Small Cars, Inc no more?

[e46myway]

Hey, all.

Was looking to get my driver mirror housing replaced and was going to turn to Small Cars in Flushing who I have had good experiences with and was the general favorite. Did they go out of business? Anybody know the details on what happened and/or have an alternative?

-e46myway

[GarrettF]

they closed, contact the little garage, google search them

[e46myway]

they closed, contact the little garage, google search them

Hey, GarrettF,

I know Little Garage. They changed owners earlier this year and moved. Prevously it was Matt and now it is Demos (who used to work for Matt). Both are good guys. Spoke to Demos who is getting the new shop up and running with addl capacity. I have yet to see how the new shop runs with Demos. You're right, they could do the mirror.

Little Garage, previously good at mechanicals, did not do any "bodywork". For bodywork, what you do folks recommend now that Small Cars is gone?

Why'd they close?

- e46myway

[GarrettF]

littlge garage does do body work, Demos told be they use a shop for all their customers, Demos is a great guy, he has really helped me out, im sure the place will run great!

[RRRize]

Hey, all.

Was looking to get my driver mirror housing replaced and was going to turn to Small Cars in Flushing who I have had good experiences with and was the general favorite. Did they go out of business? Anybody know the details on what happened and/or have an alternative?

-e46myway

Yes, I knew the owner Al. Great guy and a GREAT business. Small Cars was the best BMWrepair/auto body shop on the East Coast... probably in the US. The shop closed late last year. Al decided to retire and didn't want to leave his good name or business to anyone who would likely spoil it. So he sold the shop and gave up the business. I was just talking about Small Cars to some people today. Darn shame that it no longer exists and it is a HUGE loss to the BMW community. However, big props to Al and congratulations on his retirement!

If you have any other questions about Small Cars, go ahead and ask me. I will more than likely have the answers, as I got to spend quite a bit of time with him during his last weeks in business.

Ron

[itchyNscratchy]

littlge garage does do body work, Demos told be they use a shop for all their customers, Demos is a great guy, he has really helped me out, im sure the place will run great!


Demos is an awesome guy, he was always honest with me when he was working for Matt.

[e46myway]

Yes, I knew the owner Al. Great guy and a GREAT business. Small Cars was the best BMWrepair/auto body shop on the East Coast... probably in the US. The shop closed late last year. Al decided to retire and didn't want to leave his good name or business to anyone who would likely spoil it. So he sold the shop and gave up the business. I was just talking about Small Cars to some people today. Darn shame that it no longer exists and it is a HUGE loss to the BMW community. However, big props to Al and congratulations on his retirement!

If you have any other questions about Small Cars, go ahead and ask me. I will more than likely have the answers, as I got to spend quite a bit of time with him during his last weeks in business.

Ron

Ron,

Thanks for the story behind the closure. They had done some work for me and my Jet Black car and it was flawless.

I see that you are from Queens. Do you have any recommendations on other bodyshops? So far, it seems like people are pointing to Little Garage. Isn't there a place that people have posted called V&S in Bayside? Where would you take your car now?

- e46myway

[Razcal]

I had bodywork done by V&S 2 years ago. They did a good job. No complaints here.

[e46myway]

I had bodywork done by V&S 2 years ago. They did a good job. No complaints here.

Thanks for sharing your good experience with them. No current needs right now other than a new drivers mirror, but I think the painted part is reusable.

- e46myway

[RRRize]

Ron,

Thanks for the story behind the closure. They had done some work for me and my Jet Black car and it was flawless.

I see that you are from Queens. Do you have any recommendations on other bodyshops? So far, it seems like people are pointing to Little Garage. Isn't there a place that people have posted called V&S in Bayside? Where would you take your car now?

