Unqualified workshops in Cape Town

[Garage 808]

Good day everybody,

For the love of BMW's, please make sure that the person working on your car is qualified to work on it. Just because a place sells BMW parts and has BMW on the building (and is even a registered RMI member), or is a German, doesn't make them qualified to do quality workmanship. We are enraged by some of the cars that come in here - where supposed "experts" "repaired" the engine. Costing clients tens of thousands of Rands, and then the car is still not right. Please be aware of some unethical workshops around Cape Town.

We are unable to post these workshops' names, but do your research before you take your prized BMW just to any so-called specialist.

When a client takes his car in for a turbo replacement and gets the car back with mileage that is now 50 000KM less than it was 3 months ago, when the car went in (yes, that's apparently how long it takes to do an engine overhaul when a turbo goes...)...well, it boils our blood. Because the car now has no power - but it cost the client R35 000. :argh:

Please watch out. The Cape Town BMW community is small enough that other owners can warn against certain workshops or mechanics. Please listen to those warnings. We are tired of BMW owners being taken for a ride (pardon the pun).

 

[Sankekur]

For the love of BMW's, please make sure that the person working on your car is qualified to work on it.

So how do you determine if someone is qualified to work on a BMW?

We are unable to post these workshops' names, but do your research before you take your prized BMW just to any so-called specialist.

What it the point of posting then?

 

[ChefDJ]

Have seen some horror stories coming right out of dealer workshops :nonono:

 

[hoosain]

For the love of BMW's, please make sure that the person working on your car is qualified to work on it.

So how do you determine if someone is qualified to work on a BMW?

We are unable to post these workshops' names, but do your research before you take your prized BMW just to any so-called specialist.

What it the point of posting then?

exactly

 

[Garage 808]

For the love of BMW's, please make sure that the person working on your car is qualified to work on it.

So how do you determine if someone is qualified to work on a BMW?

We are unable to post these workshops' names, but do your research before you take your prized BMW just to any so-called specialist.

What it the point of posting then?

If someone actually worked at a BMW dealership for an extended period of time, they should have experience of the product, if not full qualifications. There are many reputable workshops as well who have years of experience even though they do not have specific BMW qualifications. Their good reputations are known.

We cannot "name and shame" other workshops while investigations are ongoing. But instead of having to listen to horror stories AFTER the fact, we would rather pre-warn you guys. That is why we say that other BMW owners who have bad experiences at certain workshops usually make it known. When you see the same name come up over and over - stay clear. Or in one case, the tow truck driver even warned the car owner that he shouldn't ask him to tow the BM to a specific shop, but the owner didn't heed the warning.

If you don't find this post helpful, then it's fine. But we trust that this will make at least one person more aware of the pitfalls and save him not only money, but endless heartache and frustration.

 

[Bazza]

I say post the names.

 

[Garage 808]

Have seen some horror stories coming right out of dealer workshops :nonono:

Yes, even those too. Sad as it is.

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If someone actually worked at a BMW dealership for an extended period of time, they should have experience of the product, if not full qualifications.

I disagree. Not in SA.

My SO's father owns a workshop, and he has recently taken on a fully qualified mechanic who worked for BMW for 9 years. The guy is useless. He can fit parts fine, but he cannot strip and assess a part for repairs.

It just shows that dealers don't repair, they replace.

We hear you. It is true of some mechanics, but not all. Some guys are more mechanically minded and have an interest in figuring out how things work in order to repair. And of course, some have experience on other vehicles as well, which adds to this. We suppose personal experience is the best reference. Word of mouth has always been the best advertising.

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I say post the names.

Please see our reply as to why we cannot name the workshops. Also, we are not in the business of slandering people - this is merely a warning to be aware of who you deal with. There are plenty of private people who are more than willing to bad-mouth workshops. As a business, we do not want to join in that conversation.

 

[ChefDJ]

If someone actually worked at a BMW dealership for an extended period of time, they should have experience of the product, if not full qualifications.

I disagree. Not in SA.

My SO's father owns a workshop, and he has recently taken on a fully qualified mechanic who worked for BMW for 9 years. The guy is useless. He can fit parts fine, but he cannot strip and assess a part for repairs.

It just shows that dealers don't repair, they replace.

 

[Sankekur]

If someone actually worked at a BMW dealership for an extended period of time, they should have experience of the product...

