VANOS
- Thread starter and7rp2
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It all comes down to trust at the end of the day with me !! Who do I trust to work on my pride and joy.Have used many Indy’s and had a few bad experiences and shocking bills it’s all down personal preference
With me I would rather a enthusiast who knows his onions poking around my zed than a unknown possible snoot nosed kid with minimal experience as I said personal preference just make sure your happy with however works on your zed
think I need mine done now 
With me I would rather a enthusiast who knows his onions poking around my zed than a unknown possible snoot nosed kid with minimal experience as I said personal preference just make sure your happy with however works on your zed
think I need mine done now As above. I know Mike is my mate but as kev said why would you let some clown who doesn't give a s**t work on your car for 350 maybe more when you can get Mike to do the whole job for less than 300 with a new rocker gasket worth the drive as he's pretty central for most members
jamie_z4 said:
There's a lot of decent indies and specialists out there and bad ones. Although all main dealers are a pile of poo!
But Mike's certainly not the only guy in the country who can be trusted to work on a car. If you know a good indie or specialist, or even a Mike (mate working in his shed who's handy with the spanners) that you trust then why would you trek halfway across a country, possibly take time off work, have to wait around etc to use a guy for a job you can get done for similar money locally. Particularly when you factor in fuel costs the Mike option is probably much more expensive for many. I can understand trekking for a specialist mod like a roof motor relocate ( I did) but not for a fairly simple mechanical repair like a vanos, especially when there's how to's readily available on the net. I know he's your mate but your fairly close to him, would you have treked hours in each direction with a huge fuel cost for your audi driveshaft to pay Mike what a reputatable local outfit could do for similar money.Hi all,
Again all this is personal preference, but i would pay for experience and travel within reason to justify overall costs.
i have just bought my Z4, and i am willing to travel an hour to Mike than go to anyone local and that is only because of this forum and what
i have read thus so far.
Now does it make sense that i could be travelling a total of 250 miles just to get a remap on my pride and joy and that was a recommendation from a member from this site. There are so many companies out there who do remaps and promise the earth, in fact there is one only 10 mins away but i am going to travel instead.
sal
Again all this is personal preference, but i would pay for experience and travel within reason to justify overall costs.
i have just bought my Z4, and i am willing to travel an hour to Mike than go to anyone local and that is only because of this forum and what
i have read thus so far.
Now does it make sense that i could be travelling a total of 250 miles just to get a remap on my pride and joy and that was a recommendation from a member from this site. There are so many companies out there who do remaps and promise the earth, in fact there is one only 10 mins away but i am going to travel instead.
sal
salb said:
Remapping is a different kettle of fish to simple mechanical repairs. It's a real skill and no two places are exactly the same, unless of course they are one of these companies using a generic map which alot sell these days. The last time I had a remap I trekked to Ptorque in Wolverhampton a good 100 miles in each direction. Worth it for their skills/experience/expertise and the fact they have a rolling road and tune your actual car etc.but I certainly wouldn't do that for something simple like a Vanos seal replacement etc. It's not a very hard or complicated job and a home mechanic could easily do it. That's exactly what Mike is/does.
Well for what's it's worth from someone you don't know I can recommend Ptorque. Im no expert but have built a few track cars in my time with after market ecu/throttle bodies so know a fair bit from personal experience mapping and playing with settings etc.Ptorque do alot for race teams etc and generally they're no fools and know their stuff.salb said:
MACK said:
Mack,
I have no idea who you are, or why you seem to be attacking me personally, but let me tell you a little bit about myself.
Firstly, when I left school, I started training in 1986 at a main dealer in Southport, and also went to college to learn my trade. After almost 5 years there, I moved to another main dealer in Liverpool where I worked my way up to workshop manager. This I did for about six years, before I got fed up of having dirty hands all of the time. I then moved sideways and trained as a business manager, a position I held at a multi franchise dealership in Wigan for 5 years. I then decided to open an independent garage with my friend, also in Liverpool where we traded successfully for around 8 years, until my "friend" ran up serious debts against the business without my knowledge due to his gambling problem, forcing us to go our seperate ways.
Since then I have always "kept my hand in" and although I no longer work on cars for a living, as the shop keeps me more than busy enough, I got into working on Zeds through being asked to do work by others who had seen jobs I had done in my own car.
So, to call me a "mate working in his shed who's handy with the spanners" and a "home mechanic" is I think, a little wide of the mark, especially as you don't know me from Adam so to speak, and this thread was initially one of another member sharing the results of having his Vanos done.
Oh, and nowadays I wear gloves, so don't have the dirty hands issue, just wish the latex gloves were around 30 years ago..
