Mechanic reccomendations in Auckland.

[andrewgreen1000]

Hey guys, my Ae111 GT Sedan is coming to a stage where I'm going to need a good mechanic, to fix a few fairly major problems.

The blacktop, has got quite a major oil leak, that almost appears to be coming from the head-gasket area on the exhaust side, getting up towards the cambelt (which was done at 180ish K's), which leaks down onto something hot (I presume exhaust, but can't exactly see). This means I get a bit of oil smoke, when I start the car after leaving it a few days (its my weekend car, as I take the loser cruiser to work). It also is pretty rattly up top on start up too, with it taking a second or so to build oil pressure after actually starting, seems to be a bit longer than it was in my old BZ Carib. I also need somewhere to fix the 4th gear synchro on my C160.

I'm looking for someone who actually understands what I'm talking about, as the place down the road where I took it for a WOF and Cambelt, and a few minor fixes, after I bought it about a year ago, you have to just talk to the secretary, who has no idea at all. I want somewhere where they can discuss whether fixing whats in there (at 186k's) or a secondhand engine and box is the better option. my budget is't huuuuuuge, but I'm willing to do stuff in stages, to keep the car running. I've survived skipping 4th on the way down for about a year, so I can go for a bit longer haha.

Other peoples thoughts on these options are totally welcome. I kind of like the idea of fixing whats in there, and if it is a HG leak, chucking on a TRD gasket etc. I plan (although plans always change) on keeping the car for quite a while, potentially using it for track days etc further down the track, as my weekends become more free.

I live in Morningside, so somewhere reasonably close would be good, but I am totally willing to travel for somewhere really really good, as long as I can jump on a train/bus or something to get home after dropping the car off.

Cheers
Andrew

[ALES_AE111]

Have heard good things about Sparg's Autotune from people on here, particularly regarding 4ages.
They are over on the North Shore though, so not ideal for you.

Someone else who has actually used them might be better placed to chip in on them.

[Vertigo]

Yep, another vote for Spargs here.

[andrewgreen1000]

Sweet thanks for the reccomendation guys. Might be a bit hard for me to get back from the over the bridge. Will definitely keep it in mind though if I don't hear anything else.

[ALES_AE111]

Had a need to get some stuff checked out on the Levin and took the car to Spargs.

Chris is a great guy to deal with and I'll definitely be going there more in future.

[LittleM@n]

I've been today with my Brevis for WOF and general service (oil change & stuff), and chose Sparg's based on the recommendation read here, on the forums.
Indeed Chris is a great guy, and I totally agree that he is the first mechanic to go to with any type of problem you may have.

[andrewgreen1000]

I Just wanted to come back here and provide some feedback for Spargs.

I never did end up taking my Sprinter to them (It's now sitting in a sorry state at my parents in Palmy). But my partner took her ist into them to get a tune, a service, and have an issue looked at.

They were great. She is usually quite scared about going into a mechanics, but the feedback is that Natalie?, and Chris were able to talk to her in terms she understood, listened to her really bad description of wheel bearing noise, and diagnosed and fixed the problem easily, and quickly

10/10 from me, as it means I don't get forced to take her car in (and explain noises in a car I never drive) when it needs something doing to it!