HELP with Bilsteins!!!
#136
01-14-2010 | 09:58 PM
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From: Baton Rouge
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Your car is the first I have seen on the forum from your region . I don;t know the scope of Porsche tuning in Baton Rouge . Since suspension installation is time consuming and at can also be tricky I woild feel as you do - (paraphrasing) "somewhat nervous" .
It's a wait and see whether Bilstein takes your current parts back . Part of me thinks they would want all your parts back just to factor out any doubts they might have. Obviously -your thread raised some awareness and exposure and it would be in their best interest I imagine to disprove it with your actual parts , retain customer loyalty seeing that you are pleased , and maybe even suggest an installer close to you .
How they handle this -- can turn this all positive for all of you guys --in my opinion . And BTW --I have seen other companies go the extra distance. It makes sense to me that anyone would recognize that most high end car owners are accustomed to spending money in the direction of top shelf customer service.
Myself --I would want new coil overs and a new installer . In short --basically start over . Every other aspect of the car is fine and once you are up and running then you may even find that these coil overs are really great . At least that's how I like mine . I have them on both my Porsches. I am keeping them too .
Good luck .
It's a wait and see whether Bilstein takes your current parts back . Part of me thinks they would want all your parts back just to factor out any doubts they might have. Obviously -your thread raised some awareness and exposure and it would be in their best interest I imagine to disprove it with your actual parts , retain customer loyalty seeing that you are pleased , and maybe even suggest an installer close to you .
How they handle this -- can turn this all positive for all of you guys --in my opinion . And BTW --I have seen other companies go the extra distance. It makes sense to me that anyone would recognize that most high end car owners are accustomed to spending money in the direction of top shelf customer service.
Myself --I would want new coil overs and a new installer . In short --basically start over . Every other aspect of the car is fine and once you are up and running then you may even find that these coil overs are really great . At least that's how I like mine . I have them on both my Porsches. I am keeping them too .
Good luck .
#137
01-14-2010 | 10:51 PM
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Derek, please do NOT go to the same tech, he had his chance. I would go to autodynamica, or better yet Ruf in Dallas, yes a hike but worth it imo. I drive 90 miles out of the way, passing several shops to have FL do my work, well worth it as you don't have to worry about anything, ever. Dealer techs are generally ill informed on aftermarket upgrades (in my experience) and this guy making house calls makes me suspicious. You need a high end performance shop, ideally a shop that does a lot of race work with cup cars. I'm a one strike and you're out guy, if a shop screws up like that, I would never go back again. My bet is that the other shock will have the spacer in place, as it never made a sound. I'm sure he just forgot to slip it on with the shock in question. The spacer acually helps disperse the force evenly over the shaft of the shock under load, at least that's my understanding. It is common practice to transfer the upper assembly parts from OEM to new, just the way it's done, at least according to my boys at FL(former).
I predict that the Bilstein NA folks have been looking at this thread and they will goodwill you a new shock assembly.
GL
C
I predict that the Bilstein NA folks have been looking at this thread and they will goodwill you a new shock assembly.
GL
C
#138
01-15-2010 | 08:03 AM
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It's actually a spacer not a washer fwiw. If you are not comfortable with your local dealer, then I would suggest Ruf in Dallas, Porsche West Houston (ask for Don Irby), or Autodynamica. But there's gotta be somebody closer to you, have you checked with your local Porsche club?
#139
01-15-2010 | 08:14 AM
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From: WA state
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I personally recommend not using dealerships to install aftermarket parts. There are some exceptions but frankly your avg tech I simply would not trust with the install nevermind dialing it in and alignment.
Let the dealer change the oil, sparkplugs if your brave, the rest go to a reputable tuner who does this each and every day. I wont even let my dealer wash my car! Its not uncommon to take your car into the dealer to fix a problem only to create another one.
Let the dealer change the oil, sparkplugs if your brave, the rest go to a reputable tuner who does this each and every day. I wont even let my dealer wash my car! Its not uncommon to take your car into the dealer to fix a problem only to create another one.
#141
01-30-2010 | 09:45 PM
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From: Palos Verdes
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In the mean time... I think we talked about your tech coming over to look at the coilover on the other side? If so:
Did he find the spacer/washer installed on the other side? And were you there to confirm
?
Did he find the spacer/washer installed on the other side? And were you there to confirm
?
Last edited by cannga; 01-30-2010 at 10:36 PM.
#142
02-04-2010 | 09:11 PM
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From: Baton Rouge
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Update
Got the word from Mike, at AWE, yesterday that:
1. Bilstein will not replace the shock as they attribute the breakage to "installer error." No great surprise to me there...what were they supposed to say...that their steel was faulty? They wouldn't do that for pure business reasons (in my opinion). There is a chance that it WAS installer error...(I personally do not believe it).
