APM Racing: 1 in a Million
APM Racing: 1 in a Million
I believe in giving thanks where thanks is due. This is long overdue and kind of an emotional issue for me. Not sure how many are daily driving and Evo since 2003, but I'm one. It has not been an easy road, and my Evo has been a royal PITA! Of course, there have been many great things being part of the enthusiast community. Like, meeting great people and friends. But, the bad has been dealing with unscrupulous shops and tuner/members who shall go unnamed. Mark and Maciek(sp?) , and their great techs, treated me like a person and not a cookie cutter, est by the shop book manual type place. To make a long story not so long, APM finally got it right. I forgot how truly amazing an Evo can be. I love these guys and my Evo again!
You know Larry, I'd like to extend a thank you. I know the journey has been tough but it's been going in the right direction finally.
When you called me about 8 weeks ago and said that everywhere you went and everywhere you called they told you that a new engine (rebuild) would be necessary to get your car to be running right. When you showed up and dropped the car off, we knew that we had something...well, different on our hands.
Starting with a company doing a boost leak test and the dip stick popping off and it being left like that. Oil being everywhere and one complaint being that the car smokes and smells like oil...well there's the sign. The lack of effort given by a company to a consumer that is PAYING for a service is remarkable. Then to blatantly say that the engine is toast and the turbo is shot is still something that shows no respect to a client.
Then when going through with the compression test, and it actually turned out okay (for what it was) but the leak down on the cylinders (which was not performed at the other shops) is what was the give away.
After taking the head off, not only was there an issue with the head being all carbon plugged and the valves not closing, those piston tops and cylinders looked like they had 300K on them. I'm glad that the service was done because that alone netted you a good amount of power as well the possibility to take that motor a good amount of miles further.
The cylinders being cleaned up, the head being done and the car getting put back together...that was a joy. It's funny how when all of this was done, you still had a good amount to spend on the necessary maint items so that your car will be streetable and able to get on the road with the new found engine servicing. The wheel bearings, the tie rods, the ball joints, alignment and more fit in the bill of what others quoted you to replace your engine (that didn't require it anyway) and we still got the car tuned!
The debate that was done with the turbo is one that I love and hate, the crap that was done to that thing and the stuff that you have had to go through with your now three turbo's to get it right is amazing. I'm still a firm believer that the guy who sold you the turbo is shady and in my eyes's, what he did to you will never be justified and can never be forgotten, happy he's getting away from dealing with cars. Now, when the turbo was originally inspected, the lack of shaft play, the wheels being in good condition and the turbo overall looking good, made a doubt that the turbo would be faulty. Then that you ran into the issue of the gasket blowing out recently and to make life simple we simply swapped the whole turbo and manifold...the car is a beast.
To hold that power down well be doing those studs and throwing them in the car with the boost turned up and the car dialed in even better.
The simple fact that a lack of diagnosis is what put you in our hands is actually a good thing. I simply love the fact that the bill is less than half of what others quoted you and in your own words "the car never felt better and made me this happy to be an evo owner". I love it when the original owner come in with the car they had purchased new because I want to keep them on the road and know that even after 7-8 years, the car is still as much a beast and bad *** as it was off the show room floor.
Those who don't know, Larry has dealt with a few different shops, spent a good amount of money and has been unhappy with the car for quite some time. I get disgusted when customers walk through my doors and tell me how they lost faith in there evo's and don't like driving them. However, I do love when the time and busted knuckles are spent on a car and given back to the customer and they are literally speechless. Larry, the car over the last few weeks has been a headache but has turned into a joy. When the last few things are dialed in, you'll love it even more.
Thank you Larry for giving us the opportunity to work on the car and to get your faith back into what a car is supposed to be like and how you are supposed to be treated, all it takes is a bit of time and respect for the car to get it where it needs to be.
-Mark
When you called me about 8 weeks ago and said that everywhere you went and everywhere you called they told you that a new engine (rebuild) would be necessary to get your car to be running right. When you showed up and dropped the car off, we knew that we had something...well, different on our hands.
Starting with a company doing a boost leak test and the dip stick popping off and it being left like that. Oil being everywhere and one complaint being that the car smokes and smells like oil...well there's the sign. The lack of effort given by a company to a consumer that is PAYING for a service is remarkable. Then to blatantly say that the engine is toast and the turbo is shot is still something that shows no respect to a client.
Then when going through with the compression test, and it actually turned out okay (for what it was) but the leak down on the cylinders (which was not performed at the other shops) is what was the give away.
