Beware of Elkins Park Autoworks in Montco, Pa.

[Jezza]

Before you read this, understand that months into my ordeal, "Please, I don't want to write a negative review of your shop online" came out of my mouth. Months later, my warning was not taken seriously.

My car underwent a mechanical restoration just before I purchased it, 3years / 7,000 miles ago. So, when I took it to Larry at Elkins Park Autoworks with a surging / dipping idle, I thought that a couple weeks out of commission was going to be more than acceptable. I travel pretty relentlessly for work and with Family for weeks at a time, so the first couple of times he told me "Next week" wasn't a big deal. His shop was highly recommended by a local Porsche owner and there are always quirky European cars parked in the lot.

After 3 months and some furious phone calls, he told me that it was fixed and to come pick it up. He "undid" the "Hot rod stuff" the previous owner did to the car and replaced the cap (NON BOSCH WTF). I picked it up at the end of the day, paid, apologized for the angry phone calls and drove it home 2 miles away). About a mile from home, I gave it some juice and it backfired and sputtered. The next morning it was back and he told me that it now needed a new Airbox after putting 2 miles on it AND having a pop off valve. "I've seen these go even with those pop off valves", he said. Now, I watched him leaning on all parts of that engine over the weeks I hassled him at his shop, asking why it was not done as he spraying starting fluid searching for a vacuum leak that he never found. I suspect that crawling / leaning all over the engine cracked the box, but could be off base there. At that point, I should have taken it somewhere else.. 2 months later, he had the airbox in, but not fully assembled.

After 6 months of pleading, yelling, I finally decided to cut my losses and flatbed it out of his shop, to J&J Motors in Bryn Mawr, Pa. in basket case condition. I was livid at the state of my car. Larry sat on it all Summer, saying "I just need a few more days" or "You have to be patient" or "It's been hot out!" or "My guys called in sick all last week!", as dozens of other vehicles were tended to, instead of mine. My car was filthy. The windows were left down as it sat in his shop, where his employees smoked. See pics below. After the guys at J&J got it back together, the trouble shooting started. It ran like a$$. He found torn intake boot after a while. The peculiar thing about that, it had black silicone that had been smeared on the tears in an attempted and failed repair. I suspect this damage was done during the airbox fiasco. Also, the vacuum lines going into the distributor were both plugged with golf tees and the one metal nipple going in, was bent.

I am happy to go into detail about how poor of an experience this was for me, but I am sure this is enough. I hate... HATE crapping on small business owners and try to keep it local whenever possible. A "I am in too deep, I don't know what is wrong with your car and can't figure it out, stop in so we can settle up and get you in touch with someone I trust" would have been fine by me. Sometimes things are hard. In the end, I paid cost of the airbox and he refunded me the $400 labor that was charged on the initial bill that I paid.

Here is how my car sat in disrepair for 6 months. The negligence really got me. I angrily explained how hard I worked to be able to buy the car of my dreams and that to see it shrouded in dirt, stinking like fluids, tires and smoke...






Not sure why he disassembled the fan.


I had enough.




Here is how my very expensive parts were given back to me from Elkins Park Autoworks-




Here's the torn boot with silicone repair that was INSTALLED after the airbox was replaced.

[Jezza]

Now, the experience at J&J in Bryn Mawr, Pa. was night and day. Jay is a nut, in the best sense of the word. And while the sourcing of a new distributor took a little while and the were some hiccups along the way, I never had a doubt about how my car was being cared for as it sat among other air cooled 911's and even an AM DBS. Seriously, the epitome of a professional shop and super nice guys as well. I was happy to hear that Jay shook it down for 100 miles over the weekend, before he gave it back to me. He is truly passionate about these cars.

Weeks later, a very happy, healthy 911 and a satisfied customer at J&J Motors.

[bigel]

That's unfortunate, but I'm glad you finally got the work performed and are happy.

I'll never understand why service organizations try to BS their way around poor service, or no service in your case. It doesn't matter whether it's a auto mechanic, mason, carpenter, landscaper, etc., if they'd just be honest with their customers life would be better for everyone.

"Hey, I'm sorry but I have been inundated with work and haven't gotten as far on your job as I thought I would..." or "I had a guy quit to go back to rehab and I've been behind ever since..." or "I thought I would get further on your job, but the work is more time consuming than I anticipated...", you know, anything but SILENCE.

I guess they'll never learn.

This is why once you find someone you trust (mechanic, contractor, etc.) you stay with them and sometime, like in my case, drive an hour to bring your vehicle to them.

Good luck with your new baby.

[faverymi]

Glad worked for you.

I only give my P business to P shops.

I go by word of mouth recommendations. Gut feelings and I like to see only P cars parked.

Your car looks good.

[Jdub]

More like beware of Uro parts? Glad you have it back on the road.

[Gogar]

Sorry you had a bad experience.

I've learned over the years that you NEVER tell a shop you have plenty of time.

[Cairo94507]

I hate to say it, and I am very happy you got your 911 out of that first shop and it is correctly repaired and back in your garage, but one look at that first shop and I would have immediately found another shop. Sometimes you have to judge a book by its cover.....

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by Cairo94507

I hate to say it, and I am very happy you got your 911 out of that first shop and it is correctly repaired and back in your garage, but one look at that first shop and I would have immediately found another shop. Sometimes you have to judge a book by its cover.....

Absolutely my fault. No doubt. I always take notice of the really nice Porsches that he has had parked there, so I looked past it.

Originally Posted by Gogar

Sorry you had a bad experience.

I've learned over the years that you NEVER tell a shop you have plenty of time.

Yeah, that was a monumentally stupid move in hindsight.

I'm a pretty reasonable and trusting guy. And I know what it is like when things go sideways at work. Things happen. But, this became unacceptable and got out of control.

Originally Posted by bigel

That's unfortunate, but I'm glad you finally got the work performed and are happy.

I'll never understand why service organizations try to BS their way around poor service, or no service in your case. It doesn't matter whether it's a auto mechanic, mason, carpenter, landscaper, etc., if they'd just be honest with their customers life would be better for everyone.

This is the argument that I made many times - "Just be honest!"

[trader220]

Glad you got your car back and running well.

The shame is there are quite a few really good air cooled shops in the area.

[livetopedal]

Hey Jeremy, Glad to hear the happy ending. J&J Motors is a top notch garage, another round of kudos to Jay.
Hope to cross paths with you again sometime soon.
Car looks great!

[gomezoneill]

I'd install a pop off valve in that new airbox.

[Irhmsd]

Performance Automotive in Malvern is THE place to take your aircooled.

[boyt911sc]

Jezza,

There are numerous good and respectable Porsche shops in the area. I live in Montgomery County too and never heard this shop until now. But I most consider in selecting a shop is how to deal business with the shop owner/mechanic. No matter how good the mechanic or service they have and you are not comfortable dealing with them, look for another one. Not all good mechanics or shops mean they know CIS. So finding the right shop for each of us takes some patience and homework.

Your unfortunate experience with this shop is encountered by many car owners today. There is no such thing as a 'perfect shop'. Has your car been worked here before? My guess, this was a first time job (?). Anyway, now that you have a good shop, stick to it unless you find a better one. Good and reliable shops are not cheap. You get what you paid for.

Tony

[Richard C2S]

I second what Tony says. There are several shops in the Philadelphia area that have a lot of air-cooled Porsche experience. There are others who have some experience. But, that doesn't necessarily mean that they know what they are doing. Try to talk to other air-cooled owners in our area and ask about their experiences and recommendations.