Discussion
Decided to service the M5 tonight... oil, filter, plugs, air filters and pollen filters. A fairly straight forward job apart from a bit of fiddly stuff to get the the rear spark plugs. Started at 7:30pm and was fairly sure it would be done within an hour or so. Over 4 hours later its finally done after much shouting, sighing and swearing.
I have come to the realisation that whoever serviced it last is a complete f
kwit. The sump plug may as well have been welded on it had been tightened that much.. then when I went to put the sump plug back on, I found the threads on the sump were completely bksed thanks to it being over tightened that much. Ended up have to re thread the sump to the next size up. The oil filter housing is secured to a bracket via some rubber mountings. Said fkwit had also over tightened the plastic cap on the housing sheering the rubber mounts. Once again, had to fix this with some new rubber mounts. Finally I took the plug cover off to find the earth wires trapped and completely flattened between the cover and the cylinder head, nicely exposing some of the cable. Another fix that had to be done.
I purchased the car 7 months ago and this is the first service I have done on it. It has a full service history; all at BMW bar the last service. I am convinced that this last service is where the damage was done. The garage name and number is in the service book and I'm half tempted to contact them and detail what a horrible job they did on the car. Thankfully the only job this garage have done on the car is a basic service...
Rant over... so what horrors have you found lurking around your car while carrying out a bit of maintenance?
I have come to the realisation that whoever serviced it last is a complete f
kwit. The sump plug may as well have been welded on it had been tightened that much.. then when I went to put the sump plug back on, I found the threads on the sump were completely bksed thanks to it being over tightened that much. Ended up have to re thread the sump to the next size up. The oil filter housing is secured to a bracket via some rubber mountings. Said fkwit had also over tightened the plastic cap on the housing sheering the rubber mounts. Once again, had to fix this with some new rubber mounts. Finally I took the plug cover off to find the earth wires trapped and completely flattened between the cover and the cylinder head, nicely exposing some of the cable. Another fix that had to be done.I purchased the car 7 months ago and this is the first service I have done on it. It has a full service history; all at BMW bar the last service. I am convinced that this last service is where the damage was done. The garage name and number is in the service book and I'm half tempted to contact them and detail what a horrible job they did on the car. Thankfully the only job this garage have done on the car is a basic service...
Rant over... so what horrors have you found lurking around your car while carrying out a bit of maintenance?
What looked suspiciously like a straw/inner tube of a biro connecting two frayed parts of an air hose 
The car wouldn't sustain itself on idle, but after plugging one end of the straw back in tight, it lasted another three or four years until I sold it!
My mate crashed his Micra to find that a large portion of his bonnet was made up of newspaper, that was amusing.
The car wouldn't sustain itself on idle, but after plugging one end of the straw back in tight, it lasted another three or four years until I sold it!My mate crashed his Micra to find that a large portion of his bonnet was made up of newspaper, that was amusing.
Trying fixing them for a living - I've seen some spectacularly bad things under the bonnets of cars. Chewed up sump plugs is the norm as is a plethora of snapped, broken, damaged and missing tangs, mounts, covers, brackets.
Few good ones recently.
An Audi had been in to Audi recently to investigate a rattle. They were unable to diagnose the problem - turned out three of the four anti-roll bar mounting bolts were missing.
Multitude of cars missing the anti rattle shims on the brake pads. Actually had cars with pads sat loose in the caliper
Like wise, Had a turbo the other day missing two of the bolts attaching it to the manifold.
Car came in with a serious braking issue with the pedal dropping to the floor after about 10 minutes of driving. Previous garage had not replaced the heat shielding for the turbo allowing the heat to cook the brake fluid in the brake lines running above it. Tip for anyone, if something has a shield or cover - its usually there for a reason.
Few good ones recently.
An Audi had been in to Audi recently to investigate a rattle. They were unable to diagnose the problem - turned out three of the four anti-roll bar mounting bolts were missing.
