Out with the old crap, in with the new (electronic dash cam and back mirror unit)

[Sakura]

Yep, I was supposed to get my car back from the dealer today after registration renewal, but the technician called to say that my electronic rearview mirror with built-in dash cam had stopped working. They said it functioned for a few minutes, then went completely black. It was working when they picked up the car, so I suspect something they did may have damaged the internals.

I’ve decided to replace it with a Japanese-made unit (maybe Alpine). The broken one was made in Taiwan with some internal parts from China. I’m never putting Chinese crap in my car again! I'm certain the unit has less shielding to cut cost and to boost profit. I knew this because occasionally the screen went jittery with RF signals from other cars, especially during events.

Will post photos when I got it back.

 

[Luzifer]

Are you going to replace it yourself? The rear mirror, I suppose you removed the original for an aftermarket one?

 

[Sakura]

Are you going to replace it yourself? The rear mirror, I suppose you removed the original for an aftermarket one?

I'm just going to ask the dealer to do it. Yes, the rear mirror was replaced with aftermarket electric one with built in dash cam like 2 years ago. I still have the original in my closet.

It was one of my best decisions. Most of these units have wide angle lenses and very good to spot blind spots during lane changes. I'm all for safety since roads are smaller here and lots of cars like to lurk in my blind spot.

 

[Sakura]

Looks like the car is going to be at the dealer for extended period to replace the mirror. I just went ahead and ask them to replace the rear tires too since they have only like 3mm of threads left. It is $700 more expensive than if I do it through local shop.

I didn't have good feeling in the stomach when I talked to the local shop to replace the tires again. The local shop replaced the same rear tires two or three years ago, but I sensed a jealousy tone during a short chat with the owner. They were very nice, polite, and all, but I'm always careful dealing with jealousy. Maybe I'm over reacting. I'll prob only use them if I get a flat tire or emergency.

 

[Luzifer]

I don't trust any shops, no one ever takes care, I don't trust dealers either. Three weeks ago I removed my front wheels in my garage and brought them to a tire shop and asked for the owner to replace the tires. To lube the new tires, which had dirt from the unswept floor he sat them on the rim to lube the interior bead. I wasn't happy then he sent them to the new guy to balance them. I had watched the young guy roughly jammed expensive brand new wheel for a pickup truck, he scratched all 4 of them. Instead of asking for help to lift those heavy wheels he rammed it on the machine effectively missing his mark and scratched every one of them.

I hurried to him to be careful with my Lambo wheels, his boss didn't even tell him!

Anyway doesn't mean you bring it to a dealer they are going to be careful. I spoke the the last owner of my car and he had leased it from the dealer, he said he paid more because they assured him the servicing was all done. It was a lie I told him when I serviced the air filter for example it had the same date as the car build.

 

[Sakura]

I don't trust any shops, no one ever takes care, I don't trust dealers either. Three weeks ago I removed my front wheels in my garage and brought them to a tire shop and asked for the owner to replace the tires. To lube the new tires, which had dirt from the unswept floor he sat them on the rim to lube the interior bead. I wasn't happy then he sent them to the new guy to balance them. I had watched the young guy roughly jammed expensive brand new wheel for a pickup truck, he scratched all 4 of them. Instead of asking for help to lift those heavy wheels he rammed it on the machine effectively missing his mark and scratched every one of them.

I hurried to him to be careful with my Lambo wheels, his boss didn't even tell him!

Anyway doesn't mean you bring it to a dealer they are going to be careful. I spoke the the last owner of my car and he had leased it from the dealer, he said he paid more because they assured him the servicing was all done. It was a lie I told him when I serviced the air filter for example it had the same date as the car build.

Totally agree. The local shop actually scratched my front right rim because they were inexperienced and the machine they use were sort of old. I didn't raise hell with them because I kind of like them as they are always polite.

Luckily I haven't gotten bad experience with my dealer when it comes to tire placement. Maybe it's because they have good equipment. I went to see their service center once and the place was filled with high tech machines including the latest tire change & balancing machines.

As far as service fraud (charging customers for new parts when old parts are used), it actually happened here with a big used car dealer called "Big motors". The fraud were discovered after a whistleblower reported them to Japanese FCC for insurance fraud. The owner got sued for hefty amounts & fired, insurance agents got sued & fired, and the company had to sell off. It was a big scandal.

I don't think any dealers now are dumb enough to do this kind of fraud due to the consequences, but you'll never know...