Would you accept this for $900

Mick058 · 2008-05-08T05:21:11+00:00

Below are photos of a beam i got installed by a well known Sydney VW shop. I was informed that this was the best beam and best option. I also paid for them to install it as my time is tight and i assumed they would do a perfect job. Once this beam was in my RHS wheel was right under the edge of the guard while my LHS wheel was tucked in. There was a difference of about 1inch. The rubbers on the trailing arms were frayed. I was alarmed. After closer inspection the driver side of the beam was badly beaten as were other parts of the beam. The black paint was also painted over the grease that had built up on this beam. After taking the car to a different VW shop to get my windows put in, they too were alarmed and disappointed by the condition of the beam. I removed this beam myself to put in another beam bought from a different VW shop. On doing so i found that the beam was DRY!!! No grease!!! Also, the nipple on the top driver side was not there and this was because the steering box was positioned there, so they thought 'o well, stuff greasing it, we'd have to make a new nipple hole' On removing the beam it was clear that it was warped. Once i installed the new beam myself, the wheels were in the correct position. What do you guys think of these pics?????

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 9 May 2008, 7:48 am

#645045

Dasdubber wrote:
name and shame!

HOLD OFF....this has got us (AVD) into trouble before whether it was justified or not. PM Brad (buggy brad), Jim (benettonvw) or Andrew (vanderaj) before you name any business as they are the head admins who have to deal with the legal ramifications of legal defamation suits directly.

The ice can be pretty thin when in these situations - wouldn't take much to be "bye bye AVD"....such is the legal situation nowadays.
Al

I have to agree with Alan, i don't want to create issues, rather i recommend people view whats getting installed before it goes in and don't be worried about speaking up. My car was at the shop for 2 weeks and i hadn't the time to check everything before they did it. Should of known better, but then again, you pay good money for a good job, you shoudln't expect supervision.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 9 May 2008, 7:48 am

#645046

geez head back man and talk to them about this..
it is pretty average yeah..

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matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 9 May 2008, 7:54 am

#645048

Buggy Brad wrote:mmmm interesting workmanship but I have a few questions for you:

1. What did you pay for ? Was it a full reco ?

2. Did you supply the core or did they do it outright for you ?

3. Is this the same shop that told you it was not legal to have a single adjuster ?

4. Was the $900 that you paid to cover just the beam or was that what they cost you for a drive in / drive out service with them supplying the narrow beam outright and the labour to fit it to your bug ? On the invoice did they itemise what you were getting or just a single line ?

5. Did you have a good look at the leaves before you re-used them ? and where the tie rods shortened correctly ?

Spoken like a true business owner. I agree , bad workmanship is the pits, but also some products imported are worse.
Was it an imported beam that they purchased from a wholesaler here?
What other parts are in the $900?
Wheel alignment, Balljoints, tie rod ends???

The list goes on!

ps SHAME EM if they deserve it!!

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 9 May 2008, 7:58 am

#645049

The beam came off another beetle is what i was led to believe. So, he cut down an original German beam.

Tie rods were extra😠

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

kroozzn63 Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,005 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 9 May 2008, 8:03 am

#645050

yeah man thats a shame ,a free lesson though on the bright side at least your out and the car is sweet , imagine if they where doing the body work ahhhhhh at least u learnt a lesson for free, got some money back ,got the beam sorted and move on.
Word will get round about these pricks and karma slowly works its magic,
good luck cant wait to see her finished ..

show us your gates

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 9 May 2008, 8:07 am

#645051

Cheers Kroozzn63, can't wait for Nats, fingers crossed with REGO.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 May 2008, 8:25 am

#645055

please dont name any business as it creates MAJOR headaches for heaps of people

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 May 2008, 11:10 am

#645084

Mick058 wrote:
Buggy Brad wrote:mmmm interesting workmanship but I have a few questions for you:

1. What did you pay for ? Was it a full reco ?

2. Did you supply the core or did they do it outright for you ?

3. Is this the same shop that told you it was not legal to have a single adjuster ?

4. Was the $900 that you paid to cover just the beam or was that what they cost you for a drive in / drive out service with them supplying the narrow beam outright and the labour to fit it to your bug ? On the invoice did they itemise what you were getting or just a single line ?

