My 2007 Mini Cooper S was towed to the Mini dealer in December where they quoted $3,800 for a new timing chain assembly, a new computer, and the accompanying labor and diagnostic fees. I called Highland Automotive, told the owner exactly what repairs I needed, and asked for an estimate. The owner stated he could do the same work as the Mini dealership for $400 to $500 less. \r
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The ""work"" was finally completed last week, but now Dwain tells me there is a problem with the fuel rail and it will cost at least another $1,000 to repair. I also learned he had sent my car to a different shop - Automotion - for some of the repairs! He NEVER requested my permission to do this and I was completely unaware that any work was being done at Automotion. I decide to take the car back to the Mini dealer for a second opinion. When I picked up the car at Highland, the price was not the original that we agreed upon and Dwain refused to give me an itemized invoice of parts and labor. After being asked, he confirmed the timing chain assembly had been replaced and the computer had been replaced and programmed. He said the timing chain worked ""great"" and the warranties for those parts were with the Mini dealership. \r
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I took the car directly to Mini. Yesterday, I met with their mechanic who showed me the timing chain assembly clearly was not replaced and the computer installed was not programmed. Additionally, an extra bolt was laying in the engine, there was debris in the oil pan from broken parts, and many components were not reassembled correctly. In the words of the mechanic, the car is a ""hot mess."" \r
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To illustrate the significance of the misrepresentations by Highland Automotive consider the following. My original estimate from the Mini Dealearship, before I ever took my car to Dwain, was $3,309, minus diagnostic fees. On June 3, 2013, I paid Highland Automotive $3,173. Now, I'm being told almost all of the work Dwain claims to have done was not in fact done; to have that work completed, plus new diagnostic fees and programming of the computer, I will have to spend at least $2000. The only thing I asked Highland Automotive to do that they actually did was install a new computer, a part costing $1,194.52. So, I guess I can give them credit for ordering a computer and bolting it to my car. \r
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I hope no one else will have to experience what I have experienced. \r
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