Problem with Indie garage

[bobn10]

Need advice had some work done at recomended indie which included auto box filter and oil change.This was done apparently and 7lts and new filter replaced,however garage said the torque convertor cant be drained without dropping gearbox and the old oil was very dirty so they advised in that in about 200 miles have it changed again to ensure all oil cleaned out and another new filter might be needed.
Anyway 100 miles or so later autobox not changeing well,so a neighbour who is a mad bmw nut said he would check atf level.The level was low and he said the oil hadnt been changed and to prove it he pumped out about 1tr of thick black burnt smelling atf fluid via dipstick and we then topped it up to correct temp level at 80 deg.My question is should the atf fluid be this condition after 7lts of new oil put in 100 miles ago or can this be the old oil caught in the torque convertor but surley when the oil is refilled its done via the dipstick and so it shouldnt be like treacle or have i been had over by the garage ????.

 

[BlackC55]

You can drain the TC as I do it all the time without removing the box.

When they drain the ATF just from the sump pan it is only 3.5L that is drained. If they charged you for 7 without draining the TC that is wrong.

Even when you drain and re-fil the ATF the pink coloured fluid will dirty very quickly due to residues inside the 'box. It may also smell funny but it should not smell burnt at all.

They may have not filled it up quite enough and therefore causing the fluid to burn.
The 722.6 'box needs the MB fluid and nothing else IMO. 000 989 21 03 10 is the part number.

I would get it changed again to make sure.

Edit: Ignore the part number. I thought you had a much later car.

 

[bobn10]

Thanks for that ,it wasnt cheap about £170 and they allegedly used mb fluid.Im tempted to take the carton of oil that came out back and get a refund and go elsewhere.

 

[BlackC55]

it will be impossible to prove.

 

[Howard]

What did BMW man top it up with ? did he have some MB spec fluid ?

 

[Dieselman]

And a dipstick.?

 

[bobn10]

I had to go and get 2lts from local mb dealer his recomendation, the dipstick has level markings on it and before you ask the BMW guy is an enthusiast with a 2002 and a 630 not a young boy racer at 56yrs.To be honest a neighbour who see me with my new purchase and everytime im doing something with it hes out wanting to chat

 

[Dieselman]

I had to go and get 2lts from local mb dealer his recomendation, the dipstick has level markings on it

What car is it, later cars don't have a dipstick, it's a workshop item and can't be left in.

EDIT:

It looks like you have a 107 SL, which does have a dipstick and TC drain plug, doesn't take 7L of ATF and doesn't need special MB fluid.


I'd say the box could be in trouble and the ATF change has shown the deficincy.

 

[grober]

Hmmm I think I would go to a "specialist" who knows what they are doing. Suggesting changing the fluid and filter AGAIN after 200 miles just because they don't know how to completely change the fluid shows an appalling lack of expertise apart from being prohibitively expensive for the customer.

 

[alexander patie]

as dieselman, IF it is a 107 then you DEFINATELY have a drain plug in the torque convertor, absolutelydootely.

 

[Dieselman]

It might be an R129...

Looking back he was looking for a 107.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/75111-hard-top-v-soft-top.html#post833745

 

[bobn10]

its a r129 320sl 1995 and ive found the garage invoice and it shows 9ltrs of fluid !! the dipstick has a black top with red tag and its a 5 spd auto box if that helps.

 

[kth286]

It is likely the 722.5 gearbox on that generation car which does have the drain plug in the T/Converter.

Your paperwork should show you that info if you look.

Did anyone on here recommend an Indie to you ? as I do not see that post.

Was it a Merc indie you used or just a general Indie ?

Who was it ?

 

[bobn10]

No it was a merc indie and yes it was one recomended locally from this site from previous topics on local indies to me.Today ive shown some of the oil taken out to a qualified mechanic and hes said its never been changed "the condition of the oil indicates that its is impossible to have had between 7-9lts of alleged new oil put in 6 wks ago which also means that the filter and seal havent been changed but the sump cover has been cleaned and the drain plug has been sheared possibly by person attempting to use wrong size tool"
His advice return to garage give them the opportunity to rectify and if no joy cancel credit card payment and open a dispute but the car would have to be examined by technician to confirm the work hasnt been done as per the reciept i have.
Any advice or anyone had similar problems with garage

 

[alexander patie]

drain plug is on this box for sure, certainly sounds like the 722.5, can't really be anything else as the 722.6 was not out in 96.

 

[bobn10]

the more replies im getting looks like ive been tucked up so do i walk away go back and tell him what i think or try to get it sorted amicably and take a chance they do it properlt ???

 

[alexander patie]

at least talk to them. be firm about the fact that there is a torque convertor drain screw, and the fact that only draining the sump will not require 7 litres but <4. and take in a sample of the oil and the other guys opinion, but let them do the talking on that one. you should be able to tell if a genuine mistake was made, a good garage can be let let down by a bad mechanic - they may be genuinely shocked. equally they may just try to fob you off.....ideally you want a full refund and walk away.

 

[para alpha]

the more replies im getting looks like ive been tucked up so do i walk away go back and tell him what i think or try to get it sorted amicably and take a chance they do it properlt ???

I have read a large majority of the thread... Now, I think you have been ripped off my friend. As Olly said any wrong doing would be hard to prove. I just wouldn't go back there to have anything done. I would suggest you take it to one of the approved independents on this site... Obviously depends on where you are in the country. But all I can say is you will be happy with the work and have the confidence in knowing it was done correctly by people who work on Mercs every day.

 

[Dieselman]

Legally he needs to take it back to the garage that did the work, otherwise if he pursues it they could well say the damage has been caused by another repairer.

Take a sample of the fluid and send it to an oil testing lab for analysis. If the box is slipping badly it could just have burned the fluid depending on how much it's slipping.

It seems strange for a garage to perform a single job and to not actually do it.

 

[bobn10]

Thanks good advice i would prefer a refund ive lost confidence in the garage but running business im also aware that sometimes people cut corners.I will go back and try to resolve it and will update this thread i just wanted some more advice having seen the oil i know the work hasnt been done but im no expert.The thing is you feel conned i didnt try to haggle over the price or do it on the cheap but there you go lets hope it gets sorted cheers.