Hi all.

My sister has been having some issues with work done on her BMW 1 Series 05 Plate, something just doesn't sit right with the mechanic, so I thought why not ask you lovely people for some advice! Sorry for the wall of text in advance.

3 weeks ago she agreed to have clutch/flywheel work done from a local mechanic through a friend at work. One man band, good reviews etc. Total price was £753. She paid £503 (he requested this amount to be bank transferred to his personal account) and then she paid the remaining £250 in cash once she had the extra money.

He done the job and dropped off the car to her whilst she was watching her daughter play football. This was quite a way out so not a bad touch. But the car didn't start when he dropped it off. He couldn't work out what it was and arranged recovery himself to get it back to his unit to have a look.

Since it has been returned to the unit after it had being recovered. His diagnostic kit cannot connect to ECU. So he had an auto electrian look at the electrics of the car (free of charge). He found fault with some wires from the ECU to the engine were in his words frayed. Which he then replaced hoping it would solve the issue.

As it didn't, over the last 2 weeks, he has tried two relays, and replaced the wiring loom with no luck and doesn't know what else to do with it. These bits of extra work he has gone on to do without asking for permission from my sister. All of their communication has been over the phone or text, going along the line of "it might be this, I've ordered this and I'll give it a try" etc. His last suggestion is that it could be a problem with the ECU. Ultimately the ignition turns but it doesn't fire up the engine.

Our concerns are the following:

- He hasn't provided her with any invoice of work that's he's done.

- Is there anything she needs to get from the mechanic to hold her in good stead in case she wants to take this further?

- Aside from the clutch, the car was in good working order prior. Regularly serviced etc. She has called other mechanics and explained the situation and they all feel he may have messed up something with the electrics and he is trying to cover his back. This is compounded with the fact that he has advised my sister against getting it to BMW dealership for 2nd opinion. I know they will cost an arm and leg but they could corroborate the work he may/may not have done and possibly find a fix or definitive answer to the problem.. Her partner is demanding she gets the labour cost back from him but she doesn't want him to get involved as she fears he may do something stupid.

Any advice/questions would be appreciated. It has really knocked her for six and she doesn't know what else to do.

Edited by Jordster88 on 27/08/2021 at 22:36