OK I had my car serviced at my usual place (been going there for around 25 years (owner is ex Mercedes, other guy is ex bmw - both really knowledgeable). One (bmw guy no longer there - retired) so owner does the servicing on my car rather than his assistant (who does the Mots only).
Had a full service and about a week later, checked the oil level and it seemed a little low then on a "spirited" drive I got a low oil warning, called him up and he seemed as puzzled as me, but suggested topping up a little and bringing it back when I could to see if it was a dodgy sensor, especially as there was no oil drops on the driveway.
On a regular 1 hour commute, smelt oil found the rocker cover leaking onto the exhaust (hence no oil drops)
Fast forward and booked it into my regular guy, went to drop it in and found that he's been taken ill and "won't be back for months", mot guy said he can do it, but it'll take him "days" as he's on his own and the owner doesn't let him work on BMWs. He gives me the details of a guy who's "good" with BMWs, so off I trot, speak to the mechanic who tells me that 'those cars have a known PCV issue", I ask him if he'd like to look under the bonnet at the oil leak first to confirm as the cars done about 60k and gets oil changes every 5/6k, he wasn't interested - needless to say decided not to go any further.
Went on the local neighbourhood sites for recommendations, checked their Google & Facebook reviews, so called them up explained there was an oil leak showing between plugs 3 & 4 and from the top of the engine, booked in for 8.00am when they opened. Turned up, gave them my keys and they said they'd call me back with a firm price, no call from them at mid day, so I phoned them got told that the technician had gone out and would call me back when he'd "diagnosed" the issue, 2.00 no call, so phoned again and was told that they couldn't do it
.
Went to pick up my car, it had been left a 5 minute walk away on a side street, when I asked why I hadn't been called when they realised they couldn't do it, they said it would be a "six hour job" and I should have brought it in earlier in the day, when said that it was in at 8,the response was "we do the easy jobs first"!
Why is it so hard to find a decent local mechanic
Sorry for the epic rant
Had a full service and about a week later, checked the oil level and it seemed a little low then on a "spirited" drive I got a low oil warning, called him up and he seemed as puzzled as me, but suggested topping up a little and bringing it back when I could to see if it was a dodgy sensor, especially as there was no oil drops on the driveway.
On a regular 1 hour commute, smelt oil found the rocker cover leaking onto the exhaust (hence no oil drops)
Fast forward and booked it into my regular guy, went to drop it in and found that he's been taken ill and "won't be back for months", mot guy said he can do it, but it'll take him "days" as he's on his own and the owner doesn't let him work on BMWs. He gives me the details of a guy who's "good" with BMWs, so off I trot, speak to the mechanic who tells me that 'those cars have a known PCV issue", I ask him if he'd like to look under the bonnet at the oil leak first to confirm as the cars done about 60k and gets oil changes every 5/6k, he wasn't interested - needless to say decided not to go any further.
Went on the local neighbourhood sites for recommendations, checked their Google & Facebook reviews, so called them up explained there was an oil leak showing between plugs 3 & 4 and from the top of the engine, booked in for 8.00am when they opened. Turned up, gave them my keys and they said they'd call me back with a firm price, no call from them at mid day, so I phoned them got told that the technician had gone out and would call me back when he'd "diagnosed" the issue, 2.00 no call, so phoned again and was told that they couldn't do it
. Went to pick up my car, it had been left a 5 minute walk away on a side street, when I asked why I hadn't been called when they realised they couldn't do it, they said it would be a "six hour job" and I should have brought it in earlier in the day, when said that it was in at 8,the response was "we do the easy jobs first"!
Why is it so hard to find a decent local mechanic
Sorry for the epic rant
Scottish Borders
North West Surrey