I don't want to flout any forum rules but would like to warn people about the service I received from Teesside Motor Factors in Middlesbrough. Can anyone advise please?

Thanks in advance

Kurt

 

Say as you find mate...............just make sure you don't use the 'c' word or drop yourself in it legally !!!

 

OK. The story begins with a melted piston on a recently rebuilt engine using 205 block and 0.5mm oversize pistons. I managed to trace a decent 2nd hand 200 block and decided to get this rebored to O.5mm O/S and buy ONE replacement piston (because the others were as new) - so I end up with 4 the same in a better block. So I price up the job from Teesside Motor Factors, who are OK on machine work but way overpriced on parts. To cut a long story short they do supply one new piston, but a DIFFERENT make to the rest. I asked if this was OK in terms of compatability and was told 'no problem'.

Just to be sure, I check the weights - new (AE) piston 50G lighter than existing (Karl Schmidt) units! If I'd gone ahead my engine would have shaken itself to bits in no time. When confronted, they show no signs of remorse and even admit that they'd tried and failed to get one of the correct type.

Coupled with 3 broken promises on completion dates, and silly piston prices I would advise anyone else to steer clear.....

 

they 'tuned' a mates saph for him a few years back, it came back slower and with more problems then it went in with then a few days later a friend who owns a garage on snowdon road (just round the corner) asked him why he never popped in when he was ragging his saph up and down the road the other day

 

So it's not just me then

I've written a letter of complaint so I'll give them a chance to redeem themselves. I guess I'm wasting my time but you never know....

 

Thanks for that, was going there this weekend to get some advice and price up some work. Think I'll go somewhere else.

Sorry to hear what happened.

 

You might want to try Auto Services in Stockton (01642 676116)

I've also heard good feedback about Amac Engineering in Northallerton (01609 779600)

It's a shame for me I didn't know about the above BEFORE I went to TMF...

 

motoscope in northallerton are very helpful as well
dont hav a contact no tho

 

http://www.motoscope.co.uk/

I've bought plenty of stuff from the over the years - very helpful. I believe they farm out engineering work rather than do it in house though. Not heard anything either way about the quality of their work.

 

Call me fussy, but I tend to source all my own parts from Woodford Garage in Devon. I've never had an issue with them, I get the bits quick and they are very helpful.

I just need a decent garage to do some work. I've got the Saph booked in to a back street place in Thornaby/Stockton near the swimming baths which I've been recommended by my landlord as being very good and cheap (which helps ).

I also heard good things about Automark in Stokesley, anyone used them?

 

The machining work at tesside motor factors is spot on imo, there biggest problem is there organisation. Thay had my old zvh for near 8 months 1 time

That said there workmanship and machining is very good but i did supply all the parts and got them to machine the block and build the bottom end and balance it which they did very well in the end

That said i will be sorcing someone else to do the work on my new project

 

The actual machining work they've done for me looks OK - except for the fact that one of the excuses for delays was that my block needed a long stay in the acid bath and it ain't come back very clean.....

So what's your next project then Mr Pacino??

 

You might want to try Auto Services in Stockton (01642 676116)

Barry @ auto services is a top bloke my dads known him for years and weve never had any probs with his/ there work

 

i can't understand why they would specify a different make of piston surely it must have been an error?

l

 

same as above kurt being a boro lad , good machine work usually with a quick turnaround ,

but id never buy or get them to source parts in bud ,

auto mark is a good tuner , got a mate who swears by him , but long waiting list

never used auto seirvices though

got well pally with the old boy and my local fastners shop and he did my machine work on my 1.8 zvh

anyway i hope you make it along to the pf meet at teesside park may 21st bud

that includes you patto , lazy git lol

and all the other lads in north east

beef

 

i know why, because the KS pistons that are in that engine, a - wont be cosworth specified items, and b- are no longer available in certain sizes

p.s i wouldnt use AE pistons to make a coffee table out of

 

Mark @ auto mark is a very good tuner dosnt advertise but dosnt need to as beefy says hes waiting list is very long..

Oh and ill be there matie its my weekend off

 

patto do me a favour and give the rest of ur crew a shout will ya fella .

ill c u at cumbria no doubt

how u doing fella

beef

 

not to bad mate cars poorly like dropped her water out on the way to santa pod so were in the middle of investigating lol, wont take to long to get her sorted though fingers crossed. ill ask our lot mate but there not exactally wot you could call enthousiastic,lol

 

yeah dnt i know it lol , i know rob and paul at nort yorks are well keen ,

but aint seen mark in ages and a few of the younger lot lmao

 

ill spread the word matie see wot happens a lot of our members are over the malton way and wont wanna trvel

 

lazy bastards lol

nice one fella , c u at cumbria

beef

 

RWDKurt

My next project is a honda crx turbo, still using the 1.6 engine 300bhp reliably is achievable with very little mods and for not a lot of cash

 

martin: they didn't so much specify the wrong piston - they just couldn't get the right one, didn't want to lose out on the business, so got whatever they could. The fact that they didn't bother to check how different they were is what pisses me off the most!

markk: I know I don't want to hear this, but what have you got against AE pistons? They are OE on some pretty tasty stuff like Astons. I have a mate who used to work for them who reckoned they were pretty decent kit too.


