Toastfrenzy's Tin Top, some say...........

[Toastfrenzy]

What's your story? - I'm waiting on Tony's to get sorted (again from the same stable as mine and yours) and work to start on mine. Sort of not looking forward to this as from what Tony has said it's already in the K's worth of cash he's having to re-spend and it's not finished either.

What's that taste in my mouth?

 

[Johnc172]

Long story short - my turbo went in for mapping, needed crank seal replacing. 5 months later I pick up a half finished car, covered in dust and s**t, half the engine missing and in a box in the boot. Took it to Mike Woodford to finish off and asked him to rip it apart again to make sure it was done properly, he found flywheel bolts loose, bell housing bolts missing, turbo bolts missing, alternator fooked. Also the crank seal Dan replaced, Mike said looked like it had been fitted by driving a train into it! 5 months to completely ruin my car - thanks for nothing!

 

[sonny172cup]

wow

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Yes, found your project thread, I did see your car a few times on my numerous visits to Dan519. Not good at all.

To be honest I should have walked away the minute I asked where the starter motor heat shield was, when picking up the car after the re loom and initial engine build and handing over 5.8K of my hard earned cash and being told...."errm you don't need that , but here it is anyway, you can put in on if you want as I'm not".

Please keep any comments factual, non inflammatory- abusive whatever.

 

[Johnc172]

Such a shame, only saving grace for me was that I didn't pay. Looking forward to hearing the progress though matey, fingers crossed its not 'too' bad

 

[NorthloopCup]

Yes, found your project thread, I did see your car a few times on my numerous visits to Dan519. Not good at all.

To be honest I should have walked away the minute I asked where the starter motor heat shield was, when picking up the car after the re loom and initial engine build and handing over 5.8K of my hard earned cash and being told...."errm you don't need that , but here it is anyway, you can put in on if you want as I'm not".

Please keep any comments factual, non inflammatory- abusive whatever.

£5.8k?! Ouch! That's gotta hurt pete.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Right in the gonads.

 

[Martin.]

Bloody hell. I always thought he was a good guy. Where did things take a turn around and when did he start not giving a f*ck!!?

 

[Toastfrenzy]

£5.8k?! Ouch! That's gotta hurt pete.

It's starting to bite...knowing I've another possible K +to spend.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Bloody hell. I always thought he was a good guy. Where did things take a turn around and when did he start not giving a f*ck!!?

I think the writing was on the wall from about this time...July 2013. The invoice is still beside my PC next to my data logger, go pro and transponder. Obviously never filed it!

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Right in the gonads.

Unfortunately, so true!

 

[NorthloopCup]

It's starting to bite...knowing I've another possible K +to spend.

Just to put it into context the engine I'm building for myself will have cost me no more than £2.5 k mate and that includes a mappable ecu. Power *should* be in the region of 230hp.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Sure, self build will always win, but add on labour and that increases the spend by a fair amount depending on where you go.

Anyway here's the invoice.

 

[dinger]

Is that right Pete, £900 for an engine loom???

 

[NorthloopCup]

Sure, self build will always win, but add on labour and that increases the spend by a fair amount depending on where you go.

Anyway here's the invoice.

Looking at some of those prices you've been charged, you could've saved yourself a whole lot of cash if you'd sourced them yourself tbh. I can get the Pistons and rods as a package for £600 delivered to your door for instance. I'm not trying to rub salt in the wound either pete, just showing it can be done cheap if your prepared to shop around/have access to the parts.

I agree though the labour is a big add on if you can't do the labour yourself.

 

[NorthloopCup]

Is that right Pete, £900 for an engine loom???

I'd say that's for the entire car and engine wiring loom Dave, as I know pete had it all ripped out and started from the beginning.

 

[Martin.]

Those costs are bloody scary.

 

[mark123]

The invoice looks reasonable for the work stated. Just a shame it turned out the way it did.
It is scary knowing who to trust with things like this - I've seen it several times over the years on here. People start off with a good rep but over time service goes down hill but people keep quiet about it at first giving supposedly reputable specialist the benefit of the doubt. I'm glad I enjoy doing most of the work myself although is does mean I can be without the car running for quite a while when I don't get the time to work on it, like this year lol.
Hope Fred sorts it and you can have a trouble free season next year.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Looking at some of those prices you've been charged, you could've saved yourself a whole lot of cash if you'd sourced them yourself tbh. I can get the Pistons and rods as a package for £600 delivered to your door for instance. I'm not trying to rub salt in the wound either pete, just showing it can be done cheap if your prepared to shop around/have access to the parts.

I agree though the labour is a big add on if you can't do the labour yourself.

As Mark has just said not overly concerned with the initial cost. I did check the prices back then and found I could've got the pistons, rods and valves a lot cheaper but when you buy a service you can't really pick and choose what parts to buy yourself.

The aftermath, build quality problems that I've had all could've been avoided, 100%, with someone giving the job the due care and attention that it deserved\needed. Basically is what it comes down too.

