[ghodlur]

I am very much confirmed that Life Time Mobilities is an useless Fiat authorized workshop in Thane.

I had gone to LTM on Saturday for my Punto's 3rd year service. The car has clocked 36K kms. Although my brain said to go to RS or Car menders my heart said LTM. I guess I had a brain freeze. Upon reaching the workshop, I was unattended for 30 mins. When I raised my voice, a SA with a disgusting look on his face came forward to attend my car. The SA assigned a shop floor guy (supposed to be an expert) to do a Test drive. That chap started off without me in the car. When I hollered, he sheepishly grinned at me. All through the test drive, I kept pointing out at the noise from the front right suspension. But the chap ignored it saying I am hearing things. After all the formalities, I was given an initial quote of 11K. Surprised I asked for break up since I had done the calculations mentally and it was about 7K. I wanted to install the front wiper blades which would cost me 1800, so the total amount was not to exceed 9K in any case. The SA recalculated the spares cost and confirmed it was 7K. Again a sheepish grin.

I dropped the vehicle and headed home, hardly had I reached the doorstep I got a call from the SA saying the brake pads and discs have gone bad and need to be replaced. Muttering the best expletives known to me I rushed back to the workshop. These cunning guys tried to convince me that the brake pads have gone bad even without opening them. I asked to them to remove the pads. Took a couple of pics, sent to Fiat owner WAG and everyone confirmed that pads need replacement whereas discs were Ok. Upon physical inspection, I found the discs to be OK, no cut or groove on them. Gave them a go ahead to replace the brake pads only and the total cost came out to 4.1K incl of labour and taxes.

When I reached the workshop to collect the car, the SA again was rushing things since he had a Roza or something. I inspected the car, saw smudge marks all across the seats, arm rest, the mats were folded in the front. The car was not cleaned from exterior too in some places. Told them to get everything in order. So finally when the time to pay the bill came, found that the front wipers were not replaced and there was nothing on the spares list but the labour of Rs 150 was charged for the wiper blade replacement. Now things were going out of control and blasted the SA for his ignorance. Later he confirmed that the wiper blades were out of stock. This after getting a confirmation on Friday about availability of spares. The total expense was 11.3K (7.2K for regular service + 4.1K for brake pads).

After an bitter experience with LTM, did not feel like writing to Fiat coz I remembers "you pay peanuts, you only get monkeys".

LTM IMO are more interested in multi car workshop since that is the revenue. Fiat is just for time pass because no one else in the region was ready to partner with Fiat.

Attaching a few pics of the brake pads and the disc.

[PGNarain]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

There are a few Fiat owners who had got their service/repair done at Car menders and they had only good things to say about the workshop.
.

Originally Posted by AbhishekE

Sounds good. I'll take my car for its service to Car Menders and let you know my experience.

My ailing Fiat TJet to Car Menders needed to get the following long pending jobs done.

- Body Work on the Boot
- Alternator replacement and Battery completely discharged

I had initially planned to get the above work done at Sunil Shanbaug's garage at Dadar, but because the alternator was gone I would have to get it towed to the garage that was both costly and I would have had to pay Octroi while exiting Mumbai meant that this was not an option.

So, after much deliberation and thought and primarily because I did not have much of a choice, I headed out to Car Menders at Panvel. I am pleased to report that it was a good decision and in the last 6 years that I have owned my Fiat - I have never felt better or more comfortable with a service center and and service advisers.

The garage itself is very small, with a max parking capacity of 4-5 cars at the very most. The approach or entry too is extremely narrow with the TJet just managing to squeeze is between the compound wall on one side and small huts on the other. I must say, that at first look I did not think too much of it, but after seeing the quality of the work done and the whole experience I am extremely satisfied.

They have one service adviser - Vaibhav, who is a gem of a person and a model service adviser - the best I have experienced till date.

All in all, I am much at peace now knowing that my car has a safe and reliable place for all her service and repair needs.