- e46myway

Well, unfortunately, I have absolutely nothing good to say about Little Garage. To make a very long story short, I took my car there to fix a minor dent in the door (someone backed into me). The guys at Little Garage (can't remember their names now, but I originally spoke to Demos) took my car on a Tuesday... said it wuldn't be ready till Friday. I left it overnight and called a friend who used Little Garage before and they were literally afraid for me that I left my car with them. She went on to tell me that she had 2 very terrible expriences with them and wished that she would have learned from the fors time she took her car there. Went on to tell me that thier prices are GREATLY higher than most people only because they've established a name for themselves (along with good advertising), but their customer service sux and theyir work is mediocre at very best. She was VERY disappointed with the work they did on her car both times and fought them tooth and nail until they got it right.... as a result they HATE her to this day. Well, back to my story... they take my car on a Tuesday and say it will be ready on Friday. I called them up on Wednesday morning and asked them if they started working on my car. The dude told me thatt hey did not start working on it and they probably would not start working on it till Thursday morning. So I told him that I was glad he didn't start on the car because I would like to come and get it because I got a better quote elsewhere. The dude puts me on hold for about 5 minutes. When he returns, he tells me that they already started working on my car and that I would have to pay them because they already started taking my door apart and 2 hours of labor already went into it. Obviously, I wanted to know why he originally told me they did not start on it. He responded by saying that he was not aware that they already started on it. Well, I hung up with him and flew down to the Little Garage (in Queens). What do you think I found when I got there? My car was in their offsite shop (only a block away) UNTOUCHED by anyone! Door was not dismantled like they told me it was. I brought this to their attention and told them about my friend who warned me about them. They IMMEDIATELY knew who I was talking about and they went on to call my friend a pre-madonna and a "fussy Bi*ch". I was shocked that they would be so unprofessional and so stupidly candid with me as regards MY FRIEND!!! Needless to say, I demanded they give me my car back and requested that they NOT explain to me why they lied to me by telling me they already started work on my car and that I would have to pay 2 hours labor. They got me my car and I IMMEDIATELY left Little Garage, never to look back on them. Their unprofessionalism and audacity to lie to me so as to get my money spoke VOLUMES to me as regards their character. As a result, I would STRONGLY recommend that anyone considering Little Garage, not consider them at all, but instead regard them as I do... Little Garbage.

That being said, there is no real solid replacement for Small Cars. In my opinion, there will never be a legitimate replacement. This does not, however, mean that there do not exists great shops. I have since discovered a really great shop called GTS right on Jericho Turnpike near Little Neck parkway. It's an extremely clean shop run by a professional guy who really knows his stuff about BMWs. The shop SPECIALIZES in BMWs. If you want more info on them, please feel free to e-mail me at RRRize@aol.com. If you decide you want to just go ahead and check them out without talking to me, please just ask for Serg. He's the owner and an extremely nice and knowledgable guy. There's another guy there by the name of Walter. very cool dude... but ask for Serg no matter what. He should be your poin of contact... and just tell him Ron with the black E46 sedan sent you.

Hope this helps!

Ron

[GarrettF]

Well, unfortunately, I have absolutely nothing good to say about Little Garage. To make a very long story short, I took my car there to fix a minor dent in the door (someone backed into me). The guys at Little Garage (can't remember their names now, but I originally spoke to Demos) took my car on a Tuesday... said it wuldn't be ready till Friday. I left it overnight and called a friend who used Little Garage before and they were literally afraid for me that I left my car with them. She went on to tell me that she had 2 very terrible expriences with them and wished that she would have learned from the fors time she took her car there. Went on to tell me that thier prices are GREATLY higher than most people only because they've established a name for themselves (along with good advertising), but their customer service sux and theyir work is mediocre at very best. She was VERY disappointed with the work they did on her car both times and fought them tooth and nail until they got it right.... as a result they HATE her to this day. Well, back to my story... they take my car on a Tuesday and say it will be ready on Friday. I called them up on Wednesday morning and asked them if they started working on my car. The dude told me thatt hey did not start working on it and they probably would not start working on it till Thursday morning. So I told him that I was glad he didn't start on the car because I would like to come and get it because I got a better quote elsewhere. The dude puts me on hold for about 5 minutes. When he returns, he tells me that they already started working on my car and that I would have to pay them because they already started taking my door apart and 2 hours of labor already went into it. Obviously, I wanted to know why he originally told me they did not start on it. He responded by saying that he was not aware that they already started on it. Well, I hung up with him and flew down to the Little Garage (in Queens). What do you think I found when I got there? My car was in their offsite shop (only a block away) UNTOUCHED by anyone! Door was not dismantled like they told me it was. I brought this to their attention and told them about my friend who warned me about them. They IMMEDIATELY knew who I was talking about and they went on to call my friend a pre-madonna and a "fussy Bi*ch". I was shocked that they would be so unprofessional and so stupidly candid with me as regards MY FRIEND!!! Needless to say, I demanded they give me my car back and requested that they NOT explain to me why they lied to me by telling me they already started work on my car and that I would have to pay 2 hours labor. They got me my car and I IMMEDIATELY left Little Garage, never to look back on them. Their unprofessionalism and audacity to lie to me so as to get my money spoke VOLUMES to me as regards their character. As a result, I would STRONGLY recommend that anyone considering Little Garage, not consider them at all, but instead regard them as I do... Little Garbage.

