[tony_s]

Hey guys, need some advice here.

I bought my 328 2 weeks ago, following the PPI, i was told if i purchase the car I needed repair on my speedo (needed a sensor) and passenger seatbelt needed replacing ( since it was completely locked).


i came back 3 days later to pick up the car paid $813.00

i left the shop and noticed the speedo was not working, so i turned around and we took it out for a drive. He said the problem wasn't a sensor,..it was one other thing it could be and not to worry just bring it back in and he'll take care of it. I'm an understanding person and things do happen sometimes..but the kicker is the next morning when me and the wife wanted to take the car out on a sunny FL. day..the passenger seatbelt didn't work either..he mentioned that there weren't new ones available and he had to use a used one. problem was the buckle was much larger so it doesn't fit into the tongue. How could you not check that after installing it??

i paid

$140.00 for a used seat belt
$350.00 for a speedo sensor


thats $270 labor
$490 parts
$53.00 tax
$813.00 total

and everything is the same as when i dropped it off..

i just feel strange stroking a check that high and leaving with nothing fixed. I had no reason to check them before i left ...i guess i should have

on top of that, both ac fan lights on the dash were hanging out of the instrument cluster and one wasn't even working..they worked fine when i brought them in..

not sure what to do and if the price i paid if it WAS done properly was reasonable..please help and thanks

[Boxer]

This seems excessive. At a minimum the dealer should have talked to you before installing a used belt. I would be concerned that any of the work charged was actually done.

[wetpet]

i would demand they fix the problems to your satisfaction for free or issue a refund. They should at least put your old parts back on for free and refund that cost. That is what i would have them do. Then i would never go back there. They obviously don't know what they are doing and replace items that don't need to be replaced and replace items with the wrong item. To top it off-no QC. If you have to take the $800 hit, at least it wasn't much. Either way, find a new place and let us know who it was so we can stay away from them.

[tazandjan]

Tony- You paid with a credit card for work that was not completed. Tell the credit card company you are contesting the charges. Whatever you do, however, do not leave your car there again. They may slap a mechanic's lien on the car that must be paid before they release the car.

[Brian]

I am in the Ferrari repair business and have a different perspective on how you should go about this.

To start with, I agree that after this is over you really need a new shop, these guys just don't get it.
Also you said you paid by check so that limits what you can do here a little.

On the speedo issue. The price he charged you wasn't bad, the sensor is $280 all by itself. He went wrong two ways there. On a non operational speedo on your car there are two possibilities that cover 99% of the failures. A sensor is one and the instrument is the other. He should have explained that up front and said we'll try A and if that doesn't work we'll do B. He didn't do that and he didn't test his work. Not good but he has offered to make that right. Let him.


The seat belt was where he was really dumb. There isn't a jury in the world that would not crucify him for a seat belt failure because he installed a used one. Compound that by the fact he installed incompatible parts, didn't ask you if used parts were ok or do the most basic confirmation of his work. Tell him nicely Monday morning that you need a 100% refund due ASAP for that portion of the work and undo what he did. Then make arrangements to let him make the speedo right.

You do not have a lot of time because you paid by check but I think it is premature to think he is trying to rip you off. We really only have evidence that he is incompetent, not crooked so it is also premature to stop a check because I just do not believe that is a civilized way to do business except as a measure of last resort. The good part about credit cards is you have more time to make that decision.


I don't care if it is a doctor, lawyer, plumber or mechanic, you need to exercise more care in the selection process. This guy is a loser.

[tony_s]

Thanks fore the info guys !

Brian, thanks for taking out the time to advice me on everything in detail..
I used this guy because everyone says he is THE guy to take your Ferrari to, reliable, reasonable and a great certified Ferrari mechanic. He has several in his shop at any given time . But when i dropped off the car i noticed younger guys working under him, so I don't think he actually touched the car...still not an excuse
hopefully he make it right this week..

Thanks again

[JohnnyTS]

Originally Posted by tony_s

Thanks fore the info guys !

Brian, thanks for taking out the time to advice me on everything in detail..
I used this guy because everyone says he is THE guy to take your Ferrari to, reliable, reasonable and a great certified Ferrari mechanic. He has several in his shop at any given time . But when i dropped off the car i noticed younger guys working under him, so I don't think he actually touched the car...still not an excuse
hopefully he make it right this week..

Thanks again

I agree 100% with Brian, you can nail this guy.

yeah, no, he probably never touch the car at all, my Ferrari guy is a pro and he works on the car himself, you should find someone else.

Speedo / tacho problems is common on these cars and I've found that the problem lies normally in the unit itself. A proper Ferrari mechanic / technician would have at least told you that and would have either sorted it out or sent it away for repairs.

I cannot believe what you said about the seat belt, the guy he has thrown his name away big time.

