Jim's European breakdown Drama - UPDATE!
15-10-2010, 01:44 PM
#1
20K+ Super Poster.
Thread Starter
Jim's European breakdown Drama - UPDATE!
ok, cant find the original thread to update so started a new one as i know a fel of you may be interested by this.
as you may remember i took my E36 M3 to the nurburgring back in Easter, i'd only owned it a month and it hadnt had a proper shakedown and unfortunately on the way over it developed a top end "tap" which caused me to stop and call the breakdown service.
anyway, car was delivered back with a completely mullered engine, clearly something quite serious had happened between me handing over the keys and them delivering it, the car now needed a new engine
anyway, got it all sorted by TankMike off here, cost me about 2500quid all in to get up and running again, suddenly made my bargain M3 into a slightly overpriced m3! lol
wrote a massive letter of complaint to Equity Red Star (aka Adrian Flux Rescue) the people who i have the breakdown policy for, and have spent the past few months with email back and forth trying to get my point across.
Anyway, they wrote to me and whilst they did not admit liability they have offered me a "goodwill gesture" of just over £1000 towards the cost of repairs and cost of my return journey to the UK. I have ofcourse accepted this as i beleive it to be a reasonable settlement!
so, basically this shows it IS worth complaining and sometimes companys do do the right thing!
ps chip needs to eat his hat or something
as you may remember i took my E36 M3 to the nurburgring back in Easter, i'd only owned it a month and it hadnt had a proper shakedown and unfortunately on the way over it developed a top end "tap" which caused me to stop and call the breakdown service.
anyway, car was delivered back with a completely mullered engine, clearly something quite serious had happened between me handing over the keys and them delivering it, the car now needed a new engine
anyway, got it all sorted by TankMike off here, cost me about 2500quid all in to get up and running again, suddenly made my bargain M3 into a slightly overpriced m3! lol
wrote a massive letter of complaint to Equity Red Star (aka Adrian Flux Rescue) the people who i have the breakdown policy for, and have spent the past few months with email back and forth trying to get my point across.
Anyway, they wrote to me and whilst they did not admit liability they have offered me a "goodwill gesture" of just over £1000 towards the cost of repairs and cost of my return journey to the UK. I have ofcourse accepted this as i beleive it to be a reasonable settlement!
so, basically this shows it IS worth complaining and sometimes companys do do the right thing!
ps chip needs to eat his hat or something
15-10-2010, 01:48 PM
#2
well done Jim!!
Me and most of us on here didn't think you had a cat in hells chance of getting anything, specially chip and yes he did say he would eat something odd!! lol
once again well done..
steve
Me and most of us on here didn't think you had a cat in hells chance of getting anything, specially chip and yes he did say he would eat something odd!! lol
once again well done..
steve
Last edited by The Youth.; 15-10-2010 at 02:30 PM.
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15-10-2010, 02:44 PM
#9
just finding my feet
some companys will rather move forward as taking things to court will cost them more in the long run even if they win
fair play,,,, you taking it next year then pmsl
fair play,,,, you taking it next year then pmsl
15-10-2010, 03:34 PM
#10
20K+ Super Poster.
Thread Starter
oh yeah its going next year for sure 
still some bits i want to do, still needs a valet, a couple of smart repairs, new wheels,l a spoiler, and new seats
none of that stops it working tho so its down the bottom of the life priority list at the moment
still some bits i want to do, still needs a valet, a couple of smart repairs, new wheels,l a spoiler, and new seats
none of that stops it working tho so its down the bottom of the life priority list at the moment
15-10-2010, 05:02 PM
#14
having a mid life crisis
lets hope this is the start of more luck for you Jim,as people have said your not the luckiest person on here with cars
Last edited by Less.; 15-10-2010 at 05:03 PM.
15-10-2010, 05:43 PM
#15
20K+ Super Poster.
Whilst good news, you're still out of pocket for what seems like them knackering the engine fully, or am I missing something ?
Did you note the mileage when it was collected and delivered ?
tabetha
Did you note the mileage when it was collected and delivered ?
tabetha
15-10-2010, 06:07 PM
#17
Advanced PassionFord User
It was knocking, was diagnosed by someone (clueless) at the side of the road as a sticking tappet.
When the car comes back, shock horror, the engine is still knocking?!
Can't believe they gave you anything for that claim. Especially as an M3 engine has solid lifters.
£2500 seems hefty for an engine rebuild. Is tankmike a BMW main dealer or something? You can buy a whole car for £2500.
15-10-2010, 06:35 PM
#19
20K+ Super Poster.
