car leaking petrol

eternal

My old car was leaking petrol so I handed it in to get fixed. I know the problem was quite severe and it could have caused the car to catch fire. Had to order a new part for it. It's costing over 300 euros. is this reasonable. The car is old and it's not the tank that's leaking as they said it was pouring out where the engine ignites. So doesn't that mean it's the injectors or fuel lines?
I know you can get those parts for less than 80 euros. It's an old bmw. Anyone got any ideas. The reason I'm on here is I can't afford it and have made a complete fool of by garages before and yeah you will say don't go back to them, and I haven't.

Stheno

No offence OP but I'd be the same as you and not know a huge amount about cars.

however, I've a great mechanic, and if something like that happened, I'd ask him to explain what is wrong, give me a breakdown of the individual costs that add up to €300, and he will.

A part that costs €80 could take a days labour or more depending on where it is and how complex it is to fit.

Go back and ask those questions of the mechanic tbh and if you are happy then use them, if not get quotes from others?

eternal

Stheno wrote: »

No offence OP but I'd be the same as you and not know a huge amount about cars.

however, I've a great mechanic, and if something like that happened, I'd ask him to explain what is wrong, give me a breakdown of the individual costs that add up to €300, and he will.

A part that costs €80 could take a days labour or more depending on where it is and how complex it is to fit.

Go back and ask those questions of the mechanic tbh and if you are happy then use them, if not get quotes from others?

It was at such a critical stage that it could not be driven anymore. I have a walking disability so I depend on the car completely. He said the part cost 250 and the rest was labour.

Stheno

eternal wrote: »

It was at such a critical stage that it could not be driven anymore. I have a walking disability so I depend on the car completely. He said the part cost 250 and the rest was labour.

Ask him for receipts, again with my mechanic, if I need parts, I'll generally look up the price and know what they are he gets a trade discount, and tells me what that is and I've a clear understanding of the total costs.

If the part cost €250 he may have gotten a genuine rather than a generic part, €50 in labour for any mechanic is minimal to be honest, a main dealer could charge up to €100 an hour for labour.

Has he fitted the part?

eternal

Supposed to be ready tomorrow, has it since last Friday. I've never heard of a part costing that much

Lots of parts could cost €200/€300 +.

How do you know the part costs €80?

eternal

RoverJames wrote: »

Lots of parts could cost €200/€300 +.

How do you know the part costs €80?

Read my post and the answer therein you will find.

Stheno

eternal wrote: »

Read my post and the answer therein you will find.

No offence OP but you talk about it maybe being the injectors or fuel lines, you don't know the actual part so how can you know the price?

I'd to get a thermostat for my car recently, most thermostats cost €10 or so, mine cost €50 as it's a sealed unit.

Same with lots of other parts for my car.

eternal

eternal wrote: »

My old car was leaking petrol so I handed it in to get fixed. I know the problem was quite severe and it could have caused the car to catch fire. Had to order a new part for it. It's costing over 300 euros. is this reasonable. The car is old and it's not the tank that's leaking as they said it was pouring out where the engine ignites. So doesn't that mean it's the injectors or fuel lines?
I know you can get those parts for less than 80 euros. It's an old bmw. Anyone got any ideas. The reason I'm on here is I can't afford it and have made a complete fool of by garages before and yeah you will say don't go back to them, and I haven't.

RoverJames wrote: »

Lots of parts could cost €200/€300 +.

How do you know the part costs €80?

eternal wrote: »

Read my post and the answer therein you will find.

Your post does not explain how you know, it just says you know
Or are we to believe you are presuming it is the injectors or fuel lines?

eternal

Stheno wrote: »

No offence OP but you talk about it maybe being the injectors or fuel lines, you don't know the actual part so how can you know the price?

I'd to get a thermostat for my car recently, most thermostats cost €10 or so, mine cost €50 as it's a sealed unit.

Same with lots of other parts for my car.

Well I have mentioned two. I came here wondering if someone could tell me what other parts connecting the petrol flowing to the engine besides those two there are.

Stheno

eternal wrote: »

Well I have mentioned two. I came here wondering if someone could tell me what other parts connecting the petrol flowing to the engine besides those two there are.

Ah that makes more sense so you are looking for other parts of the engine that could leak petrol that are not the tank, fuel lines or injectors?

I can't answer that to be honest, your mechanic can, and others on here can.

Your real issue here is not communicating with your mechanic.

eternal

Stheno wrote: »

Ah that makes more sense so you are looking for other parts of the engine that could leak petrol that are not the tank, fuel lines or injectors?

I can't answer that to be honest, your mechanic can, and others on here can.

Your real issue here is not communicating with your mechanic.

Well he told me over the phone and I was shocked. So i was put on the spot and just said ok, he had already ordered the part and had my car which was too unsafe to drive. Not much to be fair I could do in that situation which is why i am here wondering. I'm not downing him, he's good at his job. I just need clarification. i don't know why i have to explain myself really when all I did was come on here and ask for advice. This is why I don't come on Boards anymore, people just pick apart my posts which have nothing to do with the reason why i came here. Smart answers like you said you knew but not how you knew. Wtf is all that about like.

Stheno

eternal wrote: »

Well he told me over the phone and I was shocked. So i was put on the spot and just said ok, he had already ordered the part and had my car which was too unsafe to drive. Not much to be fair I could do in that situation which is why i am here wondering. I'm not downing him, he's good at his job. I just need clarification. i don't know why i have to explain myself really when all I did was come on here and ask for advice. This is why I don't come on Boards anymore, people just pick apart my posts which have nothing to do with the reason why i came here. Smart answers like you said you knew but not how you knew. Wtf is all that about like.

Jeez, what's with the attitude? I'm just trying to help you out? You came on and in the first couple of posts you had, it appeared you were querying a 50e charge for labour for a part, and finally it emerged you didn't know what the part was being replaced?

This all 100% comes back to how you deal with your mechanic. I've a three stage process mine goes through and it works for us both.

First he figures out what is wrong, and he either rings me or I drop in and we have a chat.

Second, we agree the best way to fix it in terms of cost, parts required and labour, and have a ballpark price we agree on.

Third, he gets what he needs and fixes the problem, I arrive in and pay him.

Simple solution here, ask your mechanic to diagnose the issue, and give you a price to resolve it, if you are not happy with the quote, make sure you understand and know what's involved parts wise, and get other quotes.

And don't take your frustration out on random people on the internet who are voluntarily giving of their time and effort to help you out!

eternal

Stheno wrote: »

Jeez, what's with the attitude? I'm just trying to help you out? You came on and in the first couple of posts you had, it appeared you were querying a 50e charge for labour for a part, and finally it emerged you didn't know what the part was being replaced?

This all 100% comes back to how you deal with your mechanic. I've a three stage process mine goes through and it works for us both.

First he figures out what is wrong, and he either rings me or I drop in and we have a chat.

Second, we agree the best way to fix it in terms of cost, parts required and labour, and have a ballpark price we agree on.

Third, he gets what he needs and fixes the problem, I arrive in and pay him.

Simple solution here, ask your mechanic to diagnose the issue, and give you a price to resolve it, if you are not happy with the quote, make sure you understand and know what's involved parts wise, and get other quotes.

And don't take your frustration out on random people on the internet who are voluntarily giving of their time and effort to help you out!

I wasn't in a position to go to another garage given the situation but I will try this in future. But you have to admit people do pick apart posts on here rather than actually helping most of the time.

Stheno

eternal wrote: »

I wasn't in a position to go to another garage given the situation but I will try this in future. But you have to admit people do pick apart posts on here rather than actually helping most of the time.

In response I'd have to say myself and RoverJames picked apart your post to get to the crux of the issue?

I actually think the folk on here are incredibly tolerant and helpful, they and other car fans have given me masses of good advice and guidance over the years. I'm not even a regular on here, but I get frustrated at the lack of use of the search function, yet everytime someone posts a question about the NCT, a lost logbook, or whatever that has been asked a squillion times, people are polite and help.

I would hold a lot of posters on here in high esteem and value their input. There is a useful function called the ignore button if you want to filter out dross.

People on here do genuinely try to help in my opinion you might get posters not doing so, but those who do are in the majority.

the_syco

eternal wrote: »

But you have to admit people do pick apart posts on here rather than actually helping most of the time.

Most of the time people give little to no information in the first post, and if Stheno and RoverJames hadn't asked you the questions (picking apart your post) they would not have been able to give you answers.

And for the record, the engine is big. You do not mention how old your car is, what type of BMW it is, you just said that your old BMW is old, leaks fuel, and you think unknown part is too dear when you can get another part for less than €80

I can now see why people may not answer questions on motors when instead of thanks, they're met with hostile responses from those who asked the question...

delly

Bravo Stheno, very helpful and masses of patience to boot. I think if anything the responses to the OP's question/query show how helpful boards can be.

eternal

Is anybody going to tell me what connects the fuel to the engine? And how much these things cost.

Stheno

eternal wrote: »

Is anybody going to tell me what connects the fuel to the engine? And how much these things cost.

Spark plugs, piston rings, valves are three things I can think of that are involved in getting your fuel into your engine and igniting it?

What model and year is the car?

eternal

Stheno wrote: »

eternal wrote: »

Is anybody going to tell me what connects the fuel to the engine? And how much these things cost.

Spark plugs, piston rings, valves are three things I can think of that are involved in getting your fuel into your engine and igniting it?

What model and year is the car?

318i 1995.

Stheno

eternal wrote: »

318i 1995.

A very quick google shows that there is a problem with cars of your year and model with the fuel sending unit causing petrol leaks, but it is not in the engine bay it's in the boot from what I can see.

Did you talk to your mechanic today?

eternal

It was a fuel regulator which there is no way could have cost that. I only realised when I came home and googled the part. At the end of the day, I couldn't refuse to pay.

Fuel pressure regulator, supplied and fitted post diagnosis.

eternal

RoverJames wrote: »

Fuel pressure regulator, supplied and fitted post diagnosis.

?

eternal

eternal wrote: »

RoverJames wrote: »

Fuel pressure regulator, supplied and fitted post diagnosis.

about right though?

Nissan doctor

eternal wrote: »

It was a fuel regulator which there is no way could have cost that. I only realised when I came home and googled the part. At the end of the day, I couldn't refuse to pay.

You really are working off nothing but guesses.

Did you google 'fuel pressure regulator' or did you google the BMW or manufacturer part number that they fitted for you?

eternal

Nissan doctor wrote: »

eternal wrote: »

It was a fuel regulator which there is no way could have cost that. I only realised when I came home and googled the part. At the end of the day, I couldn't refuse to pay.

You really are working off nothing but guesses.

Did you google 'fuel pressure regulator' or did you google the BMW or manufacturer part number that they fitted for you?

All sorted now thanks all.
Just been ripped off alot in the past so very cautious

HellFireClub

eternal wrote: »

My old car was leaking petrol so I handed it in to get fixed. I know the problem was quite severe and it could have caused the car to catch fire. Had to order a new part for it. It's costing over 300 euros. is this reasonable. The car is old and it's not the tank that's leaking as they said it was pouring out where the engine ignites. So doesn't that mean it's the injectors or fuel lines?
I know you can get those parts for less than 80 euros. It's an old bmw. Anyone got any ideas. The reason I'm on here is I can't afford it and have made a complete fool of by garages before and yeah you will say don't go back to them, and I haven't.

What parts can you get for €80 and how do you know if replacing those parts will resolve your issue? Did your mechanic list the parts that need to be replaced tonresolve this issue? If he did, & I can't see how you'd know the parts list needed without being told by your mechanic, why didn't you post the list of parts in your OP?

dieselbug

I fitted one of those a couple of months back on a 1994 BMW 318is (E36)
Car comes in with a complaint of an intermittent misfire.
Do a code read, random misfire confirmed, check fuel pressure, a bit low, check filter, disconnect vacuum and improved.
Restricted return pipe to confirm the pump is capable.
Order new regulator from BMW dealer.
Drive 17 miles to dealers to collect same.
Fit new regulator, retest pressure, test car, and new fuel filter.
Parts about 100ish

Costs = diagnose gear, car up on ramp to change the filter. fuel pressure gauges, various tools, + premises to work in, your time and knowledge to do the job efficiently and safely.

Also did the garage have to recover the car?
Jim.

HellFireClub

Not trying to be combative or smart here but either you trust your mechanic or you don't. Is it really fair on your mechanic to be put under suspicion when he's probably only trying to resolve your problem for you? People on here haven't had the opportunity to diagnose your problem properly whereas your mechanic has! I've been in your mechanics position before, confronted after properly diagnosing a fault, with a load of "I saw on the Internet that it's something else altogether from what you've diagnosed it as"... Really hard to do business like this, in fairness to your mechanic.

MarkR

eternal wrote: »

It was a fuel regulator which there is no way could have cost that. I only realised when I came home and googled the part. At the end of the day, I couldn't refuse to pay.

How much is a fuel regulator?

eternal

HellFireClub wrote: »

eternal wrote: »

My old car was leaking petrol so I handed it in to get fixed. I know the problem was quite severe and it could have caused the car to catch fire. Had to order a new part for it. It's costing over 300 euros. is this reasonable. The car is old and it's not the tank that's leaking as they said it was pouring out where the engine ignites. So doesn't that mean it's the injectors or fuel lines?
I know you can get those parts for less than 80 euros. It's an old bmw. Anyone got any ideas. The reason I'm on here is I can't afford it and have made a complete fool of by garages before and yeah you will say don't go back to them, and I haven't.

What parts can you get for €80 and how do you know if replacing those parts will resolve your issue? Did your mechanic list the parts that need to be replaced tonresolve this issue? If he did, & I can't see how you'd know the parts list needed without being told by your mechanic, why didn't you post the list of parts in your OP?

If i had known i wouldnt have posted asking for the names of parts. I dont know the guy cos i moved and had to chance new places. Why are you giving out?

bobin fudge

you ask for help/advice, give out to all that offer help. Perhaps calm down, take the chip of your shoulder and start again?

eternal

dieselbug wrote: »

I fitted one of those a couple of months back on a 1994 BMW 318is (E36)
Car comes in with a complaint of an intermittent misfire.
Do a code read, random misfire confirmed, check fuel pressure, a bit low, check filter, disconnect vacuum and improved.
Restricted return pipe to confirm the pump is capable.
Order new regulator from BMW dealer.
Drive 17 miles to dealers to collect same.
Fit new regulator, retest pressure, test car, and new fuel filter.
Parts about 100ish

Costs = diagnose gear, car up on ramp to change the filter. fuel pressure gauges, various tools, + premises to work in, your time and knowledge to do the job efficiently and safely.

Also did the garage have to recover the car?
Jim.

No i drove it there cos i wasnt aware of how danerous it was at the time. The only part he fitted was the fuel regulator which he got from bmw said it cost 250 euro. I got him to fix the window, wasnt working properly. Said he had to fit a regulator for that too, charged me 30 euro to fix that which i thought was expensive. Nearly 400 all together. Its killing me. Never had bill like that before only maybe near it for nct.

eternal

i googled the part and saw ones for less than 100 dollars today, i only found out the name of the part today

challengemaster

See how much you can find a new attitude on ebay for, because your current one sucks.

You came on here with the attitude of "I have no idea what's wrong with my car but my mechanic is trying to rip me off" and it hasn't changed. You had no idea what parts needed replacing but liked to take a wild guess based on a random google. Then when you finally found the sense to ask the mechanic what needed replacing, again you come back with "I can get one cheaper".

Also you have no idea what a window regulator costs, or the work involved in replacing it, but €30 seems expensive to you?


I actually feel sorry for any mechanic that should ever have to deal with this crap you're coming out with.

eternal

challengemaster wrote: »

See how much you can find a new attitude on ebay for, because your current one sucks.

You came on here with the attitude of "I have no idea what's wrong with my car but my mechanic is trying to rip me off" and it hasn't changed. You had no idea what parts needed replacing but liked to take a wild guess based on a random google. Then when you finally found the sense to ask the mechanic what needed replacing, again you come back with "I can get one cheaper".

Also you have no idea what a window regulator costs, or the work involved in replacing it, but €30 seems expensive to you?


I actually feel sorry for any mechanic that should ever have to deal with this crap you're coming out with.

Thank you for you input.

Yawns

But he got a genuine part from BMW and not a cheap after market part? Also you think him removing an broken window regulator while also supplying and fitting a new one for €30 is too expensive. Seriously, you need to take a deep breath, relax and re-evaluate. If you have to get parts from a main dealer, they are generally really expensive especially when you can sometimes get cheaper generic parts that can do the job. But sometimes the generic ones are a bit hit n miss, some can work perfectly while others won't perform well at all.

If you know the part that he fitted and you want to find out how much it cost, I suggest you ring a local BMW dealer and ask to be put through to parts and services. Ask how much is it for that part. Also don't forget to factor in labour costs. How many hours did it take the mechanic to get the job done.

eternal

I know already i over reacted as i said earlier. Will do that

Nissan doctor

eternal wrote: »

No i drove it there cos i wasnt aware of how danerous it was at the time. The only part he fitted was the fuel regulator which he got from bmw said it cost 250 euro. I got him to fix the window, wasnt working properly. Said he had to fit a regulator for that too, charged me 30 euro to fix that which i thought was expensive. Nearly 400 all together. Its killing me. Never had bill like that before only maybe near it for nct.

That is beyond mind boggling. While he obviously didn't fit a new regulator for €30, you think that's expensive for the time involved in stripping the door to access the window mechanism??

eternal wrote: »

i googled the part and saw ones for less than 100 dollars today, i only found out the name of the part today

Google 'car', you will find some for €50 and some for €1,000,000 too.

Only if you google the exact part for your car model/engine in the same country that your mechanic is buying it can you compare prices.



You sound like exactly the sort of customer that HellFireClub was talking about in another thread.

HellFireClub

Nissan doctor wrote: »

You sound like exactly the sort of customer that HellFireClub was talking about in another thread.

I wasn't making it up!

goz83

@ Eternal:

Next time you need to get parts changed on your 318i, you can tell the mechanic that you will supply the parts. It is often possible to get them cheaper online, or to deal with suppliers yourself (if you have the know how). Spurious parts will be alot cheaper, but as already mentioned, can be hit and miss. For something as vital as to keep your car from exploding, a spurious part is not recommended.

As an ex 318 owner, I can tell you that BMW genuine parts are very, very expensive. They wanted €110 for an arch liner 3 years ago for a 2001 model. For what your mechanic did (if the part cost even half what he said), you did very well. Also keep in mind that if you ordered the $100 part from the USA, you are buying a likely spurious part and will be paying delivery of maybe €50 and you will be paying customs charges of delivery, plus item cost. ALso, you have to wait weeks for delivery, while your tax and insurance are being wasted when your car is lying up in a shed.

For what it's worth, your posts came across with a nasty attitude. It is very easy to think that people are picking you apart if that's what your expecting in the first place. I think it's also important to mention that I have in no way intended to take any snipes at you and have only tried to be informative, which is what you say you were seeking from coming on here. Peace out.

Nissan doctor

HellFireClub wrote: »

I wasn't making it up!

I never said you were making it up, I've seen plenty of them. I just wouldn't let them define my interest in the business.

dieselbug

Did you ring BMW to find out the cost of the fuel regulator, if not, please do. You will need the registration number of the car. thats all.

Ask for the retail price including vat.
I think all posters would be interested to know. I certainly would.
And it would certainly be in your own interest as it may go some way to deciding whether or not your paid a fair price.

HellFireClub

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I never said you were making it up, I've seen plenty of them. I just wouldn't let them define my interest in the business.

Just out of curiousity, you mentioned that you had main dealer experience & currently work in an independent garage, did you ever actually run your own garage?

Nissan doctor

HellFireClub wrote: »

Just out of curiousity, you mentioned that you had main dealer experience & currently work in an independent garage, did you ever actually run your own garage?

I've been offered jobs in main dealers, I've never worked in one though other then to cover recall repairs once as a favour to a friend.

I've run a previous garage I worked in(I didn't own it though) but its not for me, I never got enough time on the floor.

I have my own garage which I operated full time for over a year but that was specialising in particular cars which the recession put pay to people owning so I went to work in an old bosses new garage.

eternal

I have an attitude due to past experiences. One guy took a power tool to my door whilst his mate glued a part together after charging me to replace it.
The reason the petrol leaked was cos some other genius glued the original regulator together.
I have apologised but to be fair I have no clue about cars and needed advice.

HellFireClub

eternal wrote: »

I have an attitude due to past experiences. One guy took a power tool to my door whilst his mate glued a part together after charging me to replace it.
The reason the petrol leaked was cos some other genius glued the original regulator together.
I have apologised but to be fair I have no clue about cars and needed advice.

Sounds like you are poundwise & penny foolish. First things first, find a new mechanic. If you are looking for a good independent, look for the following:

(1) Is the premises clean and tidy looking? Does the overall operation look "well managed", and that someone gives a shít about the presentation of the building, the forecourt/yard area, or do you feel like you are driving up to a scrapyard?

(2) Are staff properly presented and in some kind of a uniform?

(3) Does the business look properly equipped and does the equipment look like it is properly cared for and used?

(4) When you are dealing with the garage in relation to your problem, is the problem properly and comprehensively discussed with you, properly documented, and are you properly questioned in relation to what you perceive the problem to be, (as in what scenario's that you experience the problem, etc)...

You sound like the kind of customer who doesn't want to pay the rate that needs to be charged in order for the job to be done properly (and that rate has to cover the cost of the premises, the equipment, the insurance, the QUALIFIED staff, etc.), but then when the job is of a shít quality, you claim that you were screwed.

If you are going to cowboys who do not know nor care what they are doing, or do not have the right equipment or methodologies, who do not have a local business reputation to protect, who are only out for a quick cheap buck, then you are only screwing yourself.

HellFireClub

HellFireClub wrote: »

............... If you are looking for a good independent, look for the following:
......................

(2) Are staff properly presented and in some kind of a uniform?

................

Advance wear uniforms, the vast vast vast majority of independents don't.

bobin fudge

haha advance.... dont mention them to eternal, if he went there, the threads that he would then start:eek:

dieselbug

HellFireClub

You make valid points, presentation is important, but remember.
Most independents and main dealers started somewhere. many would have started in a garage at the back of the house or an old shed in some farmers yard.
They became successful mainly on reputation and then built on this.

There are still many good small, or even one man operations out there making a living from the public because their customers are getting a good service at a fair price and the people they are dealing with trust them.
They will never be millionaires because the business is small, but have their own niche.

Eternal

You started your this thread by asking if you got screwed.
Who knows? you didnt answer the questions you were asked or take the advice you were given as far as I can see.

Jim