Need mechanic for grey market 2005 in Albuquerque

2717 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by RVGRINGO, Feb 28, 2012

guntherloki

Discussion Starter · Dec 31, 2009

Can anyone recommend someone in Albuquerque to work on a 2005 grey market Fortwo? I had someone for awhile but they just spent 5 months on a single problem with no communication and shoddy work. PLEASE, I need someone who knows what they are doing and is professional.
Thanks

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

RVGRINGO

· #2 · Dec 31, 2009 (Edited)

If your smart 450 runs OK, it might be worth driving south of the border to the nearest dealer in Mexico. There are two Eurostern smart dealers in Guadalajara. Here are the dealers closest to the border. In your case, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, would be the easiest drive:

Car One Premium, S.A. de C.V.
Distribuidor Autorizado smart
José Eleuterio González No. 700
San Jerónimo
Monterrey, Nuevo León, 64640
(81) 89 89 31 00

Car One Premium, S.A. de C.V.
Distribuidor Autorizado smart
Paseo de los Triunfadores No. 6765
Cumbres Octavo Sector
Monterrey, N.L. 64610
(81) 8888 1150

Touché Motors, S.A. de C.V.
Distribuidor Autorizado smart
Paseo Triunfo de la República No. 6080
Col. San Lorenzo
Cd. Juaréz, Chihuahua, 32320
(656) 623 6533 al 36

Autoproductos de la Costa, S.A. de C.V.
Distribuidor Autorizado smart
Fray Servando Teresa de Mier 1450
Esq. Padre Kino
Col. Zona Rio, 21090
Tijuana, BCN
(664) 979 7959 al 63

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Leroy

· #3 · Dec 31, 2009

What was your problem with the car? Sometimes mechanics have to break down and ask questions to find the answers. It is like a guy that refuses to ask questions when they are lost.

Leroy

guntherloki

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 31, 2009

The problem was that there was a hole in the gastank. I first had this hole a couple of years ago. Mechanic said that it wasn't any damage that just happened--that the car came that way. Mechanic "fixed" it then but around five months ago, I went out to my car after work and all of the gas had drained into the parking lot. Had it towed directly to the mechanic. They had the car for five months! During most of that time, they did nothing. They also gave me no information unless I bugged them. It is just bad business to hold someone's car that long and it is outrageous to hold someone's car for five months and not even give updates or status.
The car died on the way home. I refuse to return to a place that cannot communicate and holds your car hostage. It is now sitting in the driveway of a home that is unoccupied and is for sale. I need to move it and get someone to fix it.

guntherloki

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 1, 2010

Thanks, but the car is not moveable without a towtruck at this point.

RVGRINGO

· #6 · Jan 1, 2010

With some caution, you could certainly fashion a temporary gasoline tank, if you are at all mechanically inclined; at least one that would get you to the help you need.

jwight

· #7 · Jan 1, 2010 (Edited)

Long 450 gas tank thread: http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f69/question-about-gas-tanks-22008/

Contacting Ron Gaus, www.aSmartCar.com, would be a good start; he can point you to the contacts for G&K who can probably help out.

Phone: (314) 583-9935
Fax: (314) 821-8469

Email: [email protected]

rgaus

· #8 · Jan 4, 2010

I personally know of no one in the Albuquerque area servicing 450 smarts. The nearest may be in Phoenix/Mesa, but doesn't appear there is an easy road to them for you.

Since this appears to be a gas tank problem, could you take it to a mechanic that specializes in gas tanks. He would need to know how to remove the gas tank on your smart, but that information can be found on evilution's site I think (Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia) and printed out for that mechanic? Just a suggestion. If you need to call "gas tank repair" category places, I'd also suggest first asking the question "Have you ever heard of a smart car". If they haven't, or answer negatively, go to the next phone number. You want somebody that gets excited when you mention a smart car. There are always those in any town that will be excited to work on a smart car. You just need to find one that is experienced in gas tank repair as well.

Mud Pie

· #9 · Jan 5, 2010

I may be over-simplifying the problem, but if it's a hole in the gas tank, isn't it a DIY job ? Can't the tank be removed and patched ? If not by the owner, can't the dropped tank be taken somewhere ? It sure would cut down on costs.

I assume it's plastic, just like the 451's.

