WTWarn:H&M Motorsports

[sick&tired]

Hi guys,
Just wanted to warn you guys about this workshop, H&M Motorsports. They are supposed to be a Mazda specialist, but after my encounter with them, I highly doubt that they are specialist in anything! Well except not solving problems,overcharging and being fucking rude to customers!

Here is a what happened:-

I went there for a major service, replaced quite a lot parts, mountings, absorbers,engine oil, atf fluid etc. All in all came up to about RM5.7k. I also changed a used steering rack with them as mine had problems. When I collected my car, there was a screeching sound coming from the engine bay, according to ah choi (owner), it was due to the hydraulic pre-tensioner Since it was quite late and he didn't have stock, I decided not to change it. After a couple of days, I asked him to order the part for me as the sound was driving me insane! I also noticed that there were sounds coming from the steering rack. He asked me to go back to his shop so that he can check the steering rack. Since I am not from KL, I couldn't go back immediately. After about a week, I called up ah choi to confirm the availability of the pre-tensioner as I will be in KL for work. He said that he still didn't have stocked.

While I was in KL, I was fortunate enough to find a shop which had Mazda spare parts. They had the hydraulic pre-tensioner in stock, so I bought it from them. Out of curiosity, I compared their price with what HNM harged me, and to my surprise, the price they charged me was 50% higher! And to make things worse, there was also a service charge which was quite high IMO (RM300). Anyhow I wasn't really angry as mechanics also have to make a living.

But what really pissed me off was what happened when I went to his shop to replace the hydraulic pre-tensioner Ah Choi was in China, so I had to deal with his assistant (not sure what's his name, but he was a young chinese guy). When I first entered the workshop, he already started making face. I suspect he wasn't really happy I bought the spare part myself., which I did because they couldn't find it for me! I didn't want to make a scene so I didn't interact with the guy much and instead spoke to another malay guy. The malay chap was very polite to me. I asked him to change the hydraulic pre-tensioner and also took him for a test drive so that he can hear sound the steering rack was making. After the test drive, I went out for lunch. Came back to the shop after nearly an 1 hour to find they haven't done anything! After 10 mins, they started work. Took them about 45 mins to change it, and when they turned on the car, the same bloody sound was still there!!!!! There was no difference at all! I asked his assistant why is the sound still there, as ah choi said that 100% the sound is caused bythe hydraulic pre-tensioner. He started talking in a rude tone (forgot what he said, but he basically said that he didn't know anything as it wasn't him who checked the car,if want 100% no sound then change all the parts,etc,etc).

At that stage I was already beyond angry. I asked him which part was the problem and whether he could order the part and fix it. He said that he couldn't get the part.I decided to buy the part myself and change it elsewhere, so I asked him to check the steering rack (since I bought it from them). He took my car for another (long) test drive, and when he came back, instead of talking to me, he straight went to check another car and totally ignored me. The malay guy was quite embarrassed and didn't really know what to do when I asked him how to settle the steering rack problem. He asked me to talk to the chinese guy. My bro,who was with m, was quite frustrated and told me to pay the bill and get the hell out of the shop. I dully paid the bill and left. Basically nothing was solved. I wasted 3 hours of my time!

Moral of the story. If you are a customer, I advice you to check the price of spare parts at other places first before buying from them. If I were to buy all the parts myself, I could have bought a new steering rack, instead, I got a fucked up used steering rack which only lasted about 1 week and got treated like dirt!

P.S I am not trying to piss in anyone's rice bowl, so if you guys have any doubts, I can pm the receipt as a proof.

 

[elsm80]

Moral of the story: Never trust ANY workshop in Malaysia.

 

[Alchemis]

hahaha... it's quite normal they have such attitude.. especially the young chinese guy.. if you show face to them, he will for sure show back extremely bad face... and it's normal.. all of us know about it :)

and as for their workmanship, it's pretty normal as well. we pretty much can't walk in and get the issue solve within a small time as they have other cars which is already doing half way. and if you car is just service, change oil etc... then they'll entertain you first.

that's my experience of 6 years giving them business. and what you mentioned is NORMAL :)

too bad you're not local, what we normally do when we wanna ask them to troubleshoot something, you test drive around with him.... show them the sound and feeling.. and leave the car with them maybe a day or two... let them to their job... then they'll settle it correctly... rushing them will make the situation worse and the fire will start burning from both ends...

 

[sick&tired]

I am sorry, but I totally disagree with you. In my line of business, I have dealt with a lot of mechanics, and so far, this is the one worst experience I have had. Like I mentioned earlier, I don't expect miracles, I know that when it comes to fixing cars, it involves some guesswork and trial & error. But what I can't accept is rudeness.

