Actually it was a few weeks ago, and I haven't had any time to take pics yet. But I finally made my way up to Pro Imports (whatta fuckin hike - about 1.25 hours from my house) to get the sled lowered.

Thanks to all who recommended them - that shop is awesome! First of all, there must be 20+ bays - the place is huge. Unbelieveably clean - never seen an auto shop with comfy leather chairs, and a flat screen TV w/ cable in the waiting room! Had it all to myself cuz it was a Saturday morning. All the people I talked to there were very cool and very knowledgeable. I got a good deal on all the work (H&R's + Bilsteins + Alignment) , and the guy that was in the office at the front desk (sorry dude forgot your name if you're reading this) even helped me clean the car after everything was done!

So this is just an appreciation post for a 'local' business that does great work - if you guys need any type of suspension work (and I'm sure they do everything else) and need a place you can trust, check out Pro Imports in Gaithursburg!

Yikes...why go all the way down there, when there are plenty of places in Baltimore??

In any case, nice wheels :)

Yikes...why go all the way down there, when there are plenty of places in Baltimore??

In any case, nice wheels :)

Because when I asked for local places a few months ago the only one that got consistently good reviews was Pro Imports.

And thanks :)

Pics, man!

Yeah, we demand pics of yo M! :buttrock

Pics, man!

Soon yes.

Funny. When I asked about Pro-Imports, it got very poor reviews - unanimously. I was told to go elsewhere . . . and did.

But glad things worked-out for you.

Pro Imports :eek: :devillook

Pro Imports

oh. :(

I should have given you their socket back that was stuck on Jed's RTAB bolts. You could have returned it to them.

I should have given you their socket back that was stuck on Jed's RTAB bolts. You could have returned it to them.

yeah sometimes they tend to "socket" to ya :eek: in a number of ways...yipes lol ;) :D :stickoutt

All my future work will be performed in the state of the art garage of DMG.:buttrock

All my future work will be performed in the state of the art garage of DMG.:buttrock


Who are you going to pay to do it for you? :dunno
:eek:

Sunir/Garret,

Which places around Rockville do you recommend, other than pro imports, not that I've been there yet....

Sunir/Garret,

Which places around Rockville do you recommend, other than pro imports, not that I've been there yet....

I don't recommend any shops around here...then again, I don't trust many shops at all... :(

Ah'hm ?>? Excuse you sunir.

I don't recommend any shops around here...then again, I don't trust many shops at all... :(


Haha no problem mate, just asking out of curiosity,

Ah'hm ?>? Excuse you sunir.

you are not a shop John...I thought he wanted a shop (i.e written reciept and warrenty etc...)

if such is not the case, ExLondoner, then John (TheWiseguy)...should be able to handle your needs...he has done quite a bit of work on my race car...

I dont have a shop but I am more than willing to help out local bimmer guys. I have been a bmw tech for quite some years now. I can help you guys and teach you how to do it in the process for the future. You can ask garrett dado, sunir, marks, james derry, And a few more to boot. However do not ask about hoods, thats a sore subject.

I dont have a shop but I am more than willing to help out local bimmer guys. I have been a bmw tech for quite some years now. I can help you guys and teach you how to do it in the process for the future. You can ask garrett dado, sunir, marks, james derry, And a few more to boot. However do not ask about hoods, thats a sore subject.


Well John, I just purchased a set of yellow Knoi SA's, pro kit springs, JTD RSM'd and GC RTABS, and was thinking of asking a member of the family to get them installed, however he's a senior master tech for Jags and I'm not exactly sure how familiar he is with bimmers?

I'd love to get this installed sometime this month, any advice?

Where about's in bthesda are you loacted, cheers

I dont have a shop but I am more than willing to help out local bimmer guys. I have been a bmw tech for quite some years now. I can help you guys and teach you how to do it in the process for the future. You can ask garrett dado, sunir, marks, james derry, And a few more to boot. However do not ask about hoods, thats a sore subject.
:eek:

Sunir/Garret,

Which places around Rockville do you recommend, other than pro imports, not that I've been there yet....

That's a tough call.