RVGRINGO

· #10 · Jan 5, 2010 (Edited)

Once more; The simple solution is to order the correct gasoline tank from a Mexican dealership, either in person or by phone. Then, either have it shipped or go and pick it up in person. If you manage a temporary patch or a temporary gasoline tank (which should be quite easy), you could drive to the Mexican dealership and have it installed, thus avoiding double import duties; to Mexico and then to the USA.
Mexican dealerships support parts and service for smarts of all ages. Here's the closest one to Albuquerque:

Touché Motors, S.A. de C.V.
Distribuidor Autorizado smart
Paseo Triunfo de la República No. 6080
Col. San Lorenzo
Cd. Juaréz, Chihuahua, 32320
(656) 623 6533 al 36

ddama1

· #11 · Feb 27, 2012

Class Action Lawsuit against . Grey market Smartcars

G & K Automotive in Santa Ana Calif converted the Grey market Smartcars. The Diagnostics are blocked by Mercedes Benz on the computers in the USA. So I was wondering how we could do a Class Action Suit and get some Damn service on our neat cars??::

RVGRINGO

· #12 · Feb 27, 2012

It would be a lot easier to just drive on down to our neck of the woods. Our dealer, In Guadalajara, or other large cities, could help you; maybe even restoring your 450 to original specifications. We find them just fine in our 2007 Passion.
Besides, our weather is nicer than yours. Isn't it time for a vacation? This link isn't about Guadalajara, but the message is appropriate and the author is from here in Jalisco:
Fred On Everything

Reactions: 1

MikeB1

· #13 · Feb 27, 2012

RVGRINGO - thanks for the link to Fred On Everything - now I have a new guilty pleasure, reading his blog!

belkin666

· #14 · Feb 27, 2012

hope this helps

I would try the local independent Mercedes Benz garages. That's how I found my service garage back in 2007 - I started with about a dozen - called and rejected some - then visited and rejected some - [and some where not interested in the car] - narrowed it down to three and went with Stepke and he has been great. At least an independent MB garage will have the Star computer system and they can talk to the car and reference spec's. You may even find someone who has had some prior personal experience with a smart [like I did]

a start:

Auto Bahn Automotive
2716 2nd St, Albuquerque, NM • 505-344-6244

Dieter's German Car Specialist
3230 Vassar Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM • 505-884-6905

German Motorwerke
6712 4th Street Northwest, Albuquerque, NM • 505-344-6712

European Automotive Specialist
135 Wyoming Boulevard Northeast, Albuquerque, NM • 505-256-3333

German Motorwerke
6712 4th Street Northwest, Albuquerque, NM • 505-344-6712

Silver Star Auto Haus
2730 Aztec Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM • 505-881-4855

Hans Wittler Automotive
121 E Elizabeth St NE, Albuquerque, NM • 505-294-7684

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belkin666

· #15 · Feb 27, 2012

RVGRINGO said:
It would be a lot easier to just drive on down to our neck of the woods. Our dealer, In Guadalajara, or other large cities, could help you; maybe even restoring your 450 to original specifications. We find them just fine in our 2007 Passion.
Besides, our weather is nicer than yours. Isn't it time for a vacation? This link isn't about Guadalajara, but the message is appropriate and the author is from here in Jalisco:
Fred On Everything

just fyi - a 450 restored to "original specifications" would not be acceptable in the US - hence the G&K conversion.

radar231

· #16 · Feb 27, 2012

It would be simpler to trailer it and take to Juarez than to Canada. You may also be able to set up a maintenance relationship with the dealer there. There may be some language barriers but there are a number of us multilingual smart enthusiasts both on this board and the Mexican board that would be willing to help.

Does ALSRAC have any connections at the Juarez dealership?

RVGRINGO

· #17 · Feb 27, 2012

MikeB1 said:
RVGRINGO - thanks for the link to Fred On Everything - now I have a new guilty pleasure, reading his blog!

Fred is a very perceptive individual and an excellent author. He does include an assortment of 'typos' as his sight is failing, so don't let that distract you.
I check his site every Monday morning, looking for new articles. I'm hooked!
Fred On Everything

RVGRINGO

· #18 · Feb 27, 2012

belkin666 said:
just fyi - a 450 restored to "original specifications" would not be acceptable in the US - hence the G&K conversion.

Now that it is registered in the USA, nobody would have to know. We've driven our 450 in the USA, before the 451 existed, and you wouldn't know the difference; of course, we couldn't register it there. Foolish political protectionism!

belkin666

· #19 · Feb 28, 2012

hey jwight

should this thread be moved to the 450 forum?

RVGRINGO

· #20 · Feb 28, 2012

It might be of interest to any smart owner, who would vacation in Mexico or Canada, to realize that the USA is the only place where there is discrimination against other models of smarts and any of them before 2008 models. Our dealers can, and will, service the 450, 451, For4 or Roadster. In Mexico city, there is also an independent with even better prices and service, as well as parts and used smart sales.
However, when we drive our 450 to the USA, dealers would turn us away, even for a tire! They aren't even nice about it.

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