iAutoUK, (Monkspath Business Park Solihull) Can anyone recomend them

[SDHA4SLine]

Hi,

Ive seen good reviews on here for iAutoUK in Coventry but can anyone recommend the Solihull branch?

http://iautouk.com/contact-solihull/

Its really handy for me as its only 5 minutes away from my work and they offer a pick up & drop off service. But that means nothing if they're cowboys, yeeehaaa!

Would really like to hear from anyone that's used them good, bad or indifferent before I let them loose on my car

Regards
Steve

 

[SDHA4SLine]

BTW looking at using them for engine mount replacements and cambelt/waterpump replacement so its important to me they are good

 

[Nilz]

I have heard good and bad about them, I only work around the corner from them too but not tried them.

If you are local send A3-Lee a message on here, he will be able to look after you, he is an active member on here and knows what he is doing.

Where do you work by the way....PM me if you like.

 

[SDHA4SLine]

I have heard good and bad about them, I only work around the corner from them too but not tried them.

If you are local send A3-Lee a message on here, he will be able to look after you, he is an active member on here and knows what he is doing.

Where do you work by the way....PM me if you like.

Bit embarrassing now but how do I PM you? Do you mean use the messaging or is that public messaging viewable to all on forum

 

[SDHA4SLine]

good lord I get worse

I mean start a conversation not messaging!

 

[Nilz]

LOL..dont worry mate, if you click on my name above my picture, there is an option there to start a conversation, if you do that, it will send a message to me, however I will send one to you to start things off

 

[jojo]

I've not dealt with them, but Big Al on the forum has taken his car there, and was not impressed, so I wouldn't use them personally.

 

[SDHA4SLine]

Yeah on the few genuine reviews that I've seen on other iautouk locations it seems a mixed bag. When I spoke with them they couldn't have been more polite and helpful. Doesn't mean they will be good at the manual stuff but it's a good start.

 

[DieselJake]

I use Midland VW, it's about half hour away from the place you mentioned but I guarantee you'll be satisfied with the service and work they carry out, also reasonably priced but I still sometimes haggle because I'm cheap like that haha.

 

[SDHA4SLine]

Yeah I have them at top of my list, just that I have no holiday left this year so was hoping I could use someone close to work so jobs could be done during weekday. I've already committed myself to using midland vw for engine mount replacement on a Friday after work as I finish early but any job longer than 3 hours will be a no no until I can take a day off work. I live over an hour away from midland vw.

 

[A3-Lee]

I was offered a job at this so called main dealer alternative and turned it down they talk the talk but that's about it but it's a garage run by business men who know nothing about cars

 

[jojo]

@Big Al

 

[Big Al]

IAuto Coventry branch actually mainly do MOTs, they do very little servicing work. If any work it's on German, non-VAG cars.

The Solihull branch do few MOTs, more servicing. They mainly they work on Mercedes, BMW & Porsche (Cayennes) and seem to do a fairly good job. However they only have one VAG mechanic who is HOPELESS! He isn't very knowledgeable on modern VAG engines (only older ones - didn't realise I'd removed my HPFP on TFSI engine); so won't know how to fix or service your car properly; can't use a diagnostics machine (I was showing him); may break stuff (broke my front bumper top mount bolts); or damage your car (bulkhead paint heavily scratched requiring respray) & then not mention it; spend 5x or more the time trying to fix things at '50% less than dealer labour rates' so bill is still huge; not own the correct VAG tools (had to buy new ones); not own a mechanics stethoscope or be able to diagnose obvious bearing failure (bought my own). Oh dear!

I can't actually recommend Midland VW in Cannock either, I've experienced their incompetance at my huge cost too. If a complete engine out/swap in a rebuilt engine means you have to ask them to fit serviceable items to guarantee reliability -then they forget to fit a new cam belt tensioner, ignore a rusting metal fixed water coolant pipe, miss out bolts to your propshaft, don't bother tracking your suspension AT ALL afterwards, charge a huge bill (grossly overcharging for new engine mounts) then you can imagine the hell I suffered afterwards!! I broke that car afterwards, so found every mistake they made....

I also have tried Wizard Works, Hollywood (test drove my car very hard, also without my permission); Central VW, Castle Vale (bad attitude); Deutche Technik, Sparkhill (cowboys); V Hub, Tewkesbury ('TFSI specialists' with a mechanic with no TFSI knowledge or training) to name a few, also best avoided, many mistakes made (at my cost again!). You have been warned!

I can recommend Lee Round (a customer of mine, plus done some great work for Joe), plus Badger 5, Gloucester. In the past 3 years I've met in the region of 90 or more Audi S3 or TT owners, those who have used Badger 5 agree that their work is excellent.I've inspected his work on the vehicles I've seen and can confirm this!

Alistair

 

[SDHA4SLine]

Alistair,

Good lord you've not had the best of times!!

