What'd I say?

[bill_schubert]

Took my Smart Car to get the oil changed and was told by the guy that the previous place had 'rounded off' the oil drain plug.  He could take if off but didn't have a replacement (Smart is in no way standard on anything).

So I now have an appointment with Mercedes to get a 90K miles checkup/major expenditure.  I'm sure they will find lots of things that HAVE to be done.  Sigh.

It is good to be done but will put off the savings build up for a month or so.  And it will take them days during which we will have one car.  All in all....  sigh. 

Comments

[susandennis]

Phuque

[anais_pf]

I would totally take the car back to the place that "rounded off" the plug and ask them to replace it for free.

[bill_schubert]

Two problems with that. First is I don't remember where it was. I could probably research back to it but I'd still have number 2.
2 - They obviously suck and I don't want them around my car.

It is hard enough to find someone who can figure out where the engine is in my car. I hate getting the oil changed. Mercedes is the only place that has techs that know anything about SmartCars but it is far away and time consuming. I had to show these guys today how to access the engine.

I need the 90K work anyway. Skipped 80 and so it has been a while.

If I had a chevvy or ford or toyota, a standard kind of car, I'd rain some hell down on them. But really I just need to assume it is going to take me two days to get my oil changed and suck it up and go to Mercedes.

[anais_pf]

What a pain! I'm learning a lot about smartcars from your writings, and I thank you for it!

[bill_schubert]

After all that I found a shop that just moved up from Austin. They list European cars and specifically Smart. Much closer than Mercedes so I'm going to swing by and see them tomorrow. My Mercedes appointment is not until next Tuesday so I can cancel tomorrow if these guys seem legit. Fingers crossed.