This is what concerns me here. I have no idea of how this shop deals with customers, but I go out of my way to make sure that the customer understands any risks we're taking. I said before that I'll tune my own car, but not anyone else's, but if I did decide that to do someone else's car I'd be damn sure that they knew how little experience I have and how high the risks were. After telling them that I'd still feel responsible if I FUBARed their engine, but legally I don't think I'd be on the hook to pay for repairs. The owner whould have taken a risk that was explaned to him clearly. Nobody forced him to take the risk.

I'd feel so bad I'd pay for a new motor anyway, but I wouldn't feel as bad as I would if I hadn't issued a warning before the fact.

I can't think of a single reason the shop would not say that they also warned their customer that tuning involved risks. Is there a sign on the wall in the dyno room warning that the dyno puts stresses on a vehicle and that failures are not the responsibility of the management? The shop looks like a quality operation, so I suspect they have their butts covered.

 

this is very common attitude after the shop f*** up the customer's car

sorry to hear that happen to your S2K

 

they should have your charts no matter what they say. every tuner keeps a record of the cars they did for future referecnces, especially if u just had it done. if they say they dont have it, i would bring in an attorney

 

>> Did you do or say anything that might have put them on the defensive or made them angry?

Didn't really get a chance to! They were not sympathetic or anything just realy defensive! The "tuner" / boss guy dissapeared on holiday and the other guy just told me he couldn't do anything without the boss... So I wanted to move the car to another garage because these guys were assholes so I had to pay the bill in full /

When I went down to see what was going on the guy ignored me! he just kept working on a skyline and pretending I wasn't there almost. Then he tried to tell me my car had probably been clocked and had more miles on it and stuff like that! I am going to try and go to small claims court.

 

No way. Can't be done. I'll bet this isn't the first engine these guys have toasted. Good luck. If you end up needing pistons, PM me. I have 7 low mileage ones along with the rods, and a full set of valves, springs and retainers.

 

This is the problem we have in the UK no tuners have any real experience with S2000's, a lot will say they can do it but usually cant, what we need is a few more UK guys wanting standalone EMS and then bring a guy over from the USA.

Dan Keep us updated on how you get on at TDI.

 

If you have anything like a Better Business Bureau there you might want to check to see if any complaints have been filed. From the way you have described their behavior (and assuming that your description is accurate) I'd be surprised if this is the first time they've trashed a customer's engine.

I hate to say it, but if I were in your shoes I'd be extremely pissed, and no doubt dead set on giving them a load of grief they aren't prepared to handle. Accidents happen, but the attitude and treatment they're giving you would be more than I'd tolerate. Have you posted anything about them in your local forum?

 

When it comes to the F20/22 motors there is no substitute for experience.

We recently turned away a customer who wanted us to install an e-manage ultimate in his S, because we don't have the experience we'd need to tune the thing properly (and safely). Sadly, many shops seem unable to turn away business, even when they know they should.

 

I don't believe there is anything special about the tuning of the S. If you find a good tuner that knows the AEM software and knows how to tune safely and wisely, then the S is just like any other car.
My tuner has never tuned an S before and he hasn't hurt my car, but he does have a good sense for tuning and knows the AEM software.

 

man what a horror story!!

all that money for a supercharger then the motor goes!!