Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Fort Wayne, IN
    Posts
    980

    Mechanic Destroyed My Car

    Well the BMW is a total loss...Beyond pissed.

    The guy who installed my clutch last year did it wrong. He installed it wrong, and over torqued the bolts on the bell housing and installed them crooked causing them to cross thread. Would need a new block or new complete engine, and possibly a transmission. All in all dealership said around 8 grand to get it fixed.

    The shop that did the work last year is out of business, and I just found out the shop wasn't even legally incorporated until half way through replacing my clutch.

    I don't know what to do. I have one payment left on the car.
    2001 325i Sport Package / Rebuilt Motor at 194K / Lemforder M3 Motor Mounts / Thule Roof Rack / Eagle Eye Clear Tail Lights / Lemforder Sway Links
    BMW Performance Shift Knob / Alcantra Shift Boot / BBS Wheels / 15% Tint
    RIP - 2009 335i xDrive / Twin Turbo / Cold Weather Package / Premium Package / 15% Tint
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    1,939
    Ouch. If you wanna keep the car I'd get a used 325 engine and a used tranny, and make sure a reputable shop installs the kit... Engines in decent condition seem to be ~$1000-1500 at IN yards, 5MT's $400-600... Check car-part.com.

    Otherwise if the car isn't worth it part it out or sell it as is (~$2k maybe ?) and move on.
    Alex'16 Melbourne Red 328d Touring
    M Sport + M Performance Package

    Gone, but not forgotten: '03 Imola Red 330i ZHP - 6MT


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Silicon Valley
    Posts
    1,630
    Ouch that is a tough one. How did the dealership find out about it, were they pulling the transmission to replace the clutch again? I have never removed my transmission, but I removed 2 of the bolts once to change the starter. Perhaps it is possible to time-sert or Helicoil the mounting holes on the block? That solution normally works well but not sure the block has enough material around each bolt hole to take an insert.

    My other thought is that if the dealership said $8,000 to fix it, a decent indie shop can do it for $4,000, perhaps $2500 for a used engine $1500 to swap it. Still that's a lot of money. Thread inserts could be done for $1000 to $1500 by an indie shop I think, if there is enough space around the cross threaded holes in the block. THat would be $800-$1000 to remove and reinstall transmission, and $200 to $500 to drill out and fix each of the stripped holes. But I could be wrong if the engine has to be removed to install the thread inserts. This assumes the transmission is reusable.

    From a financial resource standpoint, you could try to see if the repair shop had business insurance at the time they did the work. And if you paid for it with a credit card, you might be able to dispute the charge or get the work warrantied in some way, depending on your credit card's consumer protection benefits.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Liberty Township, OH
    Posts
    37,935
    Gawd this sucks Will.

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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Jonesborough, TN
    Posts
    1,286
    Really hate to hear that. I'm sure you can find a solution though.

    '01 330i

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    VA/DC
    Posts
    14,445
    So sorry to hear that. Good ideas above. I'm sure more will come.


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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Fort Wayne, IN
    Posts
    980

    Mechanic Destroyed My Car

    Someone on facebook mentioned B30 swap for $1500. Anyone have any incite on this?

    Said shop that did the work is no longer in business.
    2001 325i Sport Package / Rebuilt Motor at 194K / Lemforder M3 Motor Mounts / Thule Roof Rack / Eagle Eye Clear Tail Lights / Lemforder Sway Links
    BMW Performance Shift Knob / Alcantra Shift Boot / BBS Wheels / 15% Tint
    RIP - 2009 335i xDrive / Twin Turbo / Cold Weather Package / Premium Package / 15% Tint
    ER Chargepipe / Tial BOV / Dual Cone Intake / OEM Roof Rack

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    5,877
    This was hard to read. Sorry to hear the shitty news Will. I hope you find a cheap solution to the problem.
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    1,939
    Quote Originally Posted by SureShot434 View Post
    Someone on facebook mentioned B30 swap for $1500. Anyone have any incite on this?

    Said shop that did the work is no longer in business.
    Someone on here did it. You're looking at much more expense as many of the bolt on components are different; electronics are different as well. Not sure I'd go down this road.
    Alex'16 Melbourne Red 328d Touring
    M Sport + M Performance Package

    Gone, but not forgotten: '03 Imola Red 330i ZHP - 6MT


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Posts
    1,944
    Really sorry to hear that. Not being a legitimate business might be a blessing in disguise as I believe you can now just sue the owner in small claims court. My guess is he didn't have the right tool to install a BMW Self Adjusting Clutch, removed the lock on the flywheel, then used the bolts to force it together. At this point I think what you need is an indy who works with / knows a metal fabricator who can weld in the holes and drill and tap them. Or depending on miles just go with a rebuilt engine.
    2006 CiC 6MT
    ZHP, Cold Weather, Xenon
    Sapphire Black / Black Leather / Black Cube

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