Bad mechanic experience

[H Rafiq]

Had a very bad experience with a local mechanic, VAG specialist too. Went if for an AP coilover kit. They fitted it, did tracking etc. and they said come pick it up. Went pick it up n the guys saying we need fit an extra kit now, DCC delete, £250 otherwise you’re gonna have error lights on the dash, and ABS issues etc. WTF. This was not explained to me at any point before or during the fitting! For the kit and fitting they’re already charging £1,435! And I’ve paid £200 deposit. Had a spat with the guys. They said it’s my car so I need pay for the kit, which I knew nothing about. I said it’s your **** up. You’ve realised now you need a kit! You pay. I said take the kit off, put it back to stock and I’ll come pick it up, and give me my £200 deposit back. The guy rings me later saying he’s listening to the telephone call and his colleague never mentioned the DCC kit cost, so they’ll pay for it for me n fit it. I said no, put it back to stock, and I’ll pick the car and my deposit up, thanks.

 

[Mo_86]

It's good they finally admitted fault but i wouldn't trust them either after all that.

 

[H Rafiq]

Nah, exactly. Now I’m worried they may intentionally F up my car before giving it back to me.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Had a very bad experience with a local mechanic, VAG specialist too. Went if for an AP coilover kit. They fitted it, did tracking etc. and they said come pick it up. Went pick it up n the guys saying we need fit an extra kit now, DCC delete, £250 otherwise you’re gonna have error lights on the dash, and ABS issues etc. WTF. This was not explained to me at any point before or during the fitting! For the kit and fitting they’re already charging £1,435! And I’ve paid £200 deposit. Had a spat with the guys. They said it’s my car so I need pay for the kit, which I knew nothing about. I said it’s your **** up. You’ve realised now you need a kit! You pay. I said take the kit off, put it back to stock and I’ll come pick it up, and give me my £200 deposit back. The guy rings me later saying he’s listening to the telephone call and his colleague never mentioned the DCC kit cost, so they’ll pay for it for me n fit it. I said no, put it back to stock, and I’ll pick the car and my deposit up, thanks.

The kit isn't really needed, it's just convenient . 3 wires need moving then DCC can be coded out completely

 

[H Rafiq]

The kit isn't really needed, it's just convenient . 3 wires need moving then DCC can be coded out completely

So they’re chatting bubbles basically?

 

[H4mm13.]

you think thats bad? I took the wifes alhambra into a garage who told me that the DPF not regenerating was down to the way i was driving the car. "take it out onto the motorway get to 4th gear and keep it at 2500 rpm" That didnt do jack ****, cause every time you got to 2500rpm the car went into limp mode!
Took it to the Main Dealer, they told me there was no problem with the car (10 seconds after resetting the Engine management light) and just drive it easy for a few kilometers and then "4th gear on the motorway at 2500rpm to regen the DPF - Itll be fine"
2 mins after leaving the main dealers the engine light was back on! Took it home and asked a friend to plug it in with his code reader. After about 20 mins messing around reading codes and looking them up to see what they were. We started to strip some of the bits down, cleaned the EGR, checked the injectors and a few other bits (all thrown up codes)
Turned out the Turbo was dead as a door nail, the exhaust flexi pipe was also shot to bits with leaks everywhere! Replaced the Flexi, replaced the turbo and car was like new again!

Seems most "mechanics" cant spell their profession never mind sort an engine problem! So i would be very surprised if he wasnt talking crap just to make it easier for him cause its what he read somewhere! Instead of knowing what he was doing, he had to read it somewhere

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

So they’re chatting bubbles basically?

They went for the more expensive option, but it's a viable option

 

[H Rafiq]

They went for the more expensive option, but it's a viable option

I see. But I wasn’t told there’d be a charge for this. They mentioned the DCC would be deleted, that’s it. They chose to call in me in to collect the car, then tell me then that the DCC delete kit is £250. They wanted me to take the car, so that I’d use the newly fitted parts etc. until they could order in the delete kit and fit it.

 

[redone]

I see. But I wasn’t told there’d be a charge for this. They mentioned the DCC would be deleted, that’s it. They chose to call in me in to collect the car, then tell me then that the DCC delete kit is £250. They wanted me to take the car, so that I’d use the newly fitted parts etc. until they could order in the delete kit and fit it.

