Can a mechanic drive your car home?

TheBlondeFella · 09-13-2013, 03:40 AM

In theory if you've been given a courtesy car, they reimburse your fuel and you could trust, you could trust the guy driving and he lived in a nice area to store your car overnight it wouldn't be a problem.

The thing is that isn't usually the case and it seems the garage is using your vehicle to give perks to their mechanics and save on time during the working day.

I used to have a friend who as a mechanic you every one and then would take cars home to test drive them. One of his mottos was " if you go over a speed bump fast enough you'll never feel it" ... I know not everyone would be like this, but there are a lot of people out there who just don't respect other people's property.

It also doesn't matter whether the car is a 318 or an M3, they'll all do 100 mph and the body work, wheels and interior can be damaged just the same.

You have to remember that not every one can afford to own a nice car even one of the lower powered models so driving them home for the night is often going to be a bonus.

What I'm saying is if I knew the guy taking my car home and could trust him I probably wouldn't mind, but that just isn't the case with large dealerships and as such I think it's a it of a p*ss take really.

Oh, not only could they not diagnose my mis fire but the windows that don't always go all the way up wasn't cured either.

Can anyone reccomend an alternative garage close to Sutton that might be a better option?

telewebby · 09-13-2013, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castle

What was the problem/fix?

unfortunately its not a BMW, I work for Toyota and it turned out to be fuel pressure and which led to 1 injector going slightly out of sync. 1 new injector and the car runs fine

Alex

///M.aster · 09-13-2013, 03:35 PM

Gent's, just to give you an insight from the other side of the fence;

It's reasonably common place these days to complete extended road tests out of hours. This can be for a number of reasons such as vehicles requiring DPF regeneration a which can sometimes take up to a couple of hours depending on the severity of the blockage.
(This may require an experienced tech due to the use of the diagnosis system)

Wind noises and a number of other faults can require the vehicle to be driven at motorway speeds, which when working at an inner city dealer can mean this is not feasible during the working day.

Also, engine work such as misfire diagnosis may require resetting the adaptations. During this learning period, minor defects can be masked until the readings are verified with mileage. Conscientious dealers will seek permission to cover these miles in an attempt to ensure the fix is successful as a repeat visit will damage customer service ratings.

I fully appreciate that your vehicle is your pride and joy and that I dare say every business has an idiot about the place. However you could stipulate that the workshop Master, Senior or workshop foreman drives your vehicle ensuring it is suitably looked after.

Over the past year or two vehicle faults are becoming more and more sporadic and difficult to reproduce let alone diagnose. Customers descriptions of their issues are generally very vague and sometimes spending time with the vehicle is the only way to get to the bottom of the issue.

I would suggest that the best way of avoiding lengthy road tests is to provide as much information as possible, ensuring the details you provide are documented on the job card. Add environmental conditions, vehicle specifics, how long the vehicle had been driven and under what conditions to give them the best chance of finding the issue quickly and efficiently.

Obviously there will always be the ones that go wrong or can't be reproduced upon that visit, but find a dealer you can trust and talk to the workshop foreman or Master tech if their available about your issue.

Right - I know it's coming so let me have it!

zltm089 · 09-13-2013, 04:11 PM

Spot on advice!

It's all about trust and making sure the right people are looking after your car.

dxb335d · 09-13-2013, 05:31 PM

Happens all the time!!

zltm089 · 09-13-2013, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Happens all the time!!

What does Carl?

MERLIN335i · 09-14-2013, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M.aster

Gent's, just to give you an insight from the other side of the fence;

It's reasonably common place these days to complete extended road tests out of hours. This can be for a number of reasons such as vehicles requiring DPF regeneration a which can sometimes take up to a couple of hours depending on the severity of the blockage.
(This may require an experienced tech due to the use of the diagnosis system)

Wind noises and a number of other faults can require the vehicle to be driven at motorway speeds, which when working at an inner city dealer can mean this is not feasible during the working day.