Ok, But how do I now someone has worked at a dealership for an extended period?
I guess I could ask, right? I could also ask if their workshop does shoddy work? I guess they could lie.....but why would someone do that?

So assuming I ask the guy and he is truthful and he did in fact work 15 or 20 years at a dealer, how do I know he was any good as a mechanic at the dealers, and not just one of their run-of-mill part replacers? I guess I could ask right? Surly he will be truthful, right?

When you see the same name come up over and over - stay clear.

And this is my point exactly, you didn't give any names. Saying to be wary as there are dodgy workshops out there, is pretty much like saying lions are dangerous....it is well-known and pretty obvious and doesn't add anything apart from maybe you trying to look like you are sincere.

Up next, I am guessing you will inform us that there are panel shops out there that..........wait.......for.......it............that do substandard work [gasp]

 

[Gizmo]

A1exander and I are not qualified bmw mechanics, nor have we worked for a bmw workshop or any other workshops for that matter. Does that mean we shouldn't be working on clients cars?
It boils down to reputation. Plain and simple.
Name and shame the bastards, probably zeemax at it again...

 

[AdiS]

I know we all want to know what workshops to avoid, but if one goes around slandering others, it doesn't give the best indication of character. I thnk you'd be hard pressed to find someone who works in PR who would agree that going around pointing fingers at other businesses in your industry is a good idea.

So, I think by asking Garage808 to reveal who they are referring to specifically, is an unfair request, and puts them in an awkward position.

Rather take the warning, and just do your homework as best you can before sending your car to a specific workshop.

 

[VeNoM_Ct]

Well we have this website for reasons, I am mainly here to get advice and be steered in the right direction if i need help with my BMW.

So for this very reason not to get ripped off by people who claim to be the best in the business. Some people have big names and that really does not mean anything to me.

They 'the owner' is the person who was reputable because he worked on BMW etc but over time got people to work for him and now he does not touch the cars anymore, the love to fix and pay attention to detail is not there anymore and in turn does not pick up potential issues... all the mechie is going to do now is service or change what the boss says... loss in reputation its now a routine job.

In this case, I understand why Garage 808 will not mention names... its not ethical BUT we can can because we are clients\paying customers... we can name and shame and we can call G808 an ask for advice...

:fencelook:

 

[Auditor]

A word of caution when it comes to posting poor workmanship stories on a public forum; there is a very fine line between relating a story of incompetent workmanship, and slander. Slander carries with it the risk of legal action, which is very often successful. Especially in the case where the person relating the story was not directly involved. Directly involved means that, as VenomCT posted above, it was the actual person who paid for, but did not receive proper workmanship.

I hear the frustration of Garage 808, but fully agree with his decision not to "name and shame".

A suggestion for those who have had poor service, or who have simply just been ripped off, is to post the details up on hellopeter.com and include the link to the complaint on this thread.

 

[Philip Foglar]

To name and shame is usually risky, but being "in" the industry, to name and shame would indeed be a bad thing to do. So I fully understand why Garage 808 is reluctant to say more.

We indeed have some specialists on this forum who have most likely never worked for BMW, but have so much more experience and expertise than most of the BMW "technicians" put together. Sure, I am sure that there are some BMW technicians that have tons of skills and experience - they just seem to be very well hidden in my opinion. And yes, most BMW technicians (notice I am not using the word "mechanics") simply do what a computer says and replace this or that part rather than using any skill or experience to fault find. If there is a problem but the computer doesn't pick anything up, then they throw parts at the problem until it is fixed! This is fine when the car is covered by motorplan, but hopeless when the car is no longer under motorplan! So relying on BMW themselves has its fair share of limitations, and to be fair, there are many dealerships that do strive to be better and the same goes for some of their staff.

When it comes to third party garages it is the reputation and word of mouth that speaks volumes. General workshops are fine for the basic jobs, but you typically want to go to a specialist that knows your brand of car. Work quality and work ethic is what you need to determine - this is where it gets tricky finding a place that you can trust with your car and money. As with everything, mistakes (within reason) can be made, but it's how this is dealt with that makes the biggest difference.

When dealing with a dealer, you are mostly subjected to the "sausage factory" mentality in terms of how many vehicles they are pushing through their workshop daily. When dealing with a smaller independent specialist you are most of the time dealing with a more focused workshop, and things are somewhat more controlled.

In all cases, a workshop needs to be capable, accountable, and reliable.