Background:

Last night, a friend and I started to install the new Konis and Vogtland Springs on my e30. We got everything off the car, and finished the rears. But we had a little difficulty with the front assembly.

As those of you who have done shocks yourselves before know, sometimes removing the top mount from the strut can be tricky. The manual states that you need to hold the center of the strut steady with an allen wrench, while loosening the nut that holds the top of the strut to the mount. Since the opening is small, you can remove the top mount from the strut with either - A: A 19mm offset wrench and a lot of torque or B: an air wrench.

Well, we had neither. And after trying numerous "alternative" methods, I decided I would take the assemblies to a shop today. No biggie, we thought... anybody with an air wrench and a spring compressor could spin 'em off. Shouldn't cost more than about $50 or so.

So, at about 10:00 AM this morning I took the assemblies over to Truechoice Motorsports. (http://www.truechoice.com/) For those of you who don't know, this is the only factory authorized Koni service center in the area. I figure they would know what they were doing and be professional.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When I got to the store, nobody was in the reception area when I got to the shop, so I walked around to the shop area. The owner of the shop saw me standing there, but ignored me for a few minutes. Eventually, a receptionist came around from the backside and asked me what I needed. I explained that I just need the shocks disassembled, namely, just the top mount separated from the strut. About 3/4 of the way through my request, the owner finally came over.

He caught the tail end of the conversation, and gave me a very curt "yeah, we can do that". I asked if he thought he could get to it today. He said , "yeah, easy job [which we knew], come back this afternoon". I asked if I could leave the assemblies with him, he said "yeah". We brought the assemblies and new struts/springs in and then he split. I showed the tech what I wanted done and told him I'd be back this afternoon.

I looked around for the receptionist to give my phone # to and get a firm price (it was never mentioned), but she had split, too. So I figured no biggie, I'll just come back in the afternoon when they said they were gonna start it.

So I did. I came in about 12:30 and the owner saw me pull in. "We're not done, yet" he said. I said I figured, but since he said they wouldn't start until the afternoon, I wanted to check in and make sure they understood what I wanted before they got started. He said "Yeah, we'll be done at 5:00 PM". I said, "Great. Thanks, how much do you want to do them?" This is how the rest of the conversation went:

Him: about $300

Me: (after I picked my jaw up off the ground) OK, never mind then. It should take you less than hour to get the shocks apart. I can't afford to pay $300/hr for someone to take off two nuts. Just stop any work you've started, I'll pay you for it, and be on my way

Him: F-- off!

Me: Excuse me?

Him F--- off! We've been working on this for 6 hours! [note: I don't know how 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM equals 6 hours.. must be the same math he used when figuring his labor was $300/hr). This is a very, very hard job.

Me: Uhm.. no. Look, all you need to do is compress the spring, air wrench off the top nut and give it back to me...

Him: F--- you! I know how to take a shock apart. You need a lathe, and a spring compressor...

Me: I have a spring compressor [we had used it on the rears last night]. I know I don't need a lathe. Look, this is an easy thing I asked you to do, should only cost me about $50 or so [an hour's worth of labor]. Look, just give me the shocks, I'll pay you for any work you've already done and be on my way. I don't wanna argue.

We walk back to the bench, and he’s' dropping swear words at me every other word. Now, I was in the Navy, so it doesn't bother me at all. But he is starting to get personally insulting and I am just about fed up. When we get to the bench, they have one shock half-apart.

Him: Give me $150

Me: This should be like a $50 job.

Him: You f---ing people! [Note: I can only assume that he meant "Americans" by "f---ing people". He is an Australian.] You all want something done for nothing! Just get out of my shop now, I'll bring your f----ing stuff out to you! I was just doing this as a favor.

Me: Look, don’t' do me any more "favors". I can't afford "favors" like the ones you are so very "generously" handing out.

He storms out of the room. I gather up my pieces parts from the tech and head to the door. The tech is really nice, just shaking his head as if this kinda thing happens all the time. I am careful not give the tech a hard time at all. After all, not his fault he works for a wanker. Additionally, I never raise my voice to the owner, swear at him, or go off on him either. He is doing a good enough job making himself look like an @ss... he didn’t need any help from me.

The tech goes back in a second time while I wait outside. The tech checks his bench, comes back out and says I have everything (and it seems I do). I wait in the parking lot for a minute or two to see if the owner inside is going to be just as brave when he's got to go one-on-one. I figure if he apologizes or something I'll throw him a few bucks for all his "hard" work. If he comes out with another attitude then we can "discuss" that, too.

He glares at me from his office window for a minute or two, but doesn't give me any indication he is going to come outside.

I shrug and drive away... up the road to the local Monroe Muffler, where they charge me $42.00 w/ tax to disassemble and reassemble both shocks. It takes about 45 minutes.

