Anyone know of an indie near Rotherham?

[Inkyskin]

The title says it all really! I'm soon going to be in the position of being able to afford to fix up my worn out w202, am I'm looking for recommendations - I don't mid traveling out of South Yorks to see a good one, but it'd have to be really worth it... (ie, works magic for peanuts! )

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Europa in Shefield are good, http://www.europaprestige.co.uk, mate of mine has used them. They're official MB Authorised repairers but aren't an MB main dealer, so not a true Indy if that makes sense.

 

[Inkyskin]

I just stumbled on an indie around the corner from my house today! MMV Autobodies Ltd - Merc Approved. Has anyone ever used them before?

Prices seem to be okay too (Not cheap, but not overly expensive either)

 

[kbhogalW126]

Give Steve Waters at Europa Sheffield a call.

They are trying to cater for older MB's and he was the only one who knew anything about my old 300 E-24 when it went into to them recently for some work.

Regards,

KJ

 

[flango]

Hi MMV are good ex factory technician but their main expertise is on larger vans and cars, also try Johns Auto Repairs also on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, Hillside Court (don't be put off by the name) www.johnsautorepairs.co.uk again ex factory technician specialising in BMW & Merc, owner runs a 124 estate as well as some faster cars and swears by it, workshop is always full of merc and BMW from late 70's up to present day very professional very capable and above all customer satisfaction is what drives them their depth of knowledge even on the older stuff is incredible

 

[Inkyskin]

I've just been to see John, looks like he's my man! Good prices too - thanks flanaia1. I'll be getting a new exhaust, and my heating fixed too! (You don't know what it's like driving in this heat with the fans always blowing hot!! (Even when turned off there's still heat coming out, its madness...)

 

[flango]

glad to be of service

Glad it's worked out for you and pretty sure you won't be dissappoinrted by the service and quality of work. I also going to book my clk in as I got an intermittant kompressor problem but I believe they are pretty busy at the min told me he was working on a Porsche Cayenne and a Merc ML270 both serious jobs.

Let me know how you go

 

[Inkyskin]

Yeah, saw the ML when I went round. I managed to get booked in for tues, so not too bad.

 

[ukgun]

heater problem

Hiya Ben did you get this problem fixed, I had same problem a few years ago

 

[tony2311]

Hi MMV are good ex factory technician but their main expertise is on larger vans and cars, also try Johns Auto Repairs also on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, Hillside Court (don't be put off by the name) www.johnsautorepairs.co.uk again ex factory technician specialising in BMW & Merc, owner runs a 124 estate as well as some faster cars and swears by it, workshop is always full of merc and BMW from late 70's up to present day very professional very capable and above all customer satisfaction is what drives them their depth of knowledge even on the older stuff is incredible

when my engine blown a hole in the block i had my car recovered to the above garage, first thing i notice was john and 2 man was all working on one car. one was holding a bucket, while the other was taking a pipe of while john was busy telling them what to do. imo not very effecient way of working
he qoute me £4100 to supply and fit a second hand engine and he will look at the gearbox. when i told him it might be the conductor plate making the car stuck it gear he didnt have a clue what it was but mention he will look into it. After careful consideration i though he was not the best man for the job as the repair bill might top the £5200 i paid for the car to start with, i have the car deliver to ian at w124 works and he seens to know what he is doing and the cost with replacment gearbox and engine is a lot less then john just for a second hand engine,

 

[flango]

when my engine blown a hole in the block i had my car recovered to the above garage, first thing i notice was john and 2 man was all working on one car. one was holding a bucket, while the other was taking a pipe of while john was busy telling them what to do. imo not very effecient way of working
he qoute me £4100 to supply and fit a second hand engine and he will look at the gearbox. when i told him it might be the conductor plate making the car stuck it gear he didnt have a clue what it was but mention he will look into it. After careful consideration i though he was not the best man for the job as the repair bill might top the £5200 i paid for the car to start with, i have the car deliver to ian at w124 works and he seens to know what he is doing and the cost with replacment gearbox and engine is a lot less then john just for a second hand engine,

That really suprises me they have a good reputation and my clk has been there a few times when our guys can't get to the bottom of it. I've seen everything from Ferrari 360's, Astons and Porche GT3's in there. They even do South Yorkshire Police traffic cars and on the Scooby & BMW forums their reputation is second to none.

