Trustworthy Honest Servicing, does it really exist???

[StormVR6 0]

Hello people,

 

I do do some of my own servicing to a certain extent (oil, coolant, filters etc) but would love to know a honest decent mechanic/specialist for full servicing and large repairs (when and if they happen!). Since owning my

beloved Storm I have had a friend's mechanic work on it (rectify ABS faults) who didn't really have experience with the C but was willing.

Also the last major service (and fitting of Samco hoses) was performed by AMD who I heard were one of the best in their field. To be honest I thought the work was sloppy considering the price and not professional (I was later told the "technician" who serviced my car was sacked, like I really wanted to hear that!!)

 

So anyway, if anyone has knowledge of the perfect mechanic for my car then please do let me know. I live in Surrey but don't mind travelling if it's worth it.

 

Cheers :)

[Jim 2]

Well a lot of us use (or used to use!) Stealth Racing, who are based in Southam near Coventry.. very well known in the VW scene, and exceptionally reliable. You can find their website here.

 

I'm surprised you had bad experiences though with AmD as, again, they are held in very high regard by VW, Audi, and Seat owners..

[joebrent 0]

I use a mechanic in putney, where i live, not to far from you, hes not a vw specialist but he is very reliable and trustworthy and he doesnt charge the earth!!

[Kevin Bacon 5]

If you're prepared to travel to AmD, then switch to Stealth (as Jim mentioned) as they are very close to AmD.

 

Vince is the main man at Stealth and you are quite free to watch the work being carried out and chat to him, Graham or John. Many garages don't let you anywhere near the workshop (Health and safety laws) but Stealth understand we are enthusiasts (as are they) and like to get involved. Providing they have enough time, they are always prepared to do other things that weren't on the original job sheet as when the car is on the ramps, you always spot other things that need doing!

 

They are the only people I trust to work on my car, which speaks volumes given the distance I am prepared to drive to get there.

 

Kev

[StormVR6 0]

I have heard of Stealth Racing several times from friends and VW owners and to be honest the main reason I wasn't too keen was only down to my experience at AmD. I literally come to the conclusion that these so called "Experts/Specialists" were just glorified VAG technicians, as incidently was the case with my service at AmD, the chap who carried out the service didn't notice faulty brake hoses even though the disc's and pads were being replaced (had to drive back the 60+ miles next day as it failed MOT), after replacing a faulty fuel gauge the unit was not replaced correctly and the small "arc" cap which fits over the screw was missing. The inlet hose was not re-attached to the inlet manifold (Schrick has to be removed to get to the plugs) and the accelerator cable was adjusted giving me around 20mm gap under the pedal (half throttle).To be presented with a bill for over £800 when the work was not expertly carried out in my books is taking the p**s.

 

Now after getting that off my chest considering the response will give Stealth a try for my next service (next 1000 miles) but if I'm not completely happy then I will read the "VW Corrado Official Factory Repair Manual" (which cost a bloody fortune!) from cover to cover and TRY and do everything myself! :lol:

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Now after getting that off my chest considering the response will give Stealth a try for my next service (next 1000 miles)

 

Can't comment on AmD's workmanship but on the odd occasion I've needed to contact them, they've either been abrupt on the phone or not bothered responding to Emails. Stealth are totally the opposite.

 

You've experienced several bodges by the sounds of things and I must admit, given AmD's reputation, that does come as a shock. I've always been sceptical of their rolling road dyno plots and now I'm inclined to thinking they are not particularly good mechanics either.

 

AmD's main area of expertise is ECU programming, courtesy of Geoff Everett's degree in microelectronics. Both the proprietors have VAG backgrounds though. Stealth have a wider knowledge base and skillset, having built and prepared race cars for over a decade. What they don't know about VAG cars, electronically and mechanically isn't worth knowing.

 

but if I'm not completely happy then I will read the "VW Corrado Official Factory Repair Manual" (which cost a bloody fortune!) from cover to cover and TRY and do everything myself! :lol:

 

Yeah and it puts the Dooms Day book to shame on the page count too!

They're worth having if you can procur one cost effectively. Any idea how much they are out of interest?

