Decent garage in the North West - E46

Decent garage in the North West - E46

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Discussion

dhutch

Original Poster:

15,291 posts

204 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
My local BMW indi, BM Wirral, have always been hesitant to work on the car, and are now declining due to the cars age.

I have used the 'Zed Shed' (Warrington) before now and may will use Mike again, depending how things settle after premises move.
Andrew D Kirk appears to have shut up shop, certainly the phone number is dead and companies house shows it as dissolved.

Thoughts welcome.



Particularly at the moment, I am struggling to find anyone to change the rear subframe and diff bushes.

Glenn63

3,113 posts

91 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
Might be a bit far but Grinspeed in Leyland is where Iv always took my cars. Stevie an Ex wrc rally mechanic deals with all sorts of cars and a decent chap.

AB

17,412 posts

202 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
https://www.facebook.com/jwautowerks/

You must be local to me. Speak to Rich at JW Autowerks, tell him Alex sent you.

Has worked for both Williams BMW and BM Wirral prior to setting up on his own some years ago. Never heard a bad word, knows his stuff and has had many E46s himself.

dhutch

Original Poster:

15,291 posts

204 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
Glenn63 said:
Might be a bit far but Grinspeed in Leyland is where Iv always took my cars. Stevie an Ex wrc rally mechanic deals with all sorts of cars and a decent chap.
Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, might be good for others but just over an hour away from home and work.

AB said:
https://www.facebook.com/jwautowerks/

You must be local to me. Speak to Rich at JW Autowerks, tell him Alex sent you.

Has worked for both Williams BMW and BM Wirral prior to setting up on his own some years ago. Never heard a bad word, knows his stuff and has had many E46s himself.
Looks brilliant, thanks for the heads up.

simonwhite2000

2,541 posts

104 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
Graham Martin Automotive St Helens, used them for servicing on my 840

d_a_n1979

9,674 posts

79 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
dhutch said:
Glenn63 said:
Might be a bit far but Grinspeed in Leyland is where Iv always took my cars. Stevie an Ex wrc rally mechanic deals with all sorts of cars and a decent chap.
Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, might be good for others but just over an hour away from home and work.

AB said:
https://www.facebook.com/jwautowerks/

You must be local to me. Speak to Rich at JW Autowerks, tell him Alex sent you.

Has worked for both Williams BMW and BM Wirral prior to setting up on his own some years ago. Never heard a bad word, knows his stuff and has had many E46s himself.
Looks brilliant, thanks for the heads up.
Another vote for Stevie & Don at Grinspeed...

I won't let anyone else touch my cars. They looked after all 4 of of my E39s!

duncancallum

851 posts

185 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
Did jw use to be near Mersey motorcycles?

MDMA .

9,211 posts

108 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
d_a_n1979 said:
dhutch said:
Glenn63 said:
Might be a bit far but Grinspeed in Leyland is where Iv always took my cars. Stevie an Ex wrc rally mechanic deals with all sorts of cars and a decent chap.
Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, might be good for others but just over an hour away from home and work.

AB said:
https://www.facebook.com/jwautowerks/

You must be local to me. Speak to Rich at JW Autowerks, tell him Alex sent you.

Has worked for both Williams BMW and BM Wirral prior to setting up on his own some years ago. Never heard a bad word, knows his stuff and has had many E46s himself.
Looks brilliant, thanks for the heads up.
Another vote for Stevie & Don at Grinspeed...

I won't let anyone else touch my cars. They looked after all 4 of of my E39s!
Last time I was there they might have even had a black E46 track car in for a bit of work. Was last year mind!

d_a_n1979

9,674 posts

79 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
MDMA . said:
d_a_n1979 said:
dhutch said:
Glenn63 said:
Might be a bit far but Grinspeed in Leyland is where Iv always took my cars. Stevie an Ex wrc rally mechanic deals with all sorts of cars and a decent chap.
Yeah, thanks for the suggestion, might be good for others but just over an hour away from home and work.

AB said:
https://www.facebook.com/jwautowerks/

You must be local to me. Speak to Rich at JW Autowerks, tell him Alex sent you.

Has worked for both Williams BMW and BM Wirral prior to setting up on his own some years ago. Never heard a bad word, knows his stuff and has had many E46s himself.
Looks brilliant, thanks for the heads up.
Another vote for Stevie & Don at Grinspeed...

I won't let anyone else touch my cars. They looked after all 4 of of my E39s!
Last time I was there they might have even had a black E46 track car in for a bit of work. Was last year mind!
They've a few in generally... Like some EP3s they leave little piles of rusty love on the floor when they leave biggrin

AB

17,412 posts

202 months

Friday 25th August 2023
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duncancallum said:
Did jw use to be near Mersey motorcycles?
No, they have always been where they are now.

worsy

5,952 posts

182 months

Friday 25th August 2023
quotequote all
https://www.bmwizard.co.uk/

Oswestry, just the other side of Wrexham. Probably a bit far but another option.

dhutch

Original Poster:

15,291 posts

204 months

Wednesday 25th October 2023
quotequote all
dhutch said:
AB said:
https://www.facebook.com/jwautowerks/

You must be local to me. Speak to Rich at JW Autowerks, tell him Alex sent you.

Has worked for both Williams BMW and BM Wirral prior to setting up on his own some years ago. Never heard a bad word, knows his stuff and has had many E46s himself.
Looks brilliant, thanks for the heads up.
Taken a while to get sorted, but the car is finally booked in for Monday.

Ended up sourcing the bushes myself through AutoDoc as they appear to be broadly unavailable from the mainstream UK parts factors.



£100 for the 7 diff and subframe bushes.

dhutch

Original Poster:

15,291 posts

204 months

Monday 30th October 2023
quotequote all
AB said:
https://www.facebook.com/jwautowerks/

You must be local to me. Speak to Rich at JW Autowerks, tell him Alex sent you.

Has worked for both Williams BMW and BM Wirral prior to setting up on his own some years ago. Never heard a bad word, knows his stuff and has had many E46s himself.
What's his welding like..... frown



Thought I would help him out by lightly jet washing off the rear ahead of tomorrow. Almost wish I hadn't now!

Heyho.

AB

17,412 posts

202 months

Monday 30th October 2023
quotequote all
Uh oh! To be honest I'm not sure. But he'll be able to get it sorted for you.

dhutch

Original Poster:

15,291 posts

204 months

Monday 30th October 2023
quotequote all
AB said:
Uh oh!
Yeah, that was my thoughts too!

Dropped the car off this morning and he seemed reasonable un-phased by it, I believe as well as a paintshop there are two bodyshops on site as well.

Reinforcing plates from KewFab in Ellesmere Port, which I can collect on the way home tonight.

Likely also blast and repaint the subframe to check its condition under the (hopefully mainly surface) rust and clean and repaint the spring towers.

Then drown it in Dinatrol I guess!!





Edited by dhutch on Monday 30th October 10:53