I have Michael Cook owner of K&M Inc also t/a Allegany Motor Sports LLC work on five (5) of my vehicles and EVERY car had issues with it despite paying a fortune on repairs and service. I have been patient with Mr. Cook and gave him every opportunity to "make things right" but he has been abusing my friendship and nature. He has been very ungrateful as it was my cars and referrals that allowed him to start his business years ago! He held my car hostage, stole my title and refuse to return my calls and emails for months then attempts to charge me for storage and even attempted to sell my car as a mechanic lien for balance of $2k although he owes me more than $14k for items that I had to redo as a result of improper install. I contacted the better business bureau and of course he lied and lied and refused arbitration.
For complete details including pictures etc... See
:
1) 1971 Mercedes 280se 3.5 Coupe:
This was a project car and it took years to approach 'completion' (as expected with any project car!). I even purchased Mr. Cook own car ($5000) to combine with my car to make one (mine had to much rust!). Mr Cook has yet to provide a title to me for his car that I purchased (minus engine tranny seats). More details:
2) 2004 BMW 545i:
This car was purchased from ebay. It was involved in an accident but was NOT totalled as claimed by Mr. Cook to BEtter Business Bureau! It always had a clean title and still does!!! I purchased all the sheet metal I needed for the front end (near $4000) from a 2005 BMW M5 (see email here and purchased New from VOB BMW all mechanical and electronic parts, again over $6000. Mr Cook claims, again lies, that I wanted them to "fix it on the cheap".. Anyway, after a long process of attempting to fit an engine and figuring out the electronics, I have taken possession of the car after having paid for all the labor on it with several issues. I have opted to take the car to the VOB BMW dealer as K&M had stalled on this car for months despite repeated phone calls and emails, and despite having zero balance on it! The following issues were encovered upon receipt of the vehicle:
* improper installation of the power steering pump resulting in replacement thereof ($970 part!) although K&M "blew up' the original one before I picked up the 545i. Making it two (2) power steering pumps that I had to repuchase NEW from VOB BMW dealer! (near $2000)!
* substandard paint shop and frame alignment. K&M had contracted out the job to a bodyshop, charged me around $3000 (see Email. I had to get everything redone locally at AutoDent of Rockville! As K&M refused to do anything about fixing the body.
* misaligned frame, umproper install, wrong bolts on power steering pump, damaged timing cover (K&M cut a portion of it to make things fit instead of purchasing and installing the proper one)
* improper installation of harness and battery safety terminals etc...
* wrong type of coolant
This car was at the VOB BMW dealer in February.. Despite repeated requests
3) 2002 Mercedes C320:
This car was wrecked with a salvage title and I had the vehicle delivered to K&M. I purchased from Potomac German, over $3700 of replacement parts and Mr Cook charged me near $4000 for labor to install the parts and I paid an additional $4000 to the same local body shop Mr Cook used and recommended me to. Prior to me getting the vehicle from K&M, Mr. Cook charged me near $800 to replace the fuel pump system and a new harness. Again, several things were wrong with the car (I sent it to Euro Motor cars as the car still had a lot of error codes! Although Mr Cook claimed they were all cleared. The vehicle was DIRECTLY towed to the dealer from K&M:
* The cas was leaking gas!!! And the gauge was faulty!
* One ABS sensor/connector was not installed
airbag was not tigthen. Was just sitting on top of the steering wheel!
* Engine oil level was low (I paid $180 additional to Euro Motorcars dealer for another oil change!)
Again after few phones calls and unanswered voicemails, I had no option but to take vehicle to Euro Motorcars to re-diagnose codes and oil change, then towed the vehicle to a local shop which encovered that the new fuel pump was not tightened... (everything was lose) and redid the entire job at a local shop in Kensington.
4) 1998 Mercedes SL500:
This vehicle was purchased wrecked and delivered WITH ITS TITLE to Mr. Cook's shop. I was at the time working on other cars too. Mr Cook found a good deal on a complete front clip and suggested it would be easier and safer to install the entire front clip where everything aligns perfectly than tring to fix item by item. He was the one who suggested that they would work on it and do everything then charge me a total of '4 grand' and that I can pay as I can. I had at the time voiced that I rahter focus my funds on completing the 545 and more importantly the 1971 Mercedes 3.5 coupe but when he made that proposal, I agreed to it. I had repeatedly requested him to mail me the title but to no avail! I purchased additonal parts such as a NEW front bumper spoiler and guard, a used hardtop etc... Mr. Cook is holding this car hostage along with its title. I had attempted to settle all the problems with other cars, I suggested that in exchange for the $2000 or so balance on it, I retrieve my car and he does not owe me anything as far as refunds (Pls see details on link) which by far exceeded the $2000. He has been playing games ever since and now all of a suddden, I get collection calls that I owe $17,000 on this car. How did that go from $2000 to $17,000? I have yet to know. I have discovered today that he tried to sell my car a mechanic lien.
5) 1999 BMW 740i.
I chose to pay to K&M $300 more than the $1500 I was quoted by the dealer Tischer BMW (not to mention towing charges) and still had to deal with other things to fix on the 740. Not only did I end up paying an additional $1200 to K&M, when I received the car I faced bad oil leak due to gaskets improperly fitted, broken and unreplaced breather hose, check engine light back one within hours of receiving the car. The door panel was loose, the glass was off the rail (see pictures), the door handle fell inside the door. I had to pay $380 in labor for all gaskets/oil change/breather hose etc... And another $80 for the door handle/panel/glass rail etc... And another $260 at the dealer to diagnose resulting codes and problems.
A. *
Potomac, Maryland
U.S.A.
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