| Vancouver Auto Chat 2016 VAC Community Head Moderator: Raid3n |
 | | 
05-01-2017, 08:31 PM
|
#1 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 572
Thanked 707 Times in 99 Posts
Failed 29 Times in 9 Posts
| Shop denying responsibility after ruining car - what can be done?
Hi all,
My dad took his 3 series to a private shop in order to get a sunroof leak fixed. A day later we were told the leak was fixed, however he reports the car now won't start and all the dashboard lights are on, and to give him some time to fix it. After calling later, he says the car now starts but the dashboard lights are still on, and says to take the car now, as the dashboard lights will go away once it dries.
I told my dad not to take the car back while it's not yet fixed, as i highly doubted this problem would resolve on its own. As we call each day, the problem is still not fixed, and the shop owner claims this problem is not his fault and that he didn't do anything wrong, despite being aware that no lights were on when we brought the vehicle. He also says he doesn't know what the problem is, and keeps pushing to give him more time to try and fix it, but we never hear anything back and always have to call. So far it has been two weeks that the car has been sitting at his shop, with nothing done.
What can be done as he does not seem to be trying anything to fix the problem, and just keeps trying to delay and deny any responsibility. Any advice appreciated
| 
|  | |
05-01-2017, 10:13 PM
|
#2 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Duncan, BC
Posts: 10,128
Thanked 5,568 Times in 2,107 Posts
Failed 231 Times in 90 Posts
|
File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and talk to a lawyer.
| |
| | |
05-01-2017, 11:28 PM
|
#3 | | My homepage has been set to RS
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,092
Thanked 485 Times in 149 Posts
Failed 80 Times in 15 Posts
|
take it to the dealer for a second opinion
The sunroof leak caused subsequent damage to wiring and or electronics. It's not the shops fault. I can't blame them for not figuring it out , it's a pretty complex fault to find.
Your dads in for a world of hurt
| |
| | |
05-01-2017, 11:52 PM
|
#4 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Richmond
Posts: 1,355
Thanked 1,776 Times in 444 Posts
Failed 195 Times in 67 Posts
|
Lawyer up. The shop should be able to show what, if any components are damaged due to the leak. It's pretty straightforward.
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 07:54 AM
|
#5 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 572
Thanked 707 Times in 99 Posts
Failed 29 Times in 9 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron Chef  take it to the dealer for a second opinion
The sunroof leak caused subsequent damage to wiring and or electronics. It's not the shops fault. I can't blame them for not figuring it out , it's a pretty complex fault to find.
Your dads in for a world of hurt | But then no lights were ever on the vehicle prior to bringing it in, and only happened during the time in his repair.. if he can't figure it out I don't think he should've even attempted a repair in the first place.
Spoke to the service manager at a bmw dealer who I've known for a while and he mentioned the repair may have been done improperly. suggested to bring it in for a look but the shop and gave a rough quote but the shop would not be willing to pay it and keeps dragging it on
Last edited by liukb; 05-02-2017 at 08:08 AM.
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 08:02 AM
|
#6 | | RS.net, helping ugly ppl have sex since 2001
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Richmond
Posts: 8,464
Thanked 14,946 Times in 3,900 Posts
Failed 471 Times in 216 Posts
|
Sometimes shit does go wrong that is not the shops fault. You can bring your car in for a tire rotation and the shop might snap a wheel stud (because the lug nut was cross threaded on prior to service) but then the customer always says "well it was on just fine when I brought it in" etc etc
Possible water damage can be far reaching, if you have no faith in the shop, take it to the dealer, get a lawyer, call the BBB but don't forget that you might not win 100%
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 09:28 AM
|
#7 | | Need my Daily Fix of RS
Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Burnaby
Posts: 276
Thanked 247 Times in 90 Posts
Failed 42 Times in 16 Posts
|
You have a friend at a BMW dealer whom could have taken care of your BMW? Yet you go private shop to get it fixed? why to save money , I see no savings at all.  | |
| | |
05-02-2017, 09:45 AM
|
#8 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 572
Thanked 707 Times in 99 Posts
Failed 29 Times in 9 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Urrtoast You have a friend at a BMW dealer whom could have taken care of your BMW? Yet you go private shop to get it fixed? why to save money , I see no savings at all. | Yes, I know the service manager but can't say he's a close friend just previously dealt with him a lot for my own vehicle, and that doesn't equtd to any savings necessarily. Also, I found out from my dad after he took it to this place and had this problem. The problem has already oxcured and I'm just asking for any suggestions that anyone may have
Also, the shop rate was much less than at a dealership. Not like anyone would've known beforehand it'd have his problem after the repair
Last edited by liukb; 05-02-2017 at 10:58 AM.
