Anyone Used Europei Motori for Servicing?

[benj]

Hi all,

I have a late model 159 and it's time for its first real service. I live in Kensington and work in Port Melbourne. Within the last month or so Europei Motori (EM) has opened a service centre right across the road from where I work, which is incredibly tempting from a convenience perspective. Their website lists Alfa Romeo as one of the "Prestige Brands" they service (http://www.europeimotori.com.au/service/), but I was just wondering if anyone else in the club (or otherwise) has any experience of EM?

My other choices at this point are Maranello Pur Sang, Zagames in Richmond or Essendon Chrysler/Fiat/Jeep. None of these have the convenience factor in terms of location, but I'm sure at least two of them certainly have the pedigree and the "trust" factor.

Any opinions or advice welcome.

Cheers,
Ben

[Joe Garra]

Maranello PurSang are right near Moreland station,  easy to get to and from, even from Werribee :-) It's worth the peace of mind.

[kaleuclint]

I wouldn't consider an outfit that handles no less than twelve makes as an Alfa specialist in any way, unless they were a large new car franchise such as Zags or LDs.  There's a workshop I pass sometimes that lists Alfa along with Ford and Toyota amongst others as their area of expertise.

Alfa Men in Footscray highly recommended.  I live nowhere near there but I'd make the effort, and I have a dealer workshop within a kilometre. 

[colcol]

Any workshop that claims to be experts and specialise in all makes must have about 100 mechanics working there and they all must be aged about 80.
I would prefer the mechanic working on my car to be bored by it as they have worked on this marque for years as opposed to someone working on my car and thinking of it as one big adventure.
You only have your scheduled service about twice a year, so its no big hassle twice a year.
Come along next Saturday morning to the workshop day the Alfa Club is having for the 159, Brera and Spider series cars, see club calender for details, Colin.

[Neil Choi]

I wouldn't consider an outfit that handles no less than twelve makes as an Alfa specialist in any way, unless they were a large new car franchise such as Zags or LDs.  There's a workshop I pass sometimes that lists Alfa along with Ford and Toyota amongst others as their area of expertise.

Alfa Men in Footscray highly recommended.  I live nowhere near there but I'd make the effort, and I have a dealer workshop within a kilometre.

A bit of gross generalisation here, don't you think.  Why don't you go and speak to the workshop first and see the work they carry out.  A workshop mentioned and recommended here does do over 12 makes and more and also claims to be an Alfa specialist.  I personally trust them with my Ford, SAAB, Alfa and Land Rover.  Many forum dwellers and members also do too.  They actually do Alfa, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, SAAB, Ford, Holden, MX5, Mercedes, Mazda, Maserati, Porsche, Lotus, FIAT, VW, Audi, Toyota, etc etc, I got tired of thinking what else I have seen in the workshop.  They are simply brilliant mechanics with many many many years of experience between them.

People entrust their car to certain mechanics and workshop because they have built a trust and relationship with that mechanic and workshop, much like you have with Alfa Man and me with the two workshops I go to and also because they are my mates and are Alfa specialist and I did get sucked in via knowing them through the club.

Most repairs are doable by any competent mechanic but familiarity with the make helps.

So build the trust that is what I am suggesting.

[Neil Choi]

Any workshop that claims to be experts and specialise in all makes must have about 100 mechanics working there and they all must be aged about 80.
I would prefer the mechanic working on my car to be bored by it as they have worked on this marque for years as opposed to someone working on my car and thinking of it as one big adventure.
You only have your scheduled service about twice a year, so its no big hassle twice a year.
Come along next Saturday morning to the workshop day the Alfa Club is having for the 159, Brera and Spider series cars, see club calender for details, Colin.

Colin, a certain workshop we all know specialises in all makes, only has 5 mechanics, all of whom we know and they are all pretty good.  One of them is pretty close to 80 (not really, retired) but still going and his knowledge is invaluable.  They too have worked on 33's and today I saw two Suds and a 33 being worked on.

[Evan Bottcher]

... and today I saw two Suds and a 33 being worked on.

There were actually three Suds, one sprint, and at least one 33 in that workshop today.  It's a boxer world.

[Neil Choi]

I figured you will poke your head up, Evan.

In the other workshop I live at frequent, they too are doing a full restoration on a Sud, paint and mechanicals. 

[colcol]

Just don't like giving free kicks to workshops that don't support the Alfa Club.
The ones that specialise in many makes may be good, but come along to a technical workshop day put on by the club and be astounded by the knowledge and history that the proper Alfa Romeo workshops know about our Marque, Colin.

[kaleuclint]

A bit of gross generalisation here, don't you think.

