I posted this in the BMW section but since all my crew (and a bunch of people from Houston) post here I am cross-posting.

The clutch on my SC SMG M3 failed and I replaced it. I allowed my local mechanic to do the job after he convinced me that he was able. I was concerned because my car is 585 hp and it requires an aftermarket clutch and the SMG is notoriously tricky. A GT1 is the preffered tool for reprogramming the M3 but he believed that his Autologic would work.

After having the car for 6 weeks and having to have a somone else come in with his GT1 the clutch is installed but still throwing codes.

Now the local mechanic wants to charge me $1850 in labor even though the car is not running right. I sympathize that he has put a lot of hour in and had to hire someone to reprogram it, but the book time at the dealership is only 10 hours and even if the job was done correctly it would only be 1.2-1.3 K.

So tomorrow I am going to offer him $1200...my question is, since he will likely say no, how high should I go? I am thinking that maybe I will go as high as 1400 (I am still getting ripped off) and if he disagrees to then sue in small claims court. I really do not want to do that but paying 1.8 K for a 1.2 K job that is not completed is robbery.

Thoughtful opinions are welcome, Thanks

 

Sean,

What did he quote you to begin with? I'd offer no more than $100-200 more than that. He should've known what he was getting into. It's not Joel is it?

Edwin

 

Sean, my honest opinion would be either wait until he can get the job right and pay ~1500 (the average of the book time, and what he wants to charge), or pay him nothing. He didn't do the job correctly, why should he get paid for screwing up?

 

No, it is not Joel...When we started we discussed that book time was 10.5 hours plus $80 reprogramming. Admitedly, the car does present some extra challenges.

I mentioned 1.2-1.3 in our convo today but he was not receptive. I was on my way to a meeting so I said I would discuss it later. I will call tomorrow and start again w/ 1200...I will go as high as 1.4K (remember I still need to get her straightened out) and then will take action. The Walnut suggests small claims court and I suppose he will hold my car in the interim. Its already been there 2 months.

 

nine,

He acts as if getting it right will entitle him to more money.

 

i say just just choke him out lol , on the real though , i agree with nine nine six.

 

Don't worry Chuck, it is not a board sponsor, lol...and I am going to be nice and try and work this out w/ out going the legal route...I just want to get a feel for what is fair.

 

To be honest, i don't think he deserves anything over book because of the way he's handling this matter. If he can't do the job, its his problem. He can't keep charging you to figure out how to do it on your car.

Sean, do you have a BAR (http://www.bar.ca.gov/) in Texas?

I think fair would be book plus 1-2 hundred for effort...

 

M3's suck, Garrett's suck, DC shoes suck!

I wouldn't pay anything else. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you already paid to have the job done? And he told you he could do it, even tho you told him it was a difficult job? Sue everyone.

 

Simmer down you fuzzy little man peach

 

Man, you TX guys crack me up! I need to get down there and check out all the smack flying around!

My car came from Houston and would feel at home...

 

I'm not worried about it Doc...you haven't named names...yet..and if it's not another member or sponsor there is no problem with that...but it sounds like this guy is way off base...his lack of expertise is not your problem unless he told you he didn't know what the hell he was doing and you told him to go ahead and try anyway...do what you need to do to get your car back, get it fixed proper with plenty of documentation and then take the jerk to court...I thought you guys in Texas just looked for the nearest oak tree...

 

I'd love to help you out Sean. But answer me one question. What is a clutch?

 

Agree. You should not be paying for his best efforts.

If you have to, pay with a credit card, and write something on the receipt like "Charges not correct- Contesting" along with a signature.

Then have your credit card company dog him.


If you wind up getting it fixed, pay him the whatever is left over after you pay to fix it.

A

 

Crappy situation, hope it works out for you Dr.