Thread Starter
escy, it wasnt knocking at the side of the road, im not a RETARD
and 2500 hefty for an engine rebuild? erm, no actually thats firt cheap
but anyway i had a second hand engine fitted, so thats 2500 all in with some new parts also (ARP bolts, shells, loads of gaskets, service kit etc. plus vanos solenoids)
and 2500 hefty for an engine rebuild? erm, no actually thats firt cheap
but anyway i had a second hand engine fitted, so thats 2500 all in with some new parts also (ARP bolts, shells, loads of gaskets, service kit etc. plus vanos solenoids)
15-10-2010, 08:22 PM
#22
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Flux
I have been with Adrian Flux for over 11 years with the race car, the breakdown cover they offer in Europe is very very good next to others.
I have been recovered on at least three occasions across Europe and each time it has been faultless. Put us up in Hotels, put us on a plane to Stanstead with a hire car waiting the other end, train back to the UK when the Rugby world cup was on and no plane seats, Eurostar, full refund for me and my co driver. But I never leave the engine in a startable condition, ie I remove something.
Glad to hear it worked out.
James
I have been recovered on at least three occasions across Europe and each time it has been faultless. Put us up in Hotels, put us on a plane to Stanstead with a hire car waiting the other end, train back to the UK when the Rugby world cup was on and no plane seats, Eurostar, full refund for me and my co driver. But I never leave the engine in a startable condition, ie I remove something.
Glad to hear it worked out.
James
15-10-2010, 08:49 PM
#23
i can't seem to find chips offer of eating anything other than food in that thread so i'm not sure if it's been edited when he found out or if it was made up by everyone who thought chip was about to be dealt a poetic hand by fate (or the law of averages )
)
16-10-2010, 04:27 PM
#24
Dont remember saying anything like that, but certainly am genuinely surprised you got anywhere with it, I really didnt think you would!
PS
Mike isnt expensive, Jim is just fussy about using loads and loads of new parts while fitting a secondhand engine and compounded the cost by buying one that had faults in the first place (Vanos IIRC?)
PS
Mike isnt expensive, Jim is just fussy about using loads and loads of new parts while fitting a secondhand engine and compounded the cost by buying one that had faults in the first place (Vanos IIRC?)
16-10-2010, 05:12 PM
#26
I'm really surprised you got that result. It's not like it was loaded on the trailer with a suspension problem and came back with a knackered engine.
It was recovered onto a truck with an engine noise and it came back with a fooked engine (which it obviously had) amazed really they paid up for that. Or are you suggesting that someone was driving it around making it worse? Not really gonna happen with a recovery company that are recovering a car with a knackered engine IMO
You'd have been looking at the rebuild anyway so bleedin lucky
It was recovered onto a truck with an engine noise and it came back with a fooked engine (which it obviously had) amazed really they paid up for that. Or are you suggesting that someone was driving it around making it worse? Not really gonna happen with a recovery company that are recovering a car with a knackered engine IMO
You'd have been looking at the rebuild anyway so bleedin lucky
16-10-2010, 07:41 PM
#27
just finding my feet
I'm really surprised you got that result. It's not like it was loaded on the trailer with a suspension problem and came back with a knackered engine.
It was recovered onto a truck with an engine noise and it came back with a fooked engine (which it obviously had) amazed really they paid up for that. Or are you suggesting that someone was driving it around making it worse? Not really gonna happen with a recovery company that are recovering a car with a knackered engine IMO
You'd have been looking at the rebuild anyway so bleedin lucky
It was recovered onto a truck with an engine noise and it came back with a fooked engine (which it obviously had) amazed really they paid up for that. Or are you suggesting that someone was driving it around making it worse? Not really gonna happen with a recovery company that are recovering a car with a knackered engine IMO
You'd have been looking at the rebuild anyway so bleedin lucky
when he got the car back it had a KNOCKING BOTTOM END AND NO OIL IN THE CAR
its a bit like having a dent in a wing and go back to the bodyshop and find the side of the car stoved in totally
could be not related BUT it also could be related aswell but bmw's report states " new engine required" and a bill of 10k euros not the actual problem with the engine
imagine getting a brake test done failing it and so ask to find the problem and the report reading " brakes not working"
sort of distant you could say as a diagnostic report , no ?
