My visit to Olly and PCS

jp williams

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Just returned from a pre-arranged 530 mile round trip to see Olly @ PCS.
Reasons for going?

*positive comments on this and the other website
*want to keep the car for another 7 years and another 117,000 miles,so I wanted a "health-check" carried out
*needed ATF change and an MOT
*I enjoy driving

The trip from Wirral to Portsmouth and back covered 530 miles at an average speed of 60 mph and average fuel consumption of 55 mpg according to Comand.I will fill up at weekend to check figure manually

I travelled down on Sunday pm and had a troublefree journey via M56,M6,M40,A34 and A3(M) and stayed at a local B&B in Horndean.

Arrived at PCS approx 9.15am Monday morning to find Olly and Jack working hard but expecting me.The car was put on the ramps and I was allowed to watch (at my own risk of course)

Olly noted quickly that one of the rear springs was broken and the car would fail the MOT.(2 weeks ago I had driven the 1700 miles back from Spain fully loaded with wine and personal possessions and not noticed anything untoward).He ordered 2 new springs which would not arrive until Tuesday ,so I had to book another night in the B&B !

Olly changed the ATF fluid in the gearbox including that in the torque convertor and ensured that the old fluid was flushed out properly.

He carried out the healthcheck including all of the known W210 problem areas of spring perches,cross members and the dreaded rust.All was fine apart from 2 very minor but potential rust problems,one on the top of the rear offside door and one under the handle on the tailgate.
He recommended that during the next 12 months or so I should give consideration to replacing the front anti-roll bar links and the front lower arm castor bushes.I authorised work on the anti- roll bar links straight away as I had noticed the tell -tale knocking from the front for a little while.

I left PCS on Tusday pm with
my MOT certificate, newATF fluid, new front anti-roll bars, and 2 new rear springs.I also had the satisfaction of knowing that an extremely competent person (Olly) had given the car a clean bill of health.
Throughout my stay both Olly and Jack were gentlemen personified.They were relaxed, informal, jovial, highly efficient and thoroughly professional and all work was completed for a very reasonable price which I am sure would have been considerably more at a stealership.

Would I go again? YOU BET.
Should you go? I CAN THINK OF NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULD NOT.

I also had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with member Peter Mansell who was having his CLK 55 AMG looked after.

Happy motoring to you all.
__________________
JP
 
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Dosco

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How come you have all the 'extra stuff' showing in this post - never seen that before:confused:
 

Cole@MBS

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Although i am now working against Olly in some respects, i have to agree, i have put many hours in at Ollys place working for him, he just the same as me, the job has to be done right the first time and leaves never to return until the next service!!

Although i am now working for myself Olly is a top tech, and pleased you have had suh a good job done!!
 
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jp williams

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How come you have all the 'extra stuff' showing in this post - never seen that before:confused:


Sorry,but I`m a duffer at cutting and pasting. Hope you were able to read the gist of what I was saying about PCS.
 
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jp williams

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Although i am now working against Olly in some respects, i have to agree, i have put many hours in at Ollys place working for him, he just the same as me, the job has to be done right the first time and leaves never to return until the next service!!

Although i am now working for myself Olly is a top tech, and pleased you have had suh a good job done!!

Thanks S-A-M.
Olly speaks well of you too.I think its called "mutual respect".
You two are a credit to your (often cowboy) industry
Please keep up the good work.
Regards
 

Alex M Grieve

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Thanks S-A-M.
Olly speaks well of you too.I think its called "mutual respect".
You two are a credit to your (often cowboy) industry
Please keep up the good work.
Regards

Like your post a lot JP. I believe it tells the story typical of a good number of Indies around the country - competent, well trained people running their own business. Excellent customer focus and inter personal skills, and an attitude towards care of the customer and the car that is easy to neglect if you work for a larger "faceless" organization.

They also thrive because of "reference sales", people like you and I who have been there, liked it a lot and become their customers.

It is these intangibles, plus having a clear account of what the expert thinks is wrong, and what he has done to fix it, that differentiates them from larger outlets. The money we save by using them is a factor, but probably not the most important one.

At my last service on the S Class, the "Man from the Indy" said "the disc pads looked to good to change, so I have left them. If they need changing before the next service, the sensors will tell you, and it does not take long to do". Hands up anyone who has ever heard that line in a dealership? :D
 

AndrewIles

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Ollie has done work on both of my cars.

He definitely gets thumbs up from me!
 
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jp williams

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Like your post a lot JP. I believe it tells the story typical of a good number of Indies around the country - competent, well trained people running their own business. Excellent customer focus and inter personal skills, and an attitude towards care of the customer and the car that is easy to neglect if you work for a larger "faceless" organization.

They also thrive because of "reference sales", people like you and I who have been there, liked it a lot and become their customers.

It is these intangibles, plus having a clear account of what the expert thinks is wrong, and what he has done to fix it, that differentiates them from larger outlets. The money we save by using them is a factor, but probably not the most important one.

At my last service on the S Class, the "Man from the Indy" said "the disc pads looked to good to change, so I have left them. If they need changing before the next service, the sensors will tell you, and it does not take long to do". Hands up anyone who has ever heard that line in a dealership? :D

Many thanks Alex.Much appreciated.
Wouldn`t it be a good idea if those "quality " indies throughout the UK formed an informal alliance,exchangin ideas and information with each other and competed directly with the Stealerships?

Regards
 

Richard Moakes

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Many thanks Alex.Much appreciated.
Wouldn`t it be a good idea if those "quality " indies throughout the UK formed an informal alliance,exchangin ideas and information with each other and competed directly with the Stealerships?

Regards

A pretty good idea, and I am sure it goes on already. It's all down to mutual respect and ensuring there is enough work for everyone.
 

SQ_W211

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I have used MBS (S-A-M/U-N-I-T) after joining this forum and cannot say anything bad about the guys (160m round trip both time i have been to them and planning for third trip very soon).

After receiving such a quality service I would never go back to MB either, So the bottom line is.... its just about re-educating everyone that MB aren't God's so they shouldn't continue to rip us off with such high prices.
 

BlackC55

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Many thanks Alex.Much appreciated.
Wouldn`t it be a good idea if those "quality " indies throughout the UK formed an informal alliance,exchangin ideas and information with each other and competed directly with the Stealerships?

Regards


We already do;)

I am in contact with at least 5 independent MB specialists.
 

britnordic

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Can only agree with the other posts here, in the past I have used Andy Gayle in the Midlands, Olly down south and latterly Jib at Mercanic, locally. All did and do "exactly what is says on the tin", reasonable pricing and friendly, good advice.
Long may they continue to prosper!


Tony
 

MSG2004

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Hi

This guy olly - he is puka based on what I have read.
He still has time to post here and help people like me.
Thanks for the post!
:)
 


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