Dallas Sewell Alignment experience
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 11
Dallas Sewell Alignment experience
94 LS 400 w 176,650
While I have bought parts from Sewell & many forum members here are familiar w Darrell Diller, today was my first ever service experience with Sewell. I generally try and avoid the dealership when possible.
My car had just moved to SC430 rims and 235/45/18 Kumho SPT's and I wanted to make sure I maximized their performance capabilities and wear characteristics. Although it did not pull or handle poorly, I had feared that an over the curb excursion on my old 16's had a negative impact on my alignment. This was confirmed.
I had asked previously what Sewell charged for a four wheel alignment and was told $99.00. After Dallas Frame & Alignment quoted $175.00 the Sewell offer & amenities looked like a good enough deal.
I go in and wait for ages and no sign of my vehicle?? My young service writer comes to find me and informs me that there is a problem. The camber bolt on the drivers side rear Front Arm/Control Arm was stripped (arm is part # 48710-50020) and that it would take an additional 2 hours to remove, replace and align & push my cost to $280.00 est. I was allowed to go back to the vehicle and check this out myself and the mechanic could not have been cooler. Name was Jeff, btw. I informed him to cease and desist on the rear & get the front aligned & that I would just bring it back tomorrow w a new bolt installed to complete the process. I then stepped over to parts & bought a $14.00 camber bolt.
I have a couple of mechanics I frequently trust & use who are sans alignment machine that I knew would get that bolt out for me pronto. Time goes on & no vehicle appears, service writer finds me & says I’m going to need a loaner car which they volunteer to me. Midway thru this process I’m told they can fix mine & I’m again taken back to the garage. I find 2 mechanics now working on my car & trying to repair the threads on the camber bolt w an impact wrench, I reach in my pocket & hand them the bolt. Apparently they had tried parts & there was not another one available. Bottom line I think my alignment took 3 hours +, and I was still charged the $99.00 & tax I came in for. Stayed longer than I would have liked but was happy w the end result and the effort.
damon
While I have bought parts from Sewell & many forum members here are familiar w Darrell Diller, today was my first ever service experience with Sewell. I generally try and avoid the dealership when possible.
My car had just moved to SC430 rims and 235/45/18 Kumho SPT's and I wanted to make sure I maximized their performance capabilities and wear characteristics. Although it did not pull or handle poorly, I had feared that an over the curb excursion on my old 16's had a negative impact on my alignment. This was confirmed.
I had asked previously what Sewell charged for a four wheel alignment and was told $99.00. After Dallas Frame & Alignment quoted $175.00 the Sewell offer & amenities looked like a good enough deal.
I go in and wait for ages and no sign of my vehicle?? My young service writer comes to find me and informs me that there is a problem. The camber bolt on the drivers side rear Front Arm/Control Arm was stripped (arm is part # 48710-50020) and that it would take an additional 2 hours to remove, replace and align & push my cost to $280.00 est. I was allowed to go back to the vehicle and check this out myself and the mechanic could not have been cooler. Name was Jeff, btw. I informed him to cease and desist on the rear & get the front aligned & that I would just bring it back tomorrow w a new bolt installed to complete the process. I then stepped over to parts & bought a $14.00 camber bolt.
I have a couple of mechanics I frequently trust & use who are sans alignment machine that I knew would get that bolt out for me pronto. Time goes on & no vehicle appears, service writer finds me & says I’m going to need a loaner car which they volunteer to me. Midway thru this process I’m told they can fix mine & I’m again taken back to the garage. I find 2 mechanics now working on my car & trying to repair the threads on the camber bolt w an impact wrench, I reach in my pocket & hand them the bolt. Apparently they had tried parts & there was not another one available. Bottom line I think my alignment took 3 hours +, and I was still charged the $99.00 & tax I came in for. Stayed longer than I would have liked but was happy w the end result and the effort.
damon
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 2
From: Plano, Texas
Sounds like a crazy sitution that worked out for you. However, if YOU had not been on top of things, it would have really cost you. Any work I have had done on my GS lately, I have been taking it over to Davenport Motor Company. They are all former Sewell Lexus folks and only work on Lexus cars for a fraction of the dealer cost. They did my alignment for $79.00. They just opened a brand new facility somewhere near the Park Cities area. I go to their facility in Plano. Check out their website at www.davenportmotorco.com
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 6
From: Georgia
Wow, great to hear that Damon. That's what flat rate system is all about. If they said its $99.00 and it doesn't matter if the job take them 20 minutes or 3 hrs you still pay $99.00 or 1.0 hr labor. I ran into some of the problem car that the book only call for 2.2 hrs, but it took me 4 hrs to finished. So, I loose my butt of this one and this situation happened all the time.
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