Also, engine work such as misfire diagnosis may require resetting the adaptations. During this learning period, minor defects can be masked until the readings are verified with mileage. Conscientious dealers will seek permission to cover these miles in an attempt to ensure the fix is successful as a repeat visit will damage customer service ratings.

I fully appreciate that your vehicle is your pride and joy and that I dare say every business has an idiot about the place. However you could stipulate that the workshop Master, Senior or workshop foreman drives your vehicle ensuring it is suitably looked after.

Over the past year or two vehicle faults are becoming more and more sporadic and difficult to reproduce let alone diagnose. Customers descriptions of their issues are generally very vague and sometimes spending time with the vehicle is the only way to get to the bottom of the issue.

I would suggest that the best way of avoiding lengthy road tests is to provide as much information as possible, ensuring the details you provide are documented on the job card. Add environmental conditions, vehicle specifics, how long the vehicle had been driven and under what conditions to give them the best chance of finding the issue quickly and efficiently.

Obviously there will always be the ones that go wrong or can't be reproduced upon that visit, but find a dealer you can trust and talk to the workshop foreman or Master tech if their available about your issue.

Right - I know it's coming so let me have it!

M,

We are honoured by your presence, such a rare occurrence

That aside, I totally agree with your comments, if you can build up a relationship with you dealer then trust is not an issue, after all I let you drive my car, and you know what a fussy, paranoid, old git I am

However I personally take issue with your comment "Customers descriptions of their issues are generally very vague".

Surely you are not accusing me of that

L&K's

M.

dxb335d · 09-14-2013, 05:23 AM

Problem is that for as many professional technicians there are there are as many idiots.

I know from a friend stories that a friend of his brings home M5's and M3's (customers cars) and smashes the shit out of them.

zltm089 · 09-14-2013, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Problem is that for as many professional technicians there are there are as many idiots.

I know from a friend stories that a friend of his brings home M5's and M3's (customers cars) and smashes the shit out of them.

The techs I know, I trust them with my car 100%.

kaishang · 09-14-2013, 05:34 PM

Wouldn't bother me the mechanic taking it home at all. It is a time-efficient way to test the car.

Taus-e92 · 09-15-2013, 08:27 PM

My mate whose a mechanic usually takes the cars home. He has a long drive from garage to home so test drives the car properly. Also he feels as if he's in no rush as he's going home and not back to the garage where more work awaits !!

bmwak · 09-16-2013, 03:14 PM

I've let my dealer take my car home. But OP I understand your concern. As I know my dealer and their technicians quite well, I usually have the same technician work on my car, i'm much more comfortable with it. Therefore, I trust him (he knows not to scratch anything, park it on the street or curb the wheels and even parks it between two car park bays at the dealership to prevent any other car parking inches away when I've never asked him to

). Plus I can also track my cars whereabouts via the Connected Drive app. Dealer knows not to mess around so all good

.

If it was a unknown technician/dealer, then yes, like the OP i'd be worried.