After taking the head off, not only was there an issue with the head being all carbon plugged and the valves not closing, those piston tops and cylinders looked like they had 300K on them. I'm glad that the service was done because that alone netted you a good amount of power as well the possibility to take that motor a good amount of miles further.
The cylinders being cleaned up, the head being done and the car getting put back together...that was a joy. It's funny how when all of this was done, you still had a good amount to spend on the necessary maint items so that your car will be streetable and able to get on the road with the new found engine servicing. The wheel bearings, the tie rods, the ball joints, alignment and more fit in the bill of what others quoted you to replace your engine (that didn't require it anyway) and we still got the car tuned!
The debate that was done with the turbo is one that I love and hate, the crap that was done to that thing and the stuff that you have had to go through with your now three turbo's to get it right is amazing. I'm still a firm believer that the guy who sold you the turbo is shady and in my eyes's, what he did to you will never be justified and can never be forgotten, happy he's getting away from dealing with cars. Now, when the turbo was originally inspected, the lack of shaft play, the wheels being in good condition and the turbo overall looking good, made a doubt that the turbo would be faulty. Then that you ran into the issue of the gasket blowing out recently and to make life simple we simply swapped the whole turbo and manifold...the car is a beast.
To hold that power down well be doing those studs and throwing them in the car with the boost turned up and the car dialed in even better.
The simple fact that a lack of diagnosis is what put you in our hands is actually a good thing. I simply love the fact that the bill is less than half of what others quoted you and in your own words "the car never felt better and made me this happy to be an evo owner". I love it when the original owner come in with the car they had purchased new because I want to keep them on the road and know that even after 7-8 years, the car is still as much a beast and bad *** as it was off the show room floor.
Those who don't know, Larry has dealt with a few different shops, spent a good amount of money and has been unhappy with the car for quite some time. I get disgusted when customers walk through my doors and tell me how they lost faith in there evo's and don't like driving them. However, I do love when the time and busted knuckles are spent on a car and given back to the customer and they are literally speechless. Larry, the car over the last few weeks has been a headache but has turned into a joy. When the last few things are dialed in, you'll love it even more.
Thank you Larry for giving us the opportunity to work on the car and to get your faith back into what a car is supposed to be like and how you are supposed to be treated, all it takes is a bit of time and respect for the car to get it where it needs to be.
-Mark
Thanks for spelling that all that out, Mark. Your willingness to sort the whole mess out has been a relief. What people should know is how much you do for your customers. Such, as shuttling me to a Greyhound station, and picking me up there when the car was done. I can't even get 10 minute ride home with a local shop even if I needed all this work($). I'm just sorry you had to deal with a burnt out, basket case. Thank you guys again, for leaving me speecless.
You know what was the best with your last visit, everything went smooth. The throttle body got swapped, the head studs went in, the tune was done and the car hauled. When you came back and said that the car finally runs like a car that you've never got to experience, I knew we had finally quit messing around with fixing other peoples mistakes on the car.
Then I get a phone call the next day, Friday afternoon, we're swamped, I see your number and I think "here we go again", then all I hear is laughter and excitement in your voice, even more so then when you left.
I think that the journey has been far and wide but we've finally got your car to where it should be.
Honestly, I was probably just as delighted to hear that the car is great as you were, it by far the hustle of the Friday smoother knowing that another success story has been accomplished and we have another great customer from the greater Peoria area.
-Mark
Then I get a phone call the next day, Friday afternoon, we're swamped, I see your number and I think "here we go again", then all I hear is laughter and excitement in your voice, even more so then when you left.
I think that the journey has been far and wide but we've finally got your car to where it should be.
Honestly, I was probably just as delighted to hear that the car is great as you were, it by far the hustle of the Friday smoother knowing that another success story has been accomplished and we have another great customer from the greater Peoria area.
-Mark
The fact that you guys are easier to deal with even with 3 hour drives, there and back, than the couple of performance shops in town, kills me. It's an honor and priveledge to be included in any way with you guys. The car is so much fun, and as civil, as if new. Unless, I decide to drop the hammer. On so many levels, my life has been transformed, along with this car.
Honestly, that makes me happy man, as this is a public thread and a place that everyone can see and read what is going on, I know some may say I'm too personally attached or emotional about the situation.
When I know that you have no other way of getting around except the car, and you live sooo far away, what else can I do, late nights and some TLC makes things all better.
-Mark
When I know that you have no other way of getting around except the car, and you live sooo far away, what else can I do, late nights and some TLC makes things all better.
-Mark