Over the years, working with guys like Wise and others who know a bit about these cars, i have developed the ability to do most work on my car myself. Its VERY easy to work on. I do all the basic maintenance and did the coilovers, steering rack, bushings, brakes, etc. myself. Now, i really don't trust too many shops with my car. Too many bone-head kids are actually doing the work in many shops. So, I do everything I can DIY. It saves a lot of money (especially for a track-orianted car) and allows you to develop a different appreciation for the car and YOUR work.

Excluservice is still pretty damn good for general BMW work in the Rockville area. I know a few of the techs there and they are good honest guys who know what they are doing.

Ed York in Mt. Airy (not that far) is excellent and will get the majority of my business in the future (stuff like custom alignments, corner-balancing, etc.)

Brant Campbell (Baltimore) is pretty much the only guy in the area I'd let play around with my motor.

That's a tough call.

Over the years, working with guys like Wise and others who know a bit about these cars, i have developed the ability to do most work on my car myself. Its VERY easy to work on. I do all the basic maintenance and did the coilovers, steering rack, bushings, brakes, etc. myself. Now, i really don't trust too many shops with my car. Too many bone-head kids are actually doing the work in many shops. So, I do everything I can DIY. It saves a lot of money (especially for a track-orianted car) and allows you to develop a different appreciation for the car and YOUR work.

Excluservice is still pretty damn good for general BMW work in the Rockville area. I know a few of the techs there and they are good honest guys who know what they are doing.

Ed York in Mt. Airy (not that far) is excellent and will get the majority of my business in the future (stuff like custom alignments, corner-balancing, etc.)

Brant Campbell (Baltimore) is pretty much the only guy in the area I'd let play around with my motor.



I appreciate your helps guys, I do routine maintenance my myself at home and feel good about it, the car is still under cpo for another two years but I have not had any issues so far.

I was told that Koni's are not a straightforward install so I'm hesitant to even try the install, and I'll have to get an alignment done afterwards.

Thanks again for your replies! :)

The koni install is not as bad as some make it out to be. Just some cutting and drilling, really. Maybe a tad messy, though.
Most shops will charge an inordinate premium for the work, however.

Excluservice did my old koni's years ago. They've done more than a few. But be prepared to pay . . .

Hmm well glad my appointment with PI turned out well. Sorry you guys had problems with them, but mine went very well. :redspot

Well John, I just purchased a set of yellow Knoi SA's, pro kit springs, JTD RSM'd and GC RTABS, and was thinking of asking a member of the family to get them installed, however he's a senior master tech for Jags and I'm not exactly sure how familiar he is with bimmers?

I'd love to get this installed sometime this month, any advice?

Where about's in bthesda are you loacted, cheers
I am on cedar ln. just off of 355. I can do all of that. I do not have the tool for teh rtabs but I can take them completely off and go get them done by the rrt boys.

I am on cedar ln. just off of 355. I can do all of that. I do not have the tool for teh rtabs but I can take them completely off and go get them done by the rrt boys.


I know cedar, my inlaws live opposite the Giant on old georgetown rd. I'm still waiting to receive my prokit springs which should be here next tuesday. How long a typical install for the work that needs to be done and how much would it cost, thanks again John! :)

I might suggest going to Curry's Auto in Chantilly, VA. Its not too far away from the rockville area and they always do an excellent job.
They went out of their way to help me and didn't charge me extra for the overtime they spent. Good people, good service....trustworthy.

Price may or may not be higher than other places....but shouldn't there be a price for quality service? I think so. - Go cheap and you run the risk of some shady characters working on your beloved vehicle.

But...since TheWiseGuy can help...i'd go with that, nice of a fellow bimmer member, especially with bmw tech experience, to help out. :)

I might suggest going to Curry's Auto in Chantilly, VA. Its not too far away from the rockville area and they always do an excellent job.
They went out of their way to help me and didn't charge me extra for the overtime they spent. Good people, good service....trustworthy.

Price may or may not be higher than other places....but shouldn't there be a price for quality service? I think so. - Go cheap and you run the risk of some shady characters working on your beloved vehicle.