09-13-2013, 03:40 AM	#23
TheBlondeFella First Lieutenant 40 Rep 386 Posts Drives: E93 320i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (3)	In theory if you've been given a courtesy car, they reimburse your fuel and you could trust, you could trust the guy driving and he lived in a nice area to store your car overnight it wouldn't be a problem. The thing is that isn't usually the case and it seems the garage is using your vehicle to give perks to their mechanics and save on time during the working day. I used to have a friend who as a mechanic you every one and then would take cars home to test drive them. One of his mottos was " if you go over a speed bump fast enough you'll never feel it" ... I know not everyone would be like this, but there are a lot of people out there who just don't respect other people's property. It also doesn't matter whether the car is a 318 or an M3, they'll all do 100 mph and the body work, wheels and interior can be damaged just the same. You have to remember that not every one can afford to own a nice car even one of the lower powered models so driving them home for the night is often going to be a bonus. What I'm saying is if I knew the guy taking my car home and could trust him I probably wouldn't mind, but that just isn't the case with large dealerships and as such I think it's a it of a p*ss take really. Oh, not only could they not diagnose my mis fire but the windows that don't always go all the way up wasn't cured either. Can anyone reccomend an alternative garage close to Sutton that might be a better option?
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09-13-2013, 03:35 PM	#25
///M.aster New Member 11 Rep 26 Posts Drives: F10 M Sport Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Under the Thumb iTrader: (0)	Gent's, just to give you an insight from the other side of the fence; It's reasonably common place these days to complete extended road tests out of hours. This can be for a number of reasons such as vehicles requiring DPF regeneration a which can sometimes take up to a couple of hours depending on the severity of the blockage. (This may require an experienced tech due to the use of the diagnosis system) Wind noises and a number of other faults can require the vehicle to be driven at motorway speeds, which when working at an inner city dealer can mean this is not feasible during the working day. Also, engine work such as misfire diagnosis may require resetting the adaptations. During this learning period, minor defects can be masked until the readings are verified with mileage. Conscientious dealers will seek permission to cover these miles in an attempt to ensure the fix is successful as a repeat visit will damage customer service ratings. I fully appreciate that your vehicle is your pride and joy and that I dare say every business has an idiot about the place. However you could stipulate that the workshop Master, Senior or workshop foreman drives your vehicle ensuring it is suitably looked after. Over the past year or two vehicle faults are becoming more and more sporadic and difficult to reproduce let alone diagnose. Customers descriptions of their issues are generally very vague and sometimes spending time with the vehicle is the only way to get to the bottom of the issue. I would suggest that the best way of avoiding lengthy road tests is to provide as much information as possible, ensuring the details you provide are documented on the job card. Add environmental conditions, vehicle specifics, how long the vehicle had been driven and under what conditions to give them the best chance of finding the issue quickly and efficiently. Obviously there will always be the ones that go wrong or can't be reproduced upon that visit, but find a dealer you can trust and talk to the workshop foreman or Master tech if their available about your issue. Right - I know it's coming so let me have it!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-13-2013, 04:11 PM	#26
zltm089 Banned 259 Rep 7,686 Posts Drives: 335i SE Coupe Space Grey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LONDON iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 335i [10.00]	Spot on advice! It's all about trust and making sure the right people are looking after your car.
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09-13-2013, 05:31 PM	#27
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 1006 Rep 29,344 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Happens all the time!!
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09-14-2013, 05:23 AM	#30
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 1006 Rep 29,344 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Problem is that for as many professional technicians there are there are as many idiots. I know from a friend stories that a friend of his brings home M5's and M3's (customers cars) and smashes the shit out of them.
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09-14-2013, 05:34 PM	#32
kaishang Colonel 57 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 330d Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Wouldn't bother me the mechanic taking it home at all. It is a time-efficient way to test the car.
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09-15-2013, 08:27 PM	#33
Taus-e92 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: E92 BMW Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	My mate whose a mechanic usually takes the cars home. He has a long drive from garage to home so test drives the car properly. Also he feels as if he's in no rush as he's going home and not back to the garage where more work awaits !!
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09-16-2013, 03:14 PM	#34
bmwak Major 112 Rep 1,235 Posts Drives: 440i M-Sport Gran Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London iTrader: (4)	I've let my dealer take my car home. But OP I understand your concern. As I know my dealer and their technicians quite well, I usually have the same technician work on my car, i'm much more comfortable with it. Therefore, I trust him (he knows not to scratch anything, park it on the street or curb the wheels and even parks it between two car park bays at the dealership to prevent any other car parking inches away when I've never asked him to ). Plus I can also track my cars whereabouts via the Connected Drive app. Dealer knows not to mess around so all good . If it was a unknown technician/dealer, then yes, like the OP i'd be worried.
	Appreciate 0 Quote