Criswell, Gaithersburg, MD - LotusTalk

iw84u · 11-06-2008, 06:23 PM

i need your opinion. i took mine for 30k service. marty called me back said that i needed new pads and discs for $2000 more. i ok it. but since reading the break posts, i feel he stuck one up in me pretty far.

called marty today to tell him i could have saved $1000 using aftermarket and he told me that i shouldn't use aftermarket anything on the lotus. and a customer had a bad experience installing aftermarket pads. is he full of it?

i can't really get mad at him because i did give consent. but damn, i should have waited.

everyone at criswell seems nice enough though.

now, i'll have to eat at least 3 months of Cup O Noodles to make up the loss.

thanks,

hao

davecarama · 11-06-2008, 06:39 PM

Yes, you just got it hard. Sorry! The guys ar Criswell are super nice, but next time you need a brake job, I will help you do the work and you should get the parts from Blackwatch Racing.

I use Pagid blue pads front and rear and they are fantastic for both road and track.

Just saw you tried to PM me, I just cleared by inbox out if you want to resend the note.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iw84u

i need your opinion. i took mine for 30k service. marty called me back said that i needed new pads and discs for $2000 more. i ok it. but since reading the break posts, i feel he stuck one up in me pretty far.

called marty today to tell him i could have saved $1000 using aftermarket and he told me that i shouldn't use aftermarket anything on the lotus. and a customer had a bad experience installing aftermarket pads. is he full of it?

i can't really get mad at him because i did give consent. but damn, i should have waited.

everyone at criswell seems nice enough though.

now, i'll have to eat at least 3 months of Cup O Noodles to make up the loss.

thanks,

hao

Minnis · 11-06-2008, 06:40 PM

these cars have the simpliest brakes. I used EBC's and oem pads. $345 for the whole front.

kestrel74 · 11-06-2008, 06:47 PM

I have Porterfield R4S's and I love them ! street / track....and ..oh... cheap in comparison....sorry....

iw84u · 11-06-2008, 07:00 PM

is marty legit? it's hard for me to trust him now.

davecarama · 11-06-2008, 07:15 PM

He is a shop mgr. He sees a bunch of these cars go through his shop and charges top dollar for the service.

Is he legit?
Well, he will get you into service when you need it. He will be sure your car is ready when you need it. He is nice and semi helpfull.

Keep in mind though, his #1 priority is not to be your buddy, it is to make his shop money.

I can't be for certain, but I think the admin side and the mechanic side of that shop don't communicate the best ever.

My best success at that shop is when I was able to speak directly to the tech.

pete inno · 11-06-2008, 07:17 PM

Criswell=Ripoff
In the future stay away from them. There are other folks in the area that can help you out.

Pete in Maryland

mp3moose · 11-06-2008, 07:19 PM

Marty has been good to me. They put me up in rental cars for weeks on end trying to diagnose and fix my motor from the infamous cam lobe wear/broken rocker arms. That said they really pushed me for documentation before doing any warranty work on the car. Overall it's been a positive experience, but I've always been a little wary of criswell.

I also just bought aftermarket pads and rotors which I recommend you do in the future.

snuggles1 · 11-06-2008, 07:23 PM

He's helped me out plenty of times above and beyond and he's always courteous and respectful... of course he needs to make a buck, but I'd go back to him.

davecarama · 11-06-2008, 07:45 PM

Ha!
He told me he has never heard of those issues and that they never do rentals/loaners etc...

Look, he is a nice enough guy, but I am not 100% convinced they know more than normal maintenance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp3moose

Marty has been good to me. They put me up in rental cars for weeks on end trying to diagnose and fix my motor from the infamous cam lobe wear/broken rocker arms. That said they really pushed me for documentation before doing any warranty work on the car. Overall it's been a positive experience, but I've always been a little wary of criswell.

I also just bought aftermarket pads and rotors which I recommend you do in the future.

davecarama · 11-06-2008, 08:13 PM

Wow, I feel like I am headding up the "I hate Criswell Club". Not my intention.

