New Staff at Auto Couture Motoring- Thoughts?

AddictedToBavarian · 04-24-2015, 08:56 AM

Hey guys,

Recently the staff at Auto Couture has gone through some big changes. Quite a few of the guys moved to California to open up their shop out there and I know they hired at least 1 new employee at the shop here in NJ. Looks like their lead mechanic has stayed which is good. Has anyone been there in the past month with the new employees?

Customer service the same? How was the work that was done?

I'm planning on doing some work in the summer there and have always gone there in the past. Want to know what to expect.

piker28 · 04-24-2015, 12:55 PM

I was there about 3 months ago so I can just give you my opinion as a first time customer. The techs on their site are the same ones there now so I am not sure on the prior ones.

The shop is very nice although designed weird since you have to walk through it to get to the office. Everyone there was friendly and prices seemed fair. Now onto the tech part all I had installed was my jb4 and bms clutch valve. I was told it would be a little more than a hour to do the job. At least 2 hours later I was starting to count the spokes on cars in the shop. My quote was adjusted for the added time for the install. When it was finally done I did not even check to make sure everything was ok because I just wanted to get on with my day. Having done that I saw they did not install my usb cable for my jb4 but also did not even leave it in the car. Trying to get in touch with someone there over email was a pain. When I emailed Sal direct I get very quick responses and they did find and return my cable.

So my overall opinion on them is they seem to be a good shop with fair prices (for the work I had done). I will be using them again in the future.

20e9010 · 04-25-2015, 07:08 PM

Yes, a bunch of them moved to California, but there are a bunch of stand-up guys there still. I am returning there in a few weeks to have some coding done on my car as well as look at suspension options. If I have issues getting in contact with them in NJ I reach out to Matt in California and he gets things handled for me.

gzim335 · 04-26-2015, 11:28 AM

I was having my widebody done on a e36 m3 and i dropped it off when everyone was there but the left while the car was still being worked on n i continued dealing with alex and sal while they were in cali

BobS · 04-26-2015, 04:37 PM

Like any company, expanding and finding/training new people is a tough task and takes some time. I get a lot of work done there and just picked my car up after a SC install and I have no problem at all with the new staff. Give them a shout, you won't be disappointed. ACM has always been about customer service and quality work.

psmitty95 · 04-27-2015, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piker28

I was there about 3 months ago so I can just give you my opinion as a first time customer. The techs on their site are the same ones there now so I am not sure on the prior ones.

The shop is very nice although designed weird since you have to walk through it to get to the office. Everyone there was friendly and prices seemed fair. Now onto the tech part all I had installed was my jb4 and bms clutch valve. I was told it would be a little more than a hour to do the job. At least 2 hours later I was starting to count the spokes on cars in the shop. My quote was adjusted for the added time for the install. When it was finally done I did not even check to make sure everything was ok because I just wanted to get on with my day. Having done that I saw they did not install my usb cable for my jb4 but also did not even leave it in the car. Trying to get in touch with someone there over email was a pain. When I emailed Sal direct I get very quick responses and they did find and return my cable.

So my overall opinion on them is they seem to be a good shop with fair prices (for the work I had done). I will be using them again in the future.

2 hours for this seems excessive to me. JB4 is a 15 minutes install from anyone who has done it before (I can do it in less than 15 usually). The CDV no way took over an hour

piker28 · 04-27-2015, 08:34 AM

I believe as said above, this was a newish tech and well he learned on the fly with my car. I was not to pumped but at least I got charged less then what I was quoted.

Imbue · 04-29-2015, 08:16 PM

What do they charge for a wheel alignment?

AddictedToBavarian · 04-30-2015, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imbue

What do they charge for a wheel alignment?

Probably an arm and half a leg.

piker28 · 04-30-2015, 02:58 PM

Not sure on price but when I wanted a quote I went on their site and filled out the form.

http://autocouturemotoring.com/pages/contact-with-map/

Of course you could just give them a call.

moonsin · 04-30-2015, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imbue

What do they charge for a wheel alignment?

They told me $189

BAL278 · 05-01-2015, 08:34 AM

Tommy is still there ... Rest assured the quality of the work will not suffer...

Just had my turbos installed, no complaints here.

Longdoggy · 05-01-2015, 11:15 PM

Going in a week and a half for the PE Mod. Cant wait!

20e9010 · 05-08-2015, 10:56 AM

Just had my coding done there. I deal with Ariel there now, he's a good dude. Understand they are a very busy shop so if it seems hard to get in touch with them its mostly because they are dealing with multiple customers at once. I'd be a little worried if these guys had all the time in the world to talk at any moment, because to me that would mean they are not that busy reflecting the caliber of the work. It is the complete opposite there, if you are looking for a quick job that doesn't mean you are getting the best work. I have no problem with them taking longer on my car as long as I know its done right.

