W124 cabrio roof module stolen from my car

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Celicasaur

Active Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2011
Messages
199
Car
W212 E63 AMG PP
So, my clever clogs mechanic decided to leave my car parked on a random side road for a couple of weeks while he palmed me off saying 'i'll get around to your car tomorrow/the day after' etc (for a brake line and fluid flush job), an opportunist must have seen my pretty/mint looking car abandoned and thought "hmm...looks tidy...roof looks fresh...i've been looking for a nice roof module..."

So low and behold, last night I was walking to the gym and walked past my car....to see the driver door ajar. No sign of forced entry, the locks and roof appear to be fine....i noticed my red roof operating switch missing on the centre dash and then my heart sunk when I saw the back seats unsettled. I lifted the rear seat bench and yep....they stole the roof module. The ultra rare as hens teeth module which now pretty much renders my car worthless until a working replacement can be sourced.

I'm from West London, so if anybody hears of a module for sale on the black market, it might well be mine. But I suspect we wont see the module for sale, it was most likely stolen to specifically repair and add value to a W124 cabrio which had a defective module and to bring that car from worthless to around 10k....of which now mine has become somewhat worthless.

Rant over :(
 
Unless you were aware of your vehicle being left out on the street whilst awaiting repair then the mechanic has a duty of care towards your property to ensure it is safe and secure.

I would be asking him what he proposes to do to rectify the situation.

If he isn't interested in taking responsibility then contact a Solicitor and take advice.
 
So, I had a word with him yesterday and he said that because he told me that the car would be parked on a side-road away from the garage and he asked me if the car was insured, that was sufficient notice to disclaim himself of any responsibility. I argued that as a customer I've left the car in his care for a simple repair job (brake lines) and now I'm left with a £1200 pot shot at a used unit from Poland via eBay. He washed his hands of it and of course, being a back-alley garage without any formal booking system or even any proof that he had taken custody of the car (he gave the car back without charging for the brake job also and he generally works with cash and never gives out invoices) I am basically on my own :)

Needless to say, I'll not be going back again and I've placed said order on eBay for a replacement module...i just hope it actually works, as so many which actually do pop up for sale don't even work half the time.
 
So, I had a word with him yesterday and he said that because he told me that the car would be parked on a side-road away from the garage and he asked me if the car was insured, that was sufficient notice to disclaim himself of any responsibility. I argued that as a customer I've left the car in his care for a simple repair job (brake lines) and now I'm left with a £1200 pot shot at a used unit from Poland via eBay. He washed his hands of it and of course, being a back-alley garage without any formal booking system or even any proof that he had taken custody of the car (he gave the car back without charging for the brake job also and he generally works with cash and never gives out invoices) I am basically on my own :)

Needless to say, I'll not be going back again and I've placed said order on eBay for a replacement module...i just hope it actually works, as so many which actually do pop up for sale don't even work half the time.
The fact that he gave you the car back without charging you suggests he is worried and wants to placate you hoping you just go away.

I might be inclined to drop the local Inland Revenue Office a note about his "Cash only, no invoice" policy!
 
This is a shady scumb@g mechanic.
Name the guy and shame his shop to the public!

All the money he makes goes down his pockets, he doesn't pay any taxes.
Put a tax-investigator on him. :thumb:
 
This is a shady scumb@g mechanic.
Name the guy and shame his shop to the public!

All the money he makes goes down his pockets, he doesn't pay any taxes.
Put a tax-investigator on him. :thumb:
But the garages who do it all by the book and don't endanger a customer's car are called 'stealers'.
 
Maybe your roof module is nearer home than you think, ask your mechanic!!!!,
 
How did they get in and steal it without making a mess?
A thief would have just ripped it to bits to save time.
All sounds dodgy to me.
 
But the garages who do it all by the book and don't endanger a customer's car are called 'stealers'.
There is a balance.

My Indie has a proper booking system, safe parking either inside or under CCTV and issues proper invoices whilst charging under half the MB labour rate.
 
But the garages who do it all by the book and don't endanger a customer's car are called 'stealers'.

Aren't they all crooks like Tricky D*ck? :eek::eek:
 
How did they get in and steal it without making a mess?
A thief would have just ripped it to bits to save time.
All sounds dodgy to me.
Have to say that’s what jumped out to me. Inside job?

Not that many people out scoping the streets to steal very specific parts from specialist/unusual cars like this. How did they know it was even working? How did they gain entry? How did they even know the car was there?
 
I am with Will. Random A124s parked in street just does not happen so how lucky was a thief to chance upon exactly what he needed.... does not compute.
 
The thing is, looking at it, it does look like a pretty gorgeous and sorted example with the recent roof and paintjob. Tbh I don't think he had anything to do with it...it was pure negligence and nothing more. The sad thing is that he was a friend....alas....bit hard to trust and see somebody as a friend whom wont atone or admit to their error. He just kept telling me that he asked me if my car was insured and that he was going to park it on a side road....that's his disclaimer. It's all BS and I decided that there's nothing I could really do or prove about him being responsible so there's no point in pushing the issue too hard.

I've ordered a replacement unit on ebay via a seller in Poland....I just hope it actually works, as so many are sold as 100% working, but they are either faulty or a bit iffy. I think enough's enough now with this car....I'm just going to list it for sale in about a month or so and take whatever I get for it. I was going to treat it to a fully rebuilt gearbox at Hardy Engineering to make it perfect and very special, but now I just don't care anymore. Time to move onto an SL55.
 
Its in his care custody and control, so insured under his Motor trade insurance policy.
Letter of claim in, advising him to pass to his insurers ASAP

Have you notified the police and got a crime ref...?
If it's happened to you, it may have happened to others an plod can join the dots.....

This shouldn't be your bill.
You could even claim off your insurance and they they subrogate and seek recovery from the garage.

On face value, that garage 'could' be involved.....
 
so insured under his Motor trade insurance policy.
Does he even have one? You do not park someone's car in a side street & hope for the best. Who even asks if its insured apart from the police & as said before, was the car damaged or was it a neat removal. A thief is not going to be considerate. How many by chance thief's are looking for roof modules or even know what they are. Also if it had been left for two weeks I'm sure the thief or some of his pals would have been back for more bits. As I said before, it may be closer to home than you think.
 
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