From your post above you got me worried if we should be passing work to these guys, please send me anymore details you have or feel free to PM me our training cars also go there for work and at 150 mph + I really don't want any worries in the back of my mind, thanks

 

[tony2311]

Srry if i worried you, i never met/use him before, me being non white and the car being towed there, i think most garages will take advantage of the situation as most non white havnt a clue on cars.
if you use him reguler and he charges a fair price then carry on using him, As most garage will charge more for one off customers/broking down cars. to be fair he did spent sometime trying to track a engine down and did found one at a high price.
But with Ian he mention the turbo will be burned as no oil (getting recondition), check my raditator was a valeo (getting it change while engine is out), recommand to get gearbox aswell as it been running high speed and was stuck in gear. it will be cheaper to get replacment then trying to put old one back on not knowing if it was bad,

on another note when i went to drop engine off to ian, a customer drive even further (nottingham 110miles) then me to have ian work on his car, thats how much a lot of customers think of him. he is 90 miles away from me

 

[flango]

Srry if i worried you, i never met/use him before, me being non white and the car being towed there, i think most garages will take advantage of the situation as most non white havnt a clue on cars.
if you use him reguler and he charges a fair price then carry on using him, As most garage will charge more for one off customers/broking down cars. to be fair he did spent sometime trying to track a engine down and did found one at a high price.
But with Ian he mention the turbo will be burned as no oil (getting recondition), check my raditator was a valeo (getting it change while engine is out), recommand to get gearbox aswell as it been running high speed and was stuck in gear. it will be cheaper to get replacment then trying to put old one back on not knowing if it was bad,

on another note when i went to drop engine off to ian, a customer drive even further (nottingham 110miles) then me to have ian work on his car, thats how much a lot of customers think of him. he is 90 miles away from me

Sorry to hear of your bad experience, being non white should have nothing to do with it and people should not try to take advantage of the situation, that simply is not on and if thats how one particular garage treats a member of this forum then I have to question if I should be giving them work.

I'm not sure where Ian is but I guess it cant be far if you travelling from Rotherham area to get work done, Could you or Ian let me have details of where you are think the care of my Merc may be getting another home.

On a separate note my main problem for our performance cars is that there are not many places in South Yorkshire that cater for this type of vehicle and Johns have always been OK and were recommended by South Yorkshire Police that is why I am so suprised.

Like I say sorry about your bad experience but thanks for bringing it to the attention of the forum, and good luck with your car I'm sure Ian will sort it to your satisfaction

 

[tony2311]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience, being non white should have nothing to do with it and people should not try to take advantage of the situation

trust me it happens all the time. with plumbers, electrican, printer and decorators, family menbers with get a qoute and me knowing a few people in the trade people will normally do the job for a lot less most of the time,
ian at w124 works is near blackpool so its too far for you, but it being a big job he was the only one i could trust and know he will not rip me off as he look after my SLK
flanaia what do you do, you might know me as i ran a restaurant in rotherham and know a few people

 

[flango]

trust me it happens all the time. with plumbers, electrican, printer and decorators, family menbers with get a qoute and me knowing a few people in the trade people will normally do the job for a lot less most of the time,
ian at w124 works is near blackpool so its too far for you, but it being a big job he was the only one i could trust and know he will not rip me off as he look after my SLK
flanaia what do you do, you might know me as i ran a restaurant in rotherham and know a few people

My main line of work is a chemical engineer, but I do a lot of driver training and race driver training as well, been a part time instructor at both Donnington & Rockingham and worked for VW racing as a consultant for a while, these days taking it a little slower though.

Which restaurant did you run ? I used to wine and dine customers around Rotherham mainly in the late 1990's but know most of the Restaurants around there as my family were originally from Rotherham

 

[Dieselman]

But with Ian he mention the turbo will be burned as no oil (getting recondition)

What happened.? Did the engine continue to run without oil pressure.

 

[tony2311]

hole in engine, no oil in sump but the engine can still start! shes been driving for 20miles dont know when the hole happen , but for the sake of £200 i though it saves the trouble of replacing turbo if we put the old one back in

 

[flango]

Popped in to see the Guys at John's today and got one hell of a shock, Chris the Senior Technician was mugged on his way home from the Pub on a Saturday evening and has been off work a while with a broken femur, tibia , fibia and ankle as well as a fractured eye socket and numerous crush injuries through been jumped on apparetly he has more metal holding his leg together than on my CLK, poor Guy and evil B******s that did it, as though that wernt bad enough for the business the other mechanic left as he couldn't hack the workload so this has left John the owner with a bit of part time help from his son and a family friend (neither who are mechanics but are trying to help by being gofers) trying to keep the business afloat. To say things are stressed there at the moment would be an understatement and I feel for the guys as they have done good work for me in the past. Just shows that one evil act and a lifetimes business could be down the tubes. Just thought I'd post an update as they are usually a very helpful and knowledgeable outfit but under the circumstances I guess they may haven taken their eyes of the ball a little, but I wish them well and hope things get back to normal as its hard enough running a business these days without thugs trying to destroy it.

 

[tony2311]

hope they get back on their feet soon. i will give then another try once chris is back as i heard good things about then, the explaination above explains what happen on my visit.

 

[Ian B Walker]

hole in engine, no oil in sump but the engine can still start! shes been driving for 20miles dont know when the hole happen , but for the sake of £200 i though it saves the trouble of replacing turbo if we put the old one back in

Had a closer look today at the hole. There is a con rod poking out of the block . I will photo it when the engine is out and post.

Will (DM), decided to get the turbo looked at while it is out. Seems the right thing to do under the circumstances. I want to be sure that everything is in order before actually driving the car.