17-10-2010, 09:02 AM
#28
engine had a top end tap from the rear of the engine, oil was fine when checked
when he got the car back it had a KNOCKING BOTTOM END AND NO OIL IN THE CAR
its a bit like having a dent in a wing and go back to the bodyshop and find the side of the car stoved in totally
could be not related BUT it also could be related aswell but bmw's report states " new engine required" and a bill of 10k euros not the actual problem with the engine
imagine getting a brake test done failing it and so ask to find the problem and the report reading " brakes not working"
sort of distant you could say as a diagnostic report , no ?
when he got the car back it had a KNOCKING BOTTOM END AND NO OIL IN THE CAR
its a bit like having a dent in a wing and go back to the bodyshop and find the side of the car stoved in totally
could be not related BUT it also could be related aswell but bmw's report states " new engine required" and a bill of 10k euros not the actual problem with the engine
imagine getting a brake test done failing it and so ask to find the problem and the report reading " brakes not working"
sort of distant you could say as a diagnostic report , no ?
saves them having to spend more money on finding stuff out, keeps jim "happy" and sweeps everything else under the table
17-10-2010, 09:35 AM
#29
Advanced PassionFord User
The difference between the slight tap and a knock could simply have been the difference of warm and cold oil.
I've never really heard of top end rattle problkems with m3 engines. It's common for them to do the big ends.
I think you got really lucky getting anything out of them.
I've never really heard of top end rattle problkems with m3 engines. It's common for them to do the big ends.
I think you got really lucky getting anything out of them.
17-10-2010, 11:41 AM
#31
............
Thats sorted then, you've never heard of it so it cant have happened
Regardles of the tap and the knock, it came back empty of oil and totally fucked when all it had was a tap and it was running ok. All they were supposed to do was trailer it home not fuck it up and lie about it.
Hence Jim got paid off. So he must be right and you must be wrong, because thats what happened
Regardles of the tap and the knock, it came back empty of oil and totally fucked when all it had was a tap and it was running ok. All they were supposed to do was trailer it home not fuck it up and lie about it.
Hence Jim got paid off. So he must be right and you must be wrong, because thats what happened
17-10-2010, 02:29 PM
#35
Advanced PassionFord User
Also ignore the fact a BMW dealer looked at it and said it needed a new engine?
It's Czech Mate, he really shouldn't have bothered re-building the M3 engine, I hear those Zetec S engines are the pinnacle of N/A engine development and are a better base for tuning. Should have fitted one of those 105bhp beasts instead.
It's Czech Mate, he really shouldn't have bothered re-building the M3 engine, I hear those Zetec S engines are the pinnacle of N/A engine development and are a better base for tuning. Should have fitted one of those 105bhp beasts instead.
17-10-2010, 02:33 PM
#36
............
Also ignore the fact a BMW dealer looked at it and said it needed a new engine?
It's Czech Mate, he really shouldn't have bothered re-building the M3 engine, I hear those Zetec S engines are the pinnacle of N/A engine development and are a better base for tuning. Should have fitted one of those 105bhp beasts instead.
It's Czech Mate, he really shouldn't have bothered re-building the M3 engine, I hear those Zetec S engines are the pinnacle of N/A engine development and are a better base for tuning. Should have fitted one of those 105bhp beasts instead.
Ah, proved wrong and resorted to talking drivel
Rofl
17-10-2010, 03:22 PM
#38
just finding my feet
diagnosing a fault is TELLING you whats failed....... you belive sending a car to a garage with a notchy gear change and being told "gearbox is fucked",,,,, i work at ford and there is FUCK ALL chance we can get away with "needs new engine" as we have to write on the job card WHY the noise is happening (in our opinion) and then submit a brakedown of what is needed
"new engine" is what happens when you KNOW the work aint gonna be done and you carry on with ACTUAL jobs you can charge for rather than waste time when all there gonna get is a hours labour charge
17-10-2010, 03:26 PM
#39
just finding my feet
thick oil moves the sound lower ,,,,,, guess them sludgy gloopy oil engines the sound is comming from the tyres,,,,,,,, or maybe the northern line of the underground if its REAL thick oil like 20w50
and them oil mechanic used to listen to engines with a screwdriver,,,,,, all them years and all they was working out was if the engine is up to temp or not,,,,,,,,, IDIOTS !
17-10-2010, 03:30 PM
#40
just finding my feet
and i wont bother commenting on the " usually the problem is the big ends"
i just changed the coilpack on my sisters focus as it was missing,,,,,, as USUALLY thats the problem THEN i changed the leads,,,,,,,, LAST thing i checked was the plugs,,,,, one of them was dirty as fuck,,,, brushed it out and the car now purs like a kitten
but USUALLY is the coilpack based my experience of selling 5 of them a day every day and holding 50 in stock due to it being a comon problem,,,,, cost me 120 quid for that repair and i never needed a fucking part
i just changed the coilpack on my sisters focus as it was missing,,,,,, as USUALLY thats the problem THEN i changed the leads,,,,,,,, LAST thing i checked was the plugs,,,,, one of them was dirty as fuck,,,, brushed it out and the car now purs like a kitten
but USUALLY is the coilpack based my experience of selling 5 of them a day every day and holding 50 in stock due to it being a comon problem,,,,, cost me 120 quid for that repair and i never needed a fucking part