60 mile test by my mechanic! Looking for a new mechanic in Fremont, Ca.

[POORSH]

I went to pick up my X5 4.4 yesterday after spending a total of 2 weeks at the shop for an engine service light. They couldn't figure out what it was. They actually replaced a bunch of stuff the previous week, but it didn't solve the problem. To make the story short, when I got to the shop, he told me he had taken it on a test drive that was 60 miles long. On top of that, the car was return dirty and a TOGOs sandwich wrap in my car. This is after having spent $5k at his shop for 2 Porsches (Speedster and 911T-I have issues about the integrity of repairs of these two cars as well) and the X5 (granted the X5 had an extended warranty). He was highly recommended by a couple of people.
PS. He actually used another customer's car to drop me off at work. Is it common practice to use another customer's car for pickup and delivery?
Looking for a new honest euro car mechanic in the Fremont, Ca area. Thanks.

[chancecasey]

that SUCKS!!!! That is total bull-****e and completely unprofessional behavior - aside from the bad mechanic work. I recommend the mobileworks team for p-cars - no recommendation for bimmers, though, sorry. I would like to know who this rascal is so I know to stay away and can tell my friends the same.

[pwd72s]

Please excuse my ignorance...seriously, what's an X-5?

[POORSH]

pwd72s,
BMW X5

[gprsh924]

BMW suv- very nice

[steve911]

Originally posted by pwd72s
Please excuse my ignorance...seriously, what's an X-5?

That would be the BMW X5 SUV I presume.

[pwd72s]

Thanks...that explains my ignorance. When it's 4X4 I think pickup, so I can haul stuff. SUV's were never on my radar screen. Not that I knock 'em as a vehicle that fits the needs of others...

[Spede]

In Mountain View but I recommend Tom's Auto Repair. Maybe 20 minutes from Fremont.

http://www.tomautorepair.com/

Nice, honest guy. Tell him Steve from the Porsche board sent ya. He works on my 540 as well as my 911.

[Zeke]

Seems like this should have started in the BMW forums? Anyway, if you're in Fremont, does Tom Amon go there? He might be your man and you don't have to take your car anywhere, he comes to you.

[POORSH]

I want to thank everyone for their input. I also placed it in the BMW forum, but it doesn't seem that the BMW forum is as popular. Is Tom Amon on this forum?

[juanbenae]

the check engine light may not come on right away, so they prolly needed to drive it a bit to get the computer to relight it, or be sure it was fixed. if they replaced parts on a few occassions maybe they needed to do more than one test drive? would you be just as pissed if you got it back and in the 1st 50 miles the light came back on? seems valid really.

the dirt and sando wrappers? not so valid.

T$

[Rockafella]

I second Spede and Tom's in Mtn. View. He likes BMWs and I think he personally owns an X5.

Tom Amon (MobileWorks West) I've used and is a great guy, but he is air-cooled 911/912/356 only.

I've had a hell of a time finding quality BMW service for my gaggle of 3s and my 540i sport. Tom's Auto has done right by me. PM me for dirt on everyone else.

And if your euro guy is in Dublin, there is one that recently changed hands that people are really unhappy with.

[POORSH]

Toby,
I completely understand your point about having to take it in again. Actually, this was not the first time he has "repair" the problem. He thought he had it fixed the week before, 10 minutes later, the light came back on. I don't have an issue having to drop the car off for him again, as I have done many times in the last 3 wks. I suspect them using my car for personal means because they had used another customer's Mercedes ML320 to drop me off at work, which I don't think is the right thing to do.

[john70t]

They can usually turn off the malfunction indicator light easily with a scanner, a model-specific series of KeyOff/KeyON/odometer button pressing, or sometimes just disconnecting the battery.

To get the light to turn back on in OBD2 systems sometimes requires completing certain drive-cycle conditions while the computer does its self-testing proceedures. For example, the computer will open the EGR at cruise to check if the O2 sensor is responding appropriately.

The complexity widens, because many manufacturers haven't been releasing repair info to the small shops until they got sued through class-action lawsuits-the German brands especially.

In general, the tight OBD2 restrictions were created to make it difficult to modify the engine emmissions too much with aftermarket parts, and the dealerships want to control the repair market on their vehicles by shuting out the mom-and-pops.

2 weeks and trash in the car is unacceptable. Emission warrantees for newer cars are pretty good, and the dealership should be able to fix this without charge.
Search the net for recalls and TSBs (technical service bulletins) which are the "quiet fixes" dealerships do when in service, and then call a few dealerships with your VIN to see if your car is up to date.

[JavaBrewer]

Totally blows. My wife drives a Land Rover Discovery so I can talk about service visits like a pro... Luckily we found an independent shop that seems to care about their work.

[DanielDudley]

I expect my mechanic to test drive my cars, and the one that really drives them is the one who really gets them right.

I had [had] a 928 wrench who would '''fix'' my 928 and run it down the street. He wanted the repairs to ''last'' until I got it home. They usually didn't. He did however wash the sucker. And hosed the other sucker.

My new wrench only gets my real problem cars. he once told me' '' If you are going to charge someone over a thousand dollars on a repair, you need to run it out, and make sure you have it right.'' That 928 is a nice driver now.

[SCHNELE]

To properly diagnose a problem some shops will actually drive the car overnight, with an OBD2 there are a series of starting conditions that can reset the problem or get the issue to rear its ugly head. If the service was otherwise fine it really is not that unsual, however it sounds like you have a problem shop.

[ZLP]

Go up to Kahler's in Dublin. They are the best in the bay IMO

[ikarcuaso]

Just curious, if you have an extended warranty, why didn't you bring the X5 to the dealer?

I can tell you where in Fremont NOT to bring it, if not the same place. PM me.

Next time, get a Lexus.

[slakjaw]

1 whats wrong wit a 60 mile test drive?

2 was you car dirty when you took it the shop?

3 I bet a hundred the wrapper is actually your own.