Multitude of cars missing the anti rattle shims on the brake pads. Actually had cars with pads sat loose in the caliper
Like wise, Had a turbo the other day missing two of the bolts attaching it to the manifold.
Car came in with a serious braking issue with the pedal dropping to the floor after about 10 minutes of driving. Previous garage had not replaced the heat shielding for the turbo allowing the heat to cook the brake fluid in the brake lines running above it. Tip for anyone, if something has a shield or cover - its usually there for a reason.
Obvious flat-blade screwdriver shaped hole in brake caliper boot discovered when checking for sticking brake piston (car on second set of brake pads).
Plenum drain put back incorrectly (awkwardly positioned clip just ignored), discovered when investigating the cause of engine ECU being flooded with water.
Car had full BMW service history and had only been worked on by BMW dealer (receipts to prove it, including brake pad change).
Plenum drain put back incorrectly (awkwardly positioned clip just ignored), discovered when investigating the cause of engine ECU being flooded with water.
Car had full BMW service history and had only been worked on by BMW dealer (receipts to prove it, including brake pad change).
Replacement strut with no nuts on the top retaining bolts - Fiat Garage in Brum,
Various spanners under bonnet and trim not refitted correctly on new audi - Audi dealers in Herts,
Trapped EFI vacum lines under tank on a Honda, dismal fuel consumption on a tour thru France - dealer in Swindon,
Fairing bolts missing, mechanic tells me on pick up it 'flies to 130' - Yam dealers in London Colney...
Various spanners under bonnet and trim not refitted correctly on new audi - Audi dealers in Herts,
Trapped EFI vacum lines under tank on a Honda, dismal fuel consumption on a tour thru France - dealer in Swindon,
Fairing bolts missing, mechanic tells me on pick up it 'flies to 130' - Yam dealers in London Colney...
Ten years ago I got my Seat Ibiza serviced at a main dealer (I always did). Not too long afterwards I opened the bonnet to see no lid on the brake fluid bottle. A bit worrying! I visited the main dealer and explained the situation, to which they said, "we don't hold them in stock, sorry. ". I forced them to take one off a car in the showroom! I never suffered any braking issues, but it was very much a case of what might have been.
Oil drip from E34 540. Popped into well know nationwide BMW dealer on the way home. 1 hr later, mechanic appeared and explained they'd need the car for a complete engine bay clean, and then a visual check whilst up on lift to find the leak. Got curious that evening, so next morning, out with the trolley jack, car up, slid underneath, to spot 3 sump bolts missing. Obtained from my odds and sods box, fitted, found numerous others loose, all tightened, and leak cured.
At my work (Audi Main Agent in Yorkshire), EVERY job gets quality checked before it goes out, without fail
We also have to do a 9 mile road test after every job, no matter how small the job is
We get paid a bonus on 'no returns to workshop', and have been sat on 0 for about 10 months now, which is/was one of the best in the country
Ill freely admit, in my previous jobs at VX and Ford, I've been abit gash to save the odd few mins, but at Audi you just won't get away with it!
We also have to do a 9 mile road test after every job, no matter how small the job is
We get paid a bonus on 'no returns to workshop', and have been sat on 0 for about 10 months now, which is/was one of the best in the country
Ill freely admit, in my previous jobs at VX and Ford, I've been abit gash to save the odd few mins, but at Audi you just won't get away with it!
When I changed the spark plugs on my old 323 Touring I found that one of the earth leads for the coils was loose - the securing nut hadn't been tightened.
Previous to this I was almost stranded near Ullapool in Scotland. The car had sat on a wet hillside for a week, but luckily I managed to start it after much churning, but not surprising really considering that the engine was damp and it was only getting a weak spark.
