How many miles by a mechanic is too many?
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when i first purchased my car, i dropped it off at the dealer to look over and take care of any issues that may have to be resolved... so i didnt have time to go back and forth dropping off the car while the parts were 'special ordered' so i left it with them for one week... when i go to pick up the car, i notice 90+ miles have been added to the car, keep in mind i just bought it, so i knew the exact mileage, bc i only drove it from the buyer to my garage to the dealer the following monday. the dealer had no explaination, and never gave me an answer however i wound up getting 'detailed' for free. what a scam.
I had a transmission changed once. they put 85 miles on the car. I had a second transmission changed and they put about oh 3 miles on the car that time. I think i had so many miles on the car because it seemed as though the service manager ran errands in customers cars. I even saw him driving 5 to 10 miles from the dealership on occasion. Now that he has left I only had 3 miles put on last time I went in.
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5,078 Posts
Joy riding by $tealer techs! No! never happen
Ya Think???:blabla:
It's funny you guys are discussing this. I have an Indy shop myself, and I've been asked numerous times by customers to take a spin in their cars, and hammer it all the way, and let them know if the car behaves as it should. And most of them don't even care if it happens while they are not in the passenger seat. Maybe it's because they don't consider it joy riding, since I own a few M cars myself?
First, if I am using a reputable shop that I trust, then taking my car to run an errand isn't a problem. I would rather have them drive it to make sure all is well. The other side of the coin is when you get upset because something isnt right b/c they DIDNT take it for a test drive. I think good mechanics dont have time to go out and joy ride...go grab lunch, or pick up a part, yes. If you like the tech then make a joke about it, and move on, dont burn the bridge.
The practice I use (which I got here) is to simply take a picture of the odometer at drop-off and again at pick-up. Ideally this is done in sight of the person working on the car (i.e. this won't help at a dealer). Nevertheless, it provides you documentation if you wish to bring it up in future discussions. BTW, I too have noticed that dealers don't track mileage very well on work orders (w/o prejudice).
My dealership mechanic has told me the test drive circuits he uses. Sure enough, my tracking is 3 to 8mi per visit. Once I left her there to diagnose rough idle while I went out of town for 2wks. Phone updates occurred during that time. That visit put on 30mi. The worst part was they introduced a wisp of a door ding. I'll be hesitant to do that again.
The key is to make it widely known that you are a stickler for protocol. This should be easier with an indy compared to dealer, b/c even if you have good standing with an SA/mechanic, who knows what leashes (if any) are on the valets/car-washers.
My dealership mechanic has told me the test drive circuits he uses. Sure enough, my tracking is 3 to 8mi per visit. Once I left her there to diagnose rough idle while I went out of town for 2wks. Phone updates occurred during that time. That visit put on 30mi. The worst part was they introduced a wisp of a door ding. I'll be hesitant to do that again.
The key is to make it widely known that you are a stickler for protocol. This should be easier with an indy compared to dealer, b/c even if you have good standing with an SA/mechanic, who knows what leashes (if any) are on the valets/car-washers.
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369 Posts
I always zero one of the consumption figures to see how my 'baby' has been driven. Picked my car up last week from the BMW bodyshop and it was reading 9.8mpgoohhh:oohhh:oohhh:oohhh:grrrrrrr
oohhh:oohhh:oohhh:oohhh:grrrrrrrMoving it around the body shop, letting it idle as other cars are moved etc would give you a very low mpg. Be glad they didnt leave the doors open, radio blaring and kill the battery!I always zero one of the consumption figures to see how my 'baby' has been driven. Picked my car up last week from the BMW bodyshop and it was reading 9.8mpg
I seem to get the best results, by explaining the job I expect to workers on terms they understand. I usually dress down, as to not seem like a prick with a fancy car that has more money than sense. Please and thank you also go a long way. I always ask what kind of beer they drink, and show up a day or two later with a case. However, I live in a small southern town, and manners still count.
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937 Posts
same here - right way to do it. I don't do this for my indy but do it for the dealer, for all three crs and I always tell them I do, using a camera phone in the parking lot. Never had any joyriding since....
My shop needs customers like you. bad. on a good day i'm glad to get a thank you. but i work with people that are afraid im gonna steal their beer or crackpipe/ doobies out of the center console/cupholder. lol. NW Indiana, you gotta love it! (kinda like N.Hollywood, half mil homes on one side of the street and section 8 housing right next door)cherrsagai
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