[swiftnfurious]

I recently heard from another Fiat owner about Vroom service centre @ Koparkhairane. This is run by Mr. Lokesh (98333. zero. 3849). I wanted to check a part for my Palio and called him up yesterday, which was left unanswered.

5 mins later, a lady called me up saying my number was passed on to her by Lokesh and enquired how could they help. I was quite happy to receive a call back which was unexpected.

She said the centre is close to the Kopakhairane station, next to some school there. I believe this is a FA$$ or atleast Fiat specialists and am told these guys procure the parts from the Ranjangaon factory itself.

PS :: I don't have any direct experience; but as I said, the initial impression is positive.

[ghodlur]

The Fiat workshop in Thane is slowly getting on my nerves. twice I visited the workshop with rattling issues which I experience in my daily drives but the Service advisors there don't seem to catch any rattles. I can hear even the slightest squeak but those guys have cotton in their ears. Had arguments twice and had to return back without any rattles attended. I even requested them to accompany me to the broken track near my place and they dont want to come either.

Have complained to Fiat but yet to receive any response. Planning to visit Vroom Pointe in Koperkhairne this coming weekend to see if the guys there atleast can identify the issues.

[blackwasp]

Vroom Pointè is close to my home + the SA there is very well known. Have got my old car serviced from him in 4 different workshops - Fortune, Balaji, Car Menders and now he's in Vroom Pointè.

They are a new setup but they do try to be proactive and customer centric. Giving my Abarth for 15k service there tomorrow. He says parts are available in max 3-4 working days and regular maintenance parts are in stock.

Does only what's needed and gives practical advice.

[Lij]

Vroom Pointe has moved to a new location in MIDC Kopar Khairane, below the google maps location.

https://goo.gl/maps/vsuqjE9w86C2

[ghodlur]

Visited Vroom Pointe Koperkhairane last weekend for the annual service of Punto. Thane Belapur Road as usual on Saturday morning around 9 am was crowded with some spots of slow moving traffic. The FASS is at a distance of 22 kms from my place and it took me a whole hour to reach the place. The location is fairly easy to locate.

Being barely 3 months into new location, the FASS is yet to be fully operational in terms of setting up the stores, space management for the vehicles etc. The workshop seemed small looking at the no of cars accommodated inside. It took 1 hr after I arrived, for the skeleton staff (due to Ramzan Eid) to arrive. Another 30 mins for the SA to attend the car. Sharad the assigned SA, patiently noted down the issued I had with the car and also confirmed the activities of the servicing. He did not stuff services down my throat however did suggest some work which I agreed to get it done later.

The technician Dinesh was assigned to the car. Unfortunately he had work solo as his partner was on leave. Diligently Dinesh took to the tasks and it took him 4.5 hrs to complete the servicing and the additional parts replacement.

The stores is a makeshift temporary place with spares all across the place but does stock most of the spares. Hats off to Rajesh the store keeper for knowing what spares is located where in that mess.

There is no Wheel Alignment & balancing unit in the workshop as of now, but work is in progress to get the same. Timelines are maybe August end.

The washing area does not have a ramp, so in case any car need underbody wash has to be put on the bay, lifted and then washed.

The workshop has space to park around 10 cars in addition to the cars inside the workshop.

The front office is Okayish, however does not have any entertainment mode for customers opting to stay.

The billing process was very smooth and FASS did accept credit cards (Considering their new setup, I was skeptical).

Being Ramzaan Eid, I was treated to a sumptous Chicken Biryani which I finished faster than I could imagine. Suggested to Vroom to have a hoarding on the Thane Belapur road to allow customer to take correct turn. In the coming days when the workshop is fully operational and space utilized, it will worth visiting to check the response times then.

Washing Area


Parking space outside workshop


Workshop with 4 bays


This is the location where WA/WB machine is going to be installed


Store room for spares


The servicing details is in my ownership thread as below.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post4416189

[Lij]

Got an email couple of days ago about another Landmark FCA service center that has come up at Kajupada on Ghodbunder Road.

https://goo.gl/maps/sN4CXPhDsEr