Alps: Glad to see you haven't lost the desire to 'push the limits'

beefy: What time is the meet on the 21st?

 

A quick update: after a carefully worded and diplomatic letter of complaint,TMF are threatening legal action because I chose to share my experience of them with others! It seems that they don't like people who complain about their service....

 

collierm
What is it you need doing? May be able to help with some contacts...

Back to the original subject...I've never heard anything good about TMF when it comes to Cossies, either machine work or tuning, this is from a couple of engine builders too. Would not take my car there for a wash.
To be avoided as far as i'm aware.


You can always try Dave Alwood in Marske, he's a fountain of knowledge on Cossies etc, has been for years, but christ he's not in a hurry.
01642 490860

Has a lot of spares too.

 

Plynchy - you'll wish you never asked.

1. A major service for the Saph and a Bailey breather kit fitting

2. Somewhere to refit a dashboard and fix an incredibly annoying ticking behind the clocks that I can't find.

3. Somewhere near Ingleby Barwick that can steam clean my engine bay and the underside of the car.

4. A good bodyshop that can respray the entire car and I also want all the black trim repainting as well. Best I've seen so far is Car Spa on the Ingleby industrial estate. They gave me what I thought was a good quote. Anyone ever used them?

5. A retrimmer to retrim my drivers seat bolster in the same leather and give the whole interior a makeover.

6. SOMEONE TO PAY FOR IT ALL

I had considered going to RLR on the industrial estate, but as they're not Cossie people, I canned that idea......did I do good????

 

1. You can try Dave Alwood, but be very patient. Try "king-of-bling" off here, rebuilt "righthookers" 3 door for him.

2. Not sure on that one, see above...

3. Is is THAT bad?? Get some Gunk and a pressure washer and DIY.

4. For the bodywork, give "jacko" off here a PM. He's in our local group and loves his RS's. Not a bad painter either.

5. There is a place in Redcar does re-trims, but he isn't cheap! Very good quality though.

6. Marry a rich bird?

Never heard of RLR?

Best of luck mate!

 

1. You can try Dave Alwood, but be very patient. Try "king-of-bling" off here, rebuilt "righthookers" 3 door for him.

2. Not sure on that one, see above...

3. Is is THAT bad?? Get some Gunk and a pressure washer and DIY. DON'T HAVE THE TIME, I AM TOO BUSY WITH WORK SHIT

4. For the bodywork, give "jacko" off here a PM. He's in our local group and loves his RS's. Not a bad painter either. SWEET, WILL DROP HIM A PM

5. There is a place in Redcar does re-trims, but he isn't cheap! Very good quality though. DO YOU HAVE A NAME?

6. Marry a rich bird? IN THE NORTH EAST!!!!!

Never heard of RLR? REDLINE RACING, THE MESS ABOUT WITH PORKERS (NOT FAT BIRDS )MAINLY

Best of luck mate!

 

plynchy]

RLR is red line racing its a porka specialist and has ££££££££££££££££ worth of machinery in there most the time.

Back to the subject, looks like Kurt is having a nightmare, i hope it all gets sorted and its back to or better than when i had the beast

 

collierm:

3) Motorcool in Bon Lea - think they only charge a tenner or so.

4) Regarding Car Spa, a mate had some work done there, and I wouldn't have been happy with it, but then I'm a picky fooker!!! Brian Alton Motors on Snowdon Road are VERY good, and Teesside Heritage Classics are really good too

Neil.

 

i have been told about stockton service and performance centre by a friend ov mine who reccomends them to me,they are advertised in the performance ford magazines,i was just wondering if anybody has had any work done there in the past or if anybody knows anything about them before i take my frst down there for a new bottom end.thanx

 

Car spa....i'm sure an old mate of mine owns it. If there is a baldy bodybuilder in there then he still does.

Don't know what there work is like tho....

Will find out the name of the trimmers, pretty sure it just "auto trimmers" or something just as obvious.

Sorry Kurt for the hijack.

 

Sure I've heard that trimmers place, is it in Dormanstown? Someone at Car Spa mentioned it to me while I was there.

 

Yep.

 

Plynchy: no worries on the hijack front - it's all useful info. I did try Dave Alwood for a block and pistons before I started on the job - left a couple of messages with his missus but he never got back to me. I guess he didn't have anything. I think I read or heard somewhere that he's selling up.

The Car trim place in Dormanstown is called "Auto Trimming", tel 01642 470081. Used them once and very happy with the work.

RLR do Porsches. I've never actually spent any money there, but used to own a 944 turbo. On recommendation I took it there for some advice about some transmission noise and he basically told me not to worry about it. He could have taken my eyes out but chose not to, which to me is a good sign! If I get another Porker at some point I'll be using them myself...

Alps I reckon I'm about 4 hours away from an engine restart. Got a good deal on some nearly new BD10s which should fatten out the mid range even more. Fingers crossed my rebuilding skills and TMF's machining is up to the job....