Local shop whooped on our M3

[fastfredracing]

I used a local shop that I do not usually use to align our M3. I just finished up a major suspension refresh. I do not usually use these guys but they are close, and I did not want to drive the car too far all out of whack on new tires.
Any how, I picked it up today, and upon accelerating on the highway ( I still love this car ) I could hear the center drive shaft support bushing banging around . I know this sound well, I have fixed a bunch of these for other people, and I know exactly how and why they fail.
I am willing to bet our poor car saw redline and the money shift several times at the hands of the alignment guy. Can't say I blame him, these cars are a blast to drive. There are 14 more miles on the car than when I dropped it off. That is a pretty lengthy test drive to evaluate the alignments outcome.
What are you gonna do? The car does drive nice again, and it will be a quick cheap repair for me.
I actually hate test driving nice/fast cars that come into my shop. I usually try to keep it short, and to the point, and many times will have the customer accompany me if it is something special like a 930/ vette etc etc...

[stomachmonkey]

Hi mr shop owner. I own fastfreds repair shop down the road.

I brought my car in for an alignment and it had 14 more miles on it than when I dropped it off. In addition the prop shaft bushing is now making noise. It's caused by redlining and slamming the gears. I know this because I fix this regularly for my customers. It will take x amount of time to fix.

In addition to an apology I expect a credit billed at my rate or yours, whichever is cheaper.

[Hugh R]

Years ago I had a front end align on the Aston Martin DB4, the alignment guy got pulled over for doing well over a buck in a 55 zone and had my car impounded. No damage, but I was out the car for 24 hours. I was pissed.

[porsche4life]

There would be a repair bill in alignment boys future, plus maybe an azz whupping...

[A930Rocket]

Don't forget to add what they backed off while it was on the rack running in reverse...

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller!

[911FASCINATION]

I'm with stomachmonkey, I'd be seeing red.

[Zeke]

I had Danny Thompson's (Mickey's son) Corvette Sting Ray in my shop back in the 60's. You know that thing had some kind of rocket motor, so after doing a bunch of custom body work, I took it out. Broke the driveshaft in two on a power shift.

He came to get it and I told him it wouldn't run and that the DS was over at the driveline service getting welded up. He was not happy with me.

I thought it was funny. He got a better DS out of the deal.

[Rick Lee]

Fred, your life is non-stop drama. Subscribed.

[Scuba Steve]

It could be worse... this guy's car got totaled.

AUTOBAHN BMW Fort Worth ragged my car and wrecked/totaled it on a test drive! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

[Tervuren]

There's a local guy to me that had his LP640 totaled by a hotshot at an alignment shop. Tried to claim it was a mechanical issue with his car that caused it wreck....

[asphaltgambler]

'Nuff said here - now go do it

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Hi mr shop owner. I own fastfreds repair shop down the road.

I brought my car in for an alignment and it had 14 more miles on it than when I dropped it off. In addition the prop shaft bushing is now making noise. It's caused by redlining and slamming the gears. I know this because I fix this regularly for my customers. It will take x amount of time to fix.

In addition to an apology I expect a credit billed at my rate or yours, whichever is cheaper.

[Joe Ricard]

Years ago took my new to me 928 to get 4 tires and an alignment. I hung around and drank thier crappy coffee in the lobby.
poked my head out when they wer putting wheels back on. Had to stop the monkey when he was about to use an impact on the aluminum lugs.

So when it came time for a test drive he rolled the car out as I was settling up the bill. Dropped the pen and ran out because I told all of them DO NOT TEST DRIVE WITH OUT ME. He almost made it the street as me in a dead sprint grabbed the door handle and jumped in. The Monkey was busted and dejected. We got back the ass chewing commenced.

[Brando]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Fred, your life is non-stop drama. Subscribed.

Seriously. Better plot twist than some of Hugh's shows (no offense Hugh ).

[Z-man]

There was a Ford tech that actually bragged about taking a customer's Mustang for a joy ride on a Mustang message board and got busted by the customer. I heard this on the internet, so it must be true.

-Z-man.

[rick-l]

Can anyone summarize this for me so I don't have to read 151 pages? I got to the part where the dealer ran the car into the curb at high speed and only wanted to do the minimum to repair it.

Originally Posted by Scuba Steve

It could be worse... this guy's car got totaled.

AUTOBAHN BMW Fort Worth ragged my car and wrecked/totaled it on a test drive! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by rick-l

Can anyone summarize this for me so I don't have to read 151 pages? I got to the part where the dealer ran the car into the curb at high speed and only wanted to do the minimum to repair it.

I got to page 65 then went to the end.

Original dealer crashed the car. Told owner we'll fix it, it's only $2,500 worth of damage.

Owner said no, you need to this that and the other thing to compensate me and dealer said no.

Owner had car moved to another BMW dealer for unbiased estimate on repairs.

Original dealer reported to their ins co, coincidently their deductible was $2,500.

Unbiased dealer got up to $30,000 in repairs before original dealers ins totaled the car.

Owner lawyered up and is just sitting waiting for his day in court.

5 months gone by and still unresolved.

Some other stuff in there like BMWUSA telling owner find a car that makes you whole and it's yours then when it came time to seal the deal BMWUSA said, ahh, no, we meant we'd help you find a car, not give you a new one.