2. They are re-building the shock and will ship it to me. I am ok with this as the shock was brand-new and maybe had 50 or so miles on it. So, to me, that is basically getting a brand-new shock.
I have now been without the car for over a month and am extremely anxious to get it on the road! I do not yet have an indication as to the time frame involved with me receiving the re-built shock. I am going to have to incur new installation/alignment charges (several hundred dollars) and don't have any other Porsche expert here in the Baton Rouge area, so am stuck with the dealership. The tech is also going to verify the small spacer on the other shock (he has already told me it is there, as was the one that broke). Any thoughts?
1. Bilstein will not replace the shock as they attribute the breakage to "installer error." No great surprise to me there...what were they supposed to say...that their steel was faulty? They wouldn't do that for pure business reasons (in my opinion). There is a chance that it WAS installer error...(I personally do not believe it).
2. They are re-building the shock and will ship it to me. I am ok with this as the shock was brand-new and maybe had 50 or so miles on it. So, to me, that is basically getting a brand-new shock.
I have now been without the car for over a month and am extremely anxious to get it on the road! I do not yet have an indication as to the time frame involved with me receiving the re-built shock. I am going to have to incur new installation/alignment charges (several hundred dollars) and don't have any other Porsche expert here in the Baton Rouge area, so am stuck with the dealership. The tech is also going to verify the small spacer on the other shock (he has already told me it is there, as was the one that broke). Any thoughts?
#143
02-04-2010 | 09:37 PM
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It took a month and you still don't have the car? That in itself is not acceptable.
As for them not covering it --gray area . I didn't think they would but I thought they should have . Sometimes customer service means the customer is treated as though he's right regardless of whether it's valid or not --just to retain him . Just my opinion.
As for your installer - I would not do it. One aspect of of my personal growth is not to make the same mistake twice . I would want a new spring and a new installer at whatever the cost just to have the peace of mind of a clean slate and starting over.
As for them not covering it --gray area . I didn't think they would but I thought they should have . Sometimes customer service means the customer is treated as though he's right regardless of whether it's valid or not --just to retain him . Just my opinion.
As for your installer - I would not do it. One aspect of of my personal growth is not to make the same mistake twice . I would want a new spring and a new installer at whatever the cost just to have the peace of mind of a clean slate and starting over.
#144
02-05-2010 | 08:11 AM
Hello,
I would like everyone to please review the damage report from Bilstein. It was sent to me this morning.
See here:
http://www.awe-tuning.com/media/misc..._statement.pdf
Bilstein is not going to be sending out a new strut, but they are going to cover the rebuilding cost. Currently Bilstein is waiting on a replacement strut tube.
I will update everyone when I have new info.
I would like everyone to please review the damage report from Bilstein. It was sent to me this morning.
See here:
http://www.awe-tuning.com/media/misc..._statement.pdf
Bilstein is not going to be sending out a new strut, but they are going to cover the rebuilding cost. Currently Bilstein is waiting on a replacement strut tube.
I will update everyone when I have new info.
#145
02-05-2010 | 09:55 AM
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From: california
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nice
to see bilstein really step up and offer such a detailed report with pictures.
To the OP I would NOT use the tech that originally installed the struts. I'm with the others here ... you give them one opportunity, and if there are problems move on.
To the OP I would NOT use the tech that originally installed the struts. I'm with the others here ... you give them one opportunity, and if there are problems move on.
#146
02-05-2010 | 10:09 AM
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From: Long Island, NY
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Clearly an install error. I would NOT go to the same installer, regardless of location. You must go to a shop that is familiar with this setup, your dealer is not it would appear. I would strongly suggest having the car shipped to Ruf in Dallas, a Florida or Houston shop, or contact the techs at the porsche sport driving school in Birmingham, Ala, they may be able to hook you up.
Last edited by TT Surgeon; 02-05-2010 at 10:14 AM.
#148
02-05-2010 | 10:41 AM
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wow, thats amazing that a simply washer can help prevent such an issue. kind of gets me worried with my install now and that everything was done right. GL with you next install and hopefully that washer is in place on your other coilovers...
#150
02-05-2010 | 04:54 PM
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From: Orange County Socal
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I wouln't got back to the same installer either. Even if it cost more money, I would transport it out of state to a reputable shop and get it done right.
It still bothers me to think that a single washer can allow such breakage to happen. Especially with so little miles.
It still bothers me to think that a single washer can allow such breakage to happen. Especially with so little miles.