No -- not really Neil.  I am not commenting on the competence or otherwise of the workshop concerned as I have no experience with them.  For all I know my local Shell Car Care might have the best Alfa brain in the country working there.

What I am saying is that a workshop that in overall terms spends a fraction of its time working on Alfa (and I accept the division between the various marques listed may be far from equal) is not what I would consider to be a 'specialist'.  I don't believe a workshop can specialise in all makes either unless as has been suggested they have a technical workforce of a size enabling technicians to spend the majority of their time concentrating on one make.  I concur with Col that by working on Alfas constantly the knowledge and history is built.

I have a very long history with my Saab specialist, and can't say I was thrilled when they expanded to include Volvo (though logical given the future of Saab).  Now they service a number of Euro makes but they aren't going to service my Benz (which is in their repertoire now) -- and certainly not my Alfa.  There are nothing but BMWs where I get that worked on.  I'll accept that I may appear hypocritical by having the more simple aspects of Benz service done by an Alfa mechanic, but that's because he owns the same model Benz, and its supporting a club sponsor.

[John Hanslow]

By the way there is also Abarth Motors in Market South Melbourne who are a Spettacolo sponsor and a majority of there work is on Italian cars.

Alternatively Alfa Men have loan cars for their customer's so that's is a extra bonus besides being current model specialists.  They have a performance upgrade for the 159 diesel and working on a few other projects.

As stated in this thread, give Europei Motori a call and check them out and then you can make a decision.

Cheers

[benj]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, and the healthy discourse. Apologies for not offering thanks earlier - seems the forum stopped notifying me of new responses after the first one.

Colin: I saw the email regarding the garage visit for today but Saturday mornings aren't great for me, unfortunately. The email also suggested that the focus was more on the JTD/JTS models, whereas mine is a TBI.

Neil: I completely agree that a relationship with a repairer is invaluable. I'm hoping, as a first-time owner of an Alfa Romeo, to leverage the club's knowledge and history more to avoid making a bad decision. Everyone's experience is going to be different, granted, but I figured a chorus of disapproval would be a good indication I shouldn't entrust a repairer with my Alfa. I also don't know a whole lot about car mechanicals, etc, so I wanted to get a feel for who other owners trust. [Yes, I understand I'm probably completely over-thinking this - but that's me!]

Disclosure: I bought our Alfa new from one of the club sponsors and, I'm sorry to say, my first experience with that dealer - whom I won't name, in fairness, as my personal experience may not be a common one - left a bad taste. Otherwise, I would happily have taken the car back to them for servicing.

Thanks again, to everyone who has offered advice. Very much appreciated.

Ben.

[kaleuclint]

I'm probably completely over-thinking this - but that's me!

You own an Alfa, and a TBi at that.  You just can't over-think such things.  In some ways it's like a curse...

[Alfa156Melb1]

Any workshop that claims to be experts and specialise in all makes must have about 100 mechanics working there and they all must be aged about 80.
I would prefer the mechanic working on my car to be bored by it as they have worked on this marque for years as opposed to someone working on my car and thinking of it as one big adventure.
You only have your scheduled service about twice a year, so its no big hassle twice a year.
Come along next Saturday morning to the workshop day the Alfa Club is having for the 159, Brera and Spider series cars, see club calender for details, Colin.

Colin, a certain workshop we all know specialises in all makes, only has 5 mechanics, all of whom we know and they are all pretty good.  One of them is pretty close to 80 (not really, retired) but still going and his knowledge is invaluable.  They too have worked on 33's and today I saw two Suds and a 33 being worked on.

If you're talking about the workshop I think you are, after using them for 6 years and being very happy with them.. 2 years ago, as they became really busy they started getting 'the boys' to work on my car...

Every time I took the car in for something, they'd break something else:

Forgetting to replace subframe bolts, not fitting suspension correctly, breaking my alt belt, Failing to tighten bleed nipples on front brakes on the GTA, destroying the paint which I had only refurbed 2 weeks prior. Not to mention the potential of the brakes failing. Scratches, chips...

And that's only a fraction of the dramas that seem to happen there.

They used to be terrific.. but something's happened to their quality control that in the end, I couldn't take any more.. They have always been reasonably priced, and honest.... and I will say, they always rectify any stuffups they cause.. but enough was enough.

So Matt at Alfamen gets my business now and I cannot fault the man. He's obsessed with putting his customers first. Nice bloke too.

He's only 10 minutes down the road from Kensington. Maybe 15.. 

[peterdal]

hi ben, can i email you or you contact me   dals1@optusnet.com.au thanks