Mike
Mike I have just re read this thread and don't know why you think I'm attacking you personally. But seeing as you brought it up, is it not true you are working from home in your garage at your home address. I didnt ask for your life story and didnt really read it but i get the idea, youve done some spannering professionally in your time, great good for you so have I. I still don't see anything wrong with describing you as I did, if I did a job for someone at my house and they described me as a home mechanic great, so what. By your own admission you work from home in your spare time, with your actual profession being a shop keeper. I really don't know what the issue is here and can only come to the conclusion its down to your clearly over inflated, but fragile ego being a bit bruised. Your issue not mine.
If anything it should be me that is taking issue with you, re your response to my comments about the going rate for vanos repairs and what people have paid. You were quick to try and dismiss that. Why? Well you wouldn't want folks thinking that it isnt actual true this "I'M ALOT CHEAPER" you like to shout about in god knows how many threads. Did no one ever teach you its rude to shout.
£80 for 40-50 mins work at home in your garage moving a roof motor with a few pounds of materials is very good money and you must be on at least £50 a hour doing the vanos with no overheads/vat etc. Not bad but certainly not cheap! You must think us fools to belive your not making far more pure profit an hour than alot of specialists etc.
As for this I only got into working on zeds by being asked.
That's just rubbish. You pulled also tried playing the innocent when Pastry pointed out this place is overun with your commercial activities, something he said many members aren't happy about. The truth is you got into working on zeds by using this forum as a cash cow and have frusiously miked it ever since. It's your shameless self promotion (your lie story above being the latest example) and blatant advertising that has got you where you are on here.you don't see the likes of number 5 etc pushing their roof motor relocations like you do. Seriously your so far over the no commercial advertising line on here you have disappeared into the distance. If you not advertising your zillionth new service offering your jumping on a thread and saying "where are you I can fix that for you". If a legitimate bmw specialist registered on here and did want you have done they would quickly be shut down. What differentiates you from them? Your either the small scale man in a shed or your not, you can't have it both ways. Seriously the spirit of this forum where folks help each other without any sort of financial motivation is fast being eroded.
I guess if you were upset with me before your going to be seriously miffed now but nothing I have said is untrue and it's really well overdue someone saying in public what many think in private
If anything it should be me that is taking issue with you, re your response to my comments about the going rate for vanos repairs and what people have paid. You were quick to try and dismiss that. Why? Well you wouldn't want folks thinking that it isnt actual true this "I'M ALOT CHEAPER" you like to shout about in god knows how many threads. Did no one ever teach you its rude to shout.
£80 for 40-50 mins work at home in your garage moving a roof motor with a few pounds of materials is very good money and you must be on at least £50 a hour doing the vanos with no overheads/vat etc. Not bad but certainly not cheap! You must think us fools to belive your not making far more pure profit an hour than alot of specialists etc.
As for this I only got into working on zeds by being asked.
That's just rubbish. You pulled also tried playing the innocent when Pastry pointed out this place is overun with your commercial activities, something he said many members aren't happy about. The truth is you got into working on zeds by using this forum as a cash cow and have frusiously miked it ever since. It's your shameless self promotion (your lie story above being the latest example) and blatant advertising that has got you where you are on here.you don't see the likes of number 5 etc pushing their roof motor relocations like you do. Seriously your so far over the no commercial advertising line on here you have disappeared into the distance. If you not advertising your zillionth new service offering your jumping on a thread and saying "where are you I can fix that for you". If a legitimate bmw specialist registered on here and did want you have done they would quickly be shut down. What differentiates you from them? Your either the small scale man in a shed or your not, you can't have it both ways. Seriously the spirit of this forum where folks help each other without any sort of financial motivation is fast being eroded.
I guess if you were upset with me before your going to be seriously miffed now but nothing I have said is untrue and it's really well overdue someone saying in public what many think in private
MACK said:
Firstly, again as you don't know me, I am vat registered and as such there is an element of this in everything I do. Having had a couple of vat investigations, I know that it's not worth the hassle of having non declared income. That's why dealers are happy to use me, because I supply a legitimate vat invoice for work.
Secondly, unlike some, I make no secret of the prices I charge people for work. However, it is entirely a person's choice as to who they use for any particular job. It was yourself and another poster who initially mentioned the cost of Vanos work. I stand by my statement that whereas your mate may have had the job done for £300 "a couple of years ago" but that the quote obtained by the other member of £600 is more likely to be the figure quoted by an indie these days. Indeed I am to recall recently someone said "Mr Vanos" wanted £695 to do the job?
Ps, I meant nitrile and not latex, it s late when I posted.
Mike
Ducklakeview said:
You run a shop, of course your Vat registered and your registration will be coded/specific by HMRC to that type of business, your now claiming they know about your other activities. Well you never gave me a Vat invoice (which you legally should have done) for my roof motor relocation and Im willing to bet members reading this will all be saying the same. You can potentially read alot into that, no one's stupid here. As for "that's why dealers use me" dealers dont choose to use people based on their Vat status, what rubbish! Again no ones stupid here. Vat aside we both know business' have alot more overheads than that, so your profitability is huge, you sir are most definitely not cheap, about the going rate with no overheads, your certainly maximizing the opportunity. Overheads wise for example I'm willing to bet your public liability insurance is for the shop etc and doesnt cover you if you ruin someone's car or cause an accident because you screwed up. Whats also glaringly obviously missing from your post is how you declined to comment re your commercial activities breaching forum rules. I guess your worried the mods will finally act.