Trouble shooting the rear end rattles = fail
Trouble shooting the second cam issues = fail
Touble shooting an alarm issue = fail

But they washed my car last time it was there.
They do a great job with oil changes, and warrenty work.
They always get me in and out same day.
They always work me in the schedule whenever I ask them to.
They always remember me and seem happy to hear from me.

The Lotus needs a little more care than your other cars. All of which can be done in your driveway, and few of which take more than an hour or two (most an hour or less).

You just need to decide if it is worth the money to send it to the dealer who charges top dollar, or if you should spend a little of your own time and save a whole hell of a lot of money.

Brake job (FULL brake job)
$250 per rotor (x4=$1000)
$20 for fluid (x1 can or less)
$200 for pads (x2 axels)
$120 per hour (x2 hours min although I bet I could do it in one as it is a simple job)

I am sure the lotus schedule says it takes a certain ammount of time for pads, certain ammount for rotors, certain ammount for fluid and who knows if they take into account that they are all being done at once as opposed to one er visit. So with that in mind, $2000 sounds about right for what a dealer would charge.

G'Burg area, I don't mind helping wrench on the Lotus with you. If you need help, or are too squeemish to do it unsupervised, give me a shout and I will loan a hand. I am not a mechanic, i am a DIY Hobbiest who has been wrenching on my cars for the past 10+ years. It is mechanics, not brain surgery. With the right tools and the shop manual, you can do anything.

D

apk919 · 11-07-2008, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davecarama

...
I use Pagid blue pads front and rear and they are fantastic for both road and track....

Just a minor threadjack... what's your experience with brake squealing? I have the Pagid blues as well (love the performance) but on the street they're a bit noisy when cold... (and yes, I used lots of anti-squeal grease when installing the pads).

davecarama · 11-07-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apk919

Just a minor threadjack... what's your experience with brake squealing? I have the Pagid blues as well (love the performance) but on the street they're a bit noisy when cold... (and yes, I used lots of anti-squeal grease when installing the pads).

They squeeked BAD when I first put them on. Then I went to the track and no more squeeking!

apk919 · 11-07-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davecarama

They squeeked BAD when I first put them on. Then I went to the track and no more squeeking!

Cool, either I have to re-bed them, or I'll just take them to BW next weekend!

davecarama · 11-09-2008, 06:40 PM

Mine are rattling like shiznit now

wallabyguy · 11-09-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davecarama

Yes, you just got it hard. Sorry! The guys ar Criswell are super nice, but next time you need a brake job, I will help you do the work and you should get the parts from Blackwatch Racing.

I use Pagid blue pads front and rear and they are fantastic for both road and track.

Just saw you tried to PM me, I just cleared by inbox out if you want to resend the note.

While at HRM, we used to use the Pagid Blues all the time. Same comments regarding sound but great performance. Blackwatch is a good source for the pads.

iw84u · 11-10-2008, 03:24 PM

thanks guys. you've been most helpful. i'll consult the board first, next time.

11-06-2008, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
iw84u Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 28	Criswell, Gaithersburg, MD i need your opinion. i took mine for 30k service. marty called me back said that i needed new pads and discs for $2000 more. i ok it. but since reading the break posts, i feel he stuck one up in me pretty far. called marty today to tell him i could have saved $1000 using aftermarket and he told me that i shouldn't use aftermarket anything on the lotus. and a customer had a bad experience installing aftermarket pads. is he full of it? i can't really get mad at him because i did give consent. but damn, i should have waited. everyone at criswell seems nice enough though. now, i'll have to eat at least 3 months of Cup O Noodles to make up the loss. thanks, hao

11-06-2008, 06:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
kestrel74 G-200 Driver Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North of Detroit; Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 9,313	I have Porterfield R4S's and I love them ! street / track....and ..oh... cheap in comparison....sorry.... __________________ 74 Europa Zetec TC Special 3614R Elise #2292 / Chrome Orange !! / Starshield / Nitron Sport SA / RTDbrace / Uprights machined / Down Low rails / ChaseCam / V1 / SS lines w/ R4-S "My daily driver does .85 Mach" " I started flying when Sex was safe and Hang Gliding was dangerous " BUY My Europa ! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/...pa-sale-43829/