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 12:05 PM
|
#9 | | I don't get it
Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 415
Thanked 610 Times in 126 Posts
Failed 24 Times in 6 Posts
|
which shop was this?
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 07:28 PM
|
#10 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 3,109
Thanked 415 Times in 65 Posts
Failed 4 Times in 3 Posts
|
I'm pretty sure your pre existing water leak flooded some wiring/modules/sensors and it just so happens that the no start/dash lights came up while the car was at the shop. What fixed the water leak?
Bring your car back to the BMW dealer for a diag. I doubt the issue was caused by a water leak repair.
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 07:42 PM
|
#11 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 572
Thanked 707 Times in 99 Posts
Failed 29 Times in 9 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinan3 I'm pretty sure your pre existing water leak flooded some wiring/modules/sensors and it just so happens that the no start/dash lights came up while the car was at the shop. What fixed the water leak?
Bring your car back to the BMW dealer for a diag. I doubt the issue was caused by a water leak repair. | The shop was Bowma Auto Service and I believe the leak was fixed by unclogging the drains of the sunroof. I could take it elsewhere to diag, but have already been told that it could be likely due to the repair, so then who should be assuming responsibility? Shouldn't the current shop be looking for a solution as this problem happened there
Last edited by liukb; 05-02-2017 at 07:48 PM.
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 07:44 PM
|
#12 | | 2x Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N49.2 W122.1
Posts: 6,176
Thanked 1,174 Times in 704 Posts
Failed 67 Times in 51 Posts
|
BBB = useless.. you probably get more reaction from a bad yelp review. or do what other BMW owners had done throughout Vancouver history, park the BMW outside the dealership every day with graffiti claiming the shop had done them wrong.
Lawyer = for the amount of damage, also useless. Unless you know the final bill amount, chances are it will go to small claims which you don't need a lawyer for.
The only thing your dad can possibly do if the shop decline to accept responsibility is go through small claims. But before that he has to have fix the car and know how much exactly he is out of the pocket.
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 07:59 PM
|
#13 | | 14 dolla balla aint got nothing on me!
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 645
Thanked 238 Times in 53 Posts
Failed 101 Times in 23 Posts
|
good luck
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 08:19 PM
|
#14 | | in the butt
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,284
Thanked 4,379 Times in 1,557 Posts
Failed 210 Times in 114 Posts
|
"Bring My Wrench"
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 08:20 PM
|
#15 | | I don't get it
Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 415
Thanked 610 Times in 126 Posts
Failed 24 Times in 6 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinan3 I'm pretty sure your pre existing water leak flooded some wiring/modules/sensors and it just so happens that the no start/dash lights came up while the car was at the shop. What fixed the water leak?
Bring your car back to the BMW dealer for a diag. I doubt the issue was caused by a water leak repair. | Either that or someone did a leak test to find out where leak was which initiated the problems with electronics and/or made it even worse
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 08:36 PM
|
#16 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 572
Thanked 707 Times in 99 Posts
Failed 29 Times in 9 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by xjc11 Either that or someone did a leak test to find out where leak was which initiated the problems with electronics and/or made it even worse | They were the ones who diagnosed and tested it as a sunroof leak though. As initially we only noticed the passenger side of the carpets got soaked whenever it rained
| |
| | |
05-02-2017, 08:58 PM
|
#17 | | 2x Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N49.2 W122.1
Posts: 6,176
Thanked 1,174 Times in 704 Posts
Failed 67 Times in 51 Posts
|
The issue here is if you want to chase after the shop. You will have to fix the problem first, in order to present the court / shop with a monetary amount.
Who told you? Do you have it in writing? if not it will be heresay. Quote: |
but have already been told that it could be likely due to the repair, so then who should be assuming responsibility?
| The question is do you have the stamina to go through with the case. Remember small claims is any amount less than 25k. Unless your 3er is a unicorn. I am not sure it is worth it. Quote:
Originally Posted by liukb They were the ones who diagnosed and tested it as a sunroof leak though. As initially we only noticed the passenger side of the carpets got soaked whenever it rained | | |
| | |
05-04-2017, 04:40 AM
|
#18 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Burnaby
Posts: 858
Thanked 1,070 Times in 229 Posts
Failed 126 Times in 42 Posts
|
for what it's worth, I know the owner of the shop and have taken many vehicles there. He has always been super honest and upfront with me, and charges very reasonable prices.
