ClearBluewater
04-28-2011, 10:29 PM
Please note I am not trying to bash anyone in this thread, I just have a few questions regarding the way this turned out for me.
I had a check engine light come on in my 99 e46 BMW about a 6 months ago, approximately in October. (The invoice date is 10/4/2010). I had decided to take my car to Parm at Motorwerkes as recommended by a google search I believe. I was told by Parm that the charcoal cannister was faulty and was shorting out the DMTL pump. Parm said I would have to replace the whole unit because my car was older and they could not be ordered separately. I went with it, payed Parm and about a week later i got my car back. After driving for two days, the check engine light is back on. I take it back to Parm, and apparently the brand new cannister is faulty and a new one must be ordered. It appears that I have the last one in Canada and I now wait for two or maybe a little more months in order to get a new one in. I take the car back to Parm and two days later, the check engine is back on. Take it back to Parm (this is getting repetitive and I'm sorry). Parm says that its actually something else shorting it out, but I will need to pay another 300-500 dollars in order for him to find whats actually causing the problem.
I am just wondering if this is normal business practice for automotive shops? If the shop charges you money for a wrong diagnosis, the customer just has to eat that and hope the next diagnosis is the right one?
Like I said, I am unsure of how this situation would be handled at other places and if this is in fact how things are usually done that is fine. I am just a little confused. :confused:
Invoice attached.
I had a check engine light come on in my 99 e46 BMW about a 6 months ago, approximately in October. (The invoice date is 10/4/2010). I had decided to take my car to Parm at Motorwerkes as recommended by a google search I believe. I was told by Parm that the charcoal cannister was faulty and was shorting out the DMTL pump. Parm said I would have to replace the whole unit because my car was older and they could not be ordered separately. I went with it, payed Parm and about a week later i got my car back. After driving for two days, the check engine light is back on. I take it back to Parm, and apparently the brand new cannister is faulty and a new one must be ordered. It appears that I have the last one in Canada and I now wait for two or maybe a little more months in order to get a new one in. I take the car back to Parm and two days later, the check engine is back on. Take it back to Parm (this is getting repetitive and I'm sorry). Parm says that its actually something else shorting it out, but I will need to pay another 300-500 dollars in order for him to find whats actually causing the problem.
I am just wondering if this is normal business practice for automotive shops? If the shop charges you money for a wrong diagnosis, the customer just has to eat that and hope the next diagnosis is the right one?
Like I said, I am unsure of how this situation would be handled at other places and if this is in fact how things are usually done that is fine. I am just a little confused. :confused:
Invoice attached.