Dude. I told you exactly this would happen on that other thread. I tried to warn you. You’re lucky they let you back out of it. They have invested a number of man of hours on this not to mention the what with the parts.

You need to get straight exactly what you want and what it will cost as you could source.
Then either get a garage to offer a solution or find one that will work with parts and if necessary instructions you supply for modifications. If the garage is to provide the solution and it is less than your parts list total then something is wrong.

 

[redone]

Also the good dcc shocks are worth money aftermarket (as you know £££). Make sure to retain them and resell once you’ve got this right.

 

[H Rafiq]

Dude.

Dude. I told you exactly this would happen on that other thread. I tried to warn you. You’re lucky they let you back out of it. They have invested a number of man of hours on this not to mention the what with the parts.

You need to get straight exactly what you want and what it will cost as you could source.
Then either get a garage to offer a solution or find one that will work with parts and if necessary instructions you supply for modifications. If the garage is to provide the solution and it is less than your parts list total then something is wrong.

Is that helpful? And, you did not say this would happen. You said “suspect the garage solution to be defined as mechanically deactivating dcc.” They did not tell me the DCC delete was not included in the kit, and that the DCC delete would incur an extra charge. I’ve had it put back to stock anyway. Can’t be arsed. I’ll replace the single shock with OEM. Are you saying garage are in the right?

 

[redone]

Your response was “The garage said the AP coilover kit comes with deactivation means included.”. As per previous comment I did not see this was financially viable but the response left no ambiguity and it is not my responsibility to validate.

I’m saying the garage are not invested in this. Few mechanics are enthusiasts. Less so for modern VAG. Those that are can charge because they have that knowledge that saves time and money for themselves and their customers (things like this). To my understanding we’re talking about a white label garage who attempted to accommodate a non-oem special request job. I’m surprised they have a conversation recorded though??!?

I don’t see anything to gain in assigning blame here. This experience has come at no real cost to you.

 

[H Rafiq]

They’re a VAG and German specialist, apparantly. When speaking to them, they’ve fitted this same exact kit to many a Golf R and Audi S3 of the same gen as my Cupra. So why they missed this, I’ll never know. Went there from recommendation from a ‘friend’. It’s done anyway. Wasn’t meant to be. I’ll get the shock replaced from my usual mechanic who’s replaced my previous shocks too.

 

[tracktoy]

What I would add to this my Local VAG Specialist is very good and I use them a lot, but they have limitations.
The good thing is when I ask about stuff they don't know they tell me so, or if they don't have the equipment to do the work they also tell me rather than trying to muddle through.

But apart from others recommending people the true test is when you ask them to do the work and it comes out fine.

 

[redone]

They’re a VAG and German specialist, apparantly. When speaking to them, they’ve fitted this same exact kit to many a Golf R and Audi S3 of the same gen as my Cupra. So why they missed this, I’ll never know. Went there from recommendation from a ‘friend’. It’s done anyway. Wasn’t meant to be. I’ll get the shock replaced from my usual mechanic who’s replaced my previous shocks too.

the pricing did sound very fair even if not the expectation you were given. Not sure where you are but sounds like if you pm East Yorkshire he could do a less commercial dcc delete for a price If you did want the ap. have you driven it on the ap?

 

[H Rafiq]

the pricing did sound very fair even if not the expectation you were given. Not sure where you are but sounds like if you pm East Yorkshire he could do a less commercial dcc delete for a price If you did want the ap. have you driven it on the ap?

No, I haven’t experienced the AP. I didn’t want drive it, and then them turn around and say I couldn’t return it as I’d used it etc. The stock suspension isn’t bad, so I’ll stick with this. Just need get the shock replaced at some point. Intermittent light on dash at the moment.

 

[H Rafiq]

Update: ordered 2 new Monroe DCC shock absorbers for £109.54 each. Had to get 2 as it’s a pair thing and wouldn’t let me buy just 1. No doubt I’ll use both! Gonna get my indie to fit it, and give the suspension a general service.

 

[redone]

Nice price for the monroe. Can always resell the sympathetically replaced one on fleabae.

 

[H Rafiq]

 

[meevilsheep]

What a great price. Last year changed the rears on my VW CC and paid 190£ per piece