I took my 1998 BMW 540i to this shop to diagnose a shifting issue where I couldn't get into gear…read more Instead of identifying the actual problem, they told me I needed a new clutch and flywheel, and I ended up paying around $5,000 for the repair.
After waiting several weeks, I picked up the car--only to have the exact same issue happen again. When I brought it back, they blamed my E60 short shift kit, even though it's a well-documented OEM+ upgrade that countless E39 owners use without issue. Despite my skepticism, I let them reinstall the stock shift lever, and that did fix the immediate problem--but that only raises more questions.
If my original shifting issue wasn't caused by the clutch or flywheel, why did they recommend and charge me for that repair? And if they knew other components were worn (such as shift detents), why didn't they replace them when they already had the transmission down? I even had a conversation with Yanis, where I asked him to clarify how the short shifter could have caused the issue, and he admitted that it was probably due to other worn components. So if they already suspected that, why didn't they address those issues while they had the transmission apart? Now I have to take the car to another shop, which will charge me around $1,500 to replace the detents--when it could have been done for $200-$400 while the transmission was already out.
Beyond the cost, this was a huge inconvenience--multiple trips, long waits, and extra money spent, all because the real issue wasn't properly diagnosed the first time. I understand that diagnosing transmission issues can be complex, but at this price point, I expected better attention to detail.
This shop clearly has some knowledge of German cars, but their diagnostic process is flawed, and they don't take responsibility for bad recommendations. At the very least, I would have appreciated some acknowledgment of the misdiagnosis or an offer to help make things right.