Bertus C

Avoid at All Costs

Avoid at All Costs – Misdiagnosed, Overcharged, and Completely Unaccountable I had one of the worst automotive repair experiences of my life with Premier Auto in Pinetown, and I feel it's my responsibility to share it so others don’t fall into the same trap. On 23 June 2025, our vehicle broke down—engine overheat radiator pressure build up, a loss of power, and a total shut-off while in traffic. We had the car towed to Premier Auto, where we explained the full situation in detail to the staff member, Imraam. After a few days, on 27 June, we were told the issue had been found and resolved. They claimed the external temperature sensor was faulty and had been replaced. We were charged R8,900, told the car had been fully repaired and tested, and handed back the keys. However: 🚩 No diagnostic report was provided at pickup Despite paying R1,100 for diagnostics, we received no post-repair diagnostic report, no proof of what faults were found, and no explanation of what was actually done. We had to ask repeatedly—for over 10 days—and still, nothing was provided. 🚩 Sensor used was not new – not even properly sourced We later discovered the “replacement” sensor was not new, not purchased second-hand, but was simply taken from somewhere in their workshop, with no testing done, no documentation, and no warranty as its second hand. It turned out to be faulty from the start, giving incorrect readings nearly 40% higher than it should. When I asked for proof that they tested the sensor, they had no test results to show. Worse still, we were charged R1,550 for this s**** part — while a brand new sensor from Goldwagen costs R150, and one from Mini themselves is only R670. That’s an outrageous 600%+ markup for a broken part with no paperwork or customer consent asked and told the price of new vs second hand. 🚩 They ignored the actual problem Later, an independent BMW specialist confirmed that the original diagnostic code — which Premier Auto had seen and even noted in their intake — pointed to a faulty throttle valve, the actual cause of the breakdown. This was not mentioned, discussed, or fixed. Instead, Premier Auto chose to clear the fault codes and replace a random, unrelated part. When the same issue reoccurred just 80 km later, we were stranded again. And from that moment forward, Premier Auto: Ignored our calls Refused to give updates or speak to a manager Promised “we’ll call you tomorrow” or “we’ll send you the manager’s number” — every day for over a week — and never followed through Refused to provide the post job diagnostic report I had paid for Told us the faulty sensor had no warranty and we should “take it up with the place that gave it to them” — even though they just found it lying around To make matters worse, they also broke the bonnet release cable, making further inspections difficult and causing additional repair costs. In summary: Premier Auto misdiagnosed the issue, ignoring the actual problem noted in their own diagnostic. They replaced an unrelated, faulty part with no testing, consent, or warranty. They charged a massively inflated price for a s**** part you could buy new for a fraction of the cost. They withheld diagnostic reports I paid R1,100 for and failed to communicate. They damaged my car in the process. They offered no accountability, assistance, or resolution. I am currently escalating this to the Motor Industry Ombudsman and the Retail Motor Industry (RMI), as this level of negligence, dishonesty, and ********* practice cannot go unchecked. And to make it worse we have photo evidence of all this, and yet ignored and avoided. If you value your money, time, and safety — I strongly advise you to take your car anywhere but here.