04-24-2015, 08:56 AM	#1
AddictedToBavarian My other ride is a Bianchi Infinito 98 Rep 2,767 Posts Drives: Miss my E92 but love my E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (2)	New Staff at Auto Couture Motoring- Thoughts? Hey guys, Recently the staff at Auto Couture has gone through some big changes. Quite a few of the guys moved to California to open up their shop out there and I know they hired at least 1 new employee at the shop here in NJ. Looks like their lead mechanic has stayed which is good. Has anyone been there in the past month with the new employees? Customer service the same? How was the work that was done? I'm planning on doing some work in the summer there and have always gone there in the past. Want to know what to expect.
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04-24-2015, 12:55 PM	#2
piker28 Private First Class 15 Rep 123 Posts Drives: bmw 335xi Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: new jersey iTrader: (2)	I was there about 3 months ago so I can just give you my opinion as a first time customer. The techs on their site are the same ones there now so I am not sure on the prior ones. The shop is very nice although designed weird since you have to walk through it to get to the office. Everyone there was friendly and prices seemed fair. Now onto the tech part all I had installed was my jb4 and bms clutch valve. I was told it would be a little more than a hour to do the job. At least 2 hours later I was starting to count the spokes on cars in the shop. My quote was adjusted for the added time for the install. When it was finally done I did not even check to make sure everything was ok because I just wanted to get on with my day. Having done that I saw they did not install my usb cable for my jb4 but also did not even leave it in the car. Trying to get in touch with someone there over email was a pain. When I emailed Sal direct I get very quick responses and they did find and return my cable. So my overall opinion on them is they seem to be a good shop with fair prices (for the work I had done). I will be using them again in the future.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-25-2015, 07:08 PM	#3
20e9010 Massimo 19 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 2010 e90 328i xdrive Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (0)	Yes, a bunch of them moved to California, but there are a bunch of stand-up guys there still. I am returning there in a few weeks to have some coding done on my car as well as look at suspension options. If I have issues getting in contact with them in NJ I reach out to Matt in California and he gets things handled for me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-26-2015, 11:28 AM	#4
gzim335 Captain 150 Rep 966 Posts Drives: e92 m3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: staten island ny iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007/1 e90 335i [2.00]	I was having my widebody done on a e36 m3 and i dropped it off when everyone was there but the left while the car was still being worked on n i continued dealing with alex and sal while they were in cali __________________ e92 m3 dct gintani stage 2+ full ethanol custom pulley and meth kw clubsport,ap racing radical,volk te37sl,akrapovic rear,recaro profi xl,voltphreaks battery
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04-26-2015, 04:37 PM	#5
BobS Colonel 98 Rep 2,002 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern NJ iTrader: (0)	Like any company, expanding and finding/training new people is a tough task and takes some time. I get a lot of work done there and just picked my car up after a SC install and I have no problem at all with the new staff. Give them a shout, you won't be disappointed. ACM has always been about customer service and quality work. __________________ ESS 650 ACM-R Upgrades
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04-27-2015, 08:34 AM	#7
piker28 Private First Class 15 Rep 123 Posts Drives: bmw 335xi Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: new jersey iTrader: (2)	I believe as said above, this was a newish tech and well he learned on the fly with my car. I was not to pumped but at least I got charged less then what I was quoted.
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04-29-2015, 08:16 PM	#8
Imbue Private 1 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 09 E92 Xdrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	What do they charge for a wheel alignment?
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04-30-2015, 02:58 PM	#10
piker28 Private First Class 15 Rep 123 Posts Drives: bmw 335xi Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: new jersey iTrader: (2)	Not sure on price but when I wanted a quote I went on their site and filled out the form. http://autocouturemotoring.com/pages/contact-with-map/ Of course you could just give them a call.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-01-2015, 08:34 AM	#12
BAL278 Major 48 Rep 1,010 Posts Drives: E92 335xi JB Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North NJ iTrader: (3)	Tommy is still there ... Rest assured the quality of the work will not suffer... Just had my turbos installed, no complaints here. __________________ 2008 335xi Jet Black//Coral Red VTT Stage 1+// Procede V5//VRSF DPs//AMS FMIC//KW V1//M3 Sways & Sub Bushings// Alpina AT flash Apex EC-7//Michelin PSS//Dinan CAI
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05-01-2015, 11:15 PM	#13
Longdoggy Master Bates 82 Rep 495 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW M340 xDrive Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Going in a week and a half for the PE Mod. Cant wait! __________________ CURRENT: 2020 G20 M340 xDrive — Carbahn Tune RETIRED: 2011 E90 335i xDrive — Cobb AP3, PE Exhaust, Alpina TCU Flash, VRSF Charge Pipe 2017 Estoril Blue X1 M Sport — JB4
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05-08-2015, 10:56 AM	#14
20e9010 Massimo 19 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 2010 e90 328i xdrive Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (0)	Just had my coding done there. I deal with Ariel there now, he's a good dude. Understand they are a very busy shop so if it seems hard to get in touch with them its mostly because they are dealing with multiple customers at once. I'd be a little worried if these guys had all the time in the world to talk at any moment, because to me that would mean they are not that busy reflecting the caliber of the work. It is the complete opposite there, if you are looking for a quick job that doesn't mean you are getting the best work. I have no problem with them taking longer on my car as long as I know its done right.
	Appreciate 0 Quote