I want to make it emphatically clear that this guy represented himself as the owner. It wasn't some random flunkie who was having a bad day. This guy is ultimately solely responsible for the image his company represents.

I can't imagine having to take a strut in for service, or how many thousands of dollars they would have tried to charge me to actually install the shocks on the car (FWIW, two independent shops quoted me $300 - $350 to do a complete install).

For you Columbus-area people, last time I was at Truechoice Motorsports they told me they were moving to Auto Assets building in Powell. Auto Assets (http://www.autoassets.com/) has never been anything but completely decent to me, so if Truechoice Motorsports does end up sharing space with the Auto Assets.. well, let's just say that I don't want people to confuse the two companies just because they may be sharing space in the near future.

Hope this account spares someone a lot of grief. Feel free to pass this along to others, as Truechoice Motorsports is a fairly large supplier and I would hate to see anyone spend their hard-earned money with someone who treats their customers so poorly.

You should've went to someone who not only specialies in BMWs, but is also a supporting vendor here ;)

D'oh! Yeah, Renee told me about you. :D

Don't worry, I'll be calling you guys soon enough for some shifteR paRts. ;)

You should've went to someone who not only specialies in BMWs, but is also a supporting vendor here ;)

I agree

Dwight,

I am shocked! :eek: I bought my Bell from them last year and the guy who helped me was very helpful!

Since most of their business is mail order, they don't have anyone sitting out front. Once I found someone, it was a pleasent experience.

Dwight is one of the most honest, level-headed guys I know, this story is not BS.

I told you a couple weeks ago to call Chris. :nono :stickoutt I also want to see this new car. :alright

Tks, Renee.

I had already ordered the kit before I knew about Chris.

pics here (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363951) of the wheels and springs.

Let's see, you've got TC Kline and Understeer both within a mile from each other, both of whom specialize in BMW's and you go to Truechoice? Hmmm....

Let's see, you've got TC Kline and Understeer both within a mile from each other, both of whom specialize in BMW's and you go to Truechoice? Hmmm....

The "decision" to go to Truechoice at he time was a simple one. I put "Koni shocks" into Google, and Truechoice was the only hit in the in the area that came up. Probably because Truechoice is the only factory-authorized Koni service center in the area.

You make it seem as if Truechoice was unworthy of consideration, simply because they don't specialize in BMWs.

Truechoice is a huge supplier, supposedly well-versed in all suspensions, including full-on IRL cars. I reckoned that as such, if there was anything weird involved with my specific job, then the factory-authorized service center would know best how to handle it, and wouldn't void any warranties. I also fully anticipated I would pay a little more for their expertise, but in return I would get better service. (Of course, it ended-up I was wrong in this regard).

Keep in mind that I wasn't "going" somewhere for a complete install. I was going somewhere to have two (2) nuts removed off the top of the two (2) mounts and then have the shocks reassembled. As such, this wasn't necessarily a job for someone who "specializes" in BMWs (to use your words) - it was a job for someone who knows suspension.

Doubtless, if I needed engine mechanicals, parts, or anything of the like I would have gone to TC Kline and/or to Chis @ Understeer, as both have excellent reputations. I would have also gone to TC Kline or Understeer if I were planning on having a complete install done, instead of just a simple removal of two (2) nuts. I did the suspension removal and installation myself with the help of a friend.

The whole point of this thread is to illustrate to Koni (and others) just what kind of people are representing the brand; to show that this particular factory-authorized vendor treats Koni's customers like crap and tries to rip them off for the most basic of jobs.

In any case, the problem solved itself. And I heard through the grapevine that the dubious "owner" of Truechoice is selling the business, and that the new owners are relocating to the Powell area, so hopefully it s a non-issue for others.

Brian knows very well who TrueChoice is, he used to work for TC and dealt with them quite a bit.

I don't have time to read your blather, but if you would have maybe opened up your search a bit, you would have found that TC also used to be an authorized Koni service center and is a WD for Koni. TC's rebuild center was on the west coast, but still, he's far more qualified to do a simple assembly than Truechoice. If you need the shock rebuilt, then maybe Truechoice is your answer, but for christ sakes all you wanted was your stuff assembled. I think you got what you deserved for being a numbnut. Next time maybe you'll learn to listen to your friends recommendations, not try to outsmart a simple task.

Abd don't try to teach me any tricks sally, I've forgotten more about these cars than you'll ever hope to know.

TC also used to be an authorized Koni service center....

...[followed by a bunch of bullsh!t spewed off by someone who is overcompensating for something].

I'm so fearful of you, Brian, because you are such an

http://www.teampointless.com/apictures/ethug.jpg

!!!!11111onenelevenonejuanwon1111

:rolleyes

If you don't have anything worthwhile to add or don't (can't?) read, just hit the back button, "Sally". Not real intelligent to try and flame someone about something you didn't (by your pwn3d admission) bother to read.

