Mechanic scam? - what do you think?

[abcxyz]

Just wanted to get some of your opinions on a mechanic I've been going to for oil changes ONLY. (I have another mechanic I trust that I go to for repairs & mtce). They only service BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Volvo, and use OEM parts and have been rated #1 in Customer Serivce for 10 years etc.

Last year I got an oil change deal from them - For $299, I can get the oil changed (Synthetic oil) 3 times per year (January, April, September), for the LIFE of my car, and can even transfer it to the new owner if I sell my car. Well that's a no brainer, it pays for itself after 3-4 oil changes.

FIRST oil change I did with them was on 9/1/07. They recommended the following services:
1. Power steering rack - he showed me the boots and said they're full of fluid.
2. Alignment
3. Auxillary belts (the 2 that power the a/c, power steering, alternator etc)

I didn't do any of the recommended services.

SECOND oil change 1/2/08. Recommended services.
1. Power steering rack
2. Power Steering High Pressure Hose
3. Auxillary belts
4. Coolant Reservoir vent Hose
5. Gas door operation solenoid
6. Right headlamp assembly Fastners

My gas door is loose after I close it, but i can gently hit the hinge and it will shut. They wanted to charge me $250 to replace the solenoid. I think I can live with hitting the door with my hand. Have no clue about the head light fastners, it's not loose at all, so I'm not going to replace anything unless it's half way falling out or something.

THIRD oil change 4/28/08 (this past Monday) Recommended services:
1. Power steering rack
2. Power Steering High Pressure Hose
3. Auxillary belts
4. Alignment
5. Inspection I


Ok, my beef is:
1. Power steering rack - it's been 8 months since they recommended the POwer steering rack repair. I have noticed NO difference in the steering now than 8 months ago, I checked the fluid level, and it's STILL full, and it makes no noise or anything when I steer. I think they're full of crap.

4. Alignment -- How would he even know I need alignment if he didn't drive the car. It's not pulling at all either left or right. And my tires are quite new, so I doubt they show signs of uneven wear.

3. I questioned them on the Auxillary belts, and he says the mechanic says they are cracked and need to be replaced. I went home and lifted my hood, and lo and behold, the hood didn't even stay up at all, apparently the hood shocks are dead, but he failed to mention that in my recommended services (that's a huge red flag to me), but he can find every other little thing wrong with my car, except the obvious, which makes me wonder if he even changed the oil & filter! I checked the oil and it looked clean though. Anyway, so I get a flash light and look at the belts from above...it does not look ANYTHING like the picture in this DIY article from Pelican Parts.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Belt-Replacement/E36-Belt-Replacement.htm

I mean, I can't see the whole belt viewing from just above, but i didn't even see one knick/crack in either of the two belts of the viewable portion of the belt. I checked my service history and 3 years ago I had an Inspection II done at my regular mechanic and he changed the BELT A/C ($24.75) and BELT ALT ($30.75). I don't know that much about cars & repairs but I'm ASSUMING those are the same two belts as the Auxillary belts that this place is telling me I need to replace. I don't think belts only last 3 years. I called them and questioned them why the hood wasn't even mentioned as a repair, and he didn't know, and then I asked about the auxillary belts, and he said, "the mechanic has a trained eye, if he says they're cracked, they're cracked..." --what a lame line.

Well, what do you guys think about all this? Any recommendations or suggestions? I'm thinking of going over there and getting the car hoisted up and making them show me where the cracks are. If they are b.s'ing me, I will speak to the owner who I actually have a good repoire with and let him know my concerns. It's obviously a sales guy I'm talking to about all the above. Anyway, what do you guys think?

[whosyadadie01]

ok first off, what model are we talking about here ? age ? mileage?

[Jeron]

The A/C and Alt belts are the aux belts.

Belts will show little cracks long before they go bad. They will also normally make noises as they start to go bad. Belts should last at least 3 years.

P/S hoses are a very common replacement item. They will leak and it will get gradually worse and you will see it on the ground. They is a simple cheap solution that is a pretty easy DIY.

This is how they make their money dont be too offended.

[abcxyz]

Originally Posted by whosyadadie01

ok first off, what model are we talking about here ? age ? mileage?

It's a 1998 328is, 135000 miles.

Jeron
Thanks for the tips. Yes, I understand that's how they make money, but I don't really appreciate when they tell me to replace things that are not necessary especially when they didn't even tell me my hood shocks were gone and that's an OBVIOUS problem., so it makes me wonder how much of what they're saying is really true, seems that the things that they're telling me to change are the "hard to reach" things that aren't so easy to check.