 

I do most of my own work and always have done but I leave all the heavy metal stuff to the Stealth as I'd rather pay someone to do that kind of work than break my back climbing under the car on the drive.

 

Kev

[scottgroovez 0]

Don't AmD now only work on newer cars (ie MK4's etc)? Anyway, I went there to get my geometry setup last year as they have the "sooper-dooper" alignment "machine" and the guy said there was no point doing it as the ball joints were shagged and needed replacing (that's what I get for running 9x16's). So they gave me good honest advice.

[StormVR6 0]

KEV: The Bentley Publishers VW manual set me back £99 (bought new from amazon.co.uk). Yes ridiculously expensive but has made its money back several times!

[Beetlebug_2001 0]

I use my dad, he's free :D

[scottgroovez 0]

You can probably get the Bentley book cheaper from the states, remember books are VAT free so that won't be an added cost when it comes through custom checks.

 

I bought one from the marketplace off Amazon, was about £80 new

[Amy 0]

we used stealth racing to map the 20vt no probs with them at all :D

 

we also use volkskraft for servicing the vr, just had a full service and rear axle bushes changed for just over 200 quid :D

[Kevin Bacon 5]

KEV: The Bentley Publishers VW manual set me back £99 (bought new from amazon.co.uk). Yes ridiculously expensive but has made its money back several times!

 

Is that different from the regular Robert Bentley manual then? I can't find the £99 one on Amazon! Is it about 4 inches thick as that's the one I've seen in various garages and is a lot more comprehensive than the normal Bentley/Haynes affair?.

 

Cheers

Kev

[Supercharged 2]

You can get up from amazon.com dude, they used to be on the .co.uk site but I think people used to get them from the US because they were still cheaper.

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846

 

Remember I got one though which your welcome to borrow anytime.

[StormVR6 0]

KEV: The one I have is the Official VW Corrado Factory Repair Manual (made for VAG technicians), it is actually an American manual made only for the American market, hence the reason that the diagrams are L/H drive and some small differences are present. It covers all of the Corrado models up to 1994 (when I believe the C ceased to be exported to the USA). It is nothing like your average haynes manual and therefore not that useful for a complete beginner.

 

If you want to improve your knowledge of the C and maybe try to undertake more jobs yourself then this manual really is the Corrado "bible", as it contains literally everything from wiring diagrams to error codes/solving (if you happen to own a VAG 1551!).

[VR6 0]

Use Amazon canada - there are plenty of voucher codes on the net as well.

 

Picked up my manual for about £55 and it arrived in 3 days!

[Andi 2,147,483,647]

TBH, I have the Bentley manual, but don't actually think I've used it yet. Thanks to Ant (aka Banana man) I now do (some of) my own servicing: oil, brake pads-n-discs, easy suspension stuff, etc.

 

And funnily enough, the garage I trust with the car is the ATS Euromaster in Coulsdon. Very local to me, I've been using them for years (since my first car), I source the parts from ECP or GSF, give 'em some cash, and they do a nice job every time (VAT free!). I can walk home if needed, and they love the car (better than the usual boring stuff they get in!). Plus, no lead times - normally just turn up and its on the ramps within 10 mins.

It'll be going there next week to have my front Anti-roll bar links replaced - my drivers side has sheared off and is currently banging about :shock:

 

I'm not saying all ATS's are good - I bet most of them are crap - but you can sometimes be lucky with local normal garages....

 

Oh, and they have one of those twin-V jack thingies, that jack the car up by all 4 jacking points - since I can't get on normal ramps without the front spoiler bending like Beckham! (on a non-lowered C! :shock:)

[RobyD 0]

cant say i was impressed with the price AMD charged me for 4-wheel alignment -£98. :shock:

[Henny 0]

Oh, and they have one of those twin-V jack thingies, that jack the car up by all 4 jacking points - since I can't get on normal ramps without the front spoiler bending like Beckham! (on a non-lowered C! :shock:)

 

That'll be a two post lift then... :roll: :lol:

 

Normal ramps are 4 post ramps (one in each corner!)

 

My mate's garage has sunk their ramps into the floor so there's no problems with getting any cars onto the ramps... I wonder why more garages don't do that? :?