Given your attitude, the fact that you used to frequently deal with Truechoice makes a lot of sense. The owner's helpful, non-judgemental, well-meaning attitude musta rubbed off on you... or you rubbed off on him.

Blah, blah, blah....


Alright sissy boy, don't get your panties in a bunch. You're barking up the wrong tree here. Maybe, just maybe, if you wouldn't have tried to re-invent the wheel, you wouldn't have had problems. I still say you probably got what you deserved because you didn't KNOW what you wanted them to do (or couldn't properly explain what you wanted done). Instead of being an assclown, you could have used the resources available to you, such as Chris Bethel. But no, you went off and got yourself screwed and want people to feel sorry for you.

But, what should one really expect from a 17 year old on daddys credit card....

Truechoice was a competitor when I was in this business. But, I happen to know that they do very good work and are a reputable company. As you tried to edumacate me, they do shocks for IRL, ALMS, etc. If you have a leaky shock or need them revalved, you know where to go. If you need them bolted together, go to someone who does them week in and week out. Hell, one of the best BMW racing teams in the country, and a Koni dealer was right down the street (and for the record, I don't even get along with the guy anymore. But, he is good with these cars). And one of this forums supporting vendors, and all around good guy, is just a mile in the opposite direction. You're the one with the shitty attitude, I'm just calling you out for being a moron.

See ya nancy.

Don't mind Brian, he's just a bitter old man of 30. One of the most recent things he's forgotten, which went along with his switch to a C-class, is how to use a clutch pedal ;)

Bwaaaahahahahah..That's a good one Chris! :stickoutt Don't make me mention the time you put the clutch disk in backwards and we had your tranny in and out 3 times :)

It's so nice too, turn on some classical, put her into D, and roll around with my nose in the air! :D

This guy is exactly why the BMW community has gone to shit. All hat, no cattle.......

Alright sissy boy...I still say you probably got what you deserved because you didn't KNOW what you wanted them to do (or couldn't properly explain what you wanted done...assclown...a 17 year old on daddys credit card....You're the one with the shitty attitude, I'm just calling you out for being a moron....See ya nancy.

You really have this inherent need to attempt to prove yourself intellectually superior to everyone else, don’t you? It must come from the fact that you don’t feel very good about yourself.

The only way to distract people from your obvious emotional (and perhaps even intellectual) shortcomings is to resort to name-calling (i.e., "sissy", "sally", "moron", "nancy-boy"), to make yourself present where you are not needed (i.e., "I have nothing to add to this conversation, but I'll jump in and make an inflammatory comment rather than use the "back" button) and to make obtuse assumptions that have no basis in fact (i.e., I'm 17, I'm on daddy's credit card, I didn't tell Truechoice what I wanted, etc.).

None of these things are true, even remotely. I'm not homosexual, despite the fact that your limited vocabulary attempts to characterize me as such. I'm roughly two decades removed from the age you approximated, and I have never in my life had access to my father's credit card. Furthermore, if you could engage your mind long enough to actually read (there's that word again) what was written, you would see that I articulated to Truechoice not once, not twice, but thrice exactly what I expected of them. Additionally, I didn’t get anything I “deserved” (your word), because I didn’t pay a dime for the dubious “work” Truechoice did (again, you would have to read to get that, though).

But let’s be honest, shall we?

You never had any intention of contributing. By your own admission, you didn’t even read the thread. Rather, you just wanted people to pay attention to you. Because when people pay attention to you, you feel better about yourself. Since you can’t get people to pay attention to you with positive contributions (because you do not know the manner in which to be a positive influence), you are forced to settle for obtaining attention through negative ones.

In fact, that was the fundamental difference between why I started this thread and why you jumped-in. I didn’t want someone else to get burned, and you came in here to try and burn someone.

So I’ll conclude our little tête-à-tête with a bit of advice. It’s free (like the work Truechoice did for me!) Here it is: unplug your computer, hop in your M3/4, and drive to a psychiatrist to get the help you need with your emotional problems. With professional help, you can come to the point where you don’t have to act like an @ss to feel good about yourself.

I’ll go ahead and put you on ignore, now, because most likely you will respond as you did above, with an incoherent, simple-minded diatribe. I hope not, but I have seen enough people just like you that I know what to expect. Prove me wrong.

In any case, best of luck!

LOL.. You make me laugh. I posted here because you got what you deserved. You had Renee and others tell you to go to Chris, but you thought you were Mr. Smarty Pants and went to Truechoice.

And, if YOU would bother reading, I no longer own my little M3. I got out before the kiddo's took over.

I do like your psych evaluation, but I think I'm just fine. How do I know? I'm not you. Obviously you have anger management issues that you need to work through. Good luck with that.

See ya Missy....