I've already booked my car in at MidlandVW for a few bits, they've already ordered in the parts for me and moved some appointments around to fit me in so I feel I'm passed the point of backing out. I went ahead with them as I've heard so many good things on here and other forums.
Thanks for your advice and maybe say a prayer for me. I'm sh****ng a brick now

 

[Nilz]

I have had a fair bit of work done by Midland VW and they have always been ok with me, i guess everyone has good and bad experiences hey?

I can also recommend Lee, he is a member on here and will do a great job.

I have recently used a place in Warwick called Vass Tech and there is also R-Tech in Hinckley who come highly recommended, there is another place in Brum called Isa Technik who seems to have a very good rep, so maybe worth giving them a try

R-Tech in Hinckley - http://www.r-techpower.co.uk/
Isa Technik in Birmingham - http://www.isatechnik.co.uk/
Vass Tech in Warwick - http://www.vwaudiservices.co.uk/

 

[SDHA4SLine]

Hi Nilz,

Is Lee Round the guy you put me in touch with (A3-Lee) if so I have already talked to him and plan to use him for a few bits in the future.

R-Tek in Hinckley is only just down the road from my home so that's good to know. Do they have rolling road?

 

[SDHA4SLine]

Forget that just checked your link and can see they do

 

[Big Al]

Yes, Lee Round is A3-Lee.

 

[Big Al]

Yeah I have them at top of my list, just that I have no holiday left this year so was hoping I could use someone close to work so jobs could be done during weekday. I've already committed myself to using midland vw for engine mount replacement on a Friday after work as I finish early but any job longer than 3 hours will be a no no until I can take a day off work. I live over an hour away from midland vw.

Well good luck with using Midland VW. Engine mount replacement on A4s is pretty straight forward, the engine should be supported on a support beam between the wings, loosen the steering subframe bolts, drop it enough to replace the mounts. They're quite small compared to the 1.8T mounts on S3s.

 

[DieselJake]

I had my engine mounts done at Midland VW

I can't actually recommend Midland VW in Cannock either, I've experienced their incompetance at my huge cost too. If a complete engine out/swap in a rebuilt engine means you have to ask them to fit serviceable items to guarantee reliability -then they forget to fit a new cam belt tensioner, ignore a rusting metal fixed water coolant pipe, miss out bolts to your propshaft, don't bother tracking your suspension AT ALL afterwards, charge a huge bill (grossly overcharging for new engine mounts) then you can imagine the hell I suffered afterwards!! I broke that car afterwards, so found every mistake they made....

Sorry to hear about your experience, not being funny but firstly of course you would need serviceable items replaced on an engine to guarantee reliability, also wouldn't have expected then to do tracking or suspension after an engine build as that's another job in it's self. Would be interested to know what you paid for engine mounts as they're relatively expensive items wherever you go, I brought my own and usually bring my own items to the garage because again I'm cheap like that. Clearly states you broke the car not them haha, not sure why I'm sticking up for them so much as I have no endorsement or ties but I've honestly never had a bad experience with them and I've put them through some pretty horrendous tasks, also found them going the extra mile to sort another couple of tasks along the way which weren't asked for free of charge like sorting a boost leak and fitting headlights straight after I'd clumsily put them on wonky.

 

[Big Al]

Hi Jake, many thanks for your feedback, every little helps! Regards the engine, I knew serviceable items would be required, but I found I was the one pointing out what was needed, rather than they offering advice on the matter. I forgot the cam belt tensioner, they did too, it didn't get done. On going to collect the car just before Easter I found this out, so I wouldn't collect my car. This was hugely inconvenient, plus they charged me extra labour to fit the tensioner in situ. As the front of the car was removed to swap the engine, we discussed and agreed for tracking to be done afterwards. I paid for it, but I realised on the way home it had been forgotten as the car drove all over the place. I ended up paying next day for ALine in Dudley to track the car (which was miles out at the front). I was charged £330 in VAT (excluding fitting) for genuine Audi engine & gearbox mounts (not dogbone). In fact, I just gave these to Joe (JoJo), my mate & neighbour, along with the receipt! The 3 front propshaft bolts weren't put in properly. I didn't notice at first (nor check the bolts) but then started to suffer horrendous propshaft wobble. On checking the bolts, I found one missing, one hanging out and one very loose. I did them up, bought an extra new one and drove several 100 more miles before parking the car and putting it up for sale. I went out and bought an A4, but 9 months later without a single phone call or viewer the S3 was still for sale! So I decided to break it instead. I then found the front propshaft rubber insert was damaged, with an oval shaped centre metal locating hole (that the transfer box goes into). This proves the propshaft was wobbling due to loose & missing bolts. The metal cooling pipe (strapped to the front of the block) was heavily corroded, it should have been replaced with new when rebuilding the replacement engine. I think I went out of my way to help with the rebuild and repairs to my S3, but think I received poor service by reply. I even found myself having to fully valet clean their Golf courtesy car on two occasions as it was given to me really filthy inside and out. I wouldn't let my wife and family even sit in it before cleaning it was that bad. I made every effort to be professional and make sure they had all the parts (OEM and after market) to complete works, but still I found their attitude towards me unprofessional. I wouldn't ever use them again.

 

[SDHA4SLine]

Thanks for all the advice/comments people