Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

[stevenwu]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

Bro, u are right. Have to replacement whole tank.

Seriously, I am not sure how to make him compensate.
I rather spend the $100 odds to replace than talking to a irresponsible person.

Anyway my vehicle is in BVO and shall leave it to Ah Wee good hand.

Sad to hear about the irresponsible workshop....

However, it is good to do this compression test and determine the weak part of the cooling system. Expansion tank is always the issue when >3 years.....so this test is essential if you plan to drive to high atitude region eg. Genting or Cameron etc. This tank will just break and you prepare to toll the car back.

I had mine broken when reached Genting and luckily i bought insurance to cover the repair etc...

For those who plan to drive north to Genting/Cameron, please pay a lot of attention to this item.....always give issue

 

[Beemer80]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

I have no intention to go back anymore.

To those bros, I have recommended before for flywheel oil seal replacement.
U know the workshop. Take it that I have never advise before. Sorry about that.

I am sure some of out bros here do visit this workshop for maintenance work.
Maybe I am just suay today.

Workshop pretty well known is in Sin Ming Auto care level 1, Kixn Texxg.

Is this the workshop you are talking about?

"Kian Teong Auto Centre
Blk 176 Sin Ming Drive
#01-08 Sin Ming AutoCare 575721
Tel: 64556268
Fax: 64555166
Computerised 4 Wheel Alignment System,Engine SRS
ABS & ECU Diagnosis
General car servicing & repair"

 

[sszone]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

did u guys talk to Mike or some worker at Kian Teong.
i am sure Mike won't behave that sneakily or irresponsibly towards customers like that.

 

[eddienike]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

did u guys talk to Mike or some worker at Kian Teong.
i am sure Mike won't behave that sneakily or irresponsibly towards customers like that.

Yes is Mike. In fact, my repair for fly wheel oil seal n valve cover gasket were done there.

I am very surprised that he treat me this way yesterday.

 

[Mockngbrd]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

noted with thanks. +1 to the black list

 

[jaskin]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

Yeah... Mike normally is quite responsible... frankly am surprised as well.

 

[detach8]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

I've been servicing my non BMW cars (see my sig below) with Mike from KT for the past few years... never encounter any issue with him. Not sure what happened, might be a misunderstanding? You're saying they broke your dip stick?

 

[hetraa]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

KT, sometimes sloppy work. i experience twice before too.. control arm not tightened, drive out then realise. brake disc hitting hat, grinding.

if hes busy (he always is), the quality not there.

 

[eddienike]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

I've been servicing my non BMW cars (see my sig below) with Mike from KT for the past few years... never encounter any issue with him. Not sure what happened, might be a misunderstanding? You're saying they broke your dip stick?

Bro Justin, he mentiioned during compression test it could broke the expansion tank level stick.
I think is ridiculous.

Maybe nowadays business is fantastic less a customer.. Negligible..

Btw to update, I have replaced water pump, thermostat, its housing, 2 x bypass hose, etc n the expansion tank (for nothing) at BVO today.
No appointment made, reached about 10:30am, work completed at 4:30pm. Thumb up for ah wee n team!

Damn the workshop that need 1 day plus..

 

[detach8]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

Hey bro... I spoke to Mike and I think it is really a case of miscommunication and probably mismanagement of expectations.

I'm not affiliated to KT although I'm his regular customer and I don't think he ever let me down so it's also hard for me to comment after listening to both sides of the story!

Bottom line is there are many workshops, you pick the one you are comfortable with, so I'm not trying to side anyone here but these are my thoughts:

KT is always super packed and they repair all sorts of different cars... these repair shops work differently from some specialist "mod" shops that either work specifically on selected brands or upsell stuff like air filter, spark plugs, etc. KT's basic livelihood is in mechanical repair labour hence why I use them for my simple Japanese/Korean cars.

They use bone stock OEM parts and never ever tries to upsell me K&N filters, blah blah spark plugs, ECU tuning, high grade engine oil... Mike also don't scare you into fixing/changing parts that he thinks you can keep on going with.

In any case with any workshop I tend not to leave my car alone and eyeball the worker doing the job or even get my own hands dirty just to speed up the process...

KT's workmanship may not be top notch, price may not be the best but KT does get the problem fixed most of the time and IMHO reasonably quickly given the number of cases they have to handle a day.

I have personally been to one of the sponsor workshops and was asked to wait 5 days for an appointment to fix a coolant leak and was asked to "top up frequently" while waiting for my appointment. Depending on how you view this you may be quite upset too but for me... just let it go and move on to another shop that suits your "style" lor...

One think I would like to share though is that making an appt is important if the shop is busy... u *will* be given priority. Works the same for *all* workshops.

 

[eddienike]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

I will be more than interested to know what Mike have communicated to you.

 

[detach8]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

Well... I didn't want to reveal but for the general benefit of forum members I shall share the story I heard lah. I may not represent it correctly because these are from memory...

General summary of the story is that some time ago you went to KT for an engine mount change and found that they were overcharging you and you decided to buy a mount from a spare part shop to give them and then ask them to refund the difference and they did.