BTW the first time I went there, I did exactly what you said (go for test drive with mechanic,point out the problems and leave the car there for them to troubleshoot). In fact I left my car there for one whole day.

At the end of the day, its up to you guys whether to believe me or not. I am posting here merely as a warning to you guys. Maybe if you guys started standing up for your rights, lansi mechanics will be something of the past.

 

[savahn]

Heheh. I've been going to H&M since I first got my FC 6 years ago. They have never failed to fix any problems with my car with enough time. And they've done literally my whole car - rebuild engine, replaced steering rack, cooler, axle frame, tie-rods, air-con, fuel tank, down-pipe, cat, silencer, etc.

There was one Saturday that I had spent nearly the entire day getting a new fuel tank and a clutch pump replaced - work on the clutch pump started nearly 530pm. Ah Seong worked on the clutch pump until 830pm because the brand new replacement pump was f**ked and they only managed to solve the problem after redoing the work 3 times.

Yes, Ah Seong does have a temper. Yet he is a hard worker and he has never given up fixing something when he's worked on my car. I sit and watch usually - because I can't speak Cantonese properly. The thing about him is his face is by default lansi. But if you are patient with him, his lansi face doesn't show up when he deals with you. If you lansi with him, you definitely get double the lansi.

Also remember, you aren't the only customer. They work on a first come first served basis. You can't "book" their time - which kinda sucks really. If you are being served by Ah Seong or Ah Hau and they already have something under way, they will not switch to give you full attention until they've done the previous job.

And yes, I do agree they are expensive. For non-engine related, I prefer to go to my other mechanic that does my regular drive.

You could look for Ah Hau next time. "Monkey" is more approachable.

 

[DanzEterna]

bro...sorry for your lost, but if your not happy with their 'overcharging' workmanship + parts, u could report to tribunal, but u must have proof. wat u need is a quotation from a few shops with the exact part pricing & estimated labour workmanship

 

[adamckc]

what is hydrolic pretensioner,, cant find it in the rx7 manual.. pls..

 

[Slowboy]

A lot of good workshop have this kind of arrogant attitude.

 

[weu250]

Ah How is no more there.... He is running on his own. I'll try and help you by relaying this to Ah Choi. I know that you do not want to have to do with them anymore but I believe criticism is good to improve ones business. Its always good to take it as a positive and reconstructive.

 

[cwcham]

sick&tired, I could totally feel you on this. i had my share of bad experiences and terrible attitude with them for well over 3 years! two things that i couldn't stand - high prices and bad attitude (the one that annoys me most). I've reached a point where i was very annoyed with their attitude and I started going to other mechanics to fix my car. But I do give credit to them as they would be the workshop that eventually solved the problems with my FD. So I had to put up with their sh*t in order to get my car in pristine condition . This is the only advice I could give you, OR, you could follow my footsteps --- sold of my FD and changed into a car that more workshops are familiar with: 9000rpm redline :)

P/S: But I still love the FD and every now and then reminisces the sound of the rotary! kkrrkk krrkkk krrrkkkk ......

 

[Ry0suke]

Well I've been sending my FC there for almost 4 years... but I guess I didnt had the attitude problem becoz I deal only with Ah Hau...
In fact he has taken care of my car so good that its like he's taking care of his own... (considering the fact that I work outstation and he holds onto the car most of the time I guess its fair :P)

And now he has opened his new shop I only go to his shop now :P

---------- Post added at 03:07 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 02:57 PM ----------

oh and just an idea of what I have been doing with my FC these past 4 years :P

‪FC adventures‬‏ - YouTube

---------- Post added at 03:09 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 03:07 PM ----------

So Ah Hau has been very... very... very busy with her xD
hahahaha

 

[kariayam]

ryosuke: that bmw very fast..looks like m5. is it?

 

[phat7]

i miss ah hau too. :.)

 

[theycallmeBruce]

Where is Ah How's new workshop? Is it in Subang?

 

[Ry0suke]

ryosuke: that bmw very fast..looks like m5. is it?

Kariayam,
No thats not an M5, but its a supercharged 5 series... but now the owner has switched to a Subaru ver8 Spec C... which makes him very very fast....

Where is Ah How's new workshop? Is it in Subang?

Yeah... his shop is in Subang... a few blocks away from Ah Choi...
He's still using his same old phone number = 016 2336362

If you're there you might see my FC somewhere in his shop LOL