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Originally Posted by E30 NED  Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on taking your car to yet even the next level by building the motor. You likely do not remember me, but we met years ago at Chris's house in Andover. I believe you were driving a Mercedes at that time.
I've been watching the posts with the build up of your car, and I have to say they have been quite intriguing. Each time it seemed your process concluded however, I must say it has left me a bit confused.
You shipped your car out to D/A, with what is now I believe 2 years past, and each month we were treated to some impressive fabrication work and eye candy. If we fast forward a bit, there were quite a few false alarm births during your car's late trimester gestation period. Of course, this is completely understandable with a project of this magnitude. There was also a great deal of speculation on potential power figures from both yourself, and those who eagerly waited every few weeks for a new update on your car.
This brings us to a few weeks ago, when it was announced your car would be finally coming home. I know many of us waited with baited breath not only for the return of this beast, but also to finally learn what, the "gal" as you call it, was making for power. To everyone's dismay that has followed this automotive legacy, we were quite disappointed to learn that after two years the "gal" would be returning home with a damaged motor and no dyno charts or a/f figures to solidify its worthiness. We then learn that the car will not be returned to D/A, but rather torn down by a local friend and yourself borrowing shop time.
The last two points are what simply leave me in an utter quandary of confusion so to speak. I know if I had invested, what I can only imagine is a large sum of money, into a project like this, and diligently waited for 2 years for its completion, I would have starred its builders in the face with the same expression I would give to a Martian landing in my backyard. To hear them tell me that the car would not only be dyno'd, but exclusively tuned without one, could simply garner no less of a response. Oddly, your enthusiasm for numbers vanished and you quickly rushed to defend D/As decision. It is ok to have pride, but it is clearly another situation all together to defend the irrational to your own determent.
It really should come of no surprise that the headgasket blew given the lack of thorough tuning and monitoring that can only be achieved on a dynamometer. I have to say, this alone simply has me scratching my head to the point of dermatitis.
The other issue here is, it appears that D/A has gone to considerable lengths over the span of two years to at very least make your car look good. Yet, you've contracted out work to a friend, who I am sure is capable, to tear down this mechanical puzzle in a matter of a few days. With two years to assemble and a comparatively insignificant amount of time to take it apart and put it back together again, I sincerely hope you do not expect to have the same fit and finish that it did before. I also hope that D/A will be assisting you financially in this project as reparations for their blunders.
I wish you the best of luck with your car, Carmen. But, I hope you realize the road that lies before you will be far more treacherous than the path you have traversed so far. |
Hmm.
Allot is assumed in this post.
To quickly re-breakdown the past 18 months.
Car was sent off to D/A to have a bolt-on SC kit made.
Project grew to include the whole top end, full suspension, braking, etc.
Car was road tuned by Bill Knobloch with Jim Conforti
Car dropped an injector and detonated the cylinder.
This brings us to where we are now.
Firstly I must add that if any poor business practices where happening I would be the first to enlighten everyone, but there just isn't any. Many personal conversations have been shared between me and D/A none of which are privy to those outside of my close net circle of friends.
I will not begin to go on and on about D/A and what they do / how they do it. There reputation speaks for itself. I will say that I would do it all over again in a heartbeat as they are a very special group of guys that I am honored to be a part of.
If you are to be so lucky as to have them take your business and begin a project with them you would then understand the philosophy.
As far as the car being worked on here and the assumption that the fit and finish would not be up to par really is an insult to NickP.
This is a man whom was given the hardest problems passed by other dealerships in repairing issues that would have otherwise sent the cars back to BMW. He has a knack for troubleshooting, furthurmore he is a BMW engine specialist. This is what he trains people in now. Every little cleareance, torque spec etc he has in his head for just about every newer BMW motor. This is not someone whom I feel will fail in reasssembly a puzzle that is so neatly laid out I took it apart without issue.
The beaty of D/A is thier ability to realize these car still need to be worked on, so they are built for it. Everything fits where it needs to, everything comes out the same way, all the wiring is integrated into the harness, all we have to do is unplug it.
Also all my decisions have been made with the full support of D/A. We pretty much have daily talks about what we would like to do as well as how we will be doing it. D/A is still very involved in all aspects of what is going on, they are just not wrenching on her. A local man whom they respect is, who happens to be a friend of mine, so why wouldn't I let it happen this way?