Tony, luckily this is small issues (repair wise) and can easily be sorted.

you must get refund.

good luck
Johnny

[tazandjan]

Tony- Ask them if they have ever heard of this place. I believe it is the same one Brian uses.

Moma Mfg (Mo-Ma)
1321 2nd St Nw, Albuquerque, NM 87102-1440
(505)766-6661

Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Jim Lucas, owner.

[joshman]

I bought used seat belts for my Porsche and I had to sign a waiver from the shop that I accepted used seat belts and that at the time of purchase I knew they were used. Not sure if that's just Colorado or what but it was my experience.

[wetpet]

i have my seatbelts re-furbed at:

Ssnake Oyl Products

perfect job!

[emailben]

When I just bought my 348. I was referred by the salesperson to this local shop to change my clutch, repair my ABS error code, repair cam cover gasket due to oil leak, adjust door jams, adjust exhaust pipes, and adjust hand brake. The car was in the shop for ONE month. They did was replaced my clutch, but in a cutting corner way (they didn't replace the bearing or seals or repack the fly wheels). They did also replaced the cam cover gasket, but oil still leak. They did adjust my hand brake (initially they say my cable was at the end of the thread and cannot be adjusted anymore, then I taught them to adjust from the rear rotor). They couldn't fix the ABS error code, which I fixed later by myself. They said the seatbelt mouse needs to be rebuilt, but I found out the wire was just disconnected. I end up adjusting the door jams and exhaust pipes myself also.

I also suspect the shop was trying to steal or exchange my parts to broken parts as you know some parts in 348 are expensive and hard to find. They went through the car, remove stuff that wasn't even related to the repair. They must think I am stupid and won't noitce anything missing or broken. However, after I taught them how to adjust hand brake and said I have a workshop manual, they kind of scared. Anyway, I will try to repair things myself from now on and find a trustworthy shop.

[tony_s]

Thanks for the info. guys ! I took the 328 in on tuesday
To get the issues fixed " again" called into the shop today
(3 days later ).. Just to see how we're doing on everything and no answer ..
I want it done right this time .. Hopefully no more issues , I did notice the check
Has been cashed however .. And I don't have my car in my garage , fixed .. It's bothersome but I'm sure everything will work out fine im sure

Thanks to everyone for taking out the time to comment on the issue

[wetpet]

keep us updated. good luck.

[tony_s]

Ok guys, need some advice here please..

I have reached the end of frustration. if you remember the issues at hand in the beginning of this thread , you'll remember i took in my 328 to fix a speedo issue ( would intermittenly work) and a seatbelt issue (passenger side wasn't retracting ) 3 weeks ago today. i picked up the car 3 days later, paid for it, and none of the issues were fixed..told me to bring it back and it would be taken care of ..so i did 2 weeks ago today. one weeks passed. I called the shop , no answers ..so i decided to come and check on the car to see where we are . the seat belt issue had been fixed ( i checked it ) and i was told that we're waiting on a part for the speedo (since it wasn't the sensor) theres only one other thing it could be ..it should be in anytime..two weeks later (today)..i tried calling the shop and I'm not getting a call back. Am i being inpatient, or do i have a right to be frustrated? it is truly difficult not being able to drive my ferrari after i just got it. i get no calls, no updates..it's just a waiting game . I understand this isn't a honda civic and parts aren't THAT easy to get..but 2 weeks for this ? reallly bothering me and i want answers about my car and am not getting them. everyday I talk myself into believing its coming the next day in order to relieve the stress and then no call, no update. should i just chill out or show up to the shop and demand an answer and a date to pick it up?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can shed some light on my situation...going through ferrari withdrawals here, and i'm sure I'm not the first in this situation !

[Brian]

Originally Posted by tony_s

Ok guys, need some advice here please..

I have reached the end of frustration. if you remember the issues at hand in the beginning of this thread , you'll remember i took in my 328 to fix a speedo issue ( would intermittenly work) and a seatbelt issue (passenger side wasn't retracting ) 3 weeks ago today. i picked up the car 3 days later, paid for it, and none of the issues were fixed..told me to bring it back and it would be taken care of ..so i did 2 weeks ago today. one weeks passed. I called the shop , no answers ..so i decided to come and check on the car to see where we are . the seat belt issue had been fixed ( i checked it ) and i was told that we're waiting on a part for the speedo (since it wasn't the sensor) theres only one other thing it could be ..it should be in anytime..two weeks later (today)..i tried calling the shop and I'm not getting a call back. Am i being inpatient, or do i have a right to be frustrated? it is truly difficult not being able to drive my ferrari after i just got it. i get no calls, no updates..it's just a waiting game . I understand this isn't a honda civic and parts aren't THAT easy to get..but 2 weeks for this ? reallly bothering me and i want answers about my car and am not getting them. everyday I talk myself into believing its coming the next day in order to relieve the stress and then no call, no update. should i just chill out or show up to the shop and demand an answer and a date to pick it up?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can shed some light on my situation...going through ferrari withdrawals here, and i'm sure I'm not the first in this situation !