That being said, there is no real solid replacement for Small Cars. In my opinion, there will never be a legitimate replacement. This does not, however, mean that there do not exists great shops. I have since discovered a really great shop called GTS right on Jericho Turnpike near Little Neck parkway. It's an extremely clean shop run by a professional guy who really knows his stuff about BMWs. The shop SPECIALIZES in BMWs. If you want more info on them, please feel free to e-mail me at RRRize@aol.com. If you decide you want to just go ahead and check them out without talking to me, please just ask for Serg. He's the owner and an extremely nice and knowledgable guy. There's another guy there by the name of Walter. very cool dude... but ask for Serg no matter what. He should be your poin of contact... and just tell him Ron with the black E46 sedan sent you.

Hope this helps!

Ron
All of my many expereinces withtehm with 3 different vechiles have been the EXACT opposite of this! They have always been straight with me on time and price, and their work is great, i dont know who you are kiding

[RRRize]

All of my many expereinces withtehm with 3 different vechiles have been the EXACT opposite of this! They have always been straight with me on time and price, and their work is great, i dont know who you are kiding

Kidding??? I'm not kidding anyone. Just relating my experience and my friend's experience.

Glad it worked out for you though. If I didn't blatantly bust them in a lie, I would probably be more understanding and give them the benefit of the doubt, even after my friend related her 2 consecutive bad experiences with them. But the fact that they told me they had already started working on my car and I went down there only to find that they DID NOT start working on it told me VOLUMES about their character and level of honesty. They were willing to risk their reputation for 1 small job that would have amounted to a little over $1000 (thie price). They could have simpy been honest with me and, I probably would not have had my car done their that time, but I would have considered them in the future. However, because they needed to lie to me to make $1000 bux, they will NEVER see my face or car there and I will discourage anyone who asks my opinion of Little Garage because I am a part of and love my BMW community and I would hope any of my fellow community members would extend me the heads up on their experience with a place - good or bad.

Any vendor or shop I do business with must subscribe to "Honesty, integrity and good customer service is more valuable than money."

Thanx.

Ron

[e46myway]

With the shop now under new management, but much of the old tech staff, it'll be a challenge to Demos to change some of the things that were wrong with the shop under Matt. I spoke with him today and he gave a list of what was going to change and what his focus areas are going to be.

Time will tell. My initial impression is that if the shop fails to satisfy, it'll be mainly the operating practices of the folks employed. If you provide a premium service at a somewhat premium price, people still expect perfection in all aspects from your staff.

I'll hold my opinion pending more shop time, but I do appreciate the experiences offered thus far. I actually do have an opinion of today's basic work, but I'll hold off.

However, I think anyone placed in the position of being lied to or taken advantage of would re-evaluate their previously positive relationship with a shop.

That said, I do hope Demo proliferates the vision and ethic that he has been touting.

- e46myway

[SMALL CAR]

*

[PYRITE]

Take it to Tiny Trucks.

[e46myway]

Take it to Tiny Trucks.

Where's that?

[e46myway]

*

Is that you, John?

[acitydweller]

I believe smallcars had good mechanical and did a lot of BMW work in the past. From hearsay, I heard small cars messed up their relationship with the local bmw dealerships. in the end they mainly serviced american cars. I believe it got sorta bad as they used to advertise on craigslist daily to get jobs. I heard the people working there werent really treated very well either. I guess that's one way of letting a business go.

Retirement by choice or circumstance makes no difference to me.

One of the guys who used to moonlight there now helps me out with my cars.

If your looking for mechanical or body, send me a PM. My friend's garage is off the Long Island Expressway, exit 18 Maurice Ave.

[RRRize]

Is that you, John?

Holy cow! Yup, I believe that is him! The way that Jon shafted me is pretty unspeakable and reprehensible. He knows exactly what what I'm talking about. John is not an upstanding guy and if anyone knows what bodyshop he's working at now, I urge you to avoid it.

NOTE TO JOHN: I went to Bayside BMW about 2 weeks ago and asked if they have any record of my car being there. They searched by my name and VIN and said that they have no record of my car EVER being there. My ABS and DSC lights are STILL on to this day. Thanks so much for the scam-job. I am not a vengeful person, but lemme tell you, Karma is a byotch. Have a nice life.

[SMALL CAR]

*
Holy cow! Yup, I believe that is him! The way that Jon shafted me is pretty unspeakable and reprehensible. He knows exactly what what I'm talking about. John is not an upstanding guy and if anyone knows what bodyshop he's working at now, I urge you to avoid it.

NOTE TO JOHN: I went to Bayside BMW about 2 weeks ago and asked if they have any record of my car being there. They searched by my name and VIN and said that they have no record of my car EVER being there. My ABS and DSC lights are STILL on to this day. Thanks so much for the scam-job. I am not a vengeful person, but lemme tell you, Karma is a byotch. Have a nice life.