has anyone been to this shop lately? have you had good or bad experience with them? reason why i'm asking is because i was recommended this shop by a local forum member and by the emissions shop. and so far i'm VERY unhappy with them. my 190D failed emissions. so i brought it to them to fix the emissions and just take a look at the tranny and tell me what they thought was up with it. well it's been three weeks. i've made repeated calls to them asking them how things are going, and they "tell me oh don't worry we're working on it" or "we have an emissions test for it tomorrow" or the last one "we're waiting for parts" always followed by "we'll give you a call back." well i have not received a SINGLE call back from this place. so i'm pretty irritated with them and monday i plan on going down there and getting my car, regardless. anyone out there think i'm out of my mind for thinking this?

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-- 1989 190d 2.5L --
-- 1985 Toyota 4Runner --
-- 2004 Toyota Tacoma --

I for one do not think you are out of your mind. Actually they are not engaging in good business practices in my opinion. You just do not treat customers like this.
I might try to have a good discussion with them before pulling the car. Only if things are not sorted out to your satisfaction then would I pull the car. They might be on the up and up with very poor communication skills. Or something unusual might have transpired. Three weeks without a really good explanation for it is not right though. The real reason for the delay should be told you. Of course if no real explanation is forthcoming I would get the car out of there.

You are NOT in ANY WAY out of your mind. Go get your car.
I was a auto service manager/Tech for over 25 years. My customers would receive up date calls on a daily basis !

This kind of c$%^ just burns me. This is what gives the automotive service industry a bad name. Sorry to say there are way many shops out there with owners/managers/Tech's that just don't give a dam about anything but the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Can't tell you how many past midnight jobs I stayed to finish because I promised it to my customer in the AM.
Now your lucky to find anyone around past 5pm

Sorry about the rant

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"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
-Arthur C. Clarke

"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people. I require the same from them."
--John Wayne.

OBK member#16
77 300D
75 300D (rusty parts car)
73 220D (Dad's)
98 Jeep Grand Cherokee
82 Kawasaki M1

Sounds like bad service to me. Why did it fail emissions? Do you know what the opacity percentages were?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

BUMP, as I am very interested in this thread. I just moved to Colorado Springs, and have not found a mechanic yet. I had heard some good things about Silver Star, but have not tried them.

I found this link at Car Talk http://www.cartalk.com/ct/mechx/shop.jsp?id=8543 which may give you an alternative in the area. Please post your follow up with either of these places as inquiring minds want to know!

Finding a good mechanic, Indy or otherwise, for an older car is not an easy thing to do. I basically think they see me as a cheap guy with some old cars and no money. How attractive a business proposition is that? The guy can spend a while figuring out what’s up with an old car type he does not work on very often, deal with some rusted bolts and 20 years worth of grime, for maybe not much money……..or he can run a code on a newer car, replace a part, and put some real money in the bank.

I always try to take my cars in when they are clean inside and out, to at least show them I care. Like in any situation, people pretty much make up their minds about you in the first 5 seconds. I think they are pretty much making a quick judgment, possibly a wrong one, on me and my car. They know I probably paid less than $2,500 dollars for my 240D. How likely is it that I am going to say “yeah, sure, rebuild the entire front end, brakes and hoses for $1,500 dollars?” “And while you are at it go ahead and replace the oil cooler and hoses and the steering gear box for another $1,500.”

I had a really good guy in Nashville, but over time it was like he was losing interest in my car and me. I think it’s just a fact of life. As many say on this board, owing an old car may mean working on it yourself, or dealing with a certain “lack of service/interest” in your car. Sad but true, I fear.

This is not excuse for the bad service you seem to be getting. I wish they would just tell me up front that they are not very interested, whatever the reason. Then I could go on my way looking for someone who does want my money.

Good luck and let us know what happens!

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2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.