i'm just wondering how you think the shop could have caused the car to not start and dash lights to come on through an error. all they were doing was fixing the sunroof leak..
| |
| | |
05-04-2017, 08:57 AM
|
#19 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 572
Thanked 707 Times in 99 Posts
Failed 29 Times in 9 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shorn for what it's worth, I know the owner of the shop and have taken many vehicles there. He has always been super honest and upfront with me, and charges very reasonable prices.
i'm just wondering how you think the shop could have caused the car to not start and dash lights to come on through an error. all they were doing was fixing the sunroof leak.. | Because it happened while it's in the shop during the repairs...in fact it has still been at the shop. It's not like this happened after the car was taken back or anything
| |
| | |
05-04-2017, 10:03 AM
|
#20 | | nuggets mod
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: richmond
Posts: 7,074
Thanked 3,938 Times in 995 Posts
Failed 178 Times in 60 Posts
|
Even if it's not the shop's fault, IMO, it's still their responsibility to fix it, even if they charge you.
If they take on a job, they should be aware of directly related side effects, and how to resolve those, or else don't take the job.
Above, there was the example of the wheel stud. That isn't the shops fault, but they should know how to fix it. I would be pissed if that happened, and they said sorry, not our fault, come tow the car away, we can't fix it.
My 540 just recently blew the upper radiator hose. After it was replaced, when they tested the system, the lower one blew as well. So they fixed it as well, charged me, and got the car back to me.
__________________
I searched for truth, and all I found was You
| |
| | |
05-04-2017, 10:05 AM
|
#21 | | I don't get it
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Hawaii
Posts: 432
Thanked 783 Times in 136 Posts
Failed 87 Times in 30 Posts
|
what year / series is the car?
Can you start pulling relays / fuses?
| |
| | |
05-04-2017, 10:17 AM
|
#22 | | :: Sells McLarens, Not tofu :okay: ::
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: vancouver
Posts: 10,767
Thanked 11,841 Times in 3,338 Posts
Failed 211 Times in 89 Posts
|
did I read..... "bowma" ... 
__________________
13' Nissan DBA-R35 GT-R Black Ed - Black met. - "Sophia"
90' Honda EF Civic HB // 04' Honda Pilot Granite
- The Drinker of Many Many Coffees @ McLaren Vancouver
| |
| | |
05-04-2017, 10:40 AM
|
#23 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 115
Thanked 96 Times in 26 Posts
Failed 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
I used to work at an auto glass shop and we did lots of leak testing and hunting from bumper to bumper. Most times you have to take apart the entire interior to get right down to the frame and find the tiniest holes. One instance we were required to find a leak which resulted in the dash being taken apart and later put back together by either someone who didnt take it apart or by someone who has no idea what they were doing. They were headache jobs with a lot of responsibility and we always tried to avoid them but my boss was greedy and took on every leak job and usually ended up unsolved and lost money. All while the customers car sat in the shop for weeks to months. I would say the shop is probably responsible for this one. I know that my boss used to send the guy who got paid the least to find the leaks cause it costed the least to spend all that time on it.
| |
| | |
05-04-2017, 08:51 PM
|
#24 | | Ask me about how I answered the question "How fat is TOO fat?"
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 8,141
Thanked 4,146 Times in 1,143 Posts
Failed 1,392 Times in 247 Posts
|
I see we've already gone through all the real responses so I'll provide my response: 
__________________
I'm so stance my roof rack got a roof rack
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Current
e92 335i 6MT RB Twos Turbos FBO
e90 330i 6MT
Former
e46 330ci 5MT - RIP
uc1 5AT
em2 5MT
db7 5AT - RIP Quote:
Originally Posted by toyota86 the guys over at lambo vancouver said there are 60-70 pre-orders already. don't quote me though. | | |
| | |
05-04-2017, 09:02 PM
|
#25 | | Rs has made me the woman i am today!
Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Vancouver DT
Posts: 4,327
Thanked 2,798 Times in 917 Posts
Failed 1,257 Times in 270 Posts
|
saving 40 dollars cost you alot more than a legit bmw repair place...gg,You Took the gamble and lost,they prob knocked out a wire somewhere and don't know where with 1 million of them in that dash board.
who knows,maybe that place is rat infested at night and had a nice snack on you're wires.
__________________
Fly Your Own Flag.
| |
| | | |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:40 AM.
|
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