Vanos wise. Mr vanos is notoriously expensive, convient comparison for you as you do know how to charge. Lets not forget youve got history for reducing your prices at the drop of a hat. Remember the backbox competitor who did it cheaper and questioned your welding skills. I amongst others defended you at the time but the fact you were instantly able to price match him no trouble at all did raise a eyebrow. For a third time, were not stupid. You of all people, who regularly likes to boast on here about this bargain or that deal or how i only pay this price trade, should know better than anyone folks dont like to feel there not getting best value.
I don't want this to come across as I'm out to get Mike, thats not the intention, more of I'm calling it as i see it and im sorry if it upsets some that i dont worship at the church of saint mike. Hes not some sort of z4 messiah sent to save us, he's a guy out to make money like every other car repairer in the country. The way I see it and my advice to members would be to simply price the parts yourself (seal kit, rocker gasket etc) then contact a local specialist or even your local garage and ask them the labour rate per hour. If theyre familiar with it theyll take it on as its not particularly complex but isnt massively well know. The job takes about 3 hours so you can work out for yourself the cost locally. If with travelling Mike's cheaper and you want to use him happy days, if not and youve got someone local you trust then you know what to do.
For what its worth, the indy that looks after my car couldnt do it for any where near 300 i asked 
As for Mike its fair to say he isnt the only mechanic in the world which i know he is more than aware of that. However he is the only one i know that knows a zed inside and out and that for me is the most important thing.
Travelling to the pool will add cost but the drive home i am sure will negate that and be outwayed with smiles
Now guys shake and make up its XMAS.
As for Mike its fair to say he isnt the only mechanic in the world which i know he is more than aware of that. However he is the only one i know that knows a zed inside and out and that for me is the most important thing. Travelling to the pool will add cost but the drive home i am sure will negate that and be outwayed with smiles
Now guys shake and make up its XMAS.
Mack,i don't know if you got out of bed on the wrong side yesterday ,but from where I stand your tongue in cheek attack on Ducklakeview view is out of order.I have not had any work done by him,those that have seem more than satisfied .As Rusky says lets be friends,I think it must these long dark nights making us irritable.
maxman said:
Nothing wrong with what I've said, there all facts.
If anything I was the one who was attacked first when he brought into question what I had written and arogantly state that "if" it were true then it certainly wont be anything like that price just a few years later. Hes the one with an agenda there not me.
As for him initially feeling aggreived, no disrespect was intended, he is a home mechanic fact and he not that cheap, fact. If bonifide busineess' can do the same jobs such as the roof motor relocation (two staff are involved at Durham Daves for the same money in a similar time), the vanos and the backbox mod for similar money how can he be described as cheap? Ive really not written anything that is untrue.
If anything the rest of it is about raising issues relating to his conduct commercially that have been bubbling with alot of members for some time. If that's predictably being seen by some as an attack on him then so be it.
I have never disputed that folks seem very happy with the work that hes done and I will freely acknowledge that.
Mack so because everyone is is thinking it you just thought it your duty to be there mouthpiece to be honest I can’t see anyone else jumping in here only people happy with a service but I see you mention pastry ( friend of yours ) anyway think you need to chill out pal or do you have nothing else in your life to put your passion into as I have said before people can make there own minds up certainly don’t need you putting people down !!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS
Mack, regarding invoices, you need to check the facts before you type.
I am only legally required to give an invoice for a business to business transaction. That is where both parties are vat registered. An invoice is not the same as a receipt, which I would have happily given you at the time I did your roof motor. I am to recall at that time that you were more than happy with both the price and service, and didn't request such a receipt. However, if you pm me your reg number I'll happily provide one. For dealer work I always issue a simplified vat invoice.
Regarding vat registration, I actually have four vat numbers now for differing business activities, and each is used and accounted for accordingly by myself with returns submitted quarterly as required by hmrc.
A little light reading?
https://www.gov.uk/invoicing-and-taking-payment-from-customers
Mike
I am only legally required to give an invoice for a business to business transaction. That is where both parties are vat registered. An invoice is not the same as a receipt, which I would have happily given you at the time I did your roof motor. I am to recall at that time that you were more than happy with both the price and service, and didn't request such a receipt. However, if you pm me your reg number I'll happily provide one. For dealer work I always issue a simplified vat invoice.
Regarding vat registration, I actually have four vat numbers now for differing business activities, and each is used and accounted for accordingly by myself with returns submitted quarterly as required by hmrc.
A little light reading?
https://www.gov.uk/invoicing-and-taking-payment-from-customers
Mike