What is reasonable?, I have been very patient Options

[keske968]

So here is the story *sigh* I bought a 914 with a "rebuilt" engine in it. Well the rebuild was not done propperly and low and behold it dies on me. I take it to a mechanic that is highly recommended by the local Porsche Club for aircooled engines and such. I tell him that I would like him to find out what is wrong (turns out it spun a bearing as it only had 2 of the 5 bearing dowles installed) and to fix it for me. This was in April of 2010. I wanted to drive teh car to my wedding in June and made him aware of this. I paid him $800 up front and then called or stopped by every week to see what kind of progress was being made. Let's just say that it was not ready in time for the wedding. Or even a year after that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) After he had the vehicle for a YEAR and three or four months my Dad and I collected the engine and have it rebuilt. We recently called him and told him that we will be picking up the rest of the parts and the car in a few day.

He respondes by telling me that he will get a bill together for me. Now to be fair he did purchase a new flywheel, new main bearings, and did take the engine apart. On the flip side I know that we will not get all the nuts and bolts etc. What is a reasonanble amount for this kind of work or rather the lack thereof? I do not want to run this guy through the mud (hence no name is given) but as I see it has has taken an engine apart, bought a flywheel, and some meain bearings and nothing else. To me this sounds like a small amount for $800.

So what would a reasonable person do in this case? I know I have been more than patient. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

[mepstein]

I would do your best to get all the nuts, bolts, ect. Some parts could be very expensive to replace later.

[keske968]

I have been. So far I think that we have everything except the screws for the engine tin and the three bolts that hold the impeller fan onto the crankshaft hub. However, we have ahd to purchase several other bolts and nuts to get it to this point.

Man am I wee bit frustrated....

[Jasfsmith]

I'd request copies of his invoices for the parts and pay it only. I would not pay him for his time if he gave you a completion date, and failed to show sufficient progress towards that date.

Collect everything and move on. If he doesn't agree to the terms, I'd go to the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint. The only kicker is the failure on your part to let time pass without giving him due notice.

I suspect he would agree to save his rep.

Yes, I'm a hardass when it comes to this type of thing.