How rude!

[Geeman]

I've been (and still am) struggling to find a replacement radiator for my newly acquired 525e. (anyone got one?)

I thought I'd found one for Ԛ£45 WITH a 6 month warranty, but it turned out to be incorrect and wouldn't fit, so had to send it back. Because I had found this one, I didn't bother bidding on one on Ebay that ended up going for Ԛ£12.50... bugger!

So, today I trawled around the whole of the country (virtually of course) and ended up finding one at Fritz's Bits. Quoted me Ԛ£91 for a second hand part... with no warranty... I duefully gave the guy my card details.

Then, I found a whole 525e with gearbox problems for Ԛ£100 AND it's the same colour as the one I already have, so rang up Fritz's Bits within the hour to tell the guy that I no longer needed it... Jesus. You'd have thought I'd just asked him if I could shag his Mum!

"Hi... I just ordered a radiator for my '85 525e from you"

"Ah yes, I'm just boxing it up for you" He says.

"Well, unfortunately I don't need it any more. Is it okay if I cancel the order please?" I asked.

"You what?" He said...

"I no longer need the radiator I just ordered from you as I've found a cheaper alternative - a whole car for Ԛ£100!"

"But my guy has just spent an hour getting the radiator out of the car... AND you've already paid for it!"

"Well, I'm sorry, but could you refund the money back onto my card please?" I asked politely.

"Right... I will refund your card!". *dialling tone*

Hmm... not going to bother phoning them again for bits. I'd already been warned about their high prices and poor "communication skills"...

Just thought I'd let you all know before you head their way...

Giles.

[Jhonno]

Goes to show you should always be nice to customers - you dont know who they might talk to... a large proportion of the e30 population in this case

[billgatese30]

antoher anne robinson find

welldone mister watchdog

[Simon13]

I found a complete 525e in my local scrappy but i'm not telling how much he wants for the engine!

I shall note what u have said Giles

[Dan318-is]

super find

another shitty shop on my list of many

[Geeman]

Simon... Don't want the engine... just want the rad...! Can you get hold of it for me...?

Please!

Giles.

[E30BeemerLad]

whilst it wasn't a pleasant way to deal with your request, I think you would get such a response from any breakers/ salvage people

they probably also have to pay a charge for the refunded transaction too.

[Dan318-is]

ah, breakers

the breakers near me are fookin useless i dont even bother n e more

the only places currently receiving my custom are

GSFparts
EuroCarparts
sometimes demon Tweeks
the Zone

[Simon13]

I try Giles can't promise it is anygood the car has done 171,000 so who knows what the crank is like which is all i'm interested in!

Plus there is a 320 on top of it!

I'll go sat and see yeah? are they hard to take out?

[Jhonno]

crank'll prolly be fine - remember 4.5k rev limit or summat stupid like that

rad's are peice of piss

gotta go down my local scrappies at some point.. they usually have some good stuff.. gonna be fun getting over the speed bumps on the way down tho

[Geeman]

Undo the hoses (and the oil cooler hoses) and lift it out... I think!

Mine's done a genuine 60k!!! - so no worries about block condition with this one... This spare car I've found has done about 120k... so I might strip it, dump the shell and keep all the good bits, including the block as a start for a 2.7 project.

Let me know how you get on Simon...

Thanks!

Giles.

[craigieeb]

demon Tweeks

i wouldnt be too sure about that 1, iv just tryed to get them to take back my snapped spax spring and they tret me like i had the plauge or something, going on about could i provide proof that the car was only used for normal road use, how the hell am i supposed to do that the guy clearly had a bad day!!

[Dan318-is]

lol tossers

thats another of my list thanks mate!!

did they sort u in the end

iv heard a few stories like that about spax

[hoshy]

in fairness a lot of places have only a few staff and don't really need people paying for parts which they have to send somebody to take off just to have them cancelled. I'd have been pretty pissed off too!

Please don't think I'm being a cunt dude! Just my tupence worth

[Geeman]

How about "Okay, no problem, is there anything else we can help you with?"

Doesn't take much to be polite. I was.

He doesn't know I've got 3 BMW's that I need parts for...

[Simon13]

I've heard stories that anything spax is sh!te, been told by one suspension supplier that every spax adjustable kit they have sold has come back under waranty broken in one way or another. TUV approved my ass it would seem!

[E327UKL]

this company does a superb exhaust systems and manifolds for e30's. i have 1 and also my father in law has 1 on his e28! the qaulity of these products are lovely, cannot fault.

BUT: the power figures they quote are out of this world, they swore that my 325 should be over 300bhp! dont think so!! also they can be the rudest ppl to deal. give it back to em and you will get along fine, just remember the customer is always right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Toby_Unna]

Then, I found a whole 525e with gearbox problems for Ԛ£100 AND it's the same colour as the one I already have

so stop fannying about and buy that then 2 e28s!!

and anyway an HOUR to remove a radiator? you what! i know the gearbox oil lines are fiddly to undo if you don't have the right spanner but still, an hour is nonsense!

[hoshy]

How about "Okay, no problem, is there anything else we can help you with?"

Doesn't take much to be polite. I was.

He doesn't know I've got 3 BMW's that I need parts for...

Yeah no need to rude to you in fairness.

