I firstbrought my 1985 BMW 325E to European Automotive Center on 4 April on the recommendation of a mechanic at Evans Tire and Auto Service. Brian at Evans Tire referred me European Autobecause they were unable to find what was causing an oil leak and, after putting in a new fan clutch, they were still unable to find why the temperature gauge was reading to the right of center and service indicator lights would come on without service being required. Evans Tire had done good work for me so far, so I trusted their recommendation and went down the road two days later to European Auto. They changed the oil pan, which corrected the oil leak* As for the temperature gauge
and other service indicator lights, the service manager Armando Ortega (with whom I have dealt over the duration) recommended replacing it.
Over the four month period in which the car went back and forth from the shop, the SI board and/or motherboard were replaceda minimum of four times. After the second time it was replaced, the gas gauge began to slowly fluctuate and the temperature gauge began to jump or jiggle at random. The gas gauge had never misread or fluctuated previous to the SI board replacement. Both the temperature and gas gauges still dont work properly.
On the 16 April invoice, the temperature gauge is not working and when the engine is checked it is found not to be overheating; less than a week later on the 23 April invoice, somehow now the engine is overheating? European Auto removed the fan clutch and replaced it with a used one, stating that the car had been overheating due to (what the invoice acknowledged as new) the existing fan clutch not engaging, and that it now worked since they put theirs in. They also tell me that someone had put welding on the fan and the brand new fan clutch, stating that that was the reason they put in their used one but apparently that didnt rate a phone call to me, and they did all that work at no charge. No mechanic does work at no charge unless its under warranty or they made a mistake. Since 4 April the car was not taken anywhere else except Evans Tire in Poway a place not licensed to have a welder. When I contacted Evans Tire I spoke with the district manager Mike Kostecki who placed an anonymous call to European Auto inquiring if they could do some welding work, and Mr. Kostecki told me that the person he spoke to (I dont remember who he said he had spoken to) said that they could. Ultimately Evans Tire warrantied the fan clutch and put in a brand new one for me. The next four invoices note the fact that the gauges, particularly the temperature gauge, still dont read properly. After I believe the fourth time I had to bring the car back, they provided me with a loaner car.
Over the next three months, I had a loaner car three times. I was only provided a copy of the loaner agreement upon request. I was given the same agreement with again written on it, but without a new return date. On one occasion in late May or early June, I picked up the car around 6pm and drove it less than a mile before turning around and asking Armando to go on a drive with me. We drove approximately a mile and he conceded that he too saw the gas gauge fluctuate, and agreed to take the car again and gave me back the same loaner vehicle. I did not receive a new invoice, or a new loaner vehicle agreement; it was already after their closing time and it didnt occur to me to ask for yet
another invoice.
When I picked up my car for the final time on 6 June I noticed a knocking sound immediately. I called Julie (she was driving in front of me) and told her. She said that since European Auto had gone through my fuel system when I reported that my gas gauge was fluctuating, maybe they had put in regular gas, which lacks the octane the BMW needs. With that, I went to an auto parts store the same day and purchased octane boosters and put that in my gas tank. I drove it to and from work the next day and when the knocking continued, I stopped driving it and dropped it back at European on 9 June and asked them to investigate the knocking. Thats when I was told that the engine must be disassembled to find out what was causing the knocking, and that I would have to pay for it. Armando told me that it would probably be cheaper to get a rebuilt engine, and that he called BMW of Escondido and they quoted him $5600 just for the engine alone. I called BMW of Escondido on 9 June and they quoted me $3400 for the engine alone, which means Armando lied to me, I assume so that he could price gouge me. I asked Armando to see if he could find a cheaper rebuilt engine. He told me that I could keep the loaner vehicle. I also made him aware that I was going to Haiti for two weeks in late June, and he said that it was fine that I keep the car while he looked for a rebuilt engine. I dont recall if he gave me another loaner vehicle agreement, but I dont have one (thats not to say he didnt; I dontalways keep copies of everything). I continued to keep the loaner until I picked up my car via tow truck on 12 August. I had the BMW towed to Advance Automotive in San Diego, where the engine was ultimately rebuilt.
Between 9 June and 12 August I contacted the Bureau of Automotive Repair on two occasions. The first report was filed inconclusive because it would take tearing down the engine to find the cause of the knocking. A second investigator filed an addendum after visiting Advance Automotive and seeing the torn down engine. The owner of Advance Automotive told me that the cause of the engine failure was a lack of oil. He showed me the four pistons and allowed me to take a photo and take two of the pistons with me. The only people to do anything with the engine oil, fuel system, or instrument cluster was European Auto. It wasnt until I sued in small claims did the claim of it having come in already 4 quarts low on oil arose.
I filed suit in small claims and won, but then lost on appeal because Mr. Dreifuss, the owner, presented forged documents and made false claims to the court that I could not refute. He also sued me immediately after I won in small claims, over the loaner vehicle that he alleged I retained after picking up my car. Again, he forged documents and lied to the court stating that I picked up my vehicle prior to the actual date I picked it up. I even had towning receipts and a witness who was there with me the day I had it towed. Additionally, Mr. Dreifuss was not even present the day I towed my vehicle, but his false claims were believed by the judge.
I am an active duty service member. I have sought justice for a wrong that has been done, but apparently the truth and documentary evidence isn't enough to convince a judge. I am now doing everything in my capacity to ensure that no one else endures what I have in having to deal with this business because in the end justice was not served and I can't just let it go by without making every effort to seek justice in any way I can outside of the court system.
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