Don't let a bodyshop think they are a mechanic shop

chefwong · 09-08-09, 08:00

just venting on some things I learned today....in my crazed way of looking out for reputable shops in the area

Do not go to a bodyshop expecting decent mechanical work. Granted a trusted bodyshop is one that will repair a panel in proper places, and we enstill trust in them putting all the pieces back to OEM spec, weld areas, safety, etc etc . The one I visited today had promos, marketing that they do mechanical work and IMO while maybe oil changes, brake pads and stuff yes, but for true mechanic work or just known issues on cars that creep up with such and such issue, they did not even have a clue what a ~valley pan~ was.

-------------

Same goes for mechanic shop.
No matter how positive the rants and raves are.....do your own due diligence and verify yourself. Thank god I did not have them do any repair work .....It's a long story I don't prefer to discuss.

It just goes to reinforce that some of the shops I do business with, even if it's a 10 minute fix, is worth the 1.5-2 hrs drive to to there.

Off my soapbox for tonight

gofastman · 09-08-09, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by chefwong

just venting on some things I learned today....in my crazed way of looking out for reputable shops in the area

Do not go to a bodyshop expecting decent mechanical work. Granted a trusted bodyshop is one that will repair a panel in proper places, and we enstill trust in them putting all the pieces back to OEM spec, weld areas, safety, etc etc . The one I visited today had promos, marketing that they do mechanical work and IMO while maybe oil changes, brake pads and stuff yes, but for true mechanic work or just known issues on cars that creep up with such and such issue, they did not even have a clue what a ~valley pan~ was.

-------------

Same goes for mechanic shop.
No matter how positive the rants and raves are.....do your own due diligence and verify yourself. Thank god I did not have them do any repair work .....It's a long story I don't prefer to discuss.

It just goes to reinforce that some of the shops I do business with, even if it's a 10 minute fix, is worth the 1.5-2 hrs drive to to there.

Off my soapbox for tonight

I can almost guarantee I'm a better mechanic than you and I have no idea what a valley pan is.

Jakerooni · 09-08-09, 08:21

Yea I've been tearing down cars and rebuilding them from the ground up for years now and I have absoulty no clue what the heck a "valley pan" is...

David Fermani · 09-08-09, 08:25

Your mileage might vary, but I've seen *some* shops that are more competant at Mechanical operations than the dealership. This is definately the exception, not the norm. Sounds like you had one do some pretty heavy mechanical repairs? Would I take a car to a Body Shop for a Mechanical repair? -NO. I wouldn't have a Service department paint my bumper either. A good Body Shop is supposed to be able to perform light/basic mechanical duties like removing engines/transmissions/axles and doing suspension repairs. I wouldn't have them rebuild a motor/trans or change head gaskets.

David Fermani · 09-08-09, 08:29

Wow- you guys don't know what a Valley Pan is? I suggest you Google it because it's nothing uncommon.

The Enforcer · 09-08-09, 09:01

+ 1.......valley pan, to me, is a term that is just as common as "oil pan. gasket, manifold, air filter, etc"

chefwong · 09-09-09, 05:40

David -

I told you about my shop that use the Octupus Bench...

This is another shop. In my stable, I have a BMW that has a extended aftermarket warranty on it and they are expensive to keep out of warranty, and I knew I was going to keep it for at least 3 years. Transmissions on these would have easily payed for the warranty cost. Sofar, I'm about to break even on the warranty on post repairs and still have 2 more years to go.

Long and short of the story is I needed to replace the clock spring on the unit. Between the costs of replacing the clock spring and having to reset the ABS light - it would have been cheaper just to have a local shop do it against my extended warranty and me just pay my measly deductible. There are not alot of qualified shops in this big 'old city of mine that can meet the level of expectation of professionalism and quality I would expected.

I've heard and seen some pics of the so called body shop in action and figured their costs would at least be acceptable to the warranty company instead of dealer book rate. They were considerably close to the body shop I use for body work..or my tuning shop. Both are a good drives away.

I'm going to end up doing it weekend warrior style and it will just let it ~time out~ between the work to not trigger the ABS light .

HTH

Alexia · 09-11-09, 05:47

I am very mechanically inclined and had no idea what a valley pan was either that I had to look it up.

None of the vehicles I have owned ever had one of those before.