11-06-2008, 07:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
davecarama Driving it every day! Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 850	He is a shop mgr. He sees a bunch of these cars go through his shop and charges top dollar for the service. Is he legit? Well, he will get you into service when you need it. He will be sure your car is ready when you need it. He is nice and semi helpfull. Keep in mind though, his #1 priority is not to be your buddy, it is to make his shop money. I can't be for certain, but I think the admin side and the mechanic side of that shop don't communicate the best ever. My best success at that shop is when I was able to speak directly to the tech. __________________ Vision without execution is a hallucination.

11-06-2008, 07:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
snuggles1 I just called your Mom Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: On top of my amplifier Posts: 917	He's helped me out plenty of times above and beyond and he's always courteous and respectful... of course he needs to make a buck, but I'd go back to him. __________________ 2002 Brian Moore C55 >> 2002 Ibanez AR250 with Gibson Burstbuckers >> 2001 Taylor Grand Auditorium >> 2000 Les Paul Custom 3 pickup >> 1998 Brian Moore C90 >> SRF chassis 543 >> 1976 Rickenbacker 4001 >> 1972 Fender Telecaster >> 1939 Gibson Archtop

11-06-2008, 08:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
davecarama Driving it every day! Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 850	Wow, I feel like I am headding up the "I hate Criswell Club". Not my intention. Trouble shooting the rear end rattles = fail Trouble shooting the second cam issues = fail Touble shooting an alarm issue = fail But they washed my car last time it was there. They do a great job with oil changes, and warrenty work. They always get me in and out same day. They always work me in the schedule whenever I ask them to. They always remember me and seem happy to hear from me. The Lotus needs a little more care than your other cars. All of which can be done in your driveway, and few of which take more than an hour or two (most an hour or less). You just need to decide if it is worth the money to send it to the dealer who charges top dollar, or if you should spend a little of your own time and save a whole hell of a lot of money. Brake job (FULL brake job) $250 per rotor (x4=$1000) $20 for fluid (x1 can or less) $200 for pads (x2 axels) $120 per hour (x2 hours min although I bet I could do it in one as it is a simple job) I am sure the lotus schedule says it takes a certain ammount of time for pads, certain ammount for rotors, certain ammount for fluid and who knows if they take into account that they are all being done at once as opposed to one er visit. So with that in mind, $2000 sounds about right for what a dealer would charge. G'Burg area, I don't mind helping wrench on the Lotus with you. If you need help, or are too squeemish to do it unsupervised, give me a shout and I will loan a hand. I am not a mechanic, i am a DIY Hobbiest who has been wrenching on my cars for the past 10+ years. It is mechanics, not brain surgery. With the right tools and the shop manual, you can do anything. D __________________ Vision without execution is a hallucination.

11-06-2008, 06:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Minnis '010 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vegas/Phila. Posts: 771 Images: 1	these cars have the simpliest brakes. I used EBC's and oem pads. $345 for the whole front.

11-06-2008, 07:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
iw84u Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 28	is marty legit? it's hard for me to trust him now.

11-06-2008, 07:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
pete inno Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	Criswell=Ripoff In the future stay away from them. There are other folks in the area that can help you out. Pete in Maryland

11-06-2008, 07:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
mp3moose Complete Lotus Junkie Join Date: May 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 692	Marty has been good to me. They put me up in rental cars for weeks on end trying to diagnose and fix my motor from the infamous cam lobe wear/broken rocker arms. That said they really pushed me for documentation before doing any warranty work on the car. Overall it's been a positive experience, but I've always been a little wary of criswell. I also just bought aftermarket pads and rotors which I recommend you do in the future.

11-09-2008, 06:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
davecarama Driving it every day! Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 850	Mine are rattling like shiznit now __________________ Vision without execution is a hallucination.

11-10-2008, 03:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
iw84u Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 28	thanks guys. you've been most helpful. i'll consult the board first, next time.

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