A shop warning to dieselers in the northern NJ area. Bad service.
 

I'd like to apologize in advance if this isn't 100% diesel related or the place to do this but I feel it's important to warn some of the people on this board not to make the same mistake I did with my 1987 300D, by bringing it to this one shop in particular. If this isn't the place for this, kindly redirect this threat to the proper spot, thank you.

About a month and a week ago, I had a little extra cash and decided to get my heat fixed, replace my brake light switch, and fix a death-wobble I had when I hit around 45 mph. I'm a handy guy but working two jobs and attending classes full time, I had no time or inclination to perform the fixes myself right now. I've been to this mechanic before and never had anything good or bad to say about him until now.

The shop is "Precision Automotive" in Rockaway, New Jersey. Located on route 46 on the westbound side. I brought my car in and told the lead mechanic to fix my heat, replace my brake light switch, and fix the fact my car shakes like a beeotch on the highway. He agreed, the keys were left, and I recieved a call from him in 3 days. He told me he was going to replace the blower motor and found my caliper was stuck, warping my rotor and causing the car to pull to one side and shimmy a bit. I agreed to him replacing the said parts, and the conversation ended. I call him in 3-4 day to see if it's done..he hasn't touched the car. No big deal, he's busy and I can wait a few days.

Well, another week goes by and I need to get a few things out of my car. I go up to my car and find my driver side window all the way down and snow packed in my car. It haddn't snowed more than a week ago so I know for one week, the car sat with the windows open and snow in the car. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth considering I just bought myself a new $400 radio... I make it known to him, and I leave.

Two weeks go by and I call to see if it's done- no, still not done. Two days later I call once again and they're "going to look at it" later that day. The next day I get a call back saying I can pick it up in two days. Not charging me for parts and not full labor, the cost is $850... seems a bit steep, so I wait a few days and work some overtime to try to afford the car.

So I finally come up with the money and go to pick the car up. He cuts me a break of $150 off the price which I was thrilled about, I pay him and get into my car. Battery is dead... So I had it jumped and let it ran. I tried the heat- nothing but a faint hum on all speeds. I tell him and he proceeds to try to tell me "well it could be a few things, could be the regulator, could be the speed setting, you could leave it here for a little longer and I wouldn't charge you full price on the parts or labor to get that fixed"... I didn't pay what I paid and wait a month and a week with no car just so I could get it back with no heat and having to pay for more parts. The heat fan only worked on low, and was very noisy like it was struggling to maintain speed. Dissatisfied, I leave.

I get into my town, about 10 miles away and I notice my blue highbeam indicator light wont come on on my dashboard. Then my battery light comes on... Then my windshield wipers stop, and my lights go out and idle drops to around 400rpm. I limp home and try to restart it, nothing. I find the hood wont close, the car wont start, I have no heat and the wobble wasn't fixed. After a month and a week, and $700 down the tube, I'm no warmer, no wiser, and no happier. I'm right where I left off before, only with even more problems this time.


I jumped the car and drove in the pouring rain back to the shop so he could fix whatever it is that he messed up, he tried to tell me it's going to cost me and that it's going to take a while. I left the car there and told him either have it back to me by monday fixed, or I'll be back monday to settle whats to be done IF it isn't fixed. We'll see.

Avoid Precision Automotive like the plague. The shop is very unorganized and not a good place to do business.


:mad::mad::mad::mad:

that sounds like a major bummer man. sorry for your pain. nurse it back to health somewhere else.. i would...

If it isn't fixed and fixed right by monday, then It's going somewhere else.

Get your lawyer to give them a call, even if he doesn't do anything it sure lights a fire under their ass!

Try Wolfgangs in Tenafly (201) 568-7003

Udo's Automotive
 

Try Udo's Automotive in Tenafly as well, they do top quality work.

Name: Udo's Automotive Corporation
Street: 21 County Road
Tenafly, nj 07670-2104
Phone: (201) 569-7154

They know Mercedes Diesel's like the back of their hand.

Did he fix the other two problems?

What did he do to the climate control.

It sounds like you need a new battery, letting the car sit for so long probably didn't help it.

Holy crap, yeah definity get legal counsel on this, they should be fixing it all on their dime now since it seems like nothing was even done.

I thought the whole state of New Jersey was red flagged as a Do Not Go zone?

Whatever you do, don't go to Roxbury Foreign car service a little further west. Try Pete at A1 German in Middlesex (732) 968-0037.

Oh you heard that too?

Jersey
 

I've lived in NJ my whole life. I would take offense at those comments if it weren't for the fact that I agree with you.

I'm trying to be very careful with what I say and what I do while he has my car. I'm having him fix whatever it is that he did to screw up my charging system, and hopefully make my heat function normally. If he doesn't do it by monday, then things are going to heat up

He fixed my brake light switch (a 6yo could have done the same) and replaced my stuck caliper, although my car still shimmies severely. I feel like the owner of the shop took my car, put it on the backburner while there were E500's and other newer benz's waiting to be fixed, and then whipped it out when he got fed up with my calling and just slapped some new parts in the car to get it out of there without properly diagnosing what was wrong in the first place. I don't even think the blower motor was replaced, it still squeeked and rattled terribly when the motor was on low-low (the only setting)

In Park Ridge, N.J. try European Technical Center, very honest and experienced tech. Ask for Arpi.

I appreciate everyone's help and suggesting new places for me to bring the gal to... Thank you.


I am going back to the shop tomorrow with a few people if things get ugly. I'll let everyone know what happens and how he handles this. The car SHOULD be done.