My view: Not sure what happened here... but I don't think that was very nice both ways. I know Mike may tend to quote something (part only) but later on the actual invoiced amount is higher (part + labour + GST). But it's normal that workshops mark up for parts that you get through them. Afterall they are a business and provided you the one-stop service. If you bring your own parts they will charge you more for labour... quite standard.

Then for this case (expansion tank issue) you went to KT in the morning and Mike wasn't in yet, so his guy took your car. Mike called you to find out what you need and you said you had a coolant leak could leave it till tomorrow. So he started to troubleshoot for you by removing parts to check for the leak (incl. removing the power steering pump) because it's hard to find the leak. But later on you said you needed the car back so he had to install everything back and asked you to collect the car. From Mike's explanation I think he did not charge you for labour (pls confirm?)

And then you asked if he used distilled water in your car but he said no, just regular tap water. He mentioned if you want distilled water you gotta bring yourself. (IMHO, I am surprised too but given S'pore water quality I wouldn't worry too much. My current Volvo and Mazda are serviced at KT and now I know they have tap water in the radiator + coolant mix of course.)

So anyhow you drove off and came back a few mins later saying the expansion tank float broke and wanted him to replace it for you, but according to Mike this is a common problem as the float joint is only 2mm wide plastic and could have broken in several ways.

Later on you called him and you asked because of an expansion tank he'd rather lose a customer and Mike did tell me he said "yes".

My view: Well I cannot judge who is right or wrong as I did not see myself what happened. I'm also not sure why the float broke and what exactly made him so angry to give you such a reply because he really is not like that one... for a $100 expansion tank he'd rather lose a customer is really weird. That's why i said in my earlier post.. if you find another shop that is your "style", then just stick to them, no point having high blood pressure like this...

 

[eddienike]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

On the 5 June, Tuesday at

11:37hrs - I called Mike to ask whether I can send it my car for coolant leaking at 1230pm. He said yes.

12:35hrs – Reached KT, technician approached me to ask what happen told him I made appointment with Mike cause having coolant leaking. Mike walk over to my vehicle less than 3 minutes when I reached. He took out his iPhone and use the camera light to shine on the engine compartment. After inspecting, instructed his tech to drive my car out to park. Inform me that he will call and let me know.

14:56hrs – Missed call from Mike, unable to pick up due cos I am in the meeting.

15:19hrs – Received call from Mike. He told me water pump leaking need to change and some other parts. I asked what is the downtime needed? Today cannot be complete, need at least a day plus. I asked: So long? He said yes, need to remove power steering pump to do the job. I asked him: u removed the pump? No, only the bottom cover. I told him I cannot afford to more than 1 day job. Pls dun not commerce the job. He said ok.
(Troubleshoot of coolant leaking need to remove pump steering pump? Got eye sight problem?)

17:50hrs – Reached KT. Approach Mike to collect my fob. Asking him again whether can arrange 1 day job, he replied: no promise on this. Your car is over the far end. My car is park near the entrance where u can see the security guard over there, 25m from KT.

17:56hrs – Immediately I called him but receptionist said he is not around. As I mention in my earlier post, I decided to check expansion tank before I leave but the level stick is found missing.

5 min later – From the spot KT left my car, I drove straight to his workshop to find him.
Again when I reached there, I told him how come the level stick is missing. He said is already broken and maybe due to the compression test. He asked his tech to pass me the broken stick from somewhere inside his workshop.

I left the place hurriedly within 5 minutes as I am blocking a Benz.

At 18:13hrs, I called him again as I feel there is no fairness to me but he told me there is nothing he can help me and rather lose a customer.

The End.

I am not trying to stop any former from visiting his workshop but just that the way to handle my case is not right.

Thank you Justin for share his view. I will not reply further and let this matter as rest.

Administrators, kindly remove this thread if this is too sensitive.

 

[detach8]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

Thanks bro for a detailed story. I guess let this case rest and enjoy the services at other workshops that you found. Cheers!

 

[TohTo]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

It is true that the expansion float stick will break easily. I actually found mine broke during my regular checking of the coolant early this year. The expansion tank was replaced last month after it had small leak.

 

[Beemer80]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

Anyone been to BMWorkshop in Alexandra Village before? Is the workmanship good? Some friend recommended me this workshop for servicing but until now, I've not read any review on this workshop. Are they expensive? Please advise.

 

[jinooi]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

Thanks detach8 for finding out the other reasons behind, some of which were not revealed in the original account.

I've been to KT numerous times and found Mike to be a nice reasonable guy, even though he's usually busy as hell.

There are always 2 sides to every story...

 

[marlin74]

Re: Workshop broke expansion tank level stick

BMWorkshop almost exclusively works on Beemers. The owner Michael was himself with PML may years ago. Many of the PML salesman send their clients there after warranties expire. I service with them and have found them to be attentive and helpful. They are usually very busy throughout the week so its best to make an appointment so they will have time for you. I will be honest by saying you can probably get it done elsewhere for a slightly cheaper price but they make up for it with attention to detail and knowledge. I am not affiliated with them in anyway. just a satisfied customer.