But...since TheWiseGuy can help...i'd go with that, nice of a fellow bimmer member, especially with bmw tech experience, to help out. :)
Of course. Anytime guys.
I know cedar, my inlaws live opposite the Giant on old georgetown rd. I'm still waiting to receive my prokit springs which should be here next tuesday. How long a typical install for the work that needs to be done and how much would it cost, thanks again John!
Well considering I do not have air tools or a lift it will run a little bit longer. If you are worried about pricing, dont be, Ill be more than fair :D. Again ask sunir how much he pays me... :finger22

Of course. Anytime guys.

Well considering I do not have air tools or a lift it will run a little bit longer. If you are worried about pricing, dont be, Ill be more than fair :D. Again ask sunir how much he pays me... :finger22

Where do you do the work, John...your house?

Again ask sunir how much he pays me... :finger22


$$$$$$ whoa :eek: :eek: :eek: ...just kidding :devillook

John is a good tech both scrappy and crafty, he knows about bimmers and is a good mechanic, what makes him better than most is that he works real hard and takes on the tough issues...like "I know it's bent to hell, but we need to get out there in 30 mins...can we make it happen??"

he's fair with pricing and will go the extra mile to make sure your car is good and safe...I've trusted his work going absolutely flat out on many different corners at many different tracks...if I didn't trust him I would have never let him take a wrench to my race car... :)

:eek: What happened to Tomas?? :confused

if I didn't trust him I would have never let him take a wrench to my race car... :)

he's fair with pricing

I'm more apt to believe the latter as to why Sunir uses John. :D

"John-thanks for working on my car! Here's some smokes I got from Petey and Jeddy!"

Tomas was teching for me towards the end of last season, in fact he was there at Mosport and WGI...He's a very helpful tech and gives his all in effort on race day...he's still learning quite a bit, in fact he's in schhol now and will someday become a tech for a pro team, Carlos is following the same path...I've worked with John the most back since the car was still in semi-street trim...he's seen it's progression through the years...and has been an instrumental part in helping me through with all of what I've done over the past couple of years.

I witnessed you yelling at Tomas one time. :nono

:D

The story is that I was the first tech. I had to deal with 3 cars on the team (dado's, sunir's, and marks') and needed more help. I brought carlos on the team and trained him. He then brought tomas on because he then needed help (I was busy working for RRT) and I couldnt be there. Carlos and Tomas are now at the bridgstone academy, while I am studying for my ME. I still have time on my hands and am no longer with a tech job so i try to offer assistance for you guys.

I witnessed you yelling at Tomas one time. :nono

:D
Last time sunir yelled at me I almost knocked him in the mouth. We dont fight anymore. :devillook
By the way sorry for completely hijacking this thread!

yo wtf u call it a sled? r u fat like santa? only santa has a sled bcause he's fat, like fat ham.

edit: nothing personal to fat hame but his name is funny.

:eek: What happened to Tomas?? :confused
Yes I will be doing my house.

yo wtf u call it a sled? r u fat like santa? only santa has a sled bcause he's fat, like fat ham.

edit: nothing personal to fat hame but his name is funny.

Nah I'm not fat. When the top's down the car kinda resembles a toboggan/sled. Just my name for it. Some call their cars 'she', some call their car 'Kimberly', I just call my shyt 'da sled'. :ninja

The story is that I was the first tech. I had to deal with 3 cars on the team (dado's, sunir's, and marks') and needed more help. I brought carlos on the team and trained him. He then brought tomas on because he then needed help (I was busy working for RRT) and I couldnt be there. Carlos and Tomas are now at the bridgstone academy, while I am studying for my ME. I still have time on my hands and am no longer with a tech job so i try to offer assistance for you guys.


John, will you be free during June, I believe the springs have arrived today :)

We should try and organize a meet at the sametime, any ideas?

Sure during the week prolly. We will see when it comes.

I should have given you their socket back that was stuck on Jed's RTAB bolts. You could have returned it to them.

yeah and i could have given back the ratchet that was left under my hood if i didnt decide to keep it for myself out of pure spite for pro-imports

Sure during the week prolly. We will see when it comes.



Sounds good man, have all the parts ready. Quick question would you recommend getting a set of Z3 reinforcement plates, I have the new JTD RSM's and GC RTABS sitting here.

Thanks.

Sounds good man, have all the parts ready. Quick question would you recommend getting a set of Z3 reinforcement plates, I have the new JTD RSM's and GC RTABS sitting here.

Thanks.
Absolutely.