I have lost faith in all garages
Discussion
I have lost faith in all garages. I have been enquiring by TELEPHONE for some quotes on an old E30 325i Sport (prefacelift) to finish off all the mechanicals and get it on the road.
And I have contacted several garages and a couple responded promptly with quotes the rest even after 2 weeks I am still chasing them for a quote. What's the point ?
The work I want done is
Inspection II Labour only plus fluids
Rear bushes Labour only
SH Rear beam supply parts and labour
LSD Labour only
KDS alignment needed
MOT
Old rear beam is slightly bent
2 have got back to me out of 7 garages or private mechanics.
The 2 that replied one suggested to try a diff route as they only for new Genuine BMW parts and is expensive that route
The other replied speedily good quote but according to another BMW forum they have a "bad" reputation
What do I do :-( ??
And I have contacted several garages and a couple responded promptly with quotes the rest even after 2 weeks I am still chasing them for a quote. What's the point ?
The work I want done is
Inspection II Labour only plus fluids
Rear bushes Labour only
SH Rear beam supply parts and labour
LSD Labour only
KDS alignment needed
MOT
Old rear beam is slightly bent
2 have got back to me out of 7 garages or private mechanics.
The 2 that replied one suggested to try a diff route as they only for new Genuine BMW parts and is expensive that route
The other replied speedily good quote but according to another BMW forum they have a "bad" reputation
What do I do :-( ??
Edited by 161BMW on Tuesday 25th February 19:42
Maybe they don't feel that they can give a proper quote and can only 'estimate' it until they actually have the car in hand?
Maybe they don't feel there's enough profit in it and expect lots of 'scope' creep from the customer, and therefore can't be bothered?
Maybe they're so busy they can't fit your work in?
Maybe they don't feel there's enough profit in it and expect lots of 'scope' creep from the customer, and therefore can't be bothered?
Maybe they're so busy they can't fit your work in?
From the ones I know most small garages are not in the business of replying to long quotes for old project cars, they are in the business of survival and that means doing enough jobs per day/per week to pay the bills/staff and keep things going.
Quick in and out jobs, mot's, services, repairs, cash flow.
Your job on a 25 year old car could yield them less than half of the money and double the time they will get just doing regular day to day stuff.
Quick in and out jobs, mot's, services, repairs, cash flow.
Your job on a 25 year old car could yield them less than half of the money and double the time they will get just doing regular day to day stuff.
Where are you based? You don't want a regular garage, you want an enthusiast garage, I used these guys, it's the sort of thing they would do I reckon....
http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/
See their work here: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwaysAutomotive
http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/
See their work here: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwaysAutomotive
Compared to their hoardes of paying customers wanting straightforward work, you sound a bit nit-picky. You want to supply certain parts yourself, you have all sorts of stuff wanting doing all over the car and they haven't even seen the car yet so they have no idea what's involved. Many garages don't communicate well via e-mail anyway as guess what? they're fixing cars and dealing with customers who have come in through the door with the readies!
Find a good garage you can trust by asking for recommendations from fellow BMW people in your area and by talking to them directly and in person about the work. If you can't get there, phone them. Have the work done and stump up.
Find a good garage you can trust by asking for recommendations from fellow BMW people in your area and by talking to them directly and in person about the work. If you can't get there, phone them. Have the work done and stump up.
doogz said:
sc0tt said:
The other 5 don't want your business.
This. You want to supply all the parts, apart from the bent beam, that you want them to source second hand for you.Whilst it may not be the case, it reads like you want it all done on the cheap, they probably can't be bothered with the hassle.
doogz said:
This. You want to supply all the parts, apart from the bent beam, that you want them to source second hand for you.
Whilst it may not be the case, it reads like you want it all done on the cheap, they probably can't be bothered with the hassle.
I wanted to supply the parts myself because so I can get the New Genuine BMW parts myself so I can be sure I will get these fitted and not some poor quality replicas.Whilst it may not be the case, it reads like you want it all done on the cheap, they probably can't be bothered with the hassle.
Also I get 10% discount of New Genuine BMW parts.
The parts come with 2 year BMW Warranty.
Edited by 161BMW on Tuesday 25th February 15:38
Give these fellows a call:
http://www.classiccarprojectshop.com/
They're used to working 'outside of the box' and it's run by a real enthusiast.
http://www.classiccarprojectshop.com/
They're used to working 'outside of the box' and it's run by a real enthusiast.
zed4 said:
Where are you based? You don't want a regular garage, you want an enthusiast garage, I used these guys, it's the sort of thing they would do I reckon....
http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/
See their work here: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwaysAutomotive
I am based in London. Nearer the West bit though.http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/
See their work here: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwaysAutomotive
I am just frustrated because I am looking forwards to driving my e30 again.
doogz said:
Did you tell the garages that?
You'd be better finding a rear beam yourself, buying the new parts you'll need for it, bushes, bearings, etc, then taking the car, and going down to one of these garages, and showing them it.
I have no problems buying the parts brand new myself.You'd be better finding a rear beam yourself, buying the new parts you'll need for it, bushes, bearings, etc, then taking the car, and going down to one of these garages, and showing them it.
The beam I only wanted SH because is 000s for brand new.
I told the garages the parts I would supply.
It is too late to do this now, but my tactic would have been to split the job - get one or two things done first. Then you could have established a rapport with the garage and check out how well they do the work, and they would see that you are a reasonable person to deal with.
Presenting them with a long list might seem efficient to you, but I reckon you've come across as being officious.
Presenting them with a long list might seem efficient to you, but I reckon you've come across as being officious.
r11co said:
It is too late to do this now, but my tactic would have been to split the job - get one or two things done first. Then you could have established a rapport with the garage and check out how well they do the work, and they would see that you are a reasonable person to deal with.
Presenting them with a long list might seem efficient to you, but I reckon you've come across as being officious.
I only presented the long list because I just wanted the whole lot done in one go.Presenting them with a long list might seem efficient to you, but I reckon you've come across as being officious.
I see what u mean though
Is just annoying.
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