIN size stereos I say...........
When I was young and silly I wanted a huge ICE system, I went to a local place for a chat and thought I could have just lots of big speakers thrown into my old fiesta for a couple of hundred notes.
I walked away with a list of bits that would have cost me over £3000, and that was without fitting
, I went to Halfords and bought some speakers and a CD player.
I walked away with a list of bits that would have cost me over £3000, and that was without fitting
, I went to Halfords and bought some speakers and a CD player. The last few cars I've had have always had the premium factory stereos fitted and this means factory fit amps hidden in weird places. The audio place in Plymouth take one look at the cars and basically talk themselves out of a sale with all sorts of issues...hard to remove the stereo, rewiring the whole car, factory fit speakers won't work with aftermarket head units, the list seems to be endless, not to mention the estimated cost, which can run to a few grand for a pretty standard stereo setup.
Halfords however, just fit an amp-bypass loom, fit the stereo and all with very little fuss. No charges besides the cost of the bits and a standard fitting charge, usually 29-39 quid.
Some of these "expert" fitting places are trying to be too clever by half.
Halfords however, just fit an amp-bypass loom, fit the stereo and all with very little fuss. No charges besides the cost of the bits and a standard fitting charge, usually 29-39 quid.
Some of these "expert" fitting places are trying to be too clever by half.
just1e said:
I recently went to an ICE shop that is near to me, found them on the net and the website states "We are one of the longest established car audio companies in the UK, having started in business in 1970" etc etc, and it goes on, anyway thought it would be a good idea to visit them as i want to be able to plug my iphone into my system so i can play mp3's rather than mess about with burning cd's etc, also want to but a digital tuner for my tv as well as upgrade my stereo system as the harman kardon system in my BMW M3 convertible is poo, i would have liked to have a quote on a single 15" sub along with a gaphic and mids and tweeters etc etc with amps. But the guy i spoke to couldnt be bothered and told me that my OLD M3 (04 plate) was too old to put an mp3 player in and not to bother with upgrading my system as its a convertible? He said if i wanted any more info to go to another shop about 20 miles away, and gave me the address.
Anyway i went straight there as i really wanted to have all of the above, anyway, went to the shop he had told me about, guess what, the guy in this shop said the mp3 player adapter was £69 and would take about 3 weeks to get in, he said dont bother as its crap anyway, also told me not to bother with the digital tv as he had installed loads in the past and none of them work even the dual antenna tuners, and as for upgrading the sound, he said save your money! I insisted i wanted to upgrade my system and i explained i had big systems in the past, a box with 8x10's and 2x1000w amps etc etc, but he wouldnt even reccomend anything saying it wasnt worth it! In the end he took my details and told me he would get a price on a 10" sub and mids etc, (15" sub was no good apparently)but obviously 3 weeks down the line and no phone call.
What the hell is wrong with people these days that they dont want to do business? I was and still am willing to spend $$$ on my car to get what i want, yet he couldnt sell me anything????
I also went to another shop after this one but couldnt even park for the shop? I gave up, went home put the car in the garage and now feel like i cant be bothered as its more hassle than its worth.
Cant even spend money on my car if i wanted to!
Try H+M. They are excellent and fitted an MP3 system and bluetooth phone system into my R reg SAAB. No bullsAnyway i went straight there as i really wanted to have all of the above, anyway, went to the shop he had told me about, guess what, the guy in this shop said the mp3 player adapter was £69 and would take about 3 weeks to get in, he said dont bother as its crap anyway, also told me not to bother with the digital tv as he had installed loads in the past and none of them work even the dual antenna tuners, and as for upgrading the sound, he said save your money! I insisted i wanted to upgrade my system and i explained i had big systems in the past, a box with 8x10's and 2x1000w amps etc etc, but he wouldnt even reccomend anything saying it wasnt worth it! In the end he took my details and told me he would get a price on a 10" sub and mids etc, (15" sub was no good apparently)but obviously 3 weeks down the line and no phone call.
What the hell is wrong with people these days that they dont want to do business? I was and still am willing to spend $$$ on my car to get what i want, yet he couldnt sell me anything????
I also went to another shop after this one but couldnt even park for the shop? I gave up, went home put the car in the garage and now feel like i cant be bothered as its more hassle than its worth.
Cant even spend money on my car if i wanted to!
t either. Told the chap what I wanted and he offered me several options, both high end and lesser known brands. Chose an MP3 Clarion Systemin the end on his recommendation. Excellent value. Worth travelling for as they will fit the system whilst you wait.
H & M ELECTRONICS Car Audo Ent 276 Barking Road London E6 3BA Tel: 020 8471 9840
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff