Car repairs!

[jim]

It has been my experience that dealerships tend to be much more expensive and have less qualified mechanics than shops owned by individuals. I would get an estimate on the wear and tear work from a privately owned shop, just for comparison. You might be paying more than necessary.

It's a BMW, so it's going to be expensive no matter where he goes. And alot of private places can't/won't work on them. It's good advice in general to be sure.

[Swatcat27]

these maintenance thingees tend to come in bunches....and leave you in a pissy mood for a week or so.

[jim]

Just went and got breakfast at a drive-thru after church and when I went to roll the window down in my wifes car it sounded like the thing was going to shatter. Terrible sound. Looks like the glass somehow came off the tracks. It's mostly up, but since it's kind of tilting there is a fair amount of air getting through.

So I guess I'm joining the club.

And what a kick in the teeth that is. Get up to go to church, and God mucks with your car while you are in there.

[redbirdjazzz]

Just went and got breakfast at a drive-thru after church and when I went to roll the window down in my wifes car it sounded like the thing was going to shatter. Terrible sound. Looks like the glass somehow came off the tracks. It's mostly up, but since it's kind of tilting there is a fair amount of air getting through.

So I guess I'm joining the club.

And what a kick in the teeth that is. Get up to go to church, and God mucks with your car while you are in there.

He's just testing your faith! Don't Fall!!!! Says the guy who was too lazy to get up for church. I fear for my car...

[jim]

Just went and got breakfast at a drive-thru after church and when I went to roll the window down in my wifes car it sounded like the thing was going to shatter. Terrible sound. Looks like the glass somehow came off the tracks. It's mostly up, but since it's kind of tilting there is a fair amount of air getting through.

So I guess I'm joining the club.

And what a kick in the teeth that is. Get up to go to church, and God mucks with your car while you are in there.

He's just testing your faith! Don't Fall!!!! Says the guy who was too lazy to get up for church. I fear for my car...

Funny thing is, I'm not feeling well. I came *this* close to blowing church off. I think part of the problem here is weather related - some moisture probably getting down in a seal and freezing. So, *if* the window isn't opened until later in the day *maybe* it has no problem.

It's enough to make you think.

[Tambourine Man]

Lovely. So I bought a new car last week and went to put gas in it for the first time last night. Swipe card, remove nozzle, choose grade, go to turn gas cap...it's stuck. In fact it's stuck so good that I put enough pressure trying to twist it loose that it snaps the 2 pieces apart. Taking a closer look, I can see that it was screwed in poorly to begin with (the threading was off center). Naturally, anger takes over and I try to loosen it up with my hand and wound up with a stuck gas cap and a very bloodied hand.

I decide to leave it parked at work because I didn't have enough gas to make it to home or the dealer to do repairs. Since I'm a mechanical idiot, of course I showed up at work today armed with some basic tools to pry it loose myself. Got it loose, put a little gas in, and drove to the dealer to get a new one. It was free, but the "short wait" was 2 1/2 hours. I really, really hate cars.

[cardinalkarp]

Lovely. So I bought a new car last week and went to put gas in it for the first time last night. Swipe card, remove nozzle, choose grade, go to turn gas cap...it's stuck. In fact it's stuck so good that I put enough pressure trying to twist it loose that it snaps the 2 pieces apart. Taking a closer look, I can see that it was screwed in poorly to begin with (the threading was off center). Naturally, anger takes over and I try to loosen it up with my hand and wound up with a stuck gas cap and a very bloodied hand.

I decide to leave it parked at work because I didn't have enough gas to make it to home or the dealer to do repairs. Since I'm a mechanical idiot, of course I showed up at work today armed with some basic tools to pry it loose myself. Got it loose, put a little gas in, and drove to the dealer to get a new one. It was free, but the "short wait" was 2 1/2 hours. I really, really hate cars.

Uh oh, the Mazda 3 has started off on a bad foot!!

They made you wait 2 1/2 hrs to hand you a new gas cap?

[Tambourine Man]

Lovely. So I bought a new car last week and went to put gas in it for the first time last night. Swipe card, remove nozzle, choose grade, go to turn gas cap...it's stuck. In fact it's stuck so good that I put enough pressure trying to twist it loose that it snaps the 2 pieces apart. Taking a closer look, I can see that it was screwed in poorly to begin with (the threading was off center). Naturally, anger takes over and I try to loosen it up with my hand and wound up with a stuck gas cap and a very bloodied hand.

I decide to leave it parked at work because I didn't have enough gas to make it to home or the dealer to do repairs. Since I'm a mechanical idiot, of course I showed up at work today armed with some basic tools to pry it loose myself. Got it loose, put a little gas in, and drove to the dealer to get a new one. It was free, but the "short wait" was 2 1/2 hours. I really, really hate cars.

Uh oh, the Mazda 3 has started off on a bad foot!!

They made you wait 2 1/2 hrs to hand you a new gas cap?

Yeah, I don't know why they didn't just let me put it on myself....maybe it's in the service contract that they have to do the repair? In fairness, I did walk in around luchtime, so I'll give'em the benefit of the doubt on that. But it's just a gas cap.

[cardinalkarp]

Lovely. So I bought a new car last week and went to put gas in it for the first time last night. Swipe card, remove nozzle, choose grade, go to turn gas cap...it's stuck. In fact it's stuck so good that I put enough pressure trying to twist it loose that it snaps the 2 pieces apart. Taking a closer look, I can see that it was screwed in poorly to begin with (the threading was off center). Naturally, anger takes over and I try to loosen it up with my hand and wound up with a stuck gas cap and a very bloodied hand.

I decide to leave it parked at work because I didn't have enough gas to make it to home or the dealer to do repairs. Since I'm a mechanical idiot, of course I showed up at work today armed with some basic tools to pry it loose myself. Got it loose, put a little gas in, and drove to the dealer to get a new one. It was free, but the "short wait" was 2 1/2 hours. I really, really hate cars.

Uh oh, the Mazda 3 has started off on a bad foot!!

They made you wait 2 1/2 hrs to hand you a new gas cap?

Yeah, I don't know why they didn't just let me put it on myself....maybe it's in the service contract that they have to do the repair? In fairness, I did walk in around luchtime, so I'll give'em the benefit of the doubt on that. But it's just a gas cap.

Repair as in screwing on the gas cap? After I sat there for 30 min I would've been steaming mad. I would've told them to give me the GD gas cap.

[Tambourine Man]

Repair as in screwing on the gas cap? After I sat there for 30 min I would've been steaming mad. I would've told them to give me the GD gas cap.

By that point, I was just exhausted from the ordeal. I actually caught a short nap while waiting. The people at QT who witnessed (heard) my screaming at the moment of snap...I'm horribly laid back, but it's ugly when I let loose. It's just frustrating to be stranded because of a damn gas cap.