Volkswagen Vanagon mechanic - Vancouver Island

[stane]

I have just moved to Vancouver Island. In Live in Nanaimo. I am looking for a good, reliable shop/mechanic . I own a 1981 Volkswagen Vanagon.Thanks

[Corwyn]

http://vanalert.com/
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[calfredson]

Bavarian Import Auto Repairs has some excellent reviews, though I've never actually taken my van there.

http://importautorepair.ca/

There is also a place up in Nanoose Bay that has consistently BAD reviews, so I would avoid that place.

Craig

[Mike Robinson]

Bavarian are great. It really is a no brainer to use them.

Welcome to the Island and to Nanaimo.

Mike
'82 Westy Diesel AAZ

[Team WorldTour]

[HoustonPhotog]

[MMKGreenMachine]

I realize this is an old thread, but I get my 1983.5 1.9L WBX Westy serviced by Rick Hogg in Chemainus. https://www.hoggsvwrepair.com/

His work and rates can't be beat. He has over 37 years of experience working on VWs and works exclusively on 80-91 Vanagons, Beetles, and Vans. Super friendly and trustworthy mechanic. Does not try to upsell at all. Indeed, when I took my van to him after it was inspected by Vivid Vans (which recommended over 15K in repairs), he put my van on the lift, took me under it, and quickly convinced me that the vast majority of repairs Vivid was recommending did not need to be done and told me what he would get done. Ended up getting just under $2K in repairs rather than over $15K.

As an aside, I would NOT go to Vivid Vans. If you look closely at their website, you will notice they never refer to themselves as mechanics... that is because they are not!

Cheers.

[shagginwagon83]

[Sodo]

Almost any Vanagon can need between $2,000 and $15,000 of work.
What the van owner needs…. is equally important though.

Funny these numbers though.
I got a gearbox rebuild for about $2000 in 2015 (several, actually, since 2009).
Ran it a couple thousand miles (??) but it had big problems.
So it cost something like $1 per mile.

I put in a spare gearbox and that gearbox sat (disassembled) for about 6-7 years.
In 2022, rebuilt again for about $15,000 this time.
Now it has 16,000 miles so I’m back at that $1 per mile point,
but theres no problems and I don’t foresee any.

YMMV !
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[MMKGreenMachine]

Hey,

It was a laundry list of stuff, including a complete exhaust replacement, brake overhaul, front-end overhaul, rear shifter overhaul, front and rear brake overhaul, and "slider door overhaul"...

As just one example of work not needing to be done - they wanted to do a complete front and rear brake overhaul, but I'd had new pads, calipers, etc. put on just a couple of years ago and the pads, which they wanted to replace, were all still plus 50%.

Also crazy markup on parts and ridiculous prices on the work they did do - including a 9% shop supplies markup on the inspection with no actual shop supplies being listed as used or installed (which makes sense since it was an inspection), and $205 to replace the small fuel line from the tank to the filter and install a single hose clamp!

To be fair, when I came to pick up my van and it became clear I was not going to be getting $15K worth of work done, they very quickly started backtracking on the inspection/estimate by saying a lot of the work didn't truly "have" to be done.

Nevertheless, I did not appreciate the scare tactic of the initial estimate/inspection report, which I'm sure many fall for.

That page on their site does not say they are licensed mechanics, it just says they provide "mechanic services" (at $139/hr *cough* vs. Rick (a certified licensed mechanic) at $100/hr) and are "a VW specialized mechanic shop", a subtle but important distinction. My understanding (from other mechanics) is they are not licensed mechanics.

Obviously, this is just my opinion based on my experience - your personal results may differ!

[MMKGreenMachine]

Sorry, I'll just also add that after getting the van looked at by Rick, I did proceed to drive the van to Revelstoke from Vancouver Island (return) in the heat of summer with no issues. Not quite cross-country, but a big trip nonetheless!

[MMKGreenMachine]

[Sodo]

You are lucky to have found Rick!!
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[photogdave]

Good to know about Rick!

Up here in Courtenay we also have Glenns's: http://www.glennsautorepairs.com/

and Joe's Garage:
https://bradjoesgarage.com/

I've had satisfactory experiences with both.
_________________
89 Syncro GL Westfalia 2.1 WBX/WBXaustSS

My Westy Movies:
photogdave On Vimeo
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[VWOrangelover14]

Was interested to read the about the quote from Vivid Vans.

Did you have an inspection and quote for the 15,000?

I had an inspection done by them and they also quoted me around that price, but that was from a full inspection? I chose a few smaller jobs for about 3,000 but at least I know what will need replacing later in the next year.

They were really awesome, the guy who did the work was a red seal mechanic and was really nice to me spent the time explaining all the things that were not good.

I would go back no problem, but I have been to Bavarian as well and they're great. So I guess its how far you want to travel on the island?[/quote]

[MMKGreenMachine]