Oil Change - Let down by mechanic!!

motorguy

onlyfoolsandparking said:

Just to clarify when I say independents I definitely don't mean mobile mechanics I'm sure there are plenty of competent ones out there but I wouldn't use one unless I knew them or they were recommended to me, too many chancers nowadays advertising on "friendface" luckily for me I don't use that social media garbage so I'm unlikely to come across any of the ones fred promotes lol 

Yes.  It does come back to getting personal recommendations from friends and family locally rather than doing what fred has suggested in the past that "a mobile mechanic WILL be better because you will know who they are and can watch what they are doing".  Totally not the O/Ps experience in the real world, sadly.

And as Adrian pointed out - you have to query the motives of a mobile mechanic.  Some are genuine but how many are amateurs masquerading as "experts" and how many are doing it because they are that poor at their job they cant get work elsewhere or couldnt function from premises.

onlyfoolsandparking

motorguy said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

I agree with your quote "main dealers are no better than independents" It all comes down to who you know, what you know yourself and what your objectives are. I have just paid £150!!!!! for a first service on my bike which is basically oil and filter, retorque headstock, take off rev limiter, fit coding plug (basically plug it in, about 4 seconds I reckon)  and check fluids so a fortune in reality BUT its a brand new BMW so the ink they used for the service stamp is worth the £150 IMO.

I totally agree.  Theres a balance can be found though.

Firstly, if my car is under manufacturers warranty and theres multiple dealer options, i'll ring them all for a quote.  There is often a variance between them.  

Secondly, where there is a "requirement" to get the servicing done by the main dealer and there is a benefit to having a main dealer stamp on the service book, i'll generally bite the bullet and do that.  BUT what i wont do is take the car there for any general maintenance, tyres, etc.  Our BMW (car) is only a year old.  It goes to the main dealer for its main service, but we will use our local indy to maintain it as and when.  No point in paying dealer prices to get brake pads, etc fitted.  Also many very good tyre fitters about rather than let the dealer fit them (which many people do).

Like yourself i dont particularly mind paying the dealer the price of a standard service particularly as it helps ensure the warranty is kept intact.

Sounds like you do the same as me I too wouldn't let main dealer put tyres on my bike as there are no benefits to it and it has zero effect on the warranty, I have found BMW to be really good with service and aftersales, got a cracking deal off them on bike, I don't usually buy new (prefer minimum 3-9 months old let somebody else 'take the pill' on depreciation) but the deal was that good I couldn't have got a 'nearly new' one for the same price so it became a no brainer.

I suppose it depends on how confident you are in finding the right person/people to work on your pride and joy, up here in the north west we're all tight fisted lol I guess of course that applies to any part of the country, the main dealers have their rates set in stone so to speak, not their fault head office make the rules and the independents are sort of the same with their rates but you can usually haggle a good deal if you talk nicely or like me you've known them for years.
It was funny actually when my mechanic said to me when I picked car up, he'd looked after me on price for cam belt, fan belt and water pump all for £250 and IMO he definitely had, I said I know you have buddy but don't worry OH,s car is due MOT in July and I can hear it whining, sounds like one or more wheel bearings you can get a bit more out of me on that job when it comes in haha.   

     

roddydogs

Did he take the trolley jack?

doris540

Ill put money on it they jacked the car up on the sump and cracked it

shaun_from_Africa

doris540 said:

Ill put money on it they jacked the car up on the sump and cracked it

If that had happened, the leak would have become apparent before the old oil was drained out of the sump. Even if it was cold and fairly viscous, there would still have been some leakage.
The OP was very specific in that the leak only started once the oil was being refilled.

AdrianC

Has Fred246 had gender reassignment and become Doris540?

Or are they married?

flusteredmotorist

Just had a call from the repairing garage.  They came bright and early and recovered it at 8:45am and just had a call from them. Apparently, the other mechanic hadn't used a new sump plug and washer and just tried to re use the old one. They think it's the washer that has failed as they have fitted a new sump plug and apparently there are no leaks.  They're keeping hold of the car for the rest of the afternoon just to see if any more leaks occur but it's still dry now.  

Total cost for them to do the recovery, and another oil change is £129.  Not too bad considering.  

I'll give one final update when I get the car back in my hands.  Anyone want to buy a set of axel stands?

Scrapit

flusteredmotorist said:

Just had a call from the repairing garage.  They came bright and early and recovered it at 8:45am and just had a call from them. Apparently, the other mechanic hadn't used a new sump plug and washer and just tried to re use the old one. They think it's the washer that has failed as they have fitted a new sump plug and apparently there are no leaks.  They're keeping hold of the car for the rest of the afternoon just to see if any more leaks occur but it's still dry now.  

Total cost for them to do the recovery, and another oil change is £129.  Not too bad considering.  

I'll give one final update when I get the car back in my hands.  Anyone want to buy a set of axel stands?

what did the original mobiile mech say when you spoke to them?

roddydogs

doris540 said:

Ill put money on it they jacked the car up on the sump and cracked it

Who would try to jack a car up by the sump? Not even I would do that.

flusteredmotorist

Scrapit said:

flusteredmotorist said:

Just had a call from the repairing garage.  They came bright and early and recovered it at 8:45am and just had a call from them. Apparently, the other mechanic hadn't used a new sump plug and washer and just tried to re use the old one. They think it's the washer that has failed as they have fitted a new sump plug and apparently there are no leaks.  They're keeping hold of the car for the rest of the afternoon just to see if any more leaks occur but it's still dry now.  

Total cost for them to do the recovery, and another oil change is £129.  Not too bad considering.  

I'll give one final update when I get the car back in my hands.  Anyone want to buy a set of axel stands?

what did the original mobiile mech say when you spoke to them?

I've not bee able to get hold of him.  Phone just rings out and no voicemail option available.  I've texted him but no response.