I mean, for sure they're not making money off me on the oil change deal, so I guess i can understand they're trying to 'get me' other ways. haha. When it comes time to really have the repairs done, I'll want to go somewhere else...know what i mean? I dunno. I guess I was a little peeved too cuz of the sales guy that drove my car into the bay. Before he did, I told him there's a 'clicking' sound from the front every time I apply my brakes gently. I could even be coming to a light coasting at 10mph and i apply the brakes gently and there's this click...i can let go and apply them again and it'll click again. I asked him if he wanted me to sit in the car as he drove it, then i could show him. he said now. he proceeded to go drive around the building and came around the front and said, "uhh.i don't hear anything..." I told him IT'S there, it happens EVERY single time" so he drives it again around the bldg and same response. I told him, 'THAT'S WHY I TOLD YOU I WANTED TO COME WITH YOU..." He didn't even address the problem later or have his mechanic check it out. So that did sit too well with me.

Anyway, yeah, I saw no such knicks or cracks in my belts, compared to the pictures on the DIY article, my belts look new! haha. I'm going to go over there and ask them to show me...I'm curious what they're looking at...

[Jeron]

I understand your frustration, that's why I don't go to mechanics. I know a few honest mechanics. Your best bet is a place where you can talk to the mechanic as he shows you the problems he found and try to develop a rapport with him.

[jamin325i]

you are spot on with your observations and analysis of this garage. they are attempting to "churn" you.
your treatment there sounds more like dealership revenue generating attempts than a good independent garage.
get a new mechanic. until a condition becomes a problem, do not be hasty to depend on a mechanics repair recommendation. independent problem diagnosis are avail elsewhere, also, if you are suspicious.
and unless you drive high miles each year, i beleive you don't need 3 syn oil changes a year. and each change at $100 each is excessive to me.

[abcxyz]

Well, I'm always suspcious of people in business, especially sales people. After all, that is their job to generate sales, and there's probably a great majority of ignorant people (in regards to cars) than knowledgable (not that I'm an expert or anything like that).

Jamani,
thanks for your input. Yeah, 3 oil changes a year for synthetic is 'excessive'. I don't pay $100 per oil change though, if you read my post again, I got an oil change DEAL from them that allows me to change it 3 times each year for the LIFE of my car. And I only paid $299. So although 3 oil changes per year is excessive, might as well do it since I don't have to pay for the oil changes anymore. I only go to this shop for the oil changes because of the oil change deal. So in the long run they're losing money off me, so I can see how they're trying to get me to fix something on my car. I actually have another BMW mechanic that I do all my other repairs because he doesn't tell me I need to fix things unless I really need to.

Jeron,
I did go this morning and asked them to show me all the problems. They hoisted up the car and showed me the belts, and they are cracked...i could see the belts from top and i didn't see those cracks, but on the bottom it is similar to this picture, but the belts don't look as 'worn' as these do. http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/E36-Belt-Replacement/pic6.jpg

The guy explained the power steering rack to me, he did show me that the boots have a lot of fluid in them, he shook one and you could hear it sloshing around. It's been 8 months since they first recommended that change, and my car has been driving fine still. He said it's a slow leak, but obviously leaking cuz the boots are full of fluid. The power steering fluid is still pretty full when I checked 2 days ago. My question is, is it urgent to fix that, or can i wait until the boot breaks. I don't really care if I don't have power steering for a day or so, it's only hard to steer when you're going really slow or stationary. Will it ruin anything else in my car if I leave it or wait for the boots to REALLY leak?

Thanks.

[Jeron]

When the rack seals completely go you should just loose the power assist but not a complete loss of steering. I would plan to replace the tie rod ends with the rack. You will need an alignment after either way.

If you can afford it replace the control arms and control arm bushings. After all that the front end will feel new again.

[abcxyz]

Originally Posted by Jeron

When the rack seals completely go you should just loose the power assist but not a complete loss of steering. I would plan to replace the tie rod ends with the rack. You will need an alignment after either way.

If you can afford it replace the control arms and control arm bushings. After all that the front end will feel new again.

Thanks for the info Jeron. Regarding the auxillary belts:

1. Is the one closer to the middle of the car the one that controls the a/c? (taht's the one i have cracks in)

2. If i just let it go until it breaks, will it have any other adverse effects on the car or other components? I figure if it breaks, I just won't have a/c until I replace it, is that a correct assumption?

[Jeron]

The A/C is the lower one on the passenger side.

The one more toward the middle(drivers side) is the water pump, ps and alt belt. If it breaks you will over heat and your battery will run out of juice in a minute or so.

The belts are cheap and easy to replace. They usually make noise before they get bad enough to break.

[abcxyz]

Originally Posted by Jeron

The A/C is the lower one on the passenger side.

The one more toward the middle(drivers side) is the water pump, ps and alt belt. If it breaks you will over heat and your battery will run out of juice in a minute or so.

The belts are cheap and easy to replace. They usually make noise before they get bad enough to break.

Thanks for the info Jeron...