5. Did you have a good look at the leaves before you re-used them ? and where the tie rods shortened correctly ?
I paid for supply and installation. $550 for the beam, $350 for labor. They did not re-use my beam, it was a beam he supplied all on his own. The leaves were checked by the VW shop i bought the new beam from (the one i installed myself). The tie Rods seem to work ok, but ill get them checked.

Yes it was the guy who told me one adjuster was illegal.

Fair enough then, cause the core they used looks like it has been flogged with a hammer more than once.

I am guessing they didn't charge you for new beam seals on the invoice cause if they did I would be pissed. Also wondering if the $550 was just for the beam narrow and then they swapped your old arms, seals etc over from your current beam ?

Either way as you said I would have expected them to at least give you an option to replace the beam seals as they are cheap and a PITA to do once the arms are in.

Good luck with your new beam.

Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 9 May 2008, 11:22 am

#645085

No they didn't charge for new beam seals, would of thought they'd mention it though, but then again it had no grease in it, so why would you need good seals ay...

Yes, i believe my original arms were used.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

QuikBug Commited Dubber

63 posts · joined May 2006 · 9 May 2008, 6:08 pm

#645174

Always two sides to a story !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw this beetle being worked on at the shop that did the beam replacement along with all the other work they did covering some $3000.00 worth.

I spoke to the owner of the shop today as my car is there getting more work done to it at present. I too have a narrowed beam done by them and have had no problems with it at all.

The owner of the shop is not a forum member so I said I would relay the other side of the story.

Mick was informed after hours of discussion on two seperate visits that the beam was a second hand german beam NOT a new after market left hand drive thin wall american beam.

The job was to supply the beam fit it and wheel align the 4 wheels. The beam was supplied outright as the beam that was being removed from the car was cut and turned on one of the tubes and the other had on adjuster welded in an illegal manner.

At no time did the owner of the shop tell Mick that it was illegal to have only one adjuster in a beam. He was advised that the ride would be very uncomfortable if there was only one adjuster fitted.

Some 6 weeks after Mick took the car the owner of the the shop was told that he was not happy with the beam and that he has purchased a new beam from another shop and did not want a second hand beam anymore instead he has a new american beam fitted, at which point the Mick was offered a refund on the beam once the beam was returned. Mick was also told by the owner of the shop that the labour would not be refunded as it was Mick that made the desicion to fit a second hand beam. The beam was not returned as it was given to Mick so a deduction of $100.00 was made to cover the torsion leaves and steering arms being retained by Mick to use in his american beam.

The owner of the shop that did this work would like to make it publicly know that he nor any of his staff would ever take to damaging any persons car even if they were a disgruntle, un truthfull person. As far as the shop owner is concerned they have been upfront with Mick and only did what Micks budget at the time allowed. The reason this car came to the shop at a moments notice was due to the fact that he already had been quoted a lot more by other vw shops in his area, a point that Mick made only too often in conversation time and time again.

My two cents worth is that if you are unhappy with a situation try to work it out with the party involved or relivant goverment department. If you have nothing to hide take it all the way. Department like the Department of Fair Trading take the time to investgate both sides of the story unlike many members of this and many other forums.

Mick if you did not get a refund and was simply told where to go I would definately be pissed as any other person would. Doing post like this does not really achieve anything in my opinion but fuel a fire that could ultimately end up with some one being burnt. I realise the shop has not been named but the vw scene is a small community and it does not take much to put two and two together.

As i have stated i am a customer of this shop and am only trying to air the other side to this story. It is for all to make up there own mind as to what is a fair or unfair situation.

Happy cruising all.

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 9 May 2008, 6:48 pm

#645185

This post was to inform people to be cautious of who they trust their car to and to view things before they get installed. I have not named the shop, or all of the 4 issues i have with the work carried out, some of it dangerous.

The photos speak for themselves, the message you relay above in part is not true. I have no interest in arguing with you.

Happy cruising and good luck with you and the shop.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 May 2008, 2:42 pm

#645269

Ok, I have clossed the thread as there is nothing more to be gained from leaving it open. We have now heard from both parties in a manner of speaking and as pointed out there is two sides.

I have left it up so people can read and view and take what they will from the points within.

If anyone has an issue with my actions feel free to contact me to discuss.

Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Locked Would you accept this for $900