I am looking for a mechanic with experience with mini's.

I live in Webster,Ma and need service done to my 05 R50.

Thanks

 

Greasy's Garage - 143A Hamilton st, Worcester MA. Pete is the man

 

I totally agree, but pete and I had a falling out and he has informed me to take my buisness elsewhere.... Do you have anyone else in mind?

My last visit to greasys I was informed that my harmoic balancer was in need of replacement. I travel 75 miles daily and don't want to be left stranded.

 

Wow...Pete is pretty easy going, so it must have been one heckva argument. Short of going to the dealer, you could go to Bavauto, Turner autosports, or even 3d auto in Hudson NH (a BMW shop that does mini's too). All the options are likely a longer drive than the 45 min or so drive to Inskip in RI....but you likely need a place with some special tools to get the new harmonic damper on....

 

My fallout wasn't with Pete it was with John...If I knew this was going to be the result of voicing my disapointment in not servicing my car in the agreed to time frame I would not have expressed my disappointment. It was Pete who asked me not to return, I'm wondering if he got the real story about my botched service appointment. Pete has done lots of work on my car (clutch, lower control arm bushings, fuel level sensors and numerous oil changes) I am very disappointed, but I understand. I wish nothing but sucess for Greasys garage - they do provide a valuable serivice to mini owners, just not me.

Thanks for the other options.

 

Naw, no worries, it just proved nobody/no place is perfect! Anytime you read just sucess storys about a location, your views on a place is incomplete. All knowledge, which aids in descesion making is good. Every buisiness has sucesses and failures, somtimes, when confronted by high stress situsation make descesions that are not expected (new shop, new buissiness partner, etc) and later regretted. Since they are convient to you, I'd drop by with a 6 pack at the end of the day, make peace, and move on.
But like I said, all of the above are pretty well respected shops that are a bit more polished...I have heard of a place in Winchester Ma, and a nondealer in Peabody Ma....a quick search should get you their names.
Good luck, and IMO I would put on the ATI part... (on the r53, I haven't reseached the r50)cheaper than OEM, and it is a more daurable desgin too!

 

I tend to agree. If you really liked your services there, maybe have a coffee with Pete and talk it over. It just sounds like two friends who argued over something and forgive each other later.

I've ordered parts from Bavarian Auto before. They seem like good people to me.

 

I would like to stop by and down a few brews to clear the air, but I'm not sure they would be receptive.

I appreciate the suggestions and reccomendations.

 

I checked out Bavauto and Truner with no luck on an OEM or aftermarket crank pully(CP). In fact, after several hours of surfing the web and making phone calls there seems to be no aftermarket CP for an R50. And the lowest OEM CP I could find was $328. If anyone comes locates a lower priced CP or an aftermarket CP please drop me a line. I'll keep looking.

Also found a mechanic in Northborough who has experience with MINI's...

 

Looked at RealOEM.com. The R53 part number is 11 23 7 525 135. Your R50 part number is 11 23 7 829 906. Price is about $350 for just the part. MINI Mania charges even more: http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NME7647/InvDetail.cfm.

Please don't go aftermarket lightweight. It will throw off the engine harmonics. Way Motor Works is the only place I know that carries an SFI-certified aftermarket R53 pulley. Not sure if he has an R50 equivalent.

 

One of my last conversations with Pete he warned me about lightweight CP's.
As far as I can tell no one makes an aftermarket CO for an R50.

Thanks for the additional contacts, I'll check em' out.

 

If you want to install an aftermarket product because its cheaper, better design, whatever, you could still try calling MINI of Peabody and asking if they would do the install. I know they have installed aftermarket items on other cars, so it could be worth a 5 minute phone call.

I would still consider giving Pete at Greasy's a call to see if you can resolve your issues becasue it sounds like his location is more convenient for you and he ceretainly does good work.

 

Ok...I bought all my parts (OEM) and I have an appointment to get them installed. I wanted to share with you the quote I received from Inskip MINI...wait....wait for it.....$1,000. OMG are you for real??? When I was talking with the SA he was quoting me the parts cost and he told me $660 for the crank pully.....what??? Talk about an overhead cost.

Well just wanted to share that and that's why I won't go to a dealership.

 

does anyone have a referral for a mechanic in ct? greater hartford area?