In California it would be easy. In this state we have actual consumer protection laws that govern behavior of auto repair shops and they are enforced. Not so much in FL

2 weeks is in my experience not terribly unusual depending on what they are doing. But they need to communicate and you need to understand what it is they are doing. If in fact they did send out the speedometer to a good shop that can happen. If they sent it to a bad shop you never know when it is coming back. The point is from what you have told us we don't even know if that is what is happening.

One of the most recommended instrument repair shops in the country, Palo Alto Speedometer has quite literally taken six months to repair fuel gauges for me. They are flakes. If it went there this is just the beginning. The hardest part of this business is any time when I need to count on a subcontractor to be part of the repair process. Finding good ones that we can trust our own reputations to is nearly impossible and a very large part of the time it turns into a train wreck because of them and the damage control costs us dearly. I am just not going to condem the repair shop for that.


Go over and tell them it is not OK to keep you in the dark and find out, with specificity what is going on. If they shift blame to an instrument repair shop, get their number and ask them what is going on. Be polite with them, you don't know the story and they may just be fall guys but find out exactly what is happening. If it needs a new speedometer because an unobtainable part is broken that can be done but like anything else Ferrari there are shops that speedometer should be sent to and shops not to send it to.

In my opinion if the entire speedometer was not sent to MoMa Mfg. I would politely request it be given back and I would send it to them to sort out.


Don't bother with trying to find fault, look for solutions. What you want here is to get the car back and solutions are what is needed to achieve that end. When this is over you will know some businesses not to go back to.

[tony_s]

Brian, thanks for your invaluable help..


Got a call from the shop owner 10 min. ago, he stated that "the instrument is not back, if it doesn't arrive today , it'll be here tomorrow". That sounds pretty confident to me. Maybe he made a call and checked on the shipping status..if all is correct (just assuming) it must have been sent out about two weeks ago. Repaired, and is on the way back .

[Barry]

Originally Posted by tony_s

Got a call from the shop owner 10 min. ago, he stated that "the instrument is not back, if it doesn't arrive today , it'll be here tomorrow". That sounds pretty confident to me. Maybe he made a call and checked on the shipping status..if all is correct (just assuming) it must have been sent out about two weeks ago. Repaired, and is on the way back .

Good to hear. Hopefully a happy ending is just around the corner.

[emailben]

Don't go to that shop anymore. I just think they don't know what they are doing.

[tony_s]

Hey guys , just want to fill ya in on where I am with my 328.

It;s now May 1st, my car went into the shop April 10th to send out the instrument cluster for a refurb , talked to the shop owner last week and he said , he's surprised the part isn't back yet. I am one away week from having my car gone for a month. this is my first repair during ownership ( which I'll add , that the mechanic has had my car longer than i've owned it). When I spoke with him he said ,waiting on Ferrari parts to arrive "go with the territory" and that I shouldn't be alarmed at the length in time, to be patient and just go on about what I'm doing and he'll call when it's done. That could mean months with no news? maybe i'm being unreasonable..

my question to you veteran owners ..How long is Too long to wait ?
when do i just say this is enough?
he told me the instrument cluster is out of the car and sent out for repair , so no use in picking it up and it'll be in any day..


Thanks for your advice guys !

[emailben]

I had the same exact experience with you, so I know how you feel.
Just curious if they park your car outside and expose to the harsh sun and rain? A good shop will park your car indoor in a secured and dry area while waiting for parts. The shop I went to parked my car outside exposed to the strong sun and heavy storm and rain for almost a month. I was so worried the water might leak into the car and ruin the interior, and the strong sun might shrink and damage my dash. While my car was in the shop, a mouse went into my car and left a lot of droppings. The shop blame the mouse on me, saying it was from my home and the mouse bit one of his mechanic. I only had the car for a week in my home after I bought it, after that, the car is in his shop for a month. None of the car in my home have mouse inside, so it must from his shop. The shop scratched my driver door and fried my alternator trying to jump start and rev the engine to recharge the dead battery. I didn't find out about the alternator until few days later. My car was very dusty when I pick it up. Maybe you should bring over your car cover and cover up your car if it is sitting outside. I suggest you physically go check on the car more often instead of calling. The shop owner slip his mouth and said that they switch parts between cars to diagnose other cars's problem. I remember he told me he was trying to fix A/C unit on the other car, so I think he must took out my A/C unit out and put it in the other car to test. I was in for clutch replacement, but my console A/C units seems to have been touched. Anyway, that was just my bad experience.