Just wanted to put over the other side of the argument

[SCOTT325SE]

Sorry, gotta stand up for spax im afraid gents! they gave me no end of help with tracking down the part numbers of my spax adjustables on my old dolphin grey 325. how can they DIS-prove that you have only been using it for road use. its stupid - they cant. they can imply it, if you have a track licence or if you have a track car or have been spotted at track days, but wether you drift round roundabouts, or pootle round town, its all road use...just not straight line road use. they cant prove it, its bollocks, it just deters you coz of your guilty concience.

[GDBN]

I have had dealings with Fritz and co a few times ... always found them really helpful and spoke to them a few times when replacing the head - again nothing but helpful ....

Guess you might have caught them on a bad day ...

[Simon]

Sorry, gotta stand up for spax im afraid gents! they gave me no end of help with tracking down the part numbers of my spax adjustables on my old dolphin grey 325. how can they DIS-prove that you have only been using it for road use. its stupid - they cant. they can imply it, if you have a track licence or if you have a track car or have been spotted at track days, but wether you drift round roundabouts, or pootle round town, its all road use...just not straight line road use. they cant prove it, its bollocks, it just deters you coz of your guilty concience.

I was waiting for you to reply to this thread


Another here that's got to say spax are shit though

My dad had some on his golf, and he had nothing but trouble with them, I think he had them changed twice under warranty, and he then decided to get his money back and went for some standard stuff!

Thanks for the heads up about Fritz Giles, one to steer clear from!

[jonb]

giles

i think i have found that 525e rad, that i thought i dashed away.

do you still need it sir?

[Geeman]

Yes yes yes!

Phone me on 07764 57 66 59

Please please please!

Thanks Jon...

Giles.

[andrewe30m3]

radiators -

IMO - when my rad on a e30 325 needed replacing - all blocked up - I took it to a place in Feltham in Middlesex who Re-cored it for Ԛ£70+VAT.

That way i get my rad back which definately fits and I know its as good as new.

Think about this before buying new ones.

[Toby_Unna]

what's it like to drive then anyway? must be pretty relaxing with auto and a torquey engine?

in my m535 its difficult to relax because the meter is usually reading about 6mpg and there's the constant fear of not being able to afford the next tank of fuel

[Dan318-is]

My mate spax damper failed on him basically, he wud drve along an the ride was atrocios, he eventualy got it checked out an the damper wasnt even moving

hes had Koni before said they were betetr but has not got H n R an no problems yet

to be hoesnt if you pay 500 quid for a suspension kit you dont want to hear any bad stories at all let alone one

[Geeman]

Toby... only test driven it, then tried to 'take it away' only to find the rad split byt the time I had got to the petrol station down the road, so I didn't take it very far!

But the short distance I did drive it, I loved it! Very smooth and effortless. I don't know what I haven't got one before now!

It's a boring Blue / Silver Metallic with a blue interior, but it's had seat covers on for most of it's life, so it's VERY good inside... just a few minor bits and bobs need attention, but I bought it to just tool around in to and from work, so I wasn't after a minter. I've been quite lucky with this one... (well, apart from the rad!) - the guy who's selling it is doing as much as he can to rectify the problem.

[Toby_Unna]

well a very cool car anyway even if it leaks coolant! mine sitting on drive waiting for silly jobs to be done before selling it luckily i'm so lazy it will be with me for a while yet...

[/E28Zone]

[E30BeemerLad]

Giles

are you abandoning the E30 then? You've sold your sport right? And is that your iS for sale in BMW mag?

[Geeman]

Yup... Expensive E30's are going!

Just for the sort term until I get back on my feet again, the E30's will be no more. The track car is up for sale as well, but no serious takers yet.

I figured that the Ԛ£230 525e would serve me well for a while...

[E30BeemerLad]

I figured that the Ԛ£230 525e would serve me well for a while...

Can't knock you for that fella

Got a bit of a soft spot for E28's myself, don't know if I could live with a 4.5K redline though, but I suppose the wave of torque makes up for that. Must be like armchair cruising after a couple of busy E30's.

[Geeman]

I had a mint '87 E plate E28 518i Lux a few years back as a second car to my Mtech 1 Sport I had at the time. While it wasn't the fastest car in the world, I loved driving it. It was just so relaxing. NEVER gave me any problems, and would regularly ferry a car full about...

Brilliant, and under-rated machines.

[jmc330i]

I have had dealings with Fritz and co a few times ... always found them really helpful and spoke to them a few times when replacing the head - again nothing but helpful ....

Guess you might have caught them on a bad day ...

Yeah, I would agree there.

Fritz is sort of local to me and Ive been down there a few times for some stupid little things as well as some more major stuff. Theyve always been helpful, but sometimes you know when they are busy cause they dont talk much.

He let me take on 2 exhaust manifolds without paying cause I wasnt sure which one was on my car (small/large bore) and I then I took back the one I didnt use and payed.

But, Ive also noticed that a couple of the guys can be a little 'short' at times, but just have a laugh with (or at) them and you will get on ok.

Still, theres no excuse for being like that on the phone, like Geeman says "doesnt take much to be polite", especially if you want to keep customers.

[Karan]

ive had a few dealings with fritz and they are TITS!!! although i HAD to go to them for e23 bits i needed..... also extortionate prices!!!