It's all done and in the past now, I would say lesson learnt but I don't think there is lesson to learn here - Dan simply switched off and going on his previous "seemingly good" record I was non the wiser, as a few others also found out the pit falls as I.

Future performance can't be guaranteed looking at past performance...seen that more in the financial world, however.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Is that right Pete, £900 for an engine loom???

Ah, complete re -loom Dave, this work I'm 100% happy with as it was carried\subbed out to Beaniesport. Though as Fred has pointed out this is showing signs of could be better - bare wires now showing on all the injector plugs. Not a hands up in the air WTF moment at all, more something else to sort.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Those costs are bloody scary.

I went in fully knowing the cost and the bill at the end was as expected, but yes it's a lot of cash!

 

[Toastfrenzy]

The yearly cycling total to date;
364 workouts
197:39:26 hrs
3086 miles,

Not far off 15K miles I've cycled in total since starting to ride to work 4 years ago this month.

Had the Passat MOT'd the other day, covered the grand total of 7K miles in the last year.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

How ironic to get this message - "last job of 2014 out the door Merry Christmas to all customers past and future and see you in the New Year. Back on Jan the 5th".

Thanks Dan519
I now have to prepare my own Christmas message, full of goodwill and cheer and post to his new workshop in Turvey, MK (since Nov\Dec 2014).

 

[Budgie]

LOL!

Check your mailing lists FFS. That's incredible.

 

[Fred@BTM]

I'm not going to comment incase this or Tony's go legal, don't want to be accused of "fuelling the fire"

 

[NorthloopCup]

How ironic to get this message - "last job of 2014 out the door Merry Christmas to all customers past and future and see you in the New Year. Back on Jan the 5th".

Thanks Dan519
I now have to prepare my own Christmas message, full of goodwill and cheer and post to his new workshop in Turvey, MK (since Nov\Dec 2014).

Wow! He wants to weigh his neck in at a scrapyard! It must be solid brass! Flol

 

[Tony Hunter]

Lost for words really.

 

[Johnc172]

I couldn't believe that either, I commented on it but was there all of 2 seconds before it got deleted. Absolute scum.

 

[mark123]

Shocking! I didn't realise he'd started up again.

 

[Budgie]

There's always a need for someone to fit brakes and coilovers.

And that's where it should stop.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

There's always a need for someone to fit brakes and coilovers.

And that's where it should stop.

Yes, I'm a firm believer of knowing my own limits, just wish other people knew theirs - I hate to say this but I think Chip was right all along.

Shocking! I didn't realise he'd started up again.

After listening to him saying all about stress etc and finally giving up and getting job I've come to think it was all a ruse to get me, Tony and others of his back.

Seems it's not the first this this has happened, got sent this;
piston/ring damage advice thread.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

I've read on the MSA licence application form that instead of a medical every year I only need to do one two years as it now says "previous medical is valid for 12 months and can be used to apply.......as long as application is processed before it's 12 month expiry" maybe its always been like this, just never read it. Tony Hunter

2nd paragraph applies...

Sam can do hers online (no medical) - as she's still a youth.

I can confirm this works and you only need a medical every two years, as I have had my race licence through and used last years medical - so saved having to take time off and also paying for the medical.

So next year I will renew in Feb 2016 and I'll be able to renew in Jan 2017 without a medical.

 

[dmallett]

I forgot about this car for abit! I used to love having a nose at it!

Will you be out racing this year Pete? Or is it still a no go?

I still find the whole thing from Dan very shocking, he was someone I had complete faith in him when it came to my car/ others.

 

[-Jamie-]

I still find the whole thing from Dan very shocking, he was someone I had complete faith in him when it came to my car/ others.

This, I have known Dan personally for a number of years now, Haven't really spoken to him for a while mind you. Shame as again he was one of the ones that i would of trusted to rebuild the Megane's engine when the time came.

 

[Budgie]

Fred, Mick, Birchdown, Dan SJM and Mike@ MWM.

No need to go anywhere else.

 

[TarkMalbot]

Ahhh.
Well that's me just finished reading every post of the whole 66 pages!
Some story. Its like a soap opera!
Looking forward to seeing more.
Its also a very similar set up to me Pete. I too have a bit of land and horses so can see a similarity. lol.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Not been on here for a loooong while, thought I'd have a bit of a Clio etc hiatus.

But while I've been hiding I've been talking .....to Dan.

He came up trumps with some needed parts for my engine.

Namely;

and an engine block, all for which I am extremely grateful!

So now I have to call Fred, find out what work he has on, time scales etc to get the engine sorted in the next few weeks if possible.

 

[Toastfrenzy]

doh!

Who changed the forum!

 

[Toastfrenzy]

Ahhh.
Well that's me just finished reading every post of the whole 66 pages!
Some story. Its like a soap opera!
Looking forward to seeing more.
Its also a very similar set up to me Pete. I too have a bit of land and horses so can see a similarity. lol.

Thanks for taking the time to read, I'd certainly have had an easier last few years without the Clio, but then I wouldn't have met @Tony Hunter !

 

[Cub.]

Good to see you back Pete.