24/05/2026
So, last weekend we had to service a lovely little 450 cabrio, it had been to a supposed smart specialist in Norfolk who came recommended to the owner by facebook groups, we were asked to re service the car because of various issues relating to the owners trust in the service being carried out correctly, her invoice stated that her 2002 smart passion cabrio needed and had three spark plugs changed, the owner questioned that, knowing smartie ‘Doris’ probably needed all six replacing as that’s how many she knew ‘Doris’ had when she left the factory 24 years ago, reasonable expectation I think, so, because that ‘specialist’ also failed to notice or replace a bottom ball joint and or a drop link that had failed rubbers on them she asked us to re service ‘Doris’
We replaced the oil and the oil filter and found a MANN filter in the housing, a pet hate of mine because the plastic top and bottom rings stop deformation of the top or bottom of not seated correctly, they deform in the middle and strangle the oil flow (see pics) anyway, in line with another.
Another car we had to work on late last Saturday because the owner paid someone claiming to be a mobile mechanic who knew smart cars because he has one (I have a dog, a pair of dogs but we use a Vet to look after and operate on them because, owning a dog doesn’t make me a vet!!!) anyway, that mobile mechanic needed money up front for parts, WTF… and what do you think has happened, yep, he’s fu**ed off with the, wait for it, this s**t gets better, he has taken the £175 for a Thermostat and fu**ed off with it and another £125 for the Water Pump. That’s right, £300 given over and no parts even if they were the worlds most expensive parts, here’s me listening to you telling me Mercedes-Benz knew/know how to change for parts, this bloke is on a new level…
Be careful people, it’s not rocket science I mean look at us pair of idiots and never never pay for parts upfront especially if that business is mobile, find a nice companies house registered business that’s maybe been around under the same name for 12/15 years or so and that files its accounts on time, you know where to find them next week.
I’m not in any way saying we are perfect, I’m not saying we always get it right but we try and we’ve been trying a long time and if you want a view on getting things right and being perfect, maybe watch a bit of YouTube and see how Ferrari actually put their cars together or how Bugatti support owners, not him, that’s different but Mark McCann’s Veyron is not Cat s and neither is Mr Armstrong’s.
⬇️ s**t oil filters 💁🏼♂️