Years ago I was driving my Audi 90 Quattro back from the indie after having some new shocks. Turned off the dual carriageway and into some windy roads and the car was steering from the rear. Looked underneath - loose track rod ends (same suspension front and rear on quattros). Rang them up and complained as I considered it quite dangerous. The manager was apologetic and told me that the guy who worked on my car was always forgetting things.
Err, why not sack him then?
Previous to this I was almost stranded near Ullapool in Scotland. The car had sat on a wet hillside for a week, but luckily I managed to start it after much churning, but not surprising really considering that the engine was damp and it was only getting a weak spark.
Years ago I was driving my Audi 90 Quattro back from the indie after having some new shocks. Turned off the dual carriageway and into some windy roads and the car was steering from the rear. Looked underneath - loose track rod ends (same suspension front and rear on quattros). Rang them up and complained as I considered it quite dangerous. The manager was apologetic and told me that the guy who worked on my car was always forgetting things.
Err, why not sack him then?
shielsy said:
trickywoo said:
This is also a massive annoyance for me.
Nearly every car I've bought has had the sump nut done up too tight. There is simply no need for it and why garage monkeys do it is beyond me.
even more so when it trashes the thread on the sumpNearly every car I've bought has had the sump nut done up too tight. There is simply no need for it and why garage monkeys do it is beyond me.
Thankfully, I've not encountered anything too dodgy on my civic, which I purchased back in april. I've serviced it 3 times (first service shortly after the car was purchased - oil, filters, plugs, then 2 oil + filter changes every 5k and the last one was also a gearbox oil change). Everything came off ok, everything went back on ok, all the fluids looked good. I was relieved, considering there was sparse service history.
The only problem I have is the air con - had it regassed and it depleted over 4 weeks. I'm still worried about finding something seriously wrong, but the evidence so far is that whoever worked on it knew what they were doing and wernt king kong
I found a few dodgy things on my motorcycle soon after I purchased it, most problematic was a rear caliper which had never been attended to.
The only problem I have is the air con - had it regassed and it depleted over 4 weeks. I'm still worried about finding something seriously wrong, but the evidence so far is that whoever worked on it knew what they were doing and wernt king kong
I found a few dodgy things on my motorcycle soon after I purchased it, most problematic was a rear caliper which had never been attended to.
Edited by thatdude on Sunday 5th January 16:48
cheddar said:
shielsy said:
trickywoo said:
This is also a massive annoyance for me.
Nearly every car I've bought has had the sump nut done up too tight. There is simply no need for it and why garage monkeys do it is beyond me.
even more so when it trashes the thread on the sumpNearly every car I've bought has had the sump nut done up too tight. There is simply no need for it and why garage monkeys do it is beyond me.
My lad's pug 106 was put into a Pug Indy specialist for a new clutch as the release bearing had failed, disintegrated and jammed the clutch completely. Nothing wrong with the clutch when returned but sometime later when investigating a knocking sound it was discovered that the clamp bolts for the front lower suspension ball joints had not been refitted on both sides 
Faxo said:
At my work (Audi Main Agent in Yorkshire), EVERY job gets quality checked before it goes out, without fail
We also have to do a 9 mile road test after every job, no matter how small the job is
We get paid a bonus on 'no returns to workshop', and have been sat on 0 for about 10 months now, which is/was one of the best in the country
Sadly not my experience with Audi - they have lost our custom for good as a result.We also have to do a 9 mile road test after every job, no matter how small the job is
We get paid a bonus on 'no returns to workshop', and have been sat on 0 for about 10 months now, which is/was one of the best in the country
On my old 164, one of the previous owners decided to repair a coolant hose rather than replace it.
It was sleeved inside and held together with 4 jubilee clips. I'm not sure why he didn't bother replacing, the car had a lot spent on it to keep it in good condition, so for the cost of a hose I'm a bit perplexed.
It was sleeved inside and held together with 4 jubilee clips. I'm not sure why he didn't bother replacing, the car had a lot spent on it to keep it in good condition, so for the cost of a hose I'm a bit perplexed.
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