girlroad

I know that many of you also have work that isn't specific to Audi's done by local shops (H-sport installs, brakes and such)...how do you handle this at those locations? I know there is an element of trust in all of this, but my car is so unique and there are so few of them worked on here I want to get away from the fix one break two events that keep happening, while not pissing them off totally or I'll have to sell the thing because I can't work on it myself. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

Audi6spd

Delicate balance with most shops. I've been using JC Auto in Scarsdale, NY for 20+ yrs. Let's me on the floor, shows and explains everything, but I do get out of the way and let them do the work. I think any shop should at least explain what they are going to do or have done to diagnose/fix a problem.

Rally_nutcase_1982

face ;-) But your best bet is a straight forward approach and simply ask. Most technicians are aware of the fact that disclosing any helpful information to a customer will over time lead to a loss of business, their business.
It is also a matter of how they enforce any safety policy, in some shops you wont be able to walk around in the "back" of the shop and watching the tech.

A healthy $$ tip or other contributions like Pizza or DD products might be helpful. In the end, it's another low risk investment that could pay off well in your favor.
Timing is important as well, on busy days they'll most likely just ask you to wait, on less busy days is your best chance to "tackle on".

And you have most likely the greatest advantage on your side anyways "girl"road ;-).....well, you know how that works ;-)

gragravar

that is the only way I can stay out of their way.

that said, it doesnt always happen, and I am glad that depending on how many other cars are in the shop and how busy things are, Randy doesn't mind if I hang out in the shop and chat while he works.

paulroad

The stuff that is common wrench turning I have done by my town's best Garage. This shop has 8 bays and always works on everything from Escorts to Caddy's to BMWs.

I handed Gus (the owner) my Zimmerman Rotors, my Mintex Brakes and walked away. $120.00 later the job was done. (walking distance from home)
They did miss-mounted my H-sports, with the common link inside outside error. But they fixed it in minutes when I showed them. ($60.00 instaled front and rear)

However when it comes to something that would be "Audi Specific", electrical glitch, suspension, exhaust, turbos, etc. then I'll be at KMD The best Audi-Indy around.

Audi6spd

That's an excellent price for the H-SPort install. Where in NY are you? Anywhere near Westchester I hope? If so where do I find Gus?

Woodman-ar 01

Time = $$. They love when you want to talk cars.

paulroad

I'm on Long Island. The H-sports are really a DIY if you are so inclined. However you have one great shop down in Westwood, NJ and that's KMD. You also have Rapid Auto in Monsey who is somewhere between my guy and KMD in expertise.

arnick'02-6spd

I do try to get through my pre-work thoughts and hand them printouts from this forum and instructions "if they need 'em" quickly.

They're a good, Porsche / audi-specific tuner and service shop. The owner and the tech that've worked on my car really enjoy showing me around the various cars they've got dismantled, either because I'm such a personable guy, or because they're showing me what <I> could do to MY car. I saw an 2.7 T being given K-04's, fuel, dp's and its Tip trans coming out of a box from Level-10. Purdy neat. Needless to say, we started talking about K-04's, RS4 clutches, and all the other 'while we're in there' mods that could be done.

Point is, there's a fine line between being chatty and fastidious and being annoying, but you're the customer, and a good shop will know that keeping you is important, and the more they show you, the more money you might end up forking over.

allroad'Ed now

